Today is New Year's Eve. A time for fun and revelry. A time to be with family and friends and look back on the past year and look forward to the new one.
Any excuse for a late night and Kieron's there ready to grab it. It could be anything from his older brother and sister being away from home over night and having special 'Mum and Kieron' time to going to bed and then saying he can't sleep. These times when it's just the two of us are extra special as I've been both Mum and Dad to Kieron. We curl up on the settee with a box of custard tarts and a film. Kieron lies partly on the settee and partly on me, with my left arm tucked round him, holding him close. Sometimes one of the cats joins us, usually Molly, Kieron's cat. She snuggles down behind Kieron's knees and dozes off while I get cramp in my arm.
On these nights, Kieron usually asks if he can sleep in my bed and I always say that he can. He sprawls across the bed, gets sweaty and kicks off the covers. I balance on the edge of the bed as moving him is a waste of time...he just gravitates back.
So sitting here tonight, I look back on the last year. A year in which Jade has got her own place, Callum is going to be a Daddy, and I'm still and always will be without my little mate. Next year will be just as lonely.
