“jodi grody! you’re here!” max shouted as he climbed into my lap and gave me a giant hug.
“i am here!”
“good. where were you?”
“i was at work.”
“i missed you so much.”
“well, i’m here now.”
“i missed you so much, where have you been?”
“i was at work.”
“no, before that.”
“i was at home.”
“we were here! you should have been here.”
“i’m sorry.”
“i missed you so much.”

and really it’s amazing that i didn’t just weep with joy. because really it’s so damn wonderful to be missed and to be loved so much.