Zephaniah // z.m

Forty six

Zayn

Zephaniah's birthday. The day I, selfishly, dreaded the most, but was also one of the most important days in my life. Zephaniah's birthday, the day where someone very tiny completely changed my whole life when he came into it, yet the exact same day where many people left because of that tiny little baby I held oh so carefully in my arms.

The day where I had to let go of important things, the day where I learned how to let go of people that once meant so much to me. The day where I had to cope with every emotion ever to exist, but most importantly, the day where I was taught how to be responsible, how to be mature, how to be a father.

My hand was resting under my cheek as I stared at my sleeping son beside me in the big bed. He wanted to sleep with me so bad, because he was just so nervous for today.

I smiled, knowing how I needed to keep my eye on him even more today, but I also felt sad, knowing I was going to crush his feelings once again, not being able to afford number 1 on his birthday list for another year.

I had stacked his presents on the bed already, made him breakfast in bed, something that only happened on his birthday. Toast with sauce and cooked egg yolk, Zephaniah hating the squishy texture of egg white. A damping cup of chocolate milk was placed on the tray as well, along with two blueberry muffins and a croissant.

And thankfully yet sadly, his pills once again beside his plate.

Honestly, I couldn't care less how bad this breakfast probably was. It was our tradition, mine and Zephaniah's. The things he loved to eat and drink the most. It was his day. And I'd do anything for him to make it as perfect as he wished it would be.

Zephaniah started to move around, a soft sound leaving his mouth as he woke up completely, his eyes fluttering open. He stared at me for a while, giving me a toothy smile as he noticed me looking at him already.

"Zeph!" I exclaimed happily, pulling the still sleepy boy onto my lap. His bare upper body felt warm due to the sleep, his hair messy. "Happy birthday to my most favourite little person on the whole wide world. Daddy loves you so much." I pressed kisses all over his face, causing Zephaniah to giggle.

He turned around on my lap so he was facing me, pressing a kiss to my lips. "Thank you, d-daddy." He whispered shyly, his cheeks tinting red as he was overwhelmed.

"Of course, do you feel okay?" I asked him, rubbing circles on his back, touching the fabric of his red little underwear in the process.

Zephaniah nodded slowly, kissing me again. "V-very nervous, baba. But okay, okay?" He assured me, his big eyes and expression serious.

I smiled at him, wrapping my arms around his body. "Mhm." Kissing his soft, black, hair, I hummed as I swayed him from the left to the right side. "I cannot believe you're already eight. Time flies. Can you stay little forever?" I mumbled out.

Zephaniah pulled away from me, his expression still serious. "W-wwil try, daddy. But w-wwhere did the time go to?"

I laughed, softly pinching his cheeks. "It was a little joke, sweetheart. But look! There's all presents and food. What do you want first?" A choice. I was curious what he was going to choose first, if even he was going to choose in the first place.

He stared at all the presents, his lips parting as he wanted to speak up, but stopped once his eyes landed on the food. He gasped, his eyes sparkling, "Baba! Y-you, you- you m-mmade choc-choco milk! A-and sauce and eggs and cro-cro.. cro-croissant," He struggled and stuttered out because of his excitement, a wide smile forming on his face.

"I did, Zeph!" I said as enthusiastically as he did, bouncing him up and down as he sat on my leg.

"Wow," He whispered in awe, even if it happened every year on his birthday. Wrapping his arms around me, he hugged me tightly, kissing my face multiple times. "Thanks you, baba, sooo m-mmuch! To the sun a-and back!"