Zephaniah // z.m

Seventy eight

Zayn

Today was the big day- for Zephaniah, at least. But secretly for me too, as I was almost as nervous as Zephaniah himself, for his presentation.

The last couple of nights had been hectic, from several panic attacks to a close seizure- Zephaniah couldn't wait for this day to be over.

He had called my name a thousand of times, but the last two nights he had yelled out for Cooper and when I peeked into his room, Cooper's paw was in his small hand, Zephaniah fast asleep as he felt safe.

I would lie if I said I hadn't cried just a small bit, as I noticed and realised the effect of Cooper each day a bit more. Zephaniah was calmer, happier, despite the nerves and fear he was experiencing.

He was more secure of himself, started to read more for me and Hannah, with Cooper beside us, even tried to hold his presentation for us without blushing. Which he succeeded in for the most part, because, let's be real here- who was my Zephaniah without blushing?

We were currently on our way towards the school, Hannah sat in the back beside Zephaniah as she distracted him with a game where they had to exchange jokes and try not to laugh.

Zephaniah won. He didn't really understand the jokes, anyway.

I had glanced through the rear view a few times, my eyes mostly falling on Hannah. My hands would become sweaty, and I swallowed thickly as I remembered the conversation between me and my mother. I had to tell her, today.

Focusing back on the road, I tried to push my thoughts away. We arrived fifteen minutes later, and as I parked my car, Zephaniah had silent tears rolling down his cheeks as he stepped out of the car, immediately clinging to me.

Sighing sadly, I ruffled his hair and crouched down in front of him, looking up at his teary face. "Zephy, you're going to do amazing, okay? Trust baba when he says that. You've got Cooper by your side, and you only have to look at me and Ms. Hannah, yeah?"

"O-okay," Zephaniah cried silently, cupping my cheeks with his little hands, reaching for Hannah's hair with his fingers after that.

"You're a handsome little man, with a beautiful voice and an amazing presentation. You're so brave, Zephaniah." I pressed a kiss to his lips, nose and forehead and gave him a smile, which he returned half-heartedly. "Come on, let's go."

Zephaniah and Cooper walked in front of us, my son clinging to the leash while wiping his face so now and then.

Hannah glanced at me, biting her bottom lip. "I feel so sorry for him. I wish he hadn't had to go through this,"

"Yeah, me either. I just want him to realise or feel it's not that bad once he's standing there, you know?" I turned my face to her, my cheeks coloring red when she was already staring at me. Tell her, come on.

No, not now.

"Yeah. It'll be okay," she smiled, the both of us entering the school in silence as we got caught up in a crowd of children and parents.

Once someone had led us over to the right classroom, I noticed they had built a small stage for the kids to stand on, chairs scattered in front of it for the parents to sit on- the first row reserved for the children.

Hannah and I sat down on the second row, so we could sit right behind Zephaniah, who was flapping his hands rapidly, but Cooper rested his head on them so he would calm down.

I smiled at Hannah, who had seen it too, my eyes almost automatically trailing down to her lips. We hadn't exchanged one single word about the kiss, yet I knew it was okay. We had both wanted it, and words would only ruin the moment of affection.