Waking up, a whirlwind of thoughts stormed through her mind, such as the notion of leaving.

But what about the kid?

She had missed out on four years of Nolan's life, four years during which he constantly feared she'd abandon him again.

She considered taking him with her, but those years had been filled with Fitch's tireless care, always by his side. Would Nolan even want to leave his dad?

No matter how she looked at it, it was a catch-22.

Seeing Nolan's tears now twisted her heart like a knife.

Nolan approached, tears still tracing lines down his clear, innocent eyes.

Clutched in his hand was that photo-Zoey's photo.

The memory of Fitch saying how Nolan always carried her picture with him hit her hard.

Feeling as though she had been struck in her Achilles' heel, Zoey quickly lifted her hand, gently ruffling his hair.

"I'm not leaving."

Nolan looked up, his eyes filled with cautious hope. "For real?”

The hesitation in Zoey's heart vanished in an instant, and she nodded slowly.

Nolan's eyelashes fluttered, and his tears fell even faster.

"Why the tears again?"

"Happy... Mommy... wants... Nolan."

speech so labored, no mother's heart

about the circumstances

the adult, she couldn't cry; she

said she didn't want you. Something happened back then, and I forgot about you, Nolan. I'm so sorry, it's all my

hand, tears still streaming down, his voice choked with

compassion in the eyes

Nolan's fault...

she pulled him onto the

child be so understanding, so

Carol always said

vel.net

such

Cadored Nolan. Who

his own mother content

feeling as if she had cried

own inarticulateness, unable to voice her feelings to

longed for this embrace from Zoey, not as

on the streets, nestled innocently in

had to endure, had

small window in the

just leaned against the wall

felt numb from standing

distress, he was still unsure if she wanted to stay or leave. Four

once made it painfully obvious when

in his heart

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