The Night Callie Finally Slept
Several weeks later, I found Callie asleep on the couch with her tablet beside her. For months, she had kept that tablet charged every night. Just in case. That evening, the battery was almost empty. She had forgotten to plug it in.
I realized what that meant. She no longer believed she needed to be constantly prepared.
I covered her with a blanket. She opened her eyes slightly.
“Mom?”
“I’m right here.”
She smiled sleepily. “I knew you weren’t confused.”
I brushed the hair away from her forehead. “You believed me before I believed myself.”
She reached for my hand. “You’re stronger now.”
I looked around the quiet living room. My grandmother’s old clock was ticking. The refrigerator hummed in the kitchen. My keys were exactly where I had left them. Nothing had moved. Nothing needed explaining.
For the first time in a very long time, my home felt like my home again. And more importantly, my mind felt like mine again.
Note: This story is a work of fiction inspired by real events. Names, characters, and details have been altered. Any resemblance is coincidental. The author and publisher disclaim accuracy, liability, and responsibility for interpretations or reliance. All images are for illustration purposes only.
