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I move down the short catwalk to the hall, which branches off The ht Aaron and e, are to the left

I knock on Aaron’s door, waiting for him to answer Music blares on the other side, but he sos open to reveal a cheerily s over his shoulder

He looks nothing like his father, who I can barely recall an ie while at MIT, and his father hadn’t stuck around even to the second trimester I tried to keep him updated as best I could after Aaron was born, but he wasn’t interested in being a dad

When I got sent to prison, I was terrified his dad would try to come back into the picture, but no… he was happy with ha father who’s interested in hilad he’s all mine

Well, me and my mom’s She’s as much his parent as I am, I suppose

“Hey, kiddo,” I say, reaching out to tousle his hair “We need to work out a better systeet ame”

“What do you suggest?” he asks, his eyes dancing

“Perhaps turn your h alert for any ies from your old mom,” I say sternly

He just snickers and leans in—yes, he’s as tall as I a, Mom”

I completely itied hi sent away to prison It’d be completely understandable if he disobeyed

But my kid doesn’t do that He responds in such an affectionate, easygoing way that I sometimes think he’s the real adult and I’… he’s the one who ends up treating loves because he hates I’ve also suffered

He moves past me to bound down the steps I catch up with hirandht relationship, but I can’t be I’rateful they had each other to lean on in the years I ay The bond between them was essential to their survival