The light burnt out in the downstairs hallway,

I fretted you wouldn’t find me should you awake.

Yet, there you were at 5am,

by my bedside,

warm and sleepy,

my body felt your presence before my brain caught up.

I lifted you up, your hand brushed my cheek.

Hey little man, I say,

you ok?

You snuggle me in the middle place of the bed,

I rub your little bird back with small circles,

your shoulder blades feel like stubby wings.

In the folds of my sleep I marvel that you found me

without the light on.

Traversing toys strewn about, a whole staircase enveloped in blackness.

Even in the darkness, you stumbled out to greet me.