Perspective

66- 5 days

"Has he come back yet?" Dylan asks, walking into the kitchen.

I look up from my phone and shake my head.

He let's out a sigh. "He's going to have to come back soon."

"Yeah, it's been 5 days and first day is tomorrow."

Harper walks out of my room holding his stuffed giraffe. "Mommy."

"Morning, baby," I give him a hug and kiss the top of his head. "Do you want some pancakes?"

His little grin grows. "Yes, please."

"Dylan?" I ask, flipping over a pancake.

"Sure," he replies.

As I plate the food, my phone goes off. It's Jenny.

"Hi Jenny," I greet my boyfriend's mom.

"Hey, Chase. How have you been, sweetheart?" She asks.

I set a plate down in front of Harper. "Good. How about you?"

"Pretty good. Is Asher okay? He hasn't called me or answered any of my texts."

"I-uh... " I trail off not knowing how to answer.

Dylan mouths "he lost his phone" to me.

"He lost his phone," I tell Jenny, guilt flooding my veins.

"Oh, could you give the phone to him? I need to talk to him," Jenny says.

"Uh, just a second," I say and mute her. I turn to Dylan. "She wants to talk to him!"

"Maybe we should just tell her," he says. "She's his mom after all and they have a really good relationship."

"You're right. Can you watch Harper for a few minutes?"

"Yeah."

I thank him and go into my room, closing the door behind me. I unmute the phone and take a deep breath before speaking.

"Asher had a nightmare the other night," I tell her everything. Once I finish, I apologize. "I'm sorry. I've been trying to check up on him but he won't reply. I'm really sorry for lying too, but I just couldn't bring myself to say it."

"Chase, it's okay. I know you're probably curious on how he nearly killed me. It was a just a few days after Kendra was put behind bars. He had a nightmare very similar to the one you described. I tried to wake him up but he freaked out thinking I was Kendra. He pushed me away so forcefully that I hit my head against the edge of his desk. I was unconscious. He woke up and had to drive me and all three of the kids to the hospital. He disappeared for a few days after that. He never told me where he went or what he did."

"Was he different when he came back?" I ask.

"He seemed happier. He was like himself again. It's all going to be okay, Chase. I promise, honey."

:::

It's 11pm and I can't sleep. Harper's snuggled up in my arms with his little head on my shoulder.

There's a knock on the bedroom door.

"Come in," I call, expecting Dylan.

Instead, someone else walks in and turns on the light.

He has a scruff and his clothes are wrinkled.

"Ash," I breathe. I put Harper down in our bed and run to Asher.

Asher hugs me tight and kisses my cheek, his stubble tickling my face.

"I'm so sorry for leaving you, Chase," He says.