“What the . . .?”

Standing in the midst of the sidewalk, I stare at my telephone and the message on the display screen. My chest aches the place my coronary heart was once, however I hardly ever really feel it anymore even with adrenaline pumping via me.

“What’s it, Daddy?” Cullen whines, “That is boring.” I’ve heard that a number of occasions over the previous two weeks. It was good to have him for an prolonged interval, however I feel he could be sick of his outdated man.

I shove my telephone in my again pocket as a result of I can’t reply with my thoughts entering into one million instructions and my child tugging on my hand. I strive to not be on my telephone as a lot once I’m with my son, however I can’t cease pondering that I’m imagining the message that simply popped up.

“It’s not boring. We stroll to expertise life as an alternative of sitting behind a automobile. Go searching, Cullen. What do you see?”

Whereas he’s busy attempting to identify one in every of one million variations from the final time we walked this route, I can’t assist however marvel why now? Why would Marina textual content me out of the blue?

Has the anger dulled?

Her hate for me subsided?

Change of coronary heart?

Determined to return mine?

I need to reply so badly, however I can’t assume straight.

“Are you listening?”

“I missed that, buddy. Say it once more?”

He factors. “Mommy.”

I look as much as see Terpidy standing by a tree we at all times move when strolling to her place. One thing’s completely different, however I can’t fairly put my finger on it. Possibly her outfit? Not as tight? Her hair is pulled again? How does she often put on it?

“Hello,” she says, bending right down to greet Cullen. He runs excitedly into her open arms.

Protecting my tempo, I would like a number of further seconds to suss out the state of affairs. She by no means meets us. She barely even opens the door.

With Cullen in her arms, she meets me midway. I’ll by no means fully burn this bridge as a result of we share a son, however I’m not letting my guard down.

“Good day,” she greets me, her voice breezy as if we haven’t been to hell and again at the very least thrice.

“Hey.” I hand her Cullen’s backpack and shove my arms in my entrance pockets, nonetheless not sure of her motive.

“I hoped we might speak?” She turns, and we begin strolling collectively, however I sense I don’t have a lot alternative. Hopefully, we are able to stay civil for one block.

“All proper.”

“How are you doing because the accident?”

The query nonetheless elicits uncooked emotion. The floor has healed, however there’s nerve injury. It’s the organ beneath that was most affected, and that’s not one thing I’m entering into together with her. “Nearly healed,” I lie.

“That’s good. You’re having an amazing season.” She laughs, setting Cullen down and letting him stroll a number of ft forward of her. “5 ft, Cullen. No extra.”

“I’m nearly six,” he complains. It’s not a busy avenue, which is why we go this route, however it’s fascinating to see her guardian. It’s not one thing I’ve witnessed a lot since we’ve been aside from the time he was born.

She glances at me with a realizing grin and again to him. “Once you’re six, you may have six ft. 5 ft till then.”

“Ugh, positive.”

“Typically he jogs my memory of you.”

I giggle, watching Cullen at first phases of a meltdown. “Is {that a} praise?”

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