Traveling Back Ten Years To Become My Boyfriend's Mother

3

That night, I had a dream.

In the dream, everything was pitch black except for a sliver of light on the horizon. I ran towards the light. Just as I was about to reach it, I woke up.

I glanced at my phone. It was only five thirty. My forehead was covered in sweat.

My throat hurt. My head was pounding.

I rummaged through the drawer. I found some medicine and swallowed it. Then, I went back to sleep.

"Hot dog buns for sale! Hot dog buns for sale! It's crispy and delicious hot dog buns!"

A street vendor's shout echoed in my ears. I covered my ears, but the voice only got closer.

"What's the deal? It's so early in the morning. Why are you selling hot dog buns in the neighborhood?" I complained.

I angrily opened my eyes. A blue sky and bustling crowds filled my vision.

My mind went blank. I froze.

"Am I still dreaming?" I wondered.

There weren't many cars on the street. People dressed in outdated clothes were riding bicycles. It looked like a scene straight out of the 90s.

I looked down at myself and saw that I was still wearing my Chromie pajamas. I grabbed an elderly man passing by. My voice trembled. "What year is it?"

The old man looked at me. He was confused. "It's 2002," he replied.

2002?!

At that time, my family was still in a small town in the south. We hadn't moved here yet. As someone with no identity, I wandered the streets all day. I finally understood what it meant to live hand-to-mouth.

If I couldn't find a job soon, I might really end up dead in a ditch.

But my current status was sensitive, so I couldn't move around freely.

As night fell, the smell of food wafted from the houses by the road. I touched my empty stomach. I put my climbing skills to use and sneaked into a small villa.

The house was dark. It seemed like no one was home.

I climbed up a tree in the garden and entered the second floor.

"Sorry, sorry. I'm really desperate. I'm just here to find something to eat. I won't take anything else," I whispered, apologizing as I groped my way into the kitchen.

I opened the fridge. There was a lot of bread and kids' milk inside. I tore off the packaging and started devouring it.

Suddenly, a bright light shone on my face.

I instinctively raised my hands, still holding a piece of bread in my mouth.

"Who... who are you?" a timid voice asked.

I looked towards the voice. A little boy in cow-patterned pajamas was standing in the corner, holding a flashlight and staring at me.

My brain froze. On impulse, I responded, "I'm your mom."

4

"Mom, why do you never come back to see me?" he asked.

I sat in the living room. He clumsily brought me a pile of snacks from the storage room.

"Here, these are all the snacks I like. I saved them for you," he said, handing them to me.

I looked up at the family photo on the cabinet. It only showed a handsome man holding him.

I guessed that his parents must have divorced.

"Because I'm very busy with work and travel a lot," I explained.

The little boy climbed onto the sofa. He tilted his head and stared at me. "Mom, you're so pretty," he said.

My face flushed slightly. I felt a bit embarrassed. I reached out and patted his head.

"You've got a sweet mouth," I teased.

He scooted closer to me, leaning against my arm. "Other kids have moms, but I don't. Starting today, I have a mom too," he said.

I suddenly felt a pang of heartache. I turned and hugged him tightly. The boy smelled faintly of milk, which was quite comforting.

"By the way, shouldn't you be going to bed? You have preschool tomorrow," I reminded him.

I glanced at the clock on the wall. It was eight thirty in the evening.

He looked at me reluctantly. "Mom, sleep with me," he pleaded.

How could I refuse this adorable little boy?

I carried him to bed and tucked him in. Suddenly, I realized that there was no one else in this big house to take care of him.

"The nanny had something to do today, so she didn't come back. I'm in the middle class now. I can take care of myself," he explained.

Listening to his mature words made me feel sad.

How irresponsible of the nanny to leave such a young child alone at home.

I asked him, "What's your name?"

"Mom, my name is Noah Clark," he replied. I wondered if it was the same "Noah Clark" I knew.