Stream of consciousness as I listen to this song sent to me this morning from my son. 
Sleep Token: Take me back to Eden. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8h50PjQozw   

Dungeons and Dragon Boy. I visualize him now as a DragonBoy, young man in leathers and zippers, hair shaved on each side, long droop of blond hair darkened to dark, brown through age and hard experience. The boy with don’t-fuck-with-me eyes, hiding hurt that I did my best to heal along the way to his growing up, but now it’s up to him. And the ones who he lets love him. They keep stepping up, small kindnesses and large, evoking his softer, moon-silver laughter. He is not alone.

I stand in the shadows and witness, proud as he protects his own new offspring. Curved around her, on the floor, eye to eye, hope bolstered by trust and love, renewed by the call and response of one to the other and back again. I pray he does a better job than I did. But I’m still standing by for you, my one, my boy.

Do you know someone like that? Do you love someone like that? 

© Liz Husebye Hartmann (2025)

Just Jot January Day 17 – Prompt: FREE FOR ALL. See what other folks have done with the prompt, or add your own. Likely not as grim.  https://lindaghill.com/2025/01/17/daily-prompt-jusjojan-the-17th-2025/