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*'' Well?'' I asked. He looked up at me with his little puppy-dog eyes from where he sat cross-legged on the floor. `` Time to go. `` * 
 
 *'' Not until you buy it,'' he said back in his sing-songy voice, clutching the stuffed puppy to his chest. * 
 
 *'' Jayden,'' I said, trying to remain calm. `` I am leaving without you. `` * 
 
 *'' I do n't care.'' He stuck his nose in the air. * 
 
 *'' Fine,'' I replied. `` Goodbye then.'' I turned and slowly walked down the aisle without him. Within moments I heard the pitter patter of his tiny feet racing to catch up. Soon his hand was pressed into mine as usual. I looked back to see the puppy dog left alone, abandoned sideways on the floor. * 
 
 And now, 12 years later, he stood in front of me, clutching his laptop, standing gangly and freckled in the lobby of his new dorm. `` Well,'' I said, `` I guess it's time to go now.'' He blinked at me with those big brown eyes, and I turned to go, slowly passing through the lobby, listening for the sound of his footsteps, running after me, leaving the laptop strewn and abandoned on the floor. But the sounds never came. And I realized that the tides had turned and he no longer needed me: but more than anything else in the world, I still needed him. My eyes filled with tears. 
 
 **So... did you watch the game last night? **
