I Found a Hidden Stack of Forks Under My Son’s Mattress—Then He Whispered, “Dad Told Me to Keep Them,” and I Knew Something Was Terribly Wrong

thought my love came with a receipt.”

He crumpled beside me. I pulled him in.

The next morning, we sat on Alex’s bed together and told him the knights didn’t have to protect us anymore.

Alex nodded, solemn. Then he tucked one fork back under his pillow, just in case.