It was dark in the room. I had turned off all my lights and was ready to go to sleep, but it was the last thing I wanted to do. I was still waiting for the phone to ring. I was still waiting for her to tell me that maybe, just maybe, she had made it again. No stronger person had I ever met, but she wasn't indestructible. I worried about her incessantly and unnecessarily.

She had everything I wanted. She was full of happiness, well-being and had a mutual show of affection. It's what anyone would expect from an offspring, but mine was a special one.

I was being over dramatic about her, but it was the first time she had left home without me holding her hand the whole way…I felt helpless. The phone was soon to ignite with flames from the intensity of focus I was putting on it. Would this feeling of worry ever go away..? Had I put my parents through this immense torture?

I felt queasy and choked-up. Anything would have sent me into a bawling fit at that point. I took several deep breaths, but succumbed to my emotions and cried silently…I was being foolish. I wiped away the tears from my cheeks and welled-up eyes. I gave myself a quick shake and breathed again. I needed something to occupy my time, just for a while.

The phone rang, and I literally knocked over my lamp reaching for it!

"Hello?"

"Hello mommy."

I sighed and a tear rolled down my face.

"Hello precious. How is it going?"

"Really well, I'm having so much fun! She has about a million toys that we can play with and all these yummy snacks-"

"-Be sure to brush your teeth before going to bed," I interjected.

"Yes, ma'am, I will. But I wanted to ask if I could come back again soon?"

I let out a noise she did not like, because she said, in a disappointed tone: "Oh."

"No, no, it's just that I'm missing you very much, so is your dad…"

"Oh you guys miss me? Well you see me every single day mom," she said in a matter-of-fact tone.

I laughed quietly.

"Yes, darling I know that, but we still miss you when you're gone."

"Oh…Well could you guys just stand missing me for a day every once in a while?"

I smiled at her innocence. My child just wanted to have fun with her friends and I would not be selfish and keep her from it.

"You may go back whenever you wish, as long as you get permission from her mother."

"Mommy you rock!" she squealed and I heard her and her friend screaming in excitement. I sat with the phone attached to my ear listening to the happiness I had given her. I felt choked-up again, but I swallowed the feeling and listened.

"So mom, we're gonna go to bed soon, so I have to go. I'll call you in the morning, okay?"

"Okay sweetheart, have fun and goodnight. I love you."

"I love you too mommy, bye!"