Chapter 13 - Leo Started Sleeping With the Hall Light On Again
For weeks after the barbecue, Leo pretended he was fine during the day.
He laughed.
Played soccer.
Teased Mia.
Did his homework.
But every night, he asked for the hall light to stay on.
Then one evening, I found him checking the back door lock twice before bed.
That was when I got him into therapy.
Not because he was “broken.” I hate that word.
Because he had been frightened by an adult he knew, and fear like that has a way of making itself at home if you don’t help a child move it out.
His therapist later told me Leo’s deepest fear wasn’t actually that Javier would come back.
It was that next time, I might not hear him.
So I changed things.
I adjusted my work calendar.
Stopped leaving both kids overnight unless absolutely necessary.
Took fewer evening meetings.
Made breakfast every Saturday myself, even when I was terrible at pancakes.
Not because guilt fixes anything.
But because consistency does.
May you like
Children trust safety when it repeats.
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