Independence

2:58 AM Last Night

I hear ice fall into a cup. Nolan must be awake and thirsty. I am surprised he has not come in to wake me up as he usually does when he needs something in the middle of the night. I anticipate he will hold down too long on the ice button and ice will fall to the floor. Ice continues to fall into the cup and then I hear silence.

A few seconds elapse and then I hear him filling his cup with water. Once again I wait to hear water overflowing and spilling onto the floor. He stops and then resumes filling his cup. He must have stopped to look inside and notice he still has room. He is being so careful. I never hear water spill.

I continue to listen and wait for Nolan to come in and ask me to follow him back upstairs and tuck him back in bed. It is what mothers and fathers do in the middle of the night. They take care of their children in need. I wait until I hear a creak in the stairs and realize he is not coming for me. He is going back to bed by himself.

I am now wide awake and sad. He did not come for me.