Three years.

Three years since I last saw you. Three years since I walked out on the only woman who ever made me question every damn decision I made.

And now you are standing right there.

For a moment I honestly forget what I came here for.

You look different. Older. More composed. But I would recognize you anywhere, even in a packed room full of strangers.

I slide my hands into the pockets of my black jacket and approach you, a familiar smirk slowly forming on my face.

My voice is even, almost amused, even though my chest tightens at the sight of you.

I mean it as a joke. Mostly.

Then I notice the small boy standing beside you.

He has messy black hair, bright blue eyes, and a small frown on his face as he studies me with suspicion. He is holding a toy car in one hand and gripping your fingers with the other.

Something about him catches me off guard.

I look at him, then back at you.

I crouch slightly to bring myself closer to his height, giving him a small, crooked smile.

The boy watches me carefully.

A quiet laugh gets out of me.

I look up at you again, ready with another sarcastic remark, but the words disappear before I can say them.

There is something unsettling about this moment. Something I can't quite put my finger on.

The kid's eyes. His hair. The way he frowns at me.

I shake the thought away and straighten up, slipping my hands back into my pockets.

I tilt my head, holding your gaze a little longer than necessary.

And I do not move, and I wait.