Within Temptation

Four (Misery Loves Company)

Orion's cries stir me out of a dead sleep. I whip off the covers running down the hall. Orion is sitting up in bed tears falling like a torrential downpour. His arms are wrapped tightly around his stuffed giraffe. This particular stuffed animal was a gift from Ashley. His visit yesterday had me worried sick. He seemed genuinely scared of Andy. I couldn't possibly get why.

"Ashee." Orion cries. "Ashee mamm."

"Shh baby, it's okay." I pick him up, singing softly. He rests his head on my shoulder. I can still feel the tears soaking into my nightshirt. Rubbing his back, I can feel him slowly calming down.

I attempt to put him back in his crib, but he starts to fuss his grip on my shirt is surprisingly strong for a six-month-old. I continue bouncing him up and down walking quietly down the hall. Ben is an extremely heavy sleeper. I used to be before Orion. My son stays quiet his eyes staring intently holding the stuffed giraffe tightly to his chest. I manage to open the fridge grabbing a Pepsi for myself and a bottle for Orion. He takes it. I wipe the tears kissing the top of his head.

"Shall we get ready for the day, Little Man?" I ask him. He bobs his head, it's the closest I can get to a nod. I take him back towards his room taking a turn into the bathroom. I mask my irritation quickly. The boys of Asking Alexandria were hard at work on another album. My husband tended to get careless. He would often neglect to put his clothes in the hamper, leave the toilet seat up, and leave the house in complete disarray. I grew up in a house where if you left a mess, you found your mess in the trash. You learned very quick to clean up after yourself.

"Looks like daddy is about to lose a good chunk of his wardrobe." I sit Orion in his bathtub chair. He lets go a playful grin appears as he starts to laugh.

"Addy ouble." He laughs. Translation: Daddy's in trouble.

"Yes, he is." I kiss the top of his head.

He drinks his bottle while I give him a bath. His eyes do not leave the giraffe. He looked concerned, an expression that didn't seem right on my six-month-old. I get him ready for the day placing him in his playpen. I move to my dogs next the two of them are so patient with me that I'm forever grateful for it. I make breakfast, pack myself a lunch for work, and double-check my mom can take Orion. My confirmation text appears and I sit on the couch exhausted. The day hasn't even started and I'm already desiring to curl up and pass out in bed. I turn on the news hearing Ben waking up. I have a hard time concealing my smile at his repeated curse words. Was I sadistic? Maybe just a little bit.

"Ashee!" Orion exclaims.

I jolt awake mentally cursing my caffeine for not keeping me awake. My mom did say once you had a kid eternal exhaustion became a thing. I take a deep drink turning the volume up on the television. The headline reads "Dreamweaver Copycat Claims First Victim".

"Local authorities discovered the body of former Black Veil Brides bassist Ashley Purdy. A jogger phoned in the emergency call during his morning run. While there is only speculation the Chief of Police can confirm Mr. Purdy's cause of death matches the victims of the Dreamweaver Killer. We will have more on this story as it develops."

"Mamm Ashee!" Orion starts to cry. "Anny..."

I knew who he was talking about. Andy lived in the States and was more than likely still on his flight. We were expecting him and his bandmates at the shop today. I pull out my phone. I'd been trying like Hell to get a hold of him. I called, texted, and left voicemails. My behavior is borderline obsessive ex-girlfriend. I try his cell again it doesn't pick up. My irritation grows hearing his generic voicemail. I walk into my office and shut the door.

"Andrew Dennis Biersack, I do not know what crawled up your ass, but I am getting mighty tired of you ignoring my calls. Give me some indication that you're alive or when I see you today you are getting your ass kicked." I threaten.