Invisible String

16

The hotel room felt smaller somehow, the weight of everything pressing down on us. Travis and I sank into the couch, exhausted from the long day at the courthouse and the tense meetings with lawyers. Outside, the city lights flickered like distant stars, but inside, all I could hear was the pounding of my own heart.

Lily was finally asleep in the other room, and Mira was cradled softly in Tree’s arms, the only moment of peace we’d had in hours. But the stress hadn’t left me — Emma’s sudden reversal, the court battles looming ahead, the way the police had been watching us all day. It was surreal, like we were living in a nightmare we couldn’t wake up from.

Travis took my hand gently, squeezing it. “We’ll get through this. For the girls. For us.”

I swallowed hard and nodded. This fight was far from over. But no matter what, we weren’t letting anything come between us and our family. Not now. Not ever.
I barely had time to breathe before I heard soft crying coming from the hallway. Lily was awake.

I peeked my head out of the bedroom and saw her little face scrunched up, tears already welling in her eyes. “Mama… can I sleep with you?” she whispered, her voice trembling.

My heart clenched. Of course she wanted to feel close to me right now — the whole chaos must be so confusing for her.

I smiled gently and opened the door wider. “Come here, baby.”

She crawled in next to me, snuggling up close, and I wrapped my arm around her protectively. Travis was watching from the couch, a tired but relieved smile on his face.

Lily sighed contentedly, “I just want to be near you.”

“I know, sweetheart,” I whispered. “We’re all in this together.”

I shifted so I could hold her close without disturbing Mira, who was still sleeping peacefully in her bassinet beside the bed. Lily nuzzled into my side, her small fingers curling around my shirt.

Travis came over quietly, sitting on the edge of the bed. He gave Lily a gentle smile. “We’re gonna get through this, kiddo,” he said softly. “Mama and Daddy are right here.”

Lily looked up at him with big, trusting eyes. “Promise?”

“Promise,” Travis nodded.

I kissed the top of Lily’s head and whispered, “We’ll make sure you and Mira always stick together, no matter what.”

For a few moments, the room was calm—just the quiet breathing of two little girls and their parents who were holding on tight to each other.

But deep down, I knew the fight wasn’t over yet. There was still so much ahead, and so much at stake. But right here, in this moment, we had each other. And that was everything.

The calm didn’t last long.

Just as I was starting to drift off, Lily stirred and tugged at my sleeve. “Mama… I don’t wanna be alone,” she whispered, her voice trembling.

I pulled her tighter, trying to soothe her, but minutes later her cries turned louder, more desperate. Mira woke up too, wailing in her bassinet like she knew something was wrong.

Travis got up and grabbed Mira, rocking her gently while I tried to calm Lily. But Lily’s tears kept coming — she was restless, clingy, and inconsolable.

At one point, Travis took Lily from me, bouncing her on his knee. “It’s okay, baby girl,” he murmured, but even his calm voice couldn’t quiet her down.

The hours dragged on. Between Mira’s feeding and diaper changes and Lily’s nonstop crying, neither Travis nor I got more than a few minutes of rest.