Nonchalant

As they stepped into the living room, I welcomed them with a warm smile. Marco wasted no time and rushed towards me, arms outstretched, eager for a hug.

"Hi mommy!" he exclaimed, wrapping his arms tightly around me.

"Hello, my little sunshine," I responded, returning his embrace.

Curious about their outing, I asked, "How was the park?" hoping to strike up a conversation with Marco and Sofia.

"It was amazing! Marco had a blast playing with the other kids," Marcus replied, a smile lighting up his face.

"Yeah, it was wonderful to see him making new friends," Sofia chimed in, offering me a polite smile.

I couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy as I observed Sofia's interaction with my son. The sense of insecurity and inadequacy lingered within me.

"Mommy, can we go to the mall again tomorrow?" Marco interrupted my thoughts with his question.

"Of course, sweetheart. We can go as often as you'd like, as long as I'm not busy, alright?" I responded, tousling his hair.

"Yay!" he excl