Chapter 17

The sun cast a warm glow over the cozy living room of the Talou residence, where Saya and her five-year-old son, Trae, found themselves engrossed in a playful conversation.

Saya, with a smile that mirrored the sunlight streaming through the curtains, looked at Trae, who was sprawled across the floor surrounded by a collection of colorful toys.

"Mommy T, do you know what a superhero is?" Trae's eyes sparkled with curiosity as he held up an action figure.

Saya chuckled, joining him on the floor. "Of course, Trae! Superheroes are like real-life champions with special powers, ready to save the day. Who's your favorite superhero?"

Trae's eyes widened, contemplating his options. "Hmm, I think I like Captain Adventure the best. He can fly and has super strength!"

Saya nodded, playing along. "Ah, Captain Adventure sounds amazing! If you could have any superpower, what would it be, Trae?"

Trae's face scrunched up with intense thought. "I want to be able to talk to animals, like that Dr.! Then I could have a team of animal friends."

Saya laughed, genuinely delighted. "That's a fantastic choice! What kind of animal friends would you have?"

Trae's eyes lit up as he began listing them off on his little fingers. "A lion, a giraffe, a monkey, and a dragon!"

Saya raised an eyebrow, pretending to be surprised. "A dragon? That's an interesting choice! What would you and your dragon friend do together?"

Trae beamed, his imagination running wild. "We would fly to the tallest mountains and explore hidden caves. And maybe, just maybe, we'd find treasure!"

Saya played along, feigning surprise. "Treasure? That sounds like quite the adventure, Trae! What kind of treasure would you hope to find?"

Trae's face lit up with excitement. "I want to find a magic gem that grants wishes! Then, we could wish for anything we want."

Saya joined in on the imaginative journey. "That sounds magical, Trae. If you found that gem, what would be your first wish?"

Trae pondered for a moment, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "I wish for you and daddy to buy me lots of toys!"

Saya's heart swelled with pride at Trae's wish. "That's such a good wishTrae. But, you already have lots of toys."

Trae grinned, proud of his imaginary adventures. "I️ know but I️ want all the dinosaurs!"

"Oh, you want all of them?"

"Yep!" he stated with certainty, then continued.

"Mommy! What about you? If you had a magic gem, what would you wish for?"

Saya's eyes softened with affection. "If I had one wish, I'd wish for you to always love your mommy."

Trae's expression mirrored the warmth in his mother's eyes as he giggled loudly. "But I love you, Mommy."

Saya pulled Trae into a tight hug, cherishing the magical bond they shared, "And you are the greatest gem in our lives."

In the quiet corners of Saya's heart, a familiar name lingered, creating ripples of longing and uncertainty. Trae, blissfully unaware of the complexities in his mother's emotions, continued to share stories of his imaginary adventures.

One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow across the room, Trae looked up from his pile of toys floating in his tub and asked, "Mommy, when is daddy coming? I want to see daddy."

Saya paused, her heart tightening at Trae's innocent question. She crouched down beside the tub, a tender smile on her face. "Well, sweetheart, Daddy has been very busy with his work, but I promise we'll find a way for you to see him soon."

Trae's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Why is Daddy so busy, Mommy? Is he busy like you are?""

"He has many responsibilities, just like Mommy," Saya explained, reaching for a toy boat floating nearby.

Saya took a deep breath, her words carrying the weight of years of unanswered questions. "Sometimes, life gets complicated, baby. But I promise, I'm doing my best to bring you two together. Your daddy is a wonderful person. He's kind, smart, and loves you very much. One day, I hope you'll get to meet him. We'll figure it out, okay? Until then, let's have some fun with these toys!"

Trae's laughter filled the room, momentarily easing the weight in Saya's heart. She knew that navigating this delicate conversation about Trae's father would require patience and understanding.

Trae nodded, his innocent acceptance of the situation tugging at Saya's heartstrings. "I understand, Mommy. When I meet daddy, can we play together?"

A mix of emotions played on Saya's face as she replied, "Of course, sweetheart. You and daddy can have the greatest adventures together."

As Trae went back to his toys, Saya found herself lost in the shadows of the past. She had been avoiding the inevitable conversation, hesitant to disrupt the delicate balance of their lives. The news of his engagement had struck like an unexpected storm, leaving her grappling with the aftermath.

Late into the night, Saya sat alone, contemplating the next step. A mixture of fear, regret, and hope swirled within her. She couldn't let Trae's chance to know his father slip away, even if it meant facing the consequences of her abrupt departure.

The following day, Saya decided it was time to face the truth. She picked up her phone and dialed a number she hadn't called in years. The ring echoed in her ears, each tone a reminder of the time that had slipped away. As the call connected, her heart raced.

"Hello?" a voice answered on the other end, unfamiliar yet strangely familiar.

"Hi, it's... it's Saya," she stammered, the weight of the unspoken years hanging in the air.

There was a brief pause before the voice responded, "Saya? Is that really you?"

Saya took a deep breath. "Yes, it's me. There's something important I need to talk to you about."

As the conversation unfolded, Saya found herself navigating the delicate balance between her past and her son's future. The prospect of reuniting father and son stirred a mix of emotions, but she was determined to do what was best for Trae.

In the midst of the conversation, she suddenly felt the tender touch of tiny hands cupping her face, accompanied by a child's voice urgently calling, "Wake up, mommy! Wake up!"

A low growl escaped her lips as she struggled to fully comprehend what was happening. Reality hit her—the call had been a mere figment of her dreaming mind. As Saya gradually grasped the reality around her, she found herself met with the grinning face of Trae, who was peering down at her with a mischievous smile.

"I'm hungry, mommy," he declared, his words breaking through the haze of her disorientation.

The dream-like quality of the earlier moment faded as the immediate need for attention pulled Saya into the present. A mix of amusement and affection flickered in her eyes as she realized that, although the dream had been nothing more than a fleeting illusion, the demands of motherhood in the waking world were very real.