No emotion

When I get back to my room, I find Sebastian, his wife Carol, and little baby James waiting for me.

My mood improves immediately, although not by much, and I smile gratefully at them.

Sebastian hunkers down and gives me a heartfelt hug, which I return heartily, breathing in his familiar smell. Hugging him feels like home but in a brotherly way.

If anyone had ever told me that I would come to think of Sebastian as a ‘brother’ some three years ago, I would have laughed their face off.

I glance at Carol to see if she’s uncomfortable with this display of emotion that her husband is giving me, but she clearly isn’t.

I wonder how refreshing it must be to be so sure of your partner. She’s beaming at me and waiting her turn to give me a hug, which I gladly accept.

They then place baby James in my arms, and immediately my mood brightens after he gives me a two-toothed smile, and reaches for a strand of my hair. Tugging on people’s hair is his favorite pastime.