Chapter 14 - Milo Stopped Crawling Toward the Sofa
For several weeks after the incident, Milo avoided the side of the living room where it happened.
If a toy rolled toward the sofa, he stopped.
If somebody raised their voice, he cried.
If Caleb wore shoes inside the house, Milo sometimes stared nervously at his feet.
The pediatrician said the behavior could fade with safety and routine.
Caleb wanted to fix it immediately.
He couldn’t.
So he did boring things.
Breakfast.
Bath.
Floor play.
Nap.
Walks.
Dinner.
Again.
Again.
Again.
He stopped forcing Milo to approach unfamiliar adults.
If Milo wanted to stay in his arms, he stayed.
If he crawled away, Caleb let him explore.
Months passed.
One afternoon, a wooden toy rolled beneath the same sofa.
Milo crawled toward it.
Stopped.
Looked back at Caleb.
Caleb remained seated on the floor.
“You can get it.”
Milo studied him.
Then crawled forward.
Reached beneath the sofa.
Pulled out the toy.
Nothing happened.
Caleb smiled.
Milo smiled back.
A tiny moment.
No one else would have noticed.
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Caleb nearly cried.
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