It's well past midnight when I return home. I'm sweaty from running so much but at this point I just don't care. It's quiet as I slip through the front door into the threshold, and when I look down the corridor all I see are boxes.
Stacks and stacks of boxes. Ones labeled Dori and others labeled Liz, my mothers name. I grit my teeth and hear the quiet breathing of everyone sleeping, dad on the couch because mom is upstairs in their bed. I tiptoe down the hall to my room and I almost make a clean getaway wwhen a small hand latches onto my thigh.
My heart squeezes and I turn and crouch down to Jacob's height, looking into his big green eyes so unlike my bright blue ones.
He's frowning at me intensely.
"Why are there so much boxes, Dori?" He asks. I shut my eyes for a moment. What am I going to tell him?
"Those are mine and mommy's boxes, Jakey. We're going away for awhile." I whisper, voice cracking. How can I leave him, this boy that means so much to my life? He's essential to me.
I can't live without him.
"Daddy and I are gonna come too, Dori?" He says, confused. I reach out and touch his cheek.
"No, you and daddy are going to stay here, buddy."
He shakes his head, "No. I wanna go with you, Dori!"
"Shh, Jakey. Lets go to sleep. We'll talk in the morning, okay?"
He just nods and follows me into my room. Once we're both covered in blankets and pajamas, him snuggled deep in my arms, asleep, I begin to cry.
Somebody tell me this is a dream.