Synopsis

As I reached the entrance to the gallery, my eyes scanned the room, searching for the person I least expected to see: Mia, my ex. But before I could locate her, a small boy stood in front of me with an expression of wonder.

"Wow! You're huge!" the boy exclaimed, looking up with wide eyes.

I smiled, amused by his enthusiasm, and crouched down to be at his level.

"Yeah, kind of," I replied, playing with the idea. "But shouldn't you be in bed by now?"

The boy frowned, as if he were evaluating my comment.

"And miss all this?" he said, then lowered his voice to a confidential whisper. "If you carry me, I'll show you where they keep the ice cream."

I laughed, amused by his audacity, and picked him up.

"How's the view from up here?" I asked.

"I can see everything!" -he replied excitedly, but suddenly his body stiffened and his face became serious-. Mommy.

I turned around, curious to meet this little boy's mother, and was stunned to find myself face to face with Mia.

Mia, the same Mia who had left an indelible mark on my life, was now there, with a surprised expression similar to mine.

-Mommy? -I repeated in my mind, trying to process what I had just heard. Had this child called Mia, my Mia, "Mommy"?

The weight of the situation suddenly hit me, leaving me speechless as I tried to reconcile the image of Mia with that of the mother of this little boy.