Where is Jacob...

"Where is Jacob, Mommy?"

A bone-deep weariness
dims my eyes,
as I hear his question
for the millionth time.
Does he just want
to hear the story again,
or does he really not understand yet?

A grocery checker asks him;
"do you have any brothers or sisters?"
He glances at me
as he shrugs his shoulders, and says "no".

I smile, crushed by his answer,
pretending to not have heard,
as she looks to me for confirmation.

My dear little boys,
how you have complicated my life,
because I don't know the answers.
I only know that I love you
both beyond all boundaries.
Each one in a different way,
and you're each all the more special
because of the other.
.