The One who never leaves the one behind

“The trees have eyes,” his father would tell him, sharp nails pointing to birds in hollow holes, “so be careful at night.”

Adrian is careful. He is the epitome – a new word he learnt – of carefulness. This is what he told his parents, sometimes said to watch his papa throw his head back and release deep musical laughter. It’s a sound Adrian loves – one which tickles his cheeks and causes him to smile. At times, the bright sound warms him up against cool winds, which seep through half-open windows, working better than the lit fireplace or heated blanket. But now is not the time for laughter, he knows. He must be serious about the topic he must bring up.

His papa is currently lounging on an armchair; legs cross together and large book between his thighs.  It’s his favourite pastime and what Adrian typically finds him doing; “I’m researching,” he repeatedly tells Adrian, beloved blue eyes lighting up at his questions. “I’m trying to find something important. Something about me.” It’s then, for a split second, Adrian sees a glimmer of the same sadness he has when too full to eat his favourite chocolate dessert. A look Adrian wishes to rub away like the eraser used to wipe out frustrating maths questions. Why he has to study maths is beyond him, but in the short time it takes to complete maths questions, the look of sadness disappears as if it never existed.

This time the book is an obscure, foreign-sounding one. Adrian thinks he cannot pronounce the title yet, but he will try if it makes his papa laugh. No laughter just yet, he tells himself. He can make him laugh after.

“Papa,” Adrian calls out, small voice still able to capture all attention, “can I go outside?”

His papa looks up from his book and gazes at him with an amused expression, one corner of his lips quirking upwards and an eyebrow raised. “You wanna go outside?”

He doesn’t sound upset. That’s good.

“Yeah,” Adrian replies, trying to give his best pleading look. It’s the one Hector calls the face of a lost puppy. Hopefully, this works.

“Okay.”

Adrian blinks. “Okay?”

He makes his papa laugh without meaning to, returning the warmth within him.

“Yes, let’s find your father,” he says, closing the book and placing it to the side. “He would want to join us. It’s your first time being outside. He would not want to miss that for the world.”

Glee must have filled Adrian’s expression as his papa beams back at him. Taking his hand, Adrian begins to skip down the corridor prompting more delightful chuckles to bounce around.

“My loves,” his father says as he catches sight of them. “What caused the good mood?”

“Adrian wishes to go outside,” his papa explains, turning to pick Adrian up and place him on his hip.

Adrian nods. “Let’s go. I want to see. I want to play games.”

“Anything for the both of you,” his father answers with a softness that is only directed at them. Never Hector. Never at anyone else.

His father strolls over to them and takes his papa’s hand.

Let the trees have eyes, Adrian thinks.

Maybe they could watch his family play games at night.