The Winters Freeze the Stage. Maybe just the school.

Chapter One

Ethan prides himself on being a good dad. He always made sure his two girls were the happiest and healthiest they could be. He treated them well and made sure they were raised to their best potential. However, after his wife had died, he had spiraled down, and while he was lost, he still had his two baby girls. Such sweet girls. He wanted to give them the world and some more. They don't remember Mia, but they would've loved her.

Living in this house was just so much work. Even after 16 years, he couldn't do it anymore. The memories he had made with her haunted him. He didn't want to show the girls how much he had been struggling mentally. With all the Army shit he'd been through and Mia's death later, It took a toll on his head. He only stayed here because of the girls, but now they were more than old enough to ask them about moving. Chris's idea was granted, but he thought it would do him some good.

Placing dinner on the table, Ethan sat at the table and called the girls down. His twin daughters, Rosemary and Eveline, Rose looked more like him but was the younger one. Eveline had looked more like Mia, and while it pained him sometimes, she was the opposite of her. They both sat at the table and dug in, thanking him for the delicious food.

"Girls, I've been meaning to bring this up with you and I wanted to know your opinion," Ethan said calmly, taking a bite of his cooked ham. " Chris and I have been talking about it for a while, and I wanted your two cents. You don't have to make a decision now. "

"Sure, dad, what do you need?" Rose stated, somewhat perplexed. Eveline only stuffed her face with food while giving half her attention to her dad.

"How do you feel about moving?" Eveline choked on her potatoes, coughing dramatically. Rose patted her back as she finally swallowed it down.

"Move? Why? " She asked. They didn't need to move. Everything was fine here. They were safe and happy, and this was their home for many years. Why move now?

"Well, you see, Chris thought it would give us a nice change. Something new. Besides, aren't you tired of this house? Wouldn't you like your own room? " Because it pains me to be here, he wanted to add. Rose frowned slightly.

"Move where, dad?" She asked. Ethan took a breath before speaking.

"Europe."

"But why? We're fine here. All our friends are here, and you have a stable job teaching here. There is no reason to go. " Eveline said. While it was mostly true. Ethan was a teacher at their high school. He taught for seven years after he left the military and got his teaching degree. Eveline had so many friends as she was more extroverted than her more introverted sister.

"The decision isn't final. You have plenty of time to think about it. Of course, moving is only an idea. " He said, taking another bite of food. "You have every right to say no. I'm not trying to force anything on you. " He said, gripping his fork tightly. Sighing, he stood up and grabbed his plate. "Just think about it, okay?" He walked to the kitchen and put his plate on the counter; the food was still on it, but the loss of appetite made it seem unappealing. He left, leaving the girls alone in the quiet.

"Move Rose? Why in the world would we ever need to move? We're fine here, aren't we? " Eve snapped slightly at her sister, who only shrugged.

"Dad did make some good points. He said we could have our own room. Sure, it's a big change, but it could probably do us some good. " Rose was unsure. She didn't have as many friends as her sister, nor did they have any family they would miss.

"You can't be serious. I can't believe this. " Eveline said, standing up.

"Hey now, Dad said we don't have to move. Geez, Eve takes a hint. It was only a suggestion, "Rose said, taking both their plates and starting to clean the dishes. It worried her a bit that her dad hadn't finished his food.

"Whatever. I'm going to the room. " The elder twin said, stomping away to leave the youngest on her own. She sighed and thought about things.

She loved her dad, and it was clear he wanted to move for another reason, which he didn't say. On the other hand, she could see where her sister was coming from and understand her resentment. This had been their home their entire life, and leaving it would be hard. However, she could see that her dad wasn't all that happy to be here. It hurt him in a way.

As she finished dishes, she made her way back to the shared room with her sister. Rose looked to see if she was grumbling about something and everything. She got ready for bed, thinking about what it would be like to start a new life somewhere else. The thought didn't bother her as much as she expected.

"Eve. Shut the hell up and hear me out. " Rose said, facing her sister, who clamped her mouth shut and faced her back.

Ethan felt bad for leaving the girls, but it was clear Eveline needed space. Her reaction was something close to what he expected. Of course, she wouldn't want to leave. Part of him told him he was selfish for even hearing Chris's idea. Rose's reaction wasn't something he saw, but he knew she would think about it.

He looked at his robotic arm with pity and sadness. He lost his leg, arm, and fingers. His face was scarred from the lips down, and his body looked like it was torn to shreds. All that happened while he was serving. It was horrible, really. What started as a simple scout turned out to be a surprise bombing. Ethan had almost not made it, and it was a miracle he was alive. Even so, the slightest of loud noises made him flinch, and he couldn't stand looking in the mirror. He'd just gotten used to fully showing his face to Chris and his daughters, but even so, it wasn't often. Take the liberty to wear gloves, a mask, long pants, and long sleeves. He covered up what he could, sometimes wearing foundation on his neck and cheeks. He was ashamed of how he looked; it was so bad that even looking at his reflection sent him into a spiral.

He had been out for a long time. When he had woken up, he had found out that he had lost more than he had gained. Three months later, Mia gets into a car crash and dies. He had to retire shortly as his mind could not comprehend everything that was happening so quickly. Words can't even describe how grateful he was when he was told the kids weren't in the car at the time. Instead, they stayed at Mia's friend's house while she went to do some grocery shopping.

Her death almost made him lose it, but then something told him that he had his little girls to take care of. Instead of wallowing in her death and truly preparing to leave, he spent four years in school earning his teaching degree and working two to three jobs per week. He had been teaching for over seven years and was still going. He was only forty years old, with so much still ahead of him. He loved teaching. He did, but he didn't have any real friends outside of Chris and some in-school teacher friends. I have to add, this home had only been destroying him from the inside out.

It was getting so bad, and Chris noticed the battle between Ethan and his inner demons. The man was sure the girls were starting to notice as well. Chris suggested that they move to Europe with the girls and try to start semi-fresh. He needs it and he knows it. Ethan was more than hurting. He was dying slowly, and he probably didn't even realize it. He destroys himself mentally until one day it becomes too much and he snaps.

He believes that he's too stuck in his own problems to ask for help. He felt pathetic and weak. He was ashamed of who he was and embarrassed by how he looked. He did his best to keep his worries away from others, not wanting to be a burden and another problem.

Ethan sat on his bed hand clutching and I clutching before taking off his prosthetics and layers of clothing. Putting on soft cotton PJs and crawling in bed, opting to shower in the morning. He laid there looking at the empty spot beside him. Placing his phantom hand on it, he choked back a sob.

Tomorrow is another morning.