Shattered

Oh Hear My Cry

I hear the door to my house slamming at five am.

I'm now fully awake.  Thanks alot Jeremy. I twist and turn for almost an hour. And then I impulsively decide to call Nathan.

It rings for almost like a minute before he answers.

"Hey Gem." He says and his voice stops my heart.

"Hi Nate. " I say. And then stop to think why I actually called him.

"Did you... need anything?" He asks. His voice drops a bit.

"Is Ethan awake? I kind of miss him." I say shyly.

"I dont think he is. Do you want me to check?" He asks.

"Please." I almost beg.

There is a bit of anxiety knowing that I left my child with complete strangers. But there's just something about Nathan that makes me feel...at home.  Safe.

He mutters a soft okay. Then gets up.  He walks for a while before knocking on a door.

Did he just knock?

"Hey buddy? Are you awake?" He whispers.

A few seconds pass before he whispers again.

"Mommy wants to talk to you. Are you able to talk?" He asks.

"Okay, I'll come back to get the phone yea?" He says. Then I hear my angel's voice.

"Yes. Hello mommy." Ethan says.

"Hi baby. How are you?" I ask.

"I'm pine mommy.  Are you pine?" He asks.

"Im fine baby. Why are you awake at this time?" I ask him.

"I couldnt sleep. So I was counting sheep." He says and I hear a yawn from him.

"Okay sweetie. Be good okay? Give the phone to uncle Nate." I instruct.

"Bye Mommy." He says.

"Bye baby." I whisper.

I hear his little footsteps padding down the floors.

"Uncle Nate, I'm done." He says.

"Okay buddy go back to bed." He says to him.

"I cant sleep." He whines.

"Okay...what would your mom do when you cant sleep?" He asks. After a few seconds of quiet.

"She tells me to sleep with her on her bed." He says.

A few seconds pass before they speak again.

"Okay.  Come sleep with me in my room." He says. They both walk.

"Gem. I'll call you later yea?" He asks.

"Alright. Goodnight." I say.

"Goodnight my Gem." He says. My heart skips a beat.

And not to mention how much my heart melted at the transaction between him and my son.

I hop out of bed and prepare for work. Soon I'm out and about. I get to Tyler's coffee store and I get Arraine and I coffee and muffins.

Of course have a few conversation with Tyler about literally everything.

Then I head into work.

Arraine is seated in her office as always. She seems so relaxed.

"Goodmornomg ." I say placing the snack on her desk.

"Morning Gem. Have a seat." She says.

"This sounds important." I tell her. She smiles.