MINE.

Chapter14: Late Night Snack

-Hazel-

"Mama." Dion whispers inches from my face and I open my eyes to my beautiful violet eyed son glowing in the moonlight.  For a moment I think I'm dreaming as I reach out to touch the mirage. As I feel his soft hair beneath my fingertips I realize I'm not.

"Yes baby." I reply as I push my fingers deeper into his hair.

"I miss you."

"I miss you too. Did you have a bad dream?"

"No..I want a snack mama." He says the way he did when he was small.

As I think that Kingston's words return to me. I stare blankly as it dawns on me. I turn to look if Devin is in the bed with me but he isn't.

I turn back to Dion the moonlight makes his eyes glow luminously, it's haunting how much he reminds me of my mother. Those same haunting eyes, beautiful but mad.

I stroke his cheek with the back of my hand, "Shall I get my baby a snack?" I ask as I did when he was small.

He nods enthusiastically and I move to stand. I slip my slippers on and look down at his feet.

"You're sick already. Why aren't you wearing your slippers?" I say to the wind cause getting Dion to where shoes is almost impossible.

To my surprise he reaches his arms up, "Carry me mama." He pouts.

"Hmm." I hum apprehensively but I'm already leaning forward to scoop him up. Surprisingly he's just as light as I remember. He wraps one arm around my neck, places his head on my chest, and slips his thumb into his mouth as he locks his legs around me.

For a moment I can only hold him as a series of conflicting emotions flurry inside me.

This is truly terrible but I can't help holding him close as if he was small. It's haunting how much Dion has always reminded me of my mom. Both Deanna and Dion are the spitting image of her but Dion has her spirit. Deanna has always been angel like, but Dion has a sadness that is like my mother.

I kiss his face softly as I leave the bedroom. I relieved the halls are empty as I take the back corridor to the kitchen.

It's almost as if I'm walking through a flashback as I place Dion on the counter to prepare his snack.

I cut up a bit of banana, papaya, and bread before warming some milk.

"Thank you mama." Dion says politely as I place a plate  of the array and the mug of warm milk beside him on the counter.

He pushes his hair aside as it falls onto his food.

"Mama, would you braid my hair?"

"Of course baby. You want one or two braids." I ask and he frowns.

"Mama, Deanna likes two braids I-

"Like one French braid?"  I offer and he nods.

I walk around him before gathering his  hair. His hair is much thicker than when I used to French braid it but I carry on. Instead of a single braid I do two French braids and then twist them together.

When I finish Dion runs his hands through it.

"It's different." He says curiously.

"Yeah, your hair has grown a lot. You don't like it?"

"No..I like it. It isn't like Deanna's."

"Of course not. It's special just like you." I tell him as I fuss with the ringlets by his ears.

Deanna has always loved to wear her hair in pig tails but Dion hates that.

I reach for a gold platter sitting on the island and show him his reflection. His entire face lights up.