I pulled him into my arms with a fierce, desperate strength and pressed my face into his neck as he finally broke down into loud, heaving sobs that shook his whole body.

“I’m so sorry, Mom, I’m so sorry for making everything so hard for you and Dad,” he cried uncontrollably into my shoulder.

“You’ve never made anything hard for us, Austin, you’re the biggest blessing that ever walked into our lives,” I sobbed back, kissing his wet cheeks again and again.

We stayed curled up together on that bedroom carpet for a long time, holding on to each other until his heavy sobs slowly softened into quiet, even sniffles.

I reached out, took hold of the zipper on his blue rolling suitcase and pulled it over to us on the floor.