Away with his child| Xiao X FEM!Reader X Ayato

Guess who is back

See author's note at the end

It has been a few months since I started working at the company. My boss has been treating me well, but I have made a few close friends among my colleagues; overall, the workload has been manageable; and I have been able to learn and grow in my role.

Although, I haven’t been spending a lot of time with my son due to the demands of my job; I feel guilty all the time and have been lying all these years about his father. I have always told my son that his father is away on business, but he abandoned us before he was even born. I never wanted my son to grow up without a father figure, so I created a fictional story to protect him from the harsh reality. I remember the day when he asked me that faithful question.

2 years ago

“Mama! Mama! I want to ask you something.” I turned around to see my son, his wide eyes filled with curiosity. He was only three, but already so full of questions about the world.

“Of course, sweetheart,” I replied, stooping to his level. “What do you want to ask me?”

He fidgeted with his small hands for a moment before blurting out, “Who is my dad, Mama? Why don’t I have one like my friends do?” My heart sank as I looked into his innocent eyes, realizing that this day would come, eventually.

I took a deep breath, trying to find the right words to explain to my son the absence of his father in our lives. “Well, sweetheart,” I began, stroking his cheek, “sometimes families are different. Some children have dads, some have moms, and some have both. And some, like you, have a mama who loves them very much.”

His brows furrowed in confusion, and I could see the sadness creeping into his eyes. I proceeded, “Your dad is not here with us, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t love you too. Sometimes, grownups have difficulties that make it hard for them to be around. It’s not your fault, and it doesn’t mean you are any less loved or special. Remember, you have so many people who care about you, including me, and we will always be here for you.” As tears welled up in his eyes, I held him tight, hoping that my words would bring him some comfort amidst the uncertainty.

“I’m sorry Matthew, please don’t hate me for lying to you?” I expressed in my heart as I whispered comforting words into his ear. Matthew looked up at me, his tear-streaked face filled with confusion and hurt. I could see the pain in his eyes, but I knew that the truth was not something he was ready to handle just yet. So, I continued to hold him, reassuring him that my love for him would never waver, no matter what challenges we faced as a family. At that moment, I knew that my decision to protect him from the truth, albeit a difficult one, was made of the purest form of love a parent could have.

“Mama, please don’t cry.” He wiped my tears with his little thumb and looked up at me with his innocent, doe-like eyes. Despite needing comfort the most, he tried to comfort me with a concerned, trembling voice. I mustered a smile, blinking away the remaining tears, and mustered all the strength I had to reassure him. “I’m sorry, my love,” I whispered, my voice cracking. “Mama is just feeling a little sad right now, but it’s not because of you. It’s because I love you so much.” His small hand was tightened around mine as if to state that he understood.

I’m sorry, Matthew. Your father.

End of Flashback

I sighed I was back at the office again, surrounded by stacks of paperwork and the constant hum of the fluorescent lights. My mind persistently returned to that painful memory, making it challenging to concentrate on work. The office environment seemed even more sterile and suffocating than before. I glanced at the clock on the wall, realizing that hours had passed since I had last made any progress on my tasks.