Chapter 7 - The Logic of the Broken Toy
A tiny, shuffling sound came from the hallway.
A small face peered around the heavy mahogany doorframe.
Leo, Julian’s five-year-old son, stood in his blue cotton pajamas.
In his small hands, he clutched a plastic toy knight.
The knight’s shield arm was snapped off, leaving a jagged piece of plastic exposed.
Leo looked at his father kneeling on the floor.
Then, he looked at Elara, whose face was buried in her knees.
He stepped over the brass threshold.
His bare feet made soft, padding sounds against the marble.
He walked directly up to Julian and held out the broken plastic knight.
"Papa."
The boy’s high, clear voice sliced through the heavy tension in the room.
"When the knight's arm breaks, you don't put him back in the dark toy box."
Leo pointed his small finger at the white towel on the floor.
"You put him on the soft towel. Because the dark makes the broken parts loud."
Julian stared at his son.
He reached out and gently took the broken toy from the boy's hand.
May you like
He looked back at Elara, who was staring at the child with wide, wet eyes.
---
