#Chapter 18: Bloody Lips and Glowing Flowers

Eyes warm with tears, I approached my son, his strong and prideful silhouette plucking at each heart string. I kneeled down and hugged him, kissing his cheeks in the soft moonlight. He giggled at the sudden act of affection and hugged me back. I rested my chest on his little shoulder. “Theo,” I said, rubbing soothing circles on his back. “Do you like Aldrich?” I couldn’t help but ask. As the question hung in the air, I felt stupid. How selfish it was of me to want to keep him from his own father. If he liked Aldrich, it was his own choice to accompany him. Plus, Aldrich had a lot more to offer him than I did. Theo sunk back slightly, a bashful look on his face. He seemed as if I just told him something important, and I worried that I revealed too much of my insecurities to him. “Do you like him?” he finally answered, reflecting my question with urgence.“If you do, I like him. If you don’t like him, I don’t.” He looked worried,