Sedonah Catalogue: The Chronicles.

ATTICUS.

"Darling, you know I care for you both."

"..it's.. hard to believe that, Atticus."

The lilac-purple haired woman sitting before him spoke those words as she held their small son in her arms. He was curled up in her grasp, sleeping soundly as he softly snores. Her wistful, long-lashed eyes stared back down at him, and then back at the man sitting before her.

The man sitting before her was her husband—Atticus. Black hair that was formed into bangs, and looked crooked and even slightly pointy at the ends that went to his back. He was a bit of a fancy, but.. slightly peculiar fellow. But this odd fellow was the one she had married, and so, she loved him despite his peculiarities.

And yet.. the peculiarities he had always shown had been growing ever since they had their son.

She avoided his gaze, speaking softly, "..Atticus—I know you.. I know you like being by yourself. And I know that this project is important to you. But—could you at least tell me what's going on?" Her lips curled into a frown. "You haven't been acting like yourself."

"Dear—nothing is going on with me. How many times have I told you that?"

"..."

Lila sighed—letting her eyes meet the ground.

"If something was going on with me," Atticus began, placing his hand softly on her shoulder, "I would have told you. I care for you both. Yes, what I'm doing is important. That's the reason why I've been spending so much time on it in the first place. I care more about you two than anything else in the world."

"..Atticus. It—It can't be that more important over us, can it? Why are you keeping it from me?"

"No, it's—"

"If.. if it's so important to you, and we're important to you too, why haven't you been spending that much time with us?"

"..."

"You didn't even come to his birthday. You didn't show up when he had that event at his school. I'm.. I'm sorry, honey. But I feel like you don't really care as much for us as you let on sometimes."

"...Lila." Atticus began with a sigh, his voice lowering. "I want you to trust me when I say you're important. I've just been busy. That's all."

"..."

"I'll try to spend more time with you if I can. It's just been.. the project has just been getting in the way is all. I love you both. Our son is everything to me. So.. I'll do my best to be around more often."

————

It wasn't easy—swearing such things when he didn't really mean it.

Atticus watched from the doorframe, leaning against it. Their son was awake now, giggling and smiling as Lila lifted him up into the air with a bright smile playing unto her lips. She laughed softly as he made sounds of innocent, high-pitched gibberish—his limbs flailing about.

Atticus smiled at the sight, his eyes trailing onto their beloved son. He.. truly had wished to be around him a little more, but with the things were, it was hard to even do that.

He let out a sigh. And his eyes trailed behind the doorframe. The narrow corridor he was standing near was dark, leading all the way to the exit of the house.

Atticus blinked—staring in it's direction as a frown began to play at his thin lips. His pupils wondered over the narrow corridor. It felt.. quiet within its confines. Dust slightly flew in the dark air. He continued to stare meaninglessly, and then glanced back at Lila.

Lila was still lifting their son into the air with a laugh, cooing gently.

Turning around, he began to quietly walk out of the doorframe, and vanished into the quiet shadows of the corridor.