That Day⏳🎞️ (Story of my Snape)

He remembered that day... The happiest and the unhappiest at the same time.
The very Day when the most important woman in his tumultuous life, his beloved Meredith, placed the little smiling creature in his trembling palms and, smiling the sweetest smile in the world, said that the gray-eyed little one's name was Nikki, Nicholas. Boy. Son. His son

At that moment, the feeling of happiness captured him so much that all the instincts and premonitions of which he had always been so proud faded into the background.
They were returning from the maternity hospital in their small car. Suddenly, from around the corner, at a red light, a truck flew across them. Squealing brakes, a crash, a flash, a sharp pain in the chest, a child's scream, and Meredith's eyes in the rearview mirror. Wide open, wet and suddenly darkened... She left instantly, protecting the frightened child from the iron stump.
He tried hard and painfully to recover from the loss. I brushed off people with their banal "time heals" and "we'll all be there", plunging into self-mastery of psychology and psychiatry, and even wrote a number of notable articles. Sometimes, working late into the night, he took out old pictures from the drawer that reminded him of that happy moment that was interrupted either by a drunk driver or just a hellishly tired person behind the wheel, who gave all his strength to ensure the same the family he might have. He did not blame. He always understood that human life depends too much on the random coincidence of painful circumstances.

Little Nikki remained the only bright ray in his life. Severus didn't even think about the fact that he could love another woman as much as he loved Meredith, so he devoted all his free time to raising the little one.
And the little brawler, although he was too smart for his age, did not miss the opportunity to brawl at dad's big table. He was drawn to the typewriter, a rarity that Dad used the old-fashioned way since his student days.

From time to time, on That Day, they went to see Meredith. Fresh flowers were brought for her, which she loved so much.
And every time Severus understood that no matter how many psychological layers of protection and understanding he put on himself, every time THERE he felt his soul exposed. It was as if only there someone understood how much he was in pain. It was as if only there someone felt his fear and responsibility for his son. As if only there someone could give really healing advice. And it covered him. Every time.

- Dad?..
A small voice pulled Severus' consciousness from its painful depths.

- Dad, don't be sad, mom wouldn't want that, I know for sure.
- Where are you from, son?
- She smiles at me in my dreams, is happy that we are alive and well and says that she is always there. I have :)
- Yes, son, you are right, I also see her in you so often. Let's go home. This day is ending.

Severus scooped the boy up in his arms and walked slowly to the parking lot.

He will always remember that day.
The day when I lost the present but was able to keep the future.