What we could've been

I'm the Cowboy

I felt the single tear run down my face as I let her name leave my mouth.. I know she's young but hopefully she will understand. I watch as she stares at me with confusion. I move my gaze to Riley who is covering her mouth with her hands trying to hold in her pain. My heart broke seeing her like that but I needed to speak. I need to at least have time with her. I watch as Charlie rest his head in his hands looking down. I'm brought back when I feel Hope mover her hands away

"Mommy the princess baby has my name" Hope says Turing to look at Riley

"Yes she does baby" Riley says wiping her eyes

"Is that why I'm Hope? I'm Hope because of the princess " she says smiling looking at her

"Sweetie your hope-" I start to say but I'm cut of my Charlie

"Your not done with the story  theirs  more isn't there" Charlie says looking up

"That's not important" I say glaring at him

"You know it is friar! I'm letting you do this because Riley said the truth  will be out and ALL  of it needs to be said" he says looking at me

"Truth? Is the story real!?" Hope grins as she goes to him. I try to pull her closer to me but she quickly runs to him.

"I'm sure Lucas here would love to finish the story right" he says as he sit her in his lap

"Please uncle Luke! Finish the story " Hope says as she rest her head on his chest.

My blood boils as I see them. She's my little girl sHaving her call me that is killing me. It's breaking me

"Lucas doesn't know this part... I'll continue it." Riley says as she looks at me

"They were very very happy with the news of a new princess in the land. It's was a shock to everyone since they weren't King and queen yet but everyone accepted it. But one day everything changed.." She said as she turned away from me

"Mommy what happened" Hope says as sadness cross her eyes

"It's ok Hope" Charlie says kissing her head

"Time passed and the princess saw that the cowboy was different. He was distant, always seemed troubled. The princess thought it was just because of studies or something else. That wasn't it though the princess was very very wrong"  she says taking a breath

"One day the princess was in her room happy as every.. But then the cowboy came. She thought nothing of it but she knew something was wrong when she looked at the confusion on his face. She tried to talk to him tried to see what was the matter but the cowboy didn't say anything. After minutes of waiting he finally spoke. He relieved that he needed to leave..." Riley says looking at me anger and pain showing in her eyes

"Leave? Mommy why?" Hope says with sadness

Baby please doesn't be mad at me please....

"He wasn't ready for the new princess baby. He wasn't ready for what was to come... The princess tried and tried to make Him stay she ran after him And begged him to stay. To stay with her and the baby, to be a happy family to be together that nothing mattered more then them... But he didn't listen his left leaving the princess heartbroken" Riley says staring at me

"Riley I.." I say as I felt my heart ach

"He left the princess broken. He took the sunshine away from her as she watched him leave. She felt that a part of her soul was ripped out of her body. Months passed and she felt empty without her love. Her heart was shattered" Riley says as she cries