Forevermore

10

I roll over opening my eyes and blinking at the bright sun. I hear the door open and I sit up looking over at Hayden.

"Morning." He says.

"Morning." I mumble with a yawn. 

"Sleep good?"

"Yeah, I did." I say as my phone beeps. I reach over and find a text from Lidia.

Evan's here, I wouldn't come home for a little. ;P

"Ew, Lids." I mutter with a slight laugh.

You got it. I send back then stretch.

"What's up?" He asks and I laugh.

"Lidia and Evan. That girl's crazy." I say and he laughs.

"Means you get to spend more time with me." He says bending down to kiss me. I kiss him back with a grin then he pulls back.

"Exciting." I say and he smirks. He climbs onto the bed and I lean back against him and scan his picture covered walls as we sit in a peaceful silence. His phone suddenly beeps and he shifts to get it then sighs.

"What's wrong?" I ask looking over at him.

"Lilith is sick. I gotta go get her."

"I'll come." I say and he nods as we stand up. I pull on jeans then follow behind him down the stairs.

~~

"Hey baby, what's wrong?"

"My tummy hurts."

"She's been throwing up on and off." The nurse says and I nod.

"Come on monkey, let's get you home." I say and she nods as I pick her up.

"Thank you." I say and the nurse nods then I turn and head back down the hall.

"Mommy made me go to school today, I told her I didn't feel good." She says and I hush her walking into the cool fresh air.

"It's okay." I say making my way to the car. Selena looks through the window and Lilith looks at her.

"Who's that daddy?"

"Her name's Selena, she's daddy's friend."

"Friend?" She asks and I nod opening her door. 

"Hi daddy's friend." She says and Selena smiles over at her.

"Well hello, you must be Lilith?"

"Yeah." She says and Selena smiles.

"You are so beautiful. Your daddy was right." She says and Lilith grins as I buckle her in.

"I have a tummy ache." She says sadly.

"Awe, those are no fun." Selena says and she shakes her head.

"No." She says

"We'll get you home, and I will make you some soup." I say buckling up my belt.

"Okay daddy."

"We gotta decorate our tree tonight too, hopefully you'll feel better by then." I say looking over at her and she nods. I pull out of the school parking lot and check on her in the mirror.

"We'll be home soon baby." I say as she falls asleep.

~~

"She's precious." I say and he nods as we stand in the doorway of her bedroom.

"She's my angel." He says continuing to watch her and I smile.

"I'll wait downstairs." I say touching his arm then walking away. I look over my shoulder, a slight smile on my face at the love he shows toward that little girl. One last look then I turn and walk down the stairs and into the kitchen. I pour a cup of hot chocolate then walk over to the window seat and take a seat. I pull my knees to my chest and sigh looking out the window. When there's nothing interesting anymore to look at, I grab my book out of my bag and start to read it. Getting lost in the story is something I always look forward too. This time, it's about traveling the world to visit the place you most desire. With the wave of the pen, the pages fill and the story is born. What you most desire? That's something I haven't given much thought to lately.

"Daydreaming? Or lost in your book?"

"A little of both." I say looking over at him. He walks over to me and I look up as he leans beside me.

"Which book?"

"I Know This Much is True." I respond and he lifts my legs up and sits. He puts them back down across his legs and I sigh looking out the window.

"How ya doing?" He asks and I look over at him.

"Fine, until I don't do anything. Then she's all I can think of." I say.

"What was she like?"

"Amazing." I say with a slight laugh and he smiles.

"She was truly amazing. Talented, kind, caring, beautiful, the most important person in my crazy life." I say rubbing my arms.

"She was so selfless. Never failed to put someone else's needs before her own. She was the last person that should've lost their life so young." I say and he stays silent.

"I was nineteen at the time, you know. Had just finished my freshman year in college. I started failing everything, about got kicked out of college. Skipped classes, shoved friends away, ignored anyone who dared to try and help me. I was a terrible person."

"You had just lost your mother, Selena."

"I know, gave me no right to treat some of those people the way I had though." I say.

"We all have parts in our past we're not the proudest of." He responds and I nod. His phone beeps and he grabs it and rubs his temple.

"What's up?" I ask looking at him.

"Got called into work." He says.

"Go, I'll be fine with Lilith. She's sleeping anyways."

"That's not fair to you, she's sick-

"Hayden really, it's okay." I say with a slight smile and he nods. He pecks me on the lips then stands up.

"You're the best. Call me if you need anything at all." He says and I nod as he rushes out the door. I settle back into my seat and wave at him as he pulls out. I open my book back up and get to reading.

~~~~~~