Billy and Lady sat next to me, comforting me, as I listened through the phone about how excited she was to be back home. With her friends, to see her teachers, to play with her own toys and to be back with her mom and dad.
I felt happy for her as I listened and drained the bottle of wine in front of me.
Before I made it in bed, I carefully gathered all of my Little One's pictures, toys, drawings, the odd article of clothing. And put them into a box, into a hidden corner out of view's way.
There wasn't a lump of warmth beside me that night. But it was okay, I never had it for a long time.
Just like last time, I'll be absorbed into my black hole soon enough.