You Had Me At Hello.

All The Young Dudes.

The driveway was empty, meaning our guests were gone.

Elise was sleeping soundly on the couch, curled up with Emma's blanket, so I left her be and went upstairs.

I walked straight into the pink room at the end of the hall.

The letters still spelled out Emma's name on the wall.

My mind went back to the day when Elise and I had painted this room together.

When our lives weren't broken like they are now.

I walked over to the table beside the rocking chair and opened the drawer.

Inside were pictures from the day Emma was born.

Pictures of Elise, Emma, and I together.

Now, since Emma was gone, I planned to put them all in frames and hang them, so her memory would always be strong in the house, it was her home too, and I don't want anyone to forget that.

I sat in the rocking chair and looked through the pictures.

I hadn't even noticed I was crying until Elise walked in and wiped the tears away with her thumb.

"Sometimes terrible things happen to the most undeserving people. In this case, our little girl, who'd never done a thing to anyone. You realize that we have to keep it together for her, even though she isn't here anymore, we have got to do what we can for each other." Elise whispered.

I sniffled, "I love you." I whispered.

Elise wiped my tears again, and kissed my forehead, "I love you too Vic." She whispered.

I slipped my arms around her, and hugged her, burying my face in her shirt.

I cried harder than I had in a long time.

Her own sobs shaking her, Elise cried too.

"It's not fair." I whined, feeling like a little boy.

She petted my hair, "I know sweetie. Sometimes life isn't fair. We just have to deal with it." She whispered.

I sighed and shook my head, "I don't care how fucking mad I get, I'm not going to let anything happen to you." I said.

"Emma was never safer than she was in my womb. Nothing could happen to her there. When she got out into the world, she never stood a chance." She whispered.

I crumpled to the floor, taking her down with me.

Laying in the floor, both of us staring at the ceiling, her hand found mine and squeezed lightly, "Everything is going to work out as it should baby. I promise." She said looking over at me.

I kissed her, "Okay." I whispered.

She got up and helped me up, hugging me close, "But right now, it's your turn to hold me and tell me it's all going to be okay." She whispered, hiding her face in my jacket.

I kissed the top of her head, "Everything is going to be just fine baby. I promise." I said.

We stood there like that for what felt like hours.

I finally looked down at her bruised face and she smiled, "Come on Vic, you and I have a date with the egyptian cotton bedsheets." She whispered, smiling deviously.

My phone is ringing.

"Hello?" I say, unburying myself from the mountain of blankets.

"Vic, it's Rachel."

"Hey Rach, what's up?" I asked, motioning for Elise to stop what she was doing.

She raised her head up and I pulled back the blanket so she could breathe.