Pressing a kiss to the top of his head, I allow my eyes to fall closed again when he relaxes. “It was just a dream. I’ve got you.” “I know.” A moment of silence passes before he says, “I love you, Dad.” My heart squeezes in my chest, and the back of my eyelids burn at those three words. There will soon come a day where I won’t get to hear those words from him. He’ll be too cool to tell his old man he loves him, so I cherish every single one. “I love you too. Get some sleep. I’ll be right here.”
