Karyn’s pulse hammered in her ears as her “daughter” tugged at her hand, eyes full of eagerness.
“Come on, Mommy, we’ll be late for school!”
Her lips parted to protest, to say I’m not your mother, but the words came out differently.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart, we still have time.”
Karyn froze. She hadn’t meant to say that. But the moment the words left her mouth, a warmth spread through her chest—an aching familiarity, like she’d said them a hundred times before on mornings exactly like this.
“No…” she whispered, shaking her head. “I’m not… I’m not your—”
But a memory slid in. Braiding her daughter’s pigtails before kindergarten. Wiping away tears after a skinned knee. Packing a pink pony lunchbox. Each one felt clear, real—too real to ignore.
Meanwhile, Jon’s little fists balled up at his sides as he seemed to come to his senses. “Stop it! Stop calling me that!” he squeaked. His high-pitched voice cracked, angry and desperate. “Wait I’m.... not your daughter! I’m Jon, okay?! J-O-N!”
His chest heaved as he glared up at her, but the reflection in the store mirror betrayed him—a tiny girl in a Pinkie Pie shirt and flashing pink boots, pigtails bouncing, looking every bit the child he denied being
“I don’t like school...." Jon said, voice trembling. “I’m not supposed to go there. I’m not a kid. I’m not her, I'm not in kindergarten!”
But the words felt hollow even as he said them. As he said them, a flood of images crashed into his mind—sitting in a tiny desk, coloring with crayons, chasing friends around a playground. He could almost hear Miss Carter’s voice calling roll, see her friend’s smiles when they shared snacks.
“No.... No.....” Jon pressed his hands to his temples. “That’s not me... Dammit...."
But his mouth betrayed him with a whimper: “But I don’t want Miss Carter to be mad if I’m late again…”
Karyn swallowed hard. The sound pierced her, not as Jon protesting—but as her daughter worrying. Her daughter who she loved. Her daughter who had always been there.
And the more Jon resisted, the more Karyn’s own mind bent to smooth over the cracks. His denial only made her want to comfort him, to hold him close and whisper that everything was going to be fine.
Her hand reached out automatically, brushing his pigtails back. “It’s okay, sweetheart. Mommy’s here. Mommy always takes care of you.”
Jon’s breath hitched, tears pricking at his eyes. “I’m not… I’m not… I’m Jon…”
But even as he said it, his small body leaned into her touch, betraying him again.
Karyn put her hands on her 'daughter's' shoulders and smiled
"Let's get you to school my wonderful little girl"
"But...' but despite himself John giggled and nodded happly, the duo walking to a car that sat just outside, the stone glowing once more.... Jon's head felt so foggy....
