Watching Elliot move so naturally within our space stirred something unsettled in me, an instinctive awareness that went beyond logic. A quiet question lingered in my mind, pressing against my thoughts with increasing weight—should I continue allowing him this closeness within our lives? Jared had already begun to respond to him, his presence accepted with ease, and that alone made my chest tighten. If Jared grew accustomed to his steady presence, if his instincts began to anchor to Elliot as a constant, what would happen if that presence vanished one day? The thought of Jared experiencing that loss unsettled me more than I expected.
"Mommy, let's go grocery shopping, alright? I want to go to the mall."
"Okay! Let's go together today," I answered with a small smile, letting my instincts settle as I chose to focus on the present rather than the uncertain future.
