⚠️ WARNING. DON'T READ THIS UNTIL YOU HAVE TIME TO CRY. ⚠️
Late August 2042
Juno walked back into his room, looking around and taking a deep breath.
This was it. His last night here.
He smiled excitedly and jumped around like a happy kid.
It's like all his dreams were coming true. He was going off to study publishing and literature, and soon enough, he would be on his way to becoming the author he dreamed of being.
Or maybe he already was the author, but he just wasn't published yet.
His room looked a little bare. Most of his stuff was packed up in boxes except his furniture.
Teddie's car collection had taken over about half the room.
He looked over at his desk. A couple of notebooks sat there.
He sighed. Maybe he forgot to pack them.
He walked closer and saw a letter sitting on top of them.
He sat down at his chair and opened it.
♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡
To my dear son, Juno.
My firstborn, my first baby, the one who completed my life and taught me how to be a father.
Thank you for coming into this world. I am forever grateful that you were given to me.
I didn't know it before, but I think I always wanted you, before you even existed.
The day I found out you were there, my whole life changed. Everything I did, every decision I made, it all became about you.
And the day I met you, it was like all my dreams came true.
And in these 18 years, you've taught me so much, and I loved and cherished every moment of it.
You've been my baby, my best friend (sometimes my enemy,) and my reason to live.
You taught me how to love, how to be patient, how to be firm, how to comfort, and I think very soon, you'll teach me how to let go of you a little more, so that you can pave your own way and create your own experiences.
I'm so proud of you and the young man you've become, and I'm grateful that I was able to play a small part in it.
Being a parent is not easy. The last few years reminded me of when you were just learning to walk. You'd stand up confidently and take a step, and I'd watch you from arms reach. And then you'd fall back down and get upset and cry at me because you had fallen. But eventually, you learned to walk, and I no longer had to be there to help you.
And in the last few years, it felt the same. You'd stand up for yourself and try to do something, and then you'd wobble and fall down and get upset at me. And then stand up for yourself again, pushing the boundaries until you fell again, and cried at me because you couldn't "walk" yet. But now you know how to "walk" properly through life, and you won't need me by your side anymore.
But I'm thankful, even if it was hard. Because I was able to be the person you could get mad at or blame or cry to time after time, and despite me feeling at times, frustrated, it was the greatest privilege to be able to be that person for you.
YOU ARE READING
Our Family
Narrativa generale*Sequel* What would it be like to be the patriarch of a family of eight boys? Christopher knows all too well. His parents were out of the picture at a young age, and since then, he's been in charge of the family. He's raised his brothers as if they...
