𝐑𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐬 | 𝟏𝟖 +

𝐓 𝐖 𝐄 𝐍 𝐓 𝐘 - 𝐄 𝐈 𝐆 𝐇 𝐓

Sevan

I knelt by the bathtub, trying my best to keep calm as Dakota's wails filled the bathroom. She was splashing water everywhere, her tiny fists pounding against the side of the tub as if it could somehow fix whatever was upsetting her. I'd been trying to soothe her for the past half hour, but nothing seemed to work. Marilyn wasn't home yet, and that was making everything worse. Dakota was in a mood, and without Marilyn, there was no calming her.

"Dakota, sweetheart, please..." I tried, my voice gentle but strained. "Let's finish up, okay? Mommy will be home soon."

But Dakota wasn't having it. "I want Mommy!" she screamed through her sobs, her face red and blotchy from crying. Her tiny body shook with the force of her tantrum, and I could feel my own patience wearing thin. Not at her, but at the situation. I didn't know how to fix this. She wanted Marilyn, and nothing I said or did was going to help.

I grabbed the soft towel, pulling Dakota out of the bath, her little body squirming as she fought me. "I know, baby. I know you want Mommy." I said softly, wrapping her up in the towel and trying to dry her off. She continued to cry, her sobs growing louder the more I spoke.

"Mommy!" she screamed again, louder this time, making my heart clench in my chest. She kept repeating it, over and over, like some desperate chant, and I felt a lump form in my throat. I was doing everything I could, but it wasn't enough. I felt utterly useless in that moment.

Dakota kept kicking and wriggling as I tried to hold her close. Her tiny fists pounded against my chest, and I could feel the frustration building in me. Not at her, but at the fact that nothing I did was working. I wanted to cry too, to scream right alongside her, but I couldn't. I had to stay strong, for both of us.

"Sweetheart, I know." I murmured, feeling the exhaustion weigh heavy on my shoulders. "But Mommy's not home yet. She'll be home soon."

That only made her scream louder, her little face crumpling with fresh tears. I felt like a failure. I didn't know how to help her. I held her tighter, trying to offer some form of comfort, but her sobs kept tearing through the room.

I was just about to break down myself when the front door finally opened. My heart jumped in relief, and I looked up, hoping, praying, it was Marilyn. And it was. She stood in the doorway, still dressed in her work clothes, looking as flawless as ever. But the moment her eyes fell on Dakota, everything changed.

Dakota's head snapped toward the door, her tear-filled eyes locking onto Marilyn. "Mommy!" she wailed, lifting her tiny arms toward her, still wrapped in the towel.

Marilyn didn't hesitate. She crossed the room in a matter of seconds, her face softening as she scooped Dakota up into her arms. "Shhh, baby." Marilyn murmured, cradling her close. "Mommy's here now."

Dakota buried her face in Marilyn's shoulder, still crying, but her sobs were quieter now. Marilyn rocked her gently, her hand rubbing soothing circles on Dakota's back while she patted her little bum. "It's okay, baby. Mommy's here. Shhh..."

I let out a sigh of relief, feeling the tension drain from my body as Dakota's cries started to fade. Marilyn always knew exactly how to handle these moments, and I was grateful. So damn grateful.

Exhaustion hit me like a ton of bricks. Between work and Dakota's tantrum, I was drained. I hadn't realized how much energy I'd been holding onto just trying to keep it together until now. Marilyn glanced at me, her eyes soft but concerned.

"Go shower, darling." she said gently, her voice laced with understanding. "You've had a long day. I'll put her down."

I gave her a weak smile, reaching out to brush a strand of hair off Dakota's forehead before kissing the top of her head. "Thanks." I whispered, my voice barely above a murmur. "I don't know how you do it."