stay around.

PROLOGUE / Daddy

Alyssa stood on the back porch as she watched Micah and Lay ran across the grass. The two spent a good amount of time chasing each other around before one twin finally fell to the ground to pay attention to the toys they had out. Alyssa chuckled to herself as Lay made herself comfortable next to her sister as they both entertained themselves with different toys. 

She looked down at the table and almost forgot about the bowl of fruits she had prepared for them. Making her way to the girls, she patted her jeans before taking a seat in between the two and placing the bowls down onto the grass.

Alyssa couldn't feel any more blessed at this moment. Sharing the fruits with the girls, she couldn't help but examine how healthy and beautiful they were. She brushed the hair out of their faces as she nodded and smiled, trying to comprehend the baby sentences Lay was blurting out.

"Daddy?" Lay tilted her head as her eyes widened in curiosity.

"What, Lay?"

"Daddy. Want daddy." She tapped against her chest as if she were emphasizing her wants. Hearing the word Daddy made Alyssa's heart melt and she felt her stomach drop. She swallowed the lump in her throat, unsure of how she could tell them their Daddy wasn't around.

"Daddy's not here right now, Lay." Lay shook her head.

"Daddy. Want daddy." She pointed towards the door that lead to the front yard of the house. 

"What are you pointing at, baby?" A sudden gust of wind blew the door open, making the two get up from their position and run towards it. Alyssa yelled after the girls as she chased after them. Surprisingly, the girls seemed to have outrun her. By the time she had gotten to the front yard of the house, she saw Stephen standing there, watching the girls run towards him.

But the closer the twins got, Steph turned his back and continued to walk away.

Alyssa couldn't feel herself move, no matter how much she yelled for the girls to come back. No matter how much she tried to move her legs. No matter how much she tried to reach out for them.

No matter how much she called out for Steph.

He continued to walk away from his daughters, crossing the street without guidance. 

She caught a glimpse of a car coming towards their way and before she could close her eyes, she jolted herself awake.

Alyssa quickly sat up in the bed that felt empty without Steph's presence, wiping her face and running her hands through her hair as she tried to lower her heart rate and regulate her breathing. She quickly hopped out of bed to check on the twins in their room.

Who were both sound asleep in their cribs. 

She let out a breath of relief as she smiled softly to herself. She brushed the hair out of their faces before planting kisses on their foreheads. Standing in between the cribs, she looked around the room and walked towards a picture of her and Stephen welcoming the twins into the world on the day they were born. Alyssa sat on the love seat as she grabbed the picture and ran her finger down Steph's face before placing the picture against her heart.

"God, what is happening?"