Lesson Learned✔

Bonus 2

Christian

Four years later...

I did my best, we did our best.

It wasn't perfect, we weren't perfect. We did have our ups and downs, our fights and disagreements.

We didn't have those full on couple fights where one snapped, we didn't throw objects or cuss each other out or not as much as a few vulgar words here and there. The most she said to me was 'Fuck you Christian' which always made me laugh because God she sounded cute when she said my whole name which made her angry.

We didn't even sleep apart. We couldn't, either I ended up slipping back next to her in our bed or she ended up slipping on top of me, whispering she was sorry. Her legs wrapping around me, holding on tight as I moved us to a more comfortable position.

Either way, we came back.

Life with two kids was as complicated as we allowed it. Having two toddlers moving around was exhausting, especially with my age.

They were so full of energy, running and screaming, their laughs infectious in the worst times possible. Austin kicking a ball into walls and banging doors open, Jordan leaving a trail of glitter in her wake. Dancing and also kicking balls into walls, shattering windows alongside her brother.

On the bright side, I could manage their sickness when they got sick.

Aspen was a good mother to the twins, even when she was going to college. She managed becoming a teacher and being a mother as best as she could, making even a better wife. There really wasn't much I'd ask for, well expect maybe some alone time with her.

Walking inside, I expected to hear a clamor of screams but instead I heard a silence that impressed me. It wasn't often that there was this much silence, especially not at this hour. Usually there was yelling and music blasting from one side, Aspen following one twin while someone else followed the other. Or both kids following each other with a mess trailing them.

"Baby?" I called out for Aspen, unaware where exactly she was.

On several occasions Jordan had answered to that name, questioning it and when I tried explaining to her why I called her mother that, she just shook her head telling me that Aspen wasn't a baby. And when I tried calling Jordan that, she would again shake her head, saying she wasn't a baby.

Kids were complicated. She was a handful, a little too feisty for her age.

"In the kitchen." I heard Aspen call out.

I smiled, dropping the keys and phone before making my way to the kitchen, noticing that neither kid started yelling for me. Impressed that there wasn't any sort of activity on their part.

Crossing into the kitchen, I stopped mid step as I saw her, my gaze locking with hers before dropping to the lit candles that sat on top of a frosted cake. "Happy Birthday!"

Another day, another year, each time closer to- "My birthday isn't until tomorrow." I was old but I didn't suffer from dementia, well at least not yet but I was damn sure my birthday wasn't until tomorrow. I mean it was a constant reminder of my age, how old I was, the gap between Aspen and I.

Aspen nodded, the candles flickering, "I know but your parents were nice enough to take the kids today and I thought maybe we could have a small celebration-" she shrugged- "Unless you rather..."

"There's nothing I rather do-" I cut her off- "I'm just too fucking old for you." Each passing day ticked down, closer and closer to a certain event. And I knew it was only a matter of time before Aspen realized how old I was, before my own body started changing, suffering from the toll of time.