She held his hand loosely as they made their way around the busy streets. Her walk was slow and indifferent, pacing her feet along as though each step became heavier to take than the last one. The heat of the sun had gotten to her, yet she continued on, closing her eyes from moment to moment to shield them from the blinding rays.

The little boy holding her hand could only look down at his new G.I. Joe action figure he held in his hands, as his mother dragged his arm in front of him, swerving and sliding past everyone without notice.

His glowing smile could be spotted from miles away as he went back and forth between looking down at his new toy and peering up at his mother to express his joy. But she kept walking ahead, holding on to his hand as though he were a bag of groceries. He nudged at her fingers, begging for her attention and finally she looked down at him, pausing a moment to admire his gleaming face.

She leaned down towards him to slightly brush her fingers over his cropped hair, smiling back at him ever so gracefully. But looking into her eyes made the boy lose focus on his new toy. He saw the familiar rise of her cheekbones yet there was a calm on her face that struck him unawares. All of a sudden he did not feel as triumphant as he had before, and for the very first time he began to understand his mother.

That look on her face would reappear all throughout his life, always reminding him of who is behind his very own smile.