He slid a thumb under the flap and pulled out the papers inside. I watched his face while he read the top line.
His hands went still.
PETITION FOR ADULT ADOPTION, it said. Below that, in the space for the petitioner’s name, I’d already filled in mine.
“I talked to a lawyer three weeks ago,” I said. “Ms. Alvarado, downtown. She said once I turn eighteen in August, I can legally request this myself, no permission needed from anyone but you.”
My hands were shaking slightly too, I realized, watching his. I hadn’t expected that, hadn’t rehearsed for my own nerves showing up alongside his.
Marcus’s eyes came up from the page, wet already.
“I need your signature,” I said. “Not today. Whenever you’re ready. But I wanted you to see it before anything else happened today.”
He read the first paragraph out loud, quietly, like he needed to hear the words in his own voice before he could believe them.
