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    Sienna’s POV


    I gripped my phone tighter, turning on the recording. Beside me, I knew Liam was also recording from a different angle. We were both focused on the small figure now standing in the front row of the stage.


    Soft music began to y. The children began singing in their innocent voices. I immediately looked for Noah, and there he was, singing with full enthusiasm, though his voice sometimesgged behind by half a beat. His eyes asionally nced toward the audience, and when he spotted us, his face lit up. His free hand waved a small wave, making me almost unable to hold back the tears.


    I smiled, raising my hand in return, trying to channel courage through that simple gesture. I nced at Liam. He looked down slightly, but I caught a faint smile on his face, a smile I rarely saw.


    “Noah seems so confident,” <b>I </b>whispered, half to myself.


    Liam just nodded, his eyes never leaving the stage. “He’s like that when he knows someone’s backing


    him.”


    The sentence was short, but it struck a chord deep within me. I was acutely aware that I’d missed so many moments with Noah. And today, I was trying to make up for it.


    The first song ended, greeted by thunderous apuse from the parents. The children smiled proudly, including Noah. But it didn’t stop there. The teacher then gave the cue, and they began to change


    formation to dance.


    I held back a chuckle as I watched Noah try to follow his friends‘ movements. His steps were sometimes half a secondte, and his arms weren’t always straight as instructed, but that made him even more


    adorable. He danced intently, his face full of concentration. Every now and then, he’d nce in our direction, as if to make sure we were still paying attention.


    Every time our eyes met, I always smiled, gave a thumbs–up, or nodded, signaling that I was there, with


    him.


    “He looks so happy,” Liam whispered, his voice almost drowned out by the children’s singing.


    I nodded, my eyes never leaving the stage. “Yeah, I’ve never seen him this bright.”


    Liam didn’t add anything else, but I could feel the warmth of his presence. Sitting next to him was like a reminder that I wasn’t alone on this journey. He was there, silently supporting me from afar.


    The song ended to thunderous apuse from the parents and teachers. The children bowed slightly, their faces filled withughter. Noah seemed the most enthusiastic, even jumping up and down before leaving


    the stage.


    I pressed the pause button on my phone and stared at the screen disying the short recording. Tears


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    threatened to fall, but I quickly wiped them away<b>, </b>not wanting Noah to see me crying when he returned.


    Noah jogged from the stage, stumbling slightly from his excitement. His hair was a mess, his cheeks red from exhaustion, but his wide smile never faded. As soon as he saw me, he lunged for me, hugging my


    waist tightly.


    “Mommy, I saw you earlier! You pped the loudest!” he eximed cheerfully.


    I chuckled, bending down to return the hug. “Of course. Mommy is so proud of Noah.”


    I patted his back, feeling his tiny body tremble with energy.


    Liam arrived a few secondster and patted Noah gently on the head. “You were amazing on stage.


    Everyone saw it.”


    Noah looked up at him, his eyes sparkling. “Daddy recorded it, right?”


    Liam held up his phone and nodded. “Of course. You can watch itter at home.”


    The boy gave a small, happy jump, then turned back to me. “Mommy recorded it too?”


    I nodded, showing him my phone screen. “Yeah, Mommy recorded it all. So we can watch it together


    Noah’s face lit up, and he hugged me again, this time longer. There was something about that hug that made my chest flutter. It was like he wanted to make sure I was really there for him, not just a fleeting illusion. I closed my eyes and returned the hug tightly, silently promising to keep this together as best as


    I could.


    Some of the other kids started running towards their parents, and the hall was abuzz withughter and conversation. The teachers were busy organizing, making sure everyone saw their families. I sat for a moment in my chair, letting Noah tell me at length what happened on stage, how he’d made a misstep but didn’t notice, how his friend had almost forgotten the lyrics, and how he’d tried so hard to smile to appear confident.


    <b>I </b>just listened, smiling the entire time. Every word that came out of his mouth was a gift to me.


    Liam asionally slipped in briefments, adding small details that made Noah even more excited. I realized that, even though we didn’t talk much, just being by Noah’s side was what he needed most.


    As the show began to end<i>, </i>one by one the parents got up, leading their children home. I reached for my hand, and Noah immediately held it tightly, while he extended the other to Liam. Watching him walk among us, smiling contentedly, made me realize, though I still had much to face, this small step today was enough to open a new door.


    Before I finally exited the hall, I nced briefly at the now–empty stage. The image of Noah from earlier was still vivid in my mind. I took a deep breath, then walked again. This time, with a lighter heart.


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    In the car, the atmosphere was so peaceful. Noah, who had been so excited on stage, was now asleep in the back seat, his small body tilted and breathing evenly. His head swayed slightly to the rhythm of the road, and I nced over briefly to make sure he wasfortable. The thin nket Liam always brought in the car was draped over Noah, making him look even more peaceful.


    I looked out the window again. The view of the passing street seemed to distract me from the chaotic thoughts in my head. There was no sound, just the steady hum of the car engine. I could feel something in my chest, like a strange, lingering tapping, but I didn’t know what to call it.


    Suddenly, Liam’s voice broke the silence. “Sienna,” he called softly.


    I turned my head, slightly startled by his serious tone. “Yes?”


    He took a deep breath, his fingers gripping the steering wheel tightly. “Do you want toe back?”


    The question froze me. My heart was pounding, so loud I could hear it. “Come back?” I repeated, barely a


    whisper.


    Liam nced up briefly, then returned his gaze to the road. “I know I’ve made mistakes. I know I’ve let


    you down. But I’ll change, Sienna. I’ll be better. I want us to be together again, for Noah and for us.”


    His words hit me more deeply than I ever expected. I lowered my head, tears falling uncontrobly. I’d


    always thought our journey was over, that I’d have to walk alone, no matter how hard it was. But hearing Liam’s honesty tonight, I felt my defenses crumble.


    I covered my face with my palms, trying to control my sobs. “I’ve never thought about this before.” My


    voice cracked.


    Liam didn’t press, just waited. I could feel his sincerity in the way he spoke, in the gentle tremor in his


    voice.


    I took a deep breath, looking up at him with still–wet eyes. “I’ll be back,” I finally said, quietly but clearly.


    Liam turned quickly, his eyes widening in disbelief, before a faint but relieved smile spread across his face. I couldn’t hold back the tears that poured down my face, but this time, they were mixed with relief.


    X


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