Those 7 years: Missing One Shot Chapter

26 Travis's POV

Leo's little voice piped up from his spot at the table, his face lighting up with excitement. "Daddy, can we go to the park today?"

I glanced at Taylor, who was quietly picking at the last bit of her pancake. She hadn't said much all morning, and I could tell the idea of going out somewhere was probably overwhelming her. Her eyes shifted to me, wide and uncertain. I could see the anxiety there, the fear of being out in public still gripping her.

I gave Leo a smile, knowing I needed to handle this delicately. "How about you and I go to the park, bud?" I said, ruffling his hair. "Mommy's been through a lot. Maybe she needs a little break."

Leo nodded, satisfied with that answer, but Taylor looked at me with a bit of hesitation. I leaned over and took her hand gently, my thumb tracing circles on her knuckles. "Why don't you go take a bath while I take Leo to the park? You could use some quiet time."

She didn't say anything at first, just stared down at the table, her brow furrowing in that way it always did when she was stuck in her head. "I don't know, Trav..." she murmured.

I squeezed her hand softly. "Hey, it's just a bath. Relax, breathe. I'll get it all set up for you."

After a moment, she nodded, though the tension didn't quite leave her shoulders. "Okay."

I stood up and helped clear the table, then guided Taylor upstairs to our bathroom. I started the water, making sure it was the perfect temperature, and poured in a bit of lavender bath oil—something soothing. I handed her a towel, kissed her forehead, and smiled. "I'll take Leo to the park. You just focus on you, alright? I'll be back before you know it."

She gave me a weak smile in return, but I could tell her heart wasn't in it. I left her sitting on the edge of the tub, her fingers trailing through the steam.

After getting Leo ready, we headed to the park. As he ran ahead to the swings, my thoughts kept drifting back to Taylor. She was trying—she was always trying—but I couldn't shake the feeling that something was still terribly wrong. I tried to push the thought aside as Leo called out to me to watch him swing higher, but it gnawed at me the whole time we were at the park.

When it was time to go, I couldn't get home fast enough. Something wasn't sitting right in my gut.

Taylor's POV

The water lapped against my skin, warm and fragrant, but it did nothing to settle the storm raging inside me. I sat there for what felt like hours, just staring at the ceiling, feeling like I was sinking further and further away from reality. The bath Travis had set up was meant to be calming, but all it did was remind me of how disconnected I felt—from everything, from him, from Leo, from life itself.

I couldn't stop the thoughts from spiraling. The memories. The fear. The endless exhaustion. My chest tightened as the weight of everything pressed down on me, and I felt like I couldn't breathe. It was like I was drowning, but there was no water—no escape.

I slipped under the water, letting it engulf me, hoping for just a moment of silence. A moment where I didn't have to think or feel. Maybe, if I stayed here long enough, I wouldn't have to feel anymore at all.

The water closed over my head, and for the first time in a long time, it was quiet. The world disappeared. The noise, the pain, the weight—it all faded as I let the water take me.

I wasn't sure how long I stayed under, but the darkness was inviting, and I didn't want to fight it anymore.

Travis's POV

We got back to the house, and something felt off immediately. The quiet. Too quiet. "Mommy!" Leo called, running inside, but there was no answer.

I felt my stomach drop as I quickly made my way upstairs, calling Taylor's name. The second I walked into the bathroom, I froze. Taylor was under the water—still, too still.