Read You don't know I loved you :: Little Theo

Nial was out of danger, but he laid in vegetative state for several days. Leo spent his days working at office and nights caring for Nial at the hospital. While he was away, either his or Nial's parents stayed at the hospital. From time to time, he would go home to play with little Theo. Everytime he held Theo in his arms, Theo would ask about his papa. Leo told him that Papa went for a meeting in other country. He will be back as soon as he is done. Little Theo did not believe him at first. His papa always stayed with him. Since the day he was born, Nial had never left him alone for a minute. Let alone, a day. But as the days kept passing by, Theo started believing in his daddy. Because his papa will not leave him unless he has something important to do. Right?

On a hot day, little Theo had a dream. His Papa was taking a walk in the garden. He was surrounded by flowers, white beautiful flowers. He looked back at him and smiled. He said to Theo, " Theo, papa wants to go. Papa must leave you this time."

Little Theo said, " but Theo needs Papa. Theo loves Papa so much. Theo can't let papa go."

His papa replied," I love Theo the most too. But Theo made Papa fall. Papa got a big ouchie. A very big one. Papa does not love theo anymore. Papa will leave now."

Suddenly, every flower in the garden bloomed in red. Just like the blood that Theo saw that day and his Papa disappeared.

With a heavy gasp, theo woke up from that horrible daydream. He looked around but his Papa was not there. His frown turned upside down. His small lips turned downwards. Slowly, sobs got out of his mouth and big round tears drift down his cheek. " Papa...wu...papa..."

He walked like lost puppy with his tail turned down. And finally his sobs turned into loud cries, " papa...papa..."

When his grandparents heard the commotion, they ran towards him and picked him up. They tried to calm him down but little Theo didn't stop. Soon, he started choking on his sobs.

Leo's mom was worried for the child. So, she called Leo and asked him to return as soon as possible. It was half an hour of commute. Theo cried for half an hour too.

Finally, when he saw his daddy, he gripped his pants and he burst into cries. " Daddy...daddy...where is papa?...i want papa."

Leo was shocked by Theo's questions. It's been a week since that accident happened. but Theo stayed calm for last whole week. He behaved like an adult as if he understood everything. But the truth is, he was a child. He was no adult. He can be fooled for a week or two. But he can't be kept away from the truth. It's about his Papa for crying out loud. He came out of his papa's belly. They share a bond. Just like Nial knew his child was in danger. Theo also had this feeling that his papa needs him.

"Daddy...please...papa...take me to papa." Theo asked in a begging tone. " pwease...hic.."

" Theo Papa has a meeting. I told you.Papa had some work. Important work." Leo said in a stern tone.

" You lying...hic...no..i want papa." Theo loosened his grip and walked back to his grandma's arm with puffy cheeks and penguin walk. " Nona..Nona...papa said he will leave...nona...papa...leave."

When Nial's mum heard her grandson words, she felt her heart turning into a heavy stone," What are you talking about Theo?"

Theo looked at her Nona with eyes full of tears, " Nona...Papa said...hic...Theo hurt Papa...so he go...leave...Nona...Daddy...I wanna see PAPA...PWEASE....hic...Pwease..."

Leo could not help the tears welling up in his eyes. He picked up his son and wrapped his arms around him. He kissed his cheeks and said, " Theo is such a baby. Papa... he is busy. He will come back once he is free. He will come back to us once he is done. He will...He has to. Baby Theo...if you will cry like this, Papa will feel so sad. He loves Theo so much. Papa will never leave you Theo."

" hic...but he said...hic.." Theo burst into tear again.

" shhhh...shh... It was a dream Theo. A bad dream. Papa will never say such things to you. He loves you the most in this whole world. That wasn't Papa. That was a dream. Just a dream." Leo wiped his tears and used a tissue to blow his nose. " Now calm down...breathe...theo is such a good boy. Papa Nial will bring you your favourite snacks next time."

" You know papa is in a country where mountains are made of chocolate and the grass is made of jelly. Papa is collecting the candies for Theo. He is so busy." Leo chuckled as he saw Theo's eyes getting wider. He continued the story about how the almighty Nial is on a quest to find confectionery for Theo. His voice made Theo drowsy. Soon, the child fell asleep in his arms.

Nona wanted to take the child back to back but Leo stopped her, " It's alright. He will sleep with me tonight. Just in case, he had another nightmare, I don't want him to wake up alone.

Leo took baby Theo to his bedroom and sat on the couch by the window. He looked towards the sunset and tears flowed down his eyes. In the vacant room, the sound of Theo's breathing got mixed with Leo's sobs.

" You can't leave us Nial. You won't. Right?"

No one answered.