Noah looked disappointed.

I let him be disappointed.

I did not soften the answer into a possibility I could not honestly offer.

He sat quietly for a while, then asked if we could invite his friend Mateo over on Saturday.

Life moved forward as soon as there was room for it.

At bedtime he sometimes still needed reassurance.

He would ask whether I was leaving when I went to the grocery store or whether I would answer if the school called.

I responded the same way each time, not with grand promises about forever but with specific plans.