Author's note: Ages: Ronan - 13, Taelyn - ?
"I wish you wouldn't spend so much time here."
Ronan glanced up from the magazine he was mindlessly flipping through, giving his mother a weak smile.
"I don't mind. It must get lonely. Besides, school's boring."
Taelyn laughed softly, reaching out to pat his arm. "Boring or not, you should be there. You have a lot to learn yet, you know."
"I get by." Setting the magazine aside on the rolling table, Ronan scooted his chair close enough to lean forward, folding his arms so he could drape himself on her bed. He closed his eyes as she began to stroke his hair. "Besides, you're more important anyway. Always going to be."
"You have such a good heart. Hold onto it, okay?"
"Uh huh."
They lapsed into silence for several minutes, both long past used to tuning out the various noises of the machines in the room. When he felt her fingers stop moving through his hair, Ronan pulled away carefully, not wanting to wake her. She usually didn't sleep very well.
Smiling a little at how peaceful she looked, he stood and gently tucked the blanket around her. He'd go get a candy bar and come right back.
He could go to school tomorrow.
Maybe.