Leah stood in the hallway, through the doorway, she could still see Alessia sitting on the couch, tear-streaked and lost in her thoughts. Every tear Alessia shed felt like a blade turning in Leah's chest an ache that wouldn't subside. But beneath it all, beneath the overwhelming need to comfort Alessia, to make her see reason, there was rage. Not just at Alessia for being with Kyra, for building a life without her, but at herself for being the reason Alessia was breaking in front of her now.
For being the one who caused this pain.
She bit down on the bitterness, shoving it aside as her eyes moved to Bunny, her daughter, lying fast asleep on the couch. Bunny's small chest rose and fell steadily, oblivious to the war raging between her mothers. Leah's heart softened at the sight, and she quietly crossed the room, careful not to "wake" Alessia from whatever internal battle she was waging.
Leah knelt by the couch, her movements slow and deliberate. Bunny was so peaceful, so innocent in the middle of all this chaos. Leah's eyes softened as she gently slipped her arms under Bunny's small body, cradling her daughter with all the care in the world. Bunny stirred slightly, a soft murmur escaping her lips, but she didn't wake. Leah kissed her forehead tenderly, brushing her lips against the soft skin as she lifted her daughter into her arms.
She stood up, holding Bunny close to her chest, feeling the warmth of her small body against her own. Her heart swelled with a mix of love and protectiveness everything she did, every reckless decision, every messy confrontation, it was all for this little girl. Leah inhaled deeply, kissing Bunny's forehead one more time before making her way toward the staircase.
The creak of the wooden steps was almost imperceptible as Leah carried Bunny upstairs, her footsteps slow and deliberate. The house was silent, the tension between her and Alessia heavy in the air. But right now, Leah focused only on her daughter. Nothing else mattered in this moment but making sure Bunny was safe, asleep, and away from the storm downstairs.
When Leah reached the top of the stairs, she quietly pushed open the door to Bunny's room. The soft pink light from the nightlight bathed the room in a warm, comforting glow, and Leah gently laid her daughter in the crib, careful not to disturb her sleep. Bunny murmured again, turning slightly as she settled into the blankets, her tiny hand gripping one of her stuffed animals.
Leah smiled, as she leaned on the railing of the crib, watching her daughter. She reached out, her hand trembling slightly, and stroked Bunny's stomach with gentle, feather-light touches, soothing her into a deeper sleep. Bunny's breaths evened out, her little body completely relaxed.
Leah's fingers trailed from Bunny's stomach to her hair, combing through the soft strands with a tenderness that nearly broke her. How could something so pure, so perfect, come from such a complicated, painful situation? Leah leaned down, pressing another soft kiss to Bunny's cheek before whispering into her ear.
"Don't worry, baby girl," Leah murmured, her voice low and filled with emotion. "Mommy's going to fix everything, okay? I promise." She kissed her again, lingering for a moment as if trying to soak up all the innocence that Bunny held, as if her daughter's peaceful sleep could somehow give her the strength to fix the mess she had created.
Leah straightened up, pulling the blanket up to Bunny's chin, tucking her in gently. She watched her daughter for a moment longer, her heart aching with love and regret.
Everything she had done, everything she was still doing, was for Bunny. She couldn't lose her. Not again.
With one last look, Leah turned and walked out of the room, closing the door quietly behind her. The walk back down the stairs felt longer, heavier. Each step she took felt like a descent into the unresolved tension that awaited her in the living room.
