er 5:

the morning of

ill weak, he was so excited that he was bouncing up on the wa

ds when he entered the kitchen, his

was making-green with chocolate chip "s

eart, but he promised to be back

ois hadn't come home at all last night. His side of the bed remain

to start his birthda

climbed onto a kitchen stool, his blue eyes-

as I gave him a wrapped p

thday, my

e strength than he'd shown in day

he one in my book!" He

ropped a plate of dinosaur pancakes in f

e a

ightly, thinking hard,

" I asked, though I cou

said. "Can't tell or it won't c

w up for him for once. To be the fathe

ce up and setting decorations for the small party. Just

ordered his favorite cake, and turned o

ready except for one thing: Xen

wear his special birthday outfit-a button-up shirt

llie put on a brave face, laughing with his friends

ach time it opened, hope in his eyes o

on the sofa, his new toys untouched beside him,

is he?" he asked a

fighting back tear

baby. He might

broke my heart. "Riley's mo

. No five year old boy should be going through this, ac

eam?" I suggested on the sp

go to that place by the pa

e looked up at me in

en though I

ble dessert is definitel

dely as he nodded his head. "Can I bring

ricy deserves

. We're going for ice cream now because I refuse to let your absence ruin his entire day. I don't know where y

distance of our house. Ollie was getting exhausted as we walke

g?" I asked, holding his han

p," he decided, bouncing on his toes d

at's when I saw it-the massive electronic billboard across from

d boy blowing out birthday candles on an elaborate cake. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY RILEY!"

ed my gaze, his small body going still as he recognized his father celebrating

all, sounding confused. "Why

eching. Everything slowed down for me. I turned to see a car headed toward us, the driver's

bled as he got to the curb while the car slammed into me, sending me fly

on the pavement, tears running down his pale face. Around

Mommy, w

body wouldn't cooperate at all. Something

oarse and tired as I scanned h

ith one hand while the other patted my face gen

rough my body. He was saf

ce going pale from shock. His eyes rolled

w pain flooding my body trying to

, checking his pulse. "He's breathing

ng a desperate plea to Xenois. *Et

d come to life. Xen's shock and fear came fl

's eyes opened slowly as he

s voice sounding weak. "I

baby. I'm

eath, "tell him it's okay. He doesn't

e. "No, Ollie. He doe

ying the happy scene of the birthday Xenois had chosen to attend

lly tire

eart. The doctors are

bond as it was getting weaker and weaker. The m

ll hand holding on tight to mine. "Don't b

and paramedics rushed toward us, Ol

d triceratops falling forgotten to the