tick tock

i stood outside the kids' room, listening to them talk and laugh. had a flash of the future, some christmas eve 25 years from now, with them back home, tucking in their own kids. i thought of my future self, watching them, thinking back on tonight when they were just kids, laughing about fairies and magic stars. i teared up, went inside for hugs/kisses/snuggles, round two. rubbed warm bellies, held squishy fingers between my own and tried very hard to imprint the video of the night in my mind so when the future comes, i can know i did everything i could to stop time.