Mother & Son

[Year X425 Norma]

"Ohh he's becoming a little man!"

"Haha, yes!"

The blonde woman giggled as she answered one of her customers while she was fixing his car, with little Weisz trying to steal some wrenches from her, with the customer smiling tenderly at the scene.

And now, Irma Steiner watched her son grow day by day. Little Weisz was now almost a year and a half old, and every day he learned something new. He smiled a lot, with that sly smile of his that reminded her so much of his dad, even if she tried not to think about it too much. That child was now only hers and no one else's.

She wore him, she fed him, she had the crib next to his bed and she woke up every night to see if he was okay. Not that ungrateful person who had stolen just one night of her time and left her with that bundle. Maybe the only good thing about that whole situation.

After work, she said goodbye to the customer and went into the house with the little one in her arms. While she was preparing his food and something for herself, Irma noticed that Weisz was trying to lift himself up on his little legs, grabbing and hugging a table leg to keep his balance. His face was focused, his little hands gripping the wood with all their strength. The woman held her breath, trying not to make too much noise so as not to distract him.

Patiently, she knelt down next to him and took his little hands. "Do you want to try walking, love?" she asked softly. The child looked at his mother with wide eyes, almost intrigued by this new challenge. Irma smiled, feeling a wave of pride and love filling her heart.

Weisz took a first uncertain step, swaying, his hands still clasped in Irma's. His mother encouraged him with a calm and gentle voice, helping him to keep his balance. "Okay, baby, you're almost there. One step at a time," she whispered, moving closer to reassure him.

After a few tries, Weisz managed to take three steps on his own, breaking away from Irma's hand for a moment. He looked surprised, as if he hadn't expected to be able to do it either. Then, without warning, he lost his balance and fell flat on his face on the floor.

Irma held back a laugh, seeing the little one start to cry in fear, shouting "Mammaaaa." One of the first words he had learned along with "Pappa," "Ninna" and "Cacca." "Good job, my love! You've taken steps!" Irma said, lifting him into her arms and giving him a kiss on the forehead. Weisz calmed down and smiled at her with an infectious smile. Seeing him like that, she knew in that precise moment that everything she needed was contained in that small, bright smile.

From that day on, Irma spent hours every day teaching Weisz how to walk, encouraging him with some tool, obviously not dangerous, while she was at work or at home, taking him by the hands and supporting him.
And he committed himself with the same determination he saw in her. Even when he stumbled and fell, he always got up again, ready to try again, guided by the love and patience of his mother.

One day, after weeks of trying, Weisz took ten steps on his own, walking straight towards Irma, who was waiting for him with open arms and a radiant smile. She took him in her arms, feeling a joy she had never felt before. He had walked towards her, towards that love that had always been there for him.

She knew that the road was still long, that there would be difficult moments. But, with every little step Weisz took, the future seemed a little brighter.

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