Unstoppable: The Error that Cannot Be Written

"So what do you want to be when you grow up, Jimmy?"

"Sparks!"

A smile spread across my face as I tousled his hair. "That's great, buddy. And what do you want to do with your sparks?"

"Fly around and save people, just like the good guys in the movies," he gushed. "Can I have a cookie while we watch the movie?"

"Sure thing, buddy." My smile grew wider as I pulled out some more of my wife's sugar cookies, keeping one for myself before offering a couple more to my son.

He smiled back as he grabbed two more and started munching on them. His six year old mind was already turning as he waited patiently for the movie to start. I loved watching him dream and plan out his future. At least it was something that made him happy, because his mother certainly wasn't doing it for me anymore.

For years, Megan had been so much fun to be around; she was always ready for an adventure or to throw a party at the drop of a hat. Our friends always said we were inseparable and it was true; she was my other half and I couldn't imagine spending all this time with anyone else. But then everything changed after little Jimmy was born...and now she wasn't even letting me see my own kid without supervision anymore. It was getting harder every day to put up with her bullshit but I knew she needed me more than ever right now. If only she could realize that we could both take care of ourselves and be there for our son if we just stopped fighting each other all the time...but there wasn't much either of us could do about that right now. So instead, I decided to try and enjoy the day while making sure nothing spoiled it.

"You know what? You're right," I told him brightly, looking over at him as he gobbled down another cookie while sitting on the couch next to me. "You're a real hero in training."

He looked up at me with wide eyes, his mouth still full of cookie crumbs as he finished chewing and swallowed it down before speaking again. "So does that mean you'll stay home today?" He gave me a look that said he knew exactly what answer he wanted from me but he didn't really expect me to give in to it no matter how cutely innocent he might look with those big brown eyes staring up at me.

"Jimmy, you know Mommy needs help with her job," I reminded him gently, not wanting him to get upset about this because of course I knew how badly he wanted me home today. "You know things are really hard for both of us right now and Mommy is working extra hours so we can pay rent this month."

He looked away sadly before bringing his gaze back to mine when he realized I hadn't ended our conversation yet and still needed an answer from him about whether or not he'd let me go in peace this morning. "But Mommy says you're always working extra hours too," he pointed out innocently as his eyes began to water up slightly. "And you're here more than she is." He started sniffling slightly although he tried hard not to cry as he looked away from me again and placed one hand against his face quickly before wiping his tears away with the sleeve of his shirt before looking back at me again once more. "Please don't leave like Mommy does."

I took in a deep breath as my heart shattered into pieces at the sight of my little boy crying and reached out for him before pulling him into my arms where I held him close to my chest protectively even though he struggled against my hold slightly before giving in completely and tilting his head back against my shoulder where he rested quietly against me while crying softly into my neck as I rubbed soothing circles against his back until eventually his cries subsided into soft sniffles as well as breathing heavily against my shoulder until finally they stopped altogether leaving us both trembling slightly as we held each other tightly together on the couch while a lone tear slipped down each of our faces silently knowing neither of us could afford the luxury of indulging ourselves in sadness any longer after keeping our feelings bottled up inside all these months. So instead we simply sat there together under our own strength holding onto each other while waiting for time to pass by until finally our minds were free enough from pain that we could actually enjoy one another's company again...if only for a little while longer before duty called us away once more...