Drip

Jen kneels by the side of the bath. Lukewarm water kisses her fingertips as she swirls them through the bubbles. The brightness of the light shines down onto her and her son, illuminating his wet, blond hair. She lifts his comb and begins gently running it through the strands, smoothing it into a comb-over. 

      He babbles, showing his perfect milk teeth. It won’t be long until he’s talking, shouting ‘Mama’ whenever he needs her. Jen smiles, imagining the silly conversations they might have while she feeds him dinner or dresses him for bed. 

      For a while now it’s just been him and her and she’s grown accustomed to it. His father had fled in the aftermath of another argument, returning a few days later to say he wanted a divorce. Jen didn’t care though. He had been suffocating her, infringing on her time with her son. They settled the divorce quick enough. She got to keep the house while he took the car. 

      But now he wants her son. 

      A letter had arrived from his lawyer last week. He was asking Jen for 50-50 custody, happy to make arrangements between the two of them. If she was difficult, he would take her to court. When she opened the envelope it was like a punch to the gut and she vomited into the kitchen sink. Her son sat in his highchair watching her retch over and over again. He clanked his spoon onto his plate, oblivious that their life together was ending. What would she do without him?

     The drip, drip, drip of the tap catches Jen’s attention. She had been staring at her son for a moment, entranced in the cooing noises he makes to himself while he plays with his rubber duck. The water has gotten tepid. She should take him out soon, dry him and put him to bed. But he loves bath-time so much and she is so peaceful being in his presence, so content that he is near, that she doesn’t want to disturb him. She turns on the hot tap and then the cold, watching the water stream into the tub below. 

     Her son splashes sporadically, sparking droplets onto her face. His toys float around him on the surface. Jen lifts her hand to the top of his head and gently pushes on it. 

     The water is up to her elbow, soaking her sleeve.