ʙᴀʟᴀɴᴄᴇ

          johnny takes an inward breath ,    steadying ,    and letting it out as a sigh .    he knows robby has his mom —- now ,   anyway .    he guesses he’s gotten used to her not being around as much as she claimed to be .    still ,   that wasn’t the point .    he just doesn’t want robby to think he doesn’t care about him ;    but somehow he still manages to make that happen anyway .   

                ❛   you know i’d do the same for you ,   right ?   ❜     as soon as the words leave his lips he gets this distinct sinking feeling that maybe it’s not the best thing to say .   but what else can he do ?    robby’s not much of a kid anymore ,   and he’s not hopeful enough to just believe any promise that comes out of his mouth .    ❛   if you ran away to the other side of the country ,   i’d wanna make sure you were okay .   ❜

that’s   what   he   tells   him   and   that’s   what   robby   wants   to   believe.   he   heard   about   his   father   confronting   silver   that   night   at   the   old   dojo   during   prom   night.   it’s   easier   to   say   than   actually   believe   it   though,   insecurities   running   deep   and   there   is   no   way   for   him   to   escape   this   now.   “i   have   ran   away   to   the   other   side   of   the   state.   you   didn’t   notice.”   and   somehow   robby   can’t   help   but   to   dig   on   that   part   for   a   moment,   adjusting   himself   in   the   car   seat.