A Mended Heart
Based on a true story.
For Little Leo. You deserve the world.
The man slowly approached the little boy at the school playground.
The boy's face was expressionless. Unmoving. In shock.
His hands were clenched tight, his knuckles turning white.
He was holding onto something.
A paper heart for Mother's Day.
Brutally torn in half by his teacher.
He had been scolded for not following the instructions.
The man remembers.
He never forgets.
The man took a closer look at the boy's face.
At his dull eyes, once so full of joy and excitement.
The man began speaking softly, careful not to startle the boy.
"Hey, kid. You alright?"
The boy glanced up at him, then back at the seemingly endless stretch of grass.
Silence.
The man held out his hand.
"Do you mind giving me your…"
The boy quietly nodded and handed him what remained of the paper craft.
The man's heart ached.
It always ached.
The man gently took out a roll of tape.
The boy looked up, curious.
The man tore off a small piece and began taping the two halves back together.
Clumsily.
"You know, you were always better at arts and crafts than me…" the man admitted.
The boy's lip curled up ever so slightly, like he was trying to hold back a smile.
The man's heart ached even more.
"There you go, buddy."
The man handed back the repaired paper heart.
The boy looked everywhere except directly at him. He seemed unsure.
The man sighed.
"I know you made another one, but please…"
He paused and stared into the distance.
Then he looked back at the little boy.
"Give this one to your mother, okay?" the man insisted.
The boy hesitated, then gave a barely noticeable nod.
Then, the man lowered himself onto one knee and held out his arms.
"Hug?"
The little boy quietly walked into the man's embrace.
"You are the most extraordinary child I know. You are more than enough. Please remember that, okay?"
A small, wet sniffle escaped the little boy.
And then a sob.
A wail.
The boy hugged the man as tightly as he could, desperately not wanting to let go.
And just for a moment, everything was okay.
…
When it was time to go, the boy ran off and gave the man a big wave goodbye.
The man turned around and began walking home.
He knows that one day, there will be an older, wiser man waiting to embrace him.
No matter how unlikely or painful things may seem.
He always believes.
It's what the little boy would've wanted.