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“Hi, Nana,” I laugh. “I’ve only been away for a few days.”

She presses a plate of food she had into my hands, warm and wrapped in foil. “Put this in the fridge when you get back. Take it to Hayzel on Monday so you girls can eat something proper together.”

“I will, she’s going to love it,” I say. “Thank you for taking care of him.”

Edna shakes her head and replies, “Just go have fun with him. He’s been waiting for you all week.”

"Okay, I’ll bring him back Monday morning? I’ll have to leave early. I'm sorry I just have a big class at eight."

"It’s okay, call me and I’ll be ready for him," she says as she smiles at him and caresses his hair. We both wave goodbye as we sit in the car. Milo climbed in and immediately grabbed Blue and put him on his lap as he’s purring and looking outside from his carrier.

“Guess what,” Milo says.

“What, bud?”

“I got a sticker today.”

“Was it a good one?” I ask, looking at his soft smile.

“The star one,” he says proudly.

“Good job, baby!"”

“Thank you, sissy,” he giggles and strangely enough all the anxiety disappears.

As soon as we get home, we drop our bags by the door. I kneel in front of Blue and open his carrier. He walks out slowly, tail high, sniffing around like he’s checking to make sure everything stayed where he left it, and Milo follows him from room to room, giggling happily.

“He’s happy,” Milo says as he comes back downstairs.

“I think so too,” I tell him. “Come on, give me a hug. I missed you.”

He runs to me and hugs me tight, screaming. “I missed you too!”

The anxiety is still there even if he’s softening everything around my stressed heart.

For now, we’re home, and we’re together.

23

Mireya

Play - Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol

Melody’s pulse

I make my way downstairs and Milo’s little laugh reaches me before I see him. I stop in the doorway of the living room, leaning against the frame as he sits curled into the corner of the couch, one arm wrapped around a cushion, while his cartoon plays in front of him.

My body freezes for a second.

When did he get so big?

His hair brushes his ears now, it’s longer than I remember and his legs are stretching further across the couch that they used to. It’s ridiculous how fast he’s growing up on me.

Okay, I'm probably exaggerating a little on the height part and maybe the hair too.

A smile pulls at my lips before I can stop it.

I stay there a little longer, memorizing the sight of him, then finally push away from the door, heading toward the front entrance.