His parents had a complicated relationship, separating and reconciling several times before finally divorcing.
There were holidays when neither parent could agree on where Theo should stay.
Jack always had a simple solution.
“Mom, Theo’s spending Christmas with us.”
He rarely asked.
He simply announced it.
And I always welcomed him.
When Jack became ill, Theo showed a level of loyalty that still amazes me.
He visited after school, completed homework beside Jack’s bed, and watched countless movies with him.
He was there when treatments left Jack exhausted.
He was there when Jack lost his hair.
He stayed through difficult days when my son barely wanted to speak and others when he talked endlessly because silence frightened him.
My husband, Daniel, and I often worked opposite shifts while managing hospital visits and medical appointments.
Sometimes Theo spent more hours beside Jack than either of us could.
He never complained.
