101


    Sienna’s POV


    When dinner ended, I stared at the table, now filled with empty tes. It had been a long time since I’d felt such warmth. Something as simple as eating together was so meaningful.


    I smiled slightly, though I didn’t dare look directly at Liam. What was certain was that tonight, I knew there was a part of me wavering again, one that desperately wanted to believe that this togetherness was still possible.


    “I’ll clean this up,” Liam said, standing up. His hands were already reaching for some dirty tes.


    I instinctively stood up too. “Let me help. At least I can…”


    But my sentence was cut off by Liam’s sharp yet gentle nce. “No need. You’ve been tired enough today. Trust me, you’ll be a huge help if you just go to bed.”


    I fell silent, my lips parting slightly, then closing again with a soft sigh. I felt a small debate brewing inside me between wanting to express my gratitude through action and epting the fact that my body was still weak. I had no reason to argue with him.


    “Okay,<b>” </b>I finally replied, my voice low.


    <b>“</b>Noah,” Liam called, turning to the boy. “You should get ready for bed too. You have school tomorrow, right?”


    But Noah turned to me instead, his eyes sparkling with hope. “But I want Mommy to read a book first.”


    I froze. The words that fell from his tiny lips both struck a chord and warmed my heart. It had been a long time since I’d heard him address me so intimately, so naturally. It was like there was no distance


    between us.


    I nced at Liam, afraid he might object. But he just smiled faintly and nodded. “If Mommy wants, go ahead. But don’t stay too long, okay? He needs his rest.”


    I sighed softly, then looked down at Noah. “Okay. Just one story, okay<b>?</b><b>” </b>


    “Yay!” he eximed, jumping slightly. He then grabbed my hand and pulled me excitedly toward his


    <b>room</b>.


    As soon as I entered, I was greeted by a warm, colorful small room. Toys were arranged on the shelves, and several robots were lined up above the bed. It felt both strange and familiar that I no longer lived here, but I knew this little world belonged to Noah.


    <b>“</b>Noah, which book do you want to read?” I asked, sitting on the edge of his bed.


    He hurriedly took a picture book from his nightstand and handed it to me. “This one. About a kind


    101


    dragon.”


    I smiled faintly, opened the first page, and began to read. My voice was hesitant at first, but then it flowed more smoothly as Noah’s eyes focused on me, listening to every word.


    I stared at the colorful cover, which depicted a green dragon with a wide smile. “Wow, this dragon looks so friendly. Are you sure this is a dragon, Noah? Aren’t dragons usually scary?<i>” </i>I asked, pretending to frown.


    Noah chuckled, shaking his head quickly. “No, Mommy. This is a kind dragon. He doesn’t get angry.”


    I smiled back, then began reading the first page. “In a small vige, there lived a dragon who was different from other dragons. He never burned forests or bothered humans. Instead, he liked to help little children.”


    Noah tucked himself tighter under the nket, his eyes sparkling. “Like me, huh? He likes to help Mommy<b>.</b>”


    I suppressed a warm smile and nodded. “Yeah, just like Noah. You’re a kind boy too.”


    He blushed, briefly covered his face with the nket, then quickly said, “Go on, Mommy, go on!”


    I continued, “One night, the vige was shrouded in darkness. The lights were out, and the children were scared. But the little dragon came, blowing a gentle me just enough to light, not burn.”


    Noah’s eyes widened. “He’s like a shlight, isn’t he, Mommy?”


    I chuckled. “Yes, that’s right. A shlight dragon.”


    <b>“</b>Noah has a shlight too! It’s blue, in the drawer over there.” He pointed to the small table beside the bed.


    I nced in the direction he was pointing, then said softly, “Then Noah is just like this dragon. Always ready to protect, not scare.”


    He nodded firmly, then quickly tugged on my arm. “Mommy, does that dragon get along with the kids?”


    I turned the next page, smiling. “Yes, he likes to y hide–and–seek with the kids. But he always loses


    because he’s too big to hide.”


    Noahughed out loud, the sound filling the small room. “Poor dragon! But it’s cute.”


    I smiled too, seeing his innocent, happy face. “But that dragon is never sad. He’s happy just to make the


    kidsugh. That’s enough for him.”


    Slowly, hisughter began to subside. His round eyes now looked heavier, slowly closing despite his best efforts to stay awake.


    “Mommy… the dragon is so nice,” he whispered sleepily.


    101


    The light from the nightlight made the atmosphere feel even warmer. Noah smiled asionally, his sparkling as I imitated the dragon’s voice in a deep tone. His chuckles made my chest flutter.


    eyes


    I almost forgot what it felt like to read to him. Back when everything was still intact, <b>I </b>often did moments like this. Now, when I did it again, my heart felt fragile. A pang of regret crept in, regretting having left


    behind the most precious part of my life.


    But Noah didn’t know any of that. All he knew was that tonight I was here, beside him, reading a book


    until his eyes started to feel heavy.


    When I reached thest page, I closed the book slowly. “I’m done, son. Now go to sleep, okay<b>?</b><b>” </b>


    Noah yawned softly, then snuggled into his nket. “Mommy,” he called sleepily.


    I bent down, brushed some of the hair off his forehead, and kissed him gently. “Yes, honey<b>?</b><b>” </b>


    “Don’t go far again.”


    My chest immediately tightened. I fell silent, trying to control the sudden surge of emotion. My fingers gripped his tiny, warm hand. “No, Mommy’s here. Go to sleep, I promise I won’t go anywhere.”


    Noah smiled slightly, then his eyes closed, his breathing bing even.


    I sat beside him for a moment, staring at his innocent, peaceful face in his sleep. There was a sense of peace and a hurt that was hard to exin. The hurt of having caused him the loss of his mother, and the peace that now I had another chance to make it up to him.


    I slowly stood up, put the book back on the small table, and walked out of the room, my heart still trembling. Outside the door, I could faintly hear the sound of dishes ttering from the kitchen, Liam still busy cleaning up alone.