When I got home, I felt utterly drained. The day had been exhausting, and my emotions were a mess. I didn't want to think about Jackie anymore or the whirlwind of emotions that came with facing him. I knew I had to stay strong for myself and Dennis. I couldn't afford to let anyone or anything disrupt our lives.
I headed straight to the bathroom, washed my face, and stared at my reflection in the mirror. I saw a woman who was trying so hard to be strong, but also one who was deeply hurt. I reminded myself that I needed to stay firm, to keep things under control, and not let anyone, especially Jackie, throw my life into chaos again.
As I stood there, memories of Jackie flooded my mindhow we met, the way he had helped me, the small, sweet moments we shared. For a brief time, I had felt something for him, but now it all seemed pointless, like a distant memory that no longer mattered.
I shook the thoughts away and made a decision: I wouldn't let these feelings cloud my judgment anymore. I needed to protect myself and Dennis, to stay focused on what matteredour future.
Dennis arrived home not long after. He greeted me like usual and then disappeared into his room to put away his school things. When he came back, he suddenly asked, "Mom, did you do the laundry yet?"
I tried to smile, though I felt tense inside. "Yes, I did."
But Dennis gave me a doubtful look. "Mom, you didn't put the clothes in the washing machine. You just hit the start button."
I froze, panic creeping in as I rushed to the laundry room. Sure enough, the washing machine was runningbut it was empty. My stomach dropped, realizing that my distracted mind had left me absentmindedly hitting buttons without even doing the task.
"Oh no, I'm sorry, Dennis," I said, guilt washing over me. "I've been a little tired and... distracted."
Dennis walked over, taking my hand in his. "Mom, what's wrong? Why are you like this?"
I looked into his eyes, those innocent eyes that could always melt my heart. I sighed and pulled him closer, sitting down with him. "I've just had a lot on my mind, sweetheart. But don't worry, I'm okay."
He nodded, then hugged me tightly. "Don't worry, Mom. I'll always be here for you."
A tear slipped down my cheek as I hugged him back, quickly wiping it away before he could see. "Thank you, Dennis. I know I can count on you."
That evening, I felt a little lighter thanks to Dennis's concern. His words comforted me in ways I didn't expect. I knew I had to stay strongfor him, for us.
Later that night, after Dennis went to bed, I found myself sitting alone in the living room. The house felt quiet, but my mind wasn't. My thoughts kept circling back to Jackie, to the chaos of emotions I had been trying to suppress.
The next morning, I woke up early as usual to prepare breakfast for Dennis. But when I reached the laundry room, I panicked again. I hadn't finished the laundry the night beforejust pressed the start button without loading any clothes. My mind raced as I hurriedly loaded the machine with clothes, feeling ridiculous for making such simple mistakes.
"I'll help you, Mom," Dennis said, stepping in beside me. His small hands reached for the laundry basket, helping me load the clothes.
I looked at him, my heart softening. "Thank you, Dennis. I'm really just tired."
With a smile, Dennis finished loading the laundry and pressed the start button again. I returned to the kitchen to cook breakfast, but my mind kept drifting back to everything that had happened with Jackie, leaving me distracted.
As I was preparing breakfast, I suddenly heard water dripping. Dennis had gone to check and found that I had left the faucet running when I was cleaning the fish tank. The water had spilled over and was pooling on the floor.
"Mom, you left the faucet on!" Dennis called, but I hadn't even noticed.
By the time I realized what was happening, Dennis had already turned off the faucet and was busy cleaning up the mess. He wiped the floor carefully, making sure there were no puddles left.
When we sat down for dinner later, Dennis ate quietly as usual, but I could tell he had noticed my distraction. I took a bite of the food I'd cooked and immediately regretted itit was far too salty.
"Oh no, this is way too salty!" I exclaimed. "Dennis, how can you eat this?"
Dennis smiled, shaking his head. "It's fine, Mom. I don't mind."
Guilt surged through me. I didn't want Dennis to eat a bad meal because of my absentmindedness. "No, Dennis, stop eating. I'll make something else."
But Dennis placed his hand on mine, stopping me. "Mom, don't worry. It's not bad. But I think we should talk."
I looked at him, surprised by the sincerity in his voice. "What do you want to talk about?"
Dennis took a deep breath. "Mom, I know you've been tired and worried. But don't let it weigh you down so much. I'm always here for you. You don't have to carry everything by yourself."
His words hit me hard, but in a good way. I hadn't realized how much my stress and worries had shown. "Thank you, Dennis. I'm so lucky to have you."
Dennis smiled, squeezing my hand. "Everything will be okay, Mom. I promise."
I felt a warmth spread through me as I looked into my son's eyes. He was right. I didn't have to carry everything alone. I had him by my side, and together, we could get through anything.
The rest of the evening felt lighter. We finished our meal, and the weight that had been pressing on me slowly started to lift. I knew I couldn't let the chaos of my emotions overwhelm menot when Dennis needed me to be strong.
After Dennis went to bed, I sat alone in the living room, reflecting on everything. Life had thrown a lot of challenges my way, but I knew I could face them, especially with Dennis's love and support. He was my strength, my motivation to keep going.
Looking at the picture of us on the table, I felt a sense of peace settle over me. No matter how chaotic my emotions became, I knew I had something worth fighting formy son, our life, and the hope for a brighter future.
I promised myself I would keep moving forward, no matter how hard it got. I had to stay strong, not just for myself, but for Dennis. And with that promise in my heart, I knew I could face whatever came next.