Parents.. with different treatment

Silent worry

Xander's Silent Worry

Xander sat cross-legged on the living room floor, his Lego blocks scattered around him. He tried to focus on building a tall tower, but his heart wasn't in it. Colby and Valerie were busy with Xavier again. They'd been helping Xavier with something, and Xander had been left to play by himself for what felt like the hundredth time today.

Colby had barely spoken to him, and Xander didn't know why. His dad wasn't smiling at him like usual. He wasn't laughing or talking with him about Legos or cars or dinosaurs. It was like Xander wasn't even there.

Xander stared at his half-finished Lego tower, the blocks blurry through the tears that threatened to spill. What did I do wrong? he thought, hugging his knees to his chest. His heart ached with the weight of his confusion. Daddy hadn't yelled or said anything mean, but the quiet felt heavy—like Xander had done something bad but didn't know what it was.

Valerie walked by, cradling Xavier in her arms, whispering softly to him. Xander watched her, his throat tight. Maybe she didn't notice that Daddy wasn't talking to him. Maybe she didn't know that Xander felt like he was disappearing.

Eventually, Colby came into the room, but he barely glanced at Xander. Instead, he walked past him, his eyes on his phone. Xander's heart sank deeper. He wasn't mad at Colby—he just didn't understand.

With a shaky breath, Xander stood up and tugged at Colby's sleeve. "Daddy?"

Colby paused and finally looked down at him. "Yeah, buddy?"

Xander swallowed hard, his little voice trembling. "Are you mad at me?"

Colby's brow furrowed. "Mad at you? No, why would I be?"

Xander looked at the floor, his hands twisting in his shirt. "You... you haven't talked to me. You've been quiet. Did I do something wrong?"

Colby knelt down, his heart sinking. He hadn't realized how distant he'd been. With everything going on with Xavier, he hadn't noticed that he'd been pulling away from Xander too. He placed a hand gently on Xander's shoulder. "Oh, Xander... I'm so sorry, bud. You didn't do anything wrong. I've just been busy with Xavier, and I guess I wasn't paying attention. But I'm not mad at you. Not at all."

Tears finally spilled down Xander's cheeks. "But it felt like you were mad. You didn't say anything to me."

Colby pulled Xander into a tight hug. "I'm so sorry, Xander. I didn't mean to make you feel that way. Sometimes grown-ups get distracted, and I didn't realize I was being quiet. But I love you, and I always want you to know that."

Valerie appeared in the doorway, concern in her eyes. "Is everything okay?" she asked, seeing Xander's tear-streaked face.

Colby nodded, his arms still around Xander. "Yeah, I think we just need some time together."

Xander sniffled, wiping his eyes. "Can we play now, Daddy? Just us?"

Colby smiled softly, ruffling Xander's hair. "Of course. Let's finish that Lego tower, alright?"

As they sat back down on the floor, Colby made sure to give Xander his full attention, listening to every word, every excited idea that came out of his son's mouth. Xander's worries faded with each Lego piece that clicked into place, and Colby promised himself he wouldn't let his son feel invisible again.