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I could feel his hand brush against mine—hesitant at first, then gently intertwining our fingers as if testing whether I would pull away. We sat side by side at the edge of the waterfall pond, our legs dangling over the smooth, sun-warmed rock. The cool water rushed endlessly beneath us, splashing against our calves and sending faint ripples outward. Mist hung in the air, catching the light and clinging softly to my skin, making everything feel dreamlike… almost unreal.
My heart thumped like crazy, loud enough that I was certain he could hear it over the steady roar of falling water. I tried to steady my breathing, but the warmth of his hand and the quiet closeness between us only made it worse.
Roofie turned his face to look at me.
Roofie: “Is everything alright, mom?”
“Mom.”
Every time he calls me that, something twists inside my chest. A strange mix of warmth, confusion, and anxiety. I know he’s my son—despite everything, despite how suddenly he came into my life, despite how unprepared I was. And yet… hearing it out loud always makes my cheeks burn.
I stared down at the water, watching sunlight flicker across its surface so I wouldn’t have to meet his eyes.
Rachel: “I-umm… y-yeah…”
My voice came out smaller than I intended, barely audible over the falls.
Roofie tilted his head slightly, a playful smile tugging at his lips.
Roofie: “Oh? You don’t seem alright. Haha! Do you still get flustered when I call you, mom?”
Before I could respond, I felt his fingers shift—wet, cool, and gentle—as they laced more firmly through mine. The simple gesture grounded me, even as it sent another wave of nervous warmth through my chest. When I finally looked up, his smile was soft… reassuring, almost impossibly kind.
He wasn’t teasing to hurt me. He was trying to comfort me.
That realization made my chest tighten in a different way.
Rachel: “A little… But… I don’t want you to stop just because of my worried self.”
I swallowed, forcing myself to hold his gaze now.
Rachel: “I accept you… as my child.”
For a moment, the only sound between us was the rushing waterfall and the quiet splash of water against stone.
Then his face brightened instantly, his expression lighting up with pure, unfiltered happiness.
Roofie: “^_^”
His grip tightened just slightly—not enough to hurt, just enough to say he heard me.
And for the first time since we sat down, my heartbeat began to slow… matching the steady rhythm of the water below.
Fin~