Run and hug

I've just come down from putting her down. Mommy is doing the dishes. We stand in the kitchen discussing the day.

Suddenly, the loudspeaker blares: "ATTENTION DADDY! ATTENTION DADDY! I ALLOWED YOU TO LEAVE AND NOW NEED TO USE THE POTTY! ATTENTION DADDY! PLEASE RETURN TO TAHLIA'S ROOM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! ATTENTION DADDY!"

Ok. So she didn't say that, it sounded more like: "DADDY! DADDY?!? I need to go pee-pee! Daddy!"

I grab the potty and head up the stairs.

The room is black as I enter. The small night light is not enough to even cast a light shadow across the room. As I place the potty in its base, I hear the rustling of a small child clambering out of bed. I have enough night vision established now to see a toddler sized body hurtling at me. It slams into me, then clamps it's arms around me. In my ear, I hear, "I love you this much."

I try to hold on.