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We stood up, although I was a bit worried since my body hadn’t fully recovered after chemotherapy. However, seeing Charlie’s cheerful smile made all my fatigue seem to vanish.
Nicholas and I followed his lead and joined in the game. The sounds of laughter and Charlie’s joyful shouts filled the air, creating an atmosphere of happiness. This moment made me feel alive again, realizing how precious time with family is. We ran, played, and enjoyed every second we had.
We played a simple game of throwing the ball. Charlie ran around chasing the ball, his laughter echoing throughout the park. Occasionally, Nicholas would intentionally throw the ball far, making Charlie laugh even
more.
“Dad is unfair!” he shouted when Nicholas made a throw that was too high. I laughed, grabbed the ball, and said, ” It’s my turn now.”
Carefully, I threw the ball, making sure Charlie could catch it easily. He succeeded in catching it and jumped for joy, his face glowing with happiness. Seeing him so delighted made me feel that all our efforts and struggles were worth it. We continued playing, lost in the simple joy that made the day even more memorable.
After tiring ourselves out, we sat back down on the mat. A gentle breeze ruffled Charlie’s hair, which was now damp with sweat. He hugged my knees, gazing up at the sky. “This is the best picnic, Mom,” he said softly.
I smiled, stroking his cheek. “I’m happy if Charlie is happy!”
Nicholas, sitting beside me, looked at us with a gentle expression. “We can do this more often if Charlie likes it,” he said
Charlie nodded enthusiastically. “I want to! Dad and Mom have to promise!”
Nicholas and I exchanged glances and then nodded in unison. “Promise,” we replied together, making Charlie giggle.
The sound of his laughter warmed my heart. Amidst the laughter and happiness, we found new hope for our family. The three of us, together, felt the love and togetherness we had longed for.
As the afternoon began to fade, Charlie fell asleep in my lap after playing and eating to his heart’s content. I gazed at him with love, feeling deep gratitude for this moment. Nicholas sat beside me, quietly covering Charlie with his jacket, slowly keeping our son warm.
We didn’t speak much, just enjoying each other’s presence in silence. The peaceful atmosphere in the park, with the soft glow of dusk, made me feel that our little family was becoming whole again. In this simple moment, all burdens and worries seemed to vanish, replaced by genuine love and togetherness.
Even though there were many things left unresolved between Nicholas and me, today I felt that everything would be alright, as long as we stayed together for Charlie.
Our togetherness in the park, the laughter and love we shared- we had each other. With Charlie as our connection, I believed we could face whatever came our way. Today was a small step toward healing, and I was determined to cherish moments like this to keep our family whole and happy.
On the way home after a fun picnic, our car suddenly stopped by the roadside. Nicholas tried to start the engine several times, but there was no sign of life from the vehicle. 1, sitting next to him, felt a bit anxious, while Charlie, who had just woken up, rubbed his eyes and asked in a hoarse voice, “Why did we stop, Dad?”
Nicholas sighed, unbuckling his seatbelt. “It looks like the car broke down,” he said calmly, glancing at me and
Charlie. “Walt here, okay? Dad will check it out.
I nodded, watching him get out of the car and
open the hood. Nicholas looked busy inspecting the engine, occasionally wiping his forehead, which was starting to sweat.
I turned to look back at Charlie, who was now fully awake. His face showed curiosity, and I could see a hint of worry in his eyes.
“Dad is checking the car, sweetheart. Let’s wall a moment, okay?” I said with a gentle smile, trying to ease the mood. Charlie nodded, but it was clear he was still feeling uncertain. I tried to encourage him, hoping Nicholas would find a solution so we could get home safely.
“Are you thirsty, Charlie?” I asked, opening the small bag, beside me. I took out a water bottle and handed it to him. He shook his head slightly but accepted the bottle, glancing out the window at Nicholas.
I could see the uncertainty on his face, so I tried to divert his attention. “If you want, we can drink while we wait for Dad,” I said softly
Charlie opened the bottle cap and took a sip, but his eyes remained fixed on Nicholas, who was trying to fix the car. The worry and desire to help him made me feel the need to stay calm and cheerful so that Charlie would feel more comfortable in this situation.
“Carr Dad fix the car?” Charlle asked innocently.
I smiled slightly, trying to soothe his anxiety. “Dad is great. He will definitely manage,” I replied gently.
But after a few minutes, Nicholas returned to the car with a grim face. “It seems this is a big problem,” he said, looking at me with an apologetic expression. “I need to call for a tow truck.”
I nodded, although I felt a bit worried since we were quite far from the city. Nicholas quickly contacted the towing service, while I tried to entertain Charlie, who was starting to get restless waiting in the car.
“Do you want to play guessing games with Mom?” I offered cheerfully.
Charlie seemed to think for a moment, then nodded. “Okay! You go first, Mom,” he said with a spark of enthusiasm returning.
I smiled, trying to create a relaxed atmosphere even though my heart was a bit anxious. We played simple guessing games, like naming animals, objects, and colors. Charlie’s cheerful laughter eased some of the tension in my chest.
Nicholas, who had finished the call, returned to the driver’s seat. He glanced at us for a moment, then smiled slightly. “Can I join the game?” he asked, leaning back in his seat.
