A Kiss for the Woman on the Screen

Chapter 1: once again

The first kiss was meant for the woman inside the phone.

“Beso, mi amor,” she said from the bright little screen. “Blow Tía a kiss.”

Daniel looked at her face, considered the request with the seriousness only a two-year-old could manage, and then turned away. He wrapped one warm hand around my neck and pressed his mouth against my cheek.

The woman on the screen stopped smiling for half a second.

“No, Daniel,” she said. “A kiss for me.”

He kissed me again.

I laughed, though I tried not to. The sound came out sharper than I intended, carrying an hour’s worth of irritation with it.

Daniel’s aunt gave a small, tired smile. Then the call ended.

At the time, I thought the child had chosen sides.

I did not yet understand that adults sometimes hear loss where children mean only love.