Antonio yawned and cracked his eye open slightly.
It was morning. Early morning, fresh morning.
A silent huff came by his side and he glanced down on the pillow next to his. Small head of a little child, heavy in sleep. Antonio lifted his hand and petted gently the soft hair of the young boy. Adoring smile came to his lips. His little child. His.
Slowly, not wanting to wake the child, he wrapped his arms around the boy and pulled him closer to kiss his forehead. So adorable. His.
The little hands of the little boy grasped Antonio's shirt slightly and the chubby face was pressed on his chest. His. His!
He is mine.
Antonio squeezed the little boy on his chest.
A voice of displeasure rang in his ears.
"Boss! A-nto- Don't squeeze me so hard, it hurts, damn it!"
Quickly Antonio's eyes found the boy's. The tight grasp loosened.
"Did I hurt you?"
He asked. Yes you did, was the answer.
"Lo siento, mi tesoro."
The soft whisper.
"Lo siento."
Still his. Only his.
After many years and centuries, his little child, grown up, not anymore chubby, was his.
Never anyone else's. His.
"Mine."
Antonio whispered as he touched his tesoro's cheek gently with his fingertips.
"No."
Antonio glanced straight into his little boy's eyes.
"No?"
He asked.
No! He is mine. Me. I need him.
His little boy turned his head away.
"Yes.."
Antonio's eyes were full of worry.
"What do you mean?"
He asked. Italian man, locked his eyes on the floor.
"I want independence. I'm strong enough to live without you."
Antonio was shocked. His little boy!
"No I'm not!"
Antonio exclaimed. Italian looked confused.
"I'm not. But I'm not."
Antonio whispered.
"Don't go now."
Please.
"Go tomorrow."
Antonio yawned and cracked his eye open slightly.
It was morning. Early morning, dusky morning.
A silent huff came by his side and he glanced down on the pillow next to his. Head of an young man, heavy in sleep. Antonio lifted his hand and petted gently the soft hair of the man. Sad smile came to his lips. His little child. His no more.
Slowly, not wanting to wake the man, not yet, no, he wrapped his arms around the man and pulled him closer to kiss his forehead. So adorable. But not his.
Smaller hands of the young man grasped Antonio's shirt slightly and the face was pressed on his chest. Not his. Not his!
He's not mine anymore.
Antonio squeezed the young man on his chest.
A voice of displeasure rang in his ears.
"Antonio! Don't squeeze me so hard, damn it!"
Quickly Antonio's eyes found the other's. The tight grasp loosened.
"Did I hurt you?"
He asked. No you didn't, was the answer.
"Lo siento, mi tesoro."
The soft whisper.
"Lo siento."
Italian man sat up on the edge of the bed.
"Adiós."