We lie awake
Listening to him scream
The minutes pass like hours
We cannot move
Eventually the crying stops
A sigh of relief
Finally sleep

***
Rocking in the chair
He is asleep in my lap
I stand
He starts to cry
I keep moving to the crib
Placing him down gently
Whispering I Love You
I walk out of the room

His Screams follow me
Battered by exhaustion
I have no choice
He needs to learn
He is almost one
Moments of eternity pass
Then he is quiet

In the middle of the night
He cries briefly
Arousing us
Then silence

****
Rested
not allowing him to cry

He sleeps
We sleep, victorious
For now