Josiah....

He said my name, the first syllable the faintest vibration of air lifting into the sigh of the second before fading out on the gentle breath of the third.

Josiah....

My name.

A whispering utterance singing to my heart of hope.

My name.

Josiah.

As his eyes sought mine, sought me alone, I held that exhalation to me as tenderly as his hand that lay in mine.

Till Nathan's words stabbed with the cutting bite of a blade.

"Stay, Josiah. You're like a pa to 'im."

I am not his father.

I am not.

He said my name.

Mine.

The End