You were coughing a little bit last night—remnants of an earlier cold and the shifting weather—and you worried that you wouldn’t be able to fall asleep. We know you well enough to know that this is the sort of anxiety that immediately precedes you conking out for the night, but you don’t, and the thought of a night spent awake and alone was too much for you to bear. It’s hard to be awake sometimes, in the night, and we are often alone. That we can’t always cling tightly to each other to protect each other from the loud sounds and passing shadows can make us feel scared and exposed. But if you need us, we will always come, no matter where we are. We will snuggle you until you fall asleep, but you sleep through the night pretty well on your own these days, despite the noise. We need you probably more than you need us—so we won’t be far, either way.

dad