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Mike nodded slowly, his eyes flicking between Joe and me. The air around us was tense.
“I'm sorry, Uncle Hank,” Mike finally said, his voice barely above a whisper. The sincerity in his tone pierced through the silence, bringing with it a sense of resolution.
I reached out, ruffling his soft hair gently. “It's okay, Mike. No harm done. You know, sometimes when you get hurt, like when you fall down and scrape your knee, it hurts a lot, right?" Mike nodded in understanding, his eyes still locked on mine. "Well, sometimes people can get hurt too, not on their knees, but in their hearts."
"Your heart got a boo-boo?" Mike's voice was filled with awe, his brows furrowing.
I nodded. "Yes. My heart got a big boo-boo. And just like how you want to stay away from the slide or the swing where you fell, I wanted to stay away from here."
"But you're back now," Mike pointed out, his voice filled with innocent wisdom.
"Yes, I'm back now." My voice was soft, choked with unshed tears. "Do you understand?"
Mike thought for a moment, his brow furrowed in concentration. "Like that time I fell off the swing, and I didn't want to swing anymore. But then after a long time, I wanted to swing again 'cause swings are fun. You had a boo-boo, and it hurt, so you didn't want to come here. But now your boo-boo is better, and you're back 'cause you like it here."
His simple explanation of my complicated emotions took my breath away. His innocent wisdom, his ability to see through the complex layers of Daddy problems to the simple heart of the matter was refreshing.
"Yes," I replied, a chuckle escaping my lips. "You're absolutely right."
Mike gave me a broad grin, satisfied with his understanding. Then, he crawled into my lap, his body radiating warmth. "Next time you get a boo-boo, Uncle Hank, just remember to put a band-aid on it. That's what Daddy does when I get hurt."
I laughed, pulling Mike into a hug. His advice was innocent, naive even, but at that moment, it felt like the most profound wisdom.
"You're right," I said, looking over his head at Joe who was watching us with a fond smile. "I will remember that."
As I sat there, with Mike in my arms, his simple wisdom echoing in my ears, I realized just how much I'd missed being around Littles. Their innocence, their joy, their ability to find happiness in the smallest of things, it was a balm to my bruised heart.
"Uncle Hank, will you come around and play with me?" Mike said as he crawled out of my lap and held up a toy dinosaur, waving it around excitedly. "Rexy here would love to meet you."
I laughed, kneeling down next to him. "Sure, buddy. Rexy seems like a fun guy."
His giggle echoed in the room as I took the offered toy and engaged in a mock dinosaur battle. The warmth that blossomed in my chest surprised me. This. This was what I had been missing.
"But what about when you get your Little?" Mike's innocent question caught me off guard. "Would you still play with me?"
His question, though simple and innocent, made my heart ache. I gave him a soft smile, "Of course, Mike. I'll always make time to play with you."
He seemed satisfied with that, a grin spreading across his face. But his mind was already on to the next question. "Can your Little and I be best friends? 'Cause you and Daddy are best friends, and it would be cool if we were too."
Before I could respond, a stern voice cut through the room. "Mike," Joe warned, giving him a sharp look. He looked at me apologetically, his gaze filled with understanding.
"But what did I do wrong, Daddy?" Mike's face fell, looking utterly confused.
I shook my head, ruffling his hair. "It's okay, Mike. I don't mind. You didn't do anything wrong."
Mike turned to me, his eyes filled with relief, and then curiosity. "So, what kind of Little do you want, Uncle Hank?"
I hadn't allowed myself to think about that for a long time. But as I sat there, with Mike's innocent gaze on me, I found myself contemplating it.
"I think...," I started slowly, "I think I'd like a Little who is brave. One who isn't afraid to ask tough questions." I winked at him and he giggled. "And definitely someone who loves to laugh. But most importantly, someone who knows how important it is to always get back up, no matter how many times they fall."
He gave a solemn nod, looking at me with respect. "That sounds like a super cool Little."
I smiled, my heart feeling lighter than it had in a long time. "Yes, Mike," I said, giving him a small nod. "I think so too."
I walked back to where Joe was sitting with the other Daddies watching over their Littles.
“Joe, how do you do it?” I asked quietly. “Don't you ever fear of getting hurt? Of it all being taken away from you when you least expect it?”
