Fear

Part 1

I pull my knees to my chest, tears running down my face. I look over at my girlfriend, Layla soothing our two-year-old daughter, Delilah, our eldest daughter, Ivy sleeping next to me. The sound of my parents voices could be heard from my bedroom on the third floor of my house, they were yelling this time about my kids and how they shouldn't be here, I look over at Layla and Delilah, protectiveness washing over at the tears I see running down Layla's face, I shuffle closer to her wrapping my arm around her shoulders.

"Levi," Layla says her voice small "can we stay here tonight and run away in the morning? She can't be raised in a place where people hate her."

"I agree but where will we run to, being raised on the streets isn't any better they need a safe and happy home." I state looking into Layla's eyes where tears are beginning to pool again.

Layla looks down at Delilah sleeping in her lap, "we could stay at a shelter that I know of it has a section that is for parents they can find us a small apartment."

"That's a brilliant idea baby, do you need anything from your house, things for Delilah or Ivy?" I ask kissing her head. She shakes her head, picking Delilah up off her lap and handing her to me.

"You hold her, I'm going to get ready for bed," Layla says walking over to my closet, pulling out one of my shirts and walking off to my bathroom.

My bedroom takes up the entire third floor with a parts sectioned off for the bathroom and a small kitchen area, that way my parents rarely ever had to see me so they won't notice I'm gone for at least a week if not more it's sad really, Delilah crying breaks my chain of thought. "What's the matter flower?" I ask her "are you missing mama already, she only just left, let's go lays down, yeah?" I wake up Ivy and take them to lay down on my bed with me and start singing a song that Layla always sung to Delilah.

Hey there, Delilah

What's it like in New York city?

I'm a thousand miles away

But, girl, tonight you look so pretty

Yes, you do

Times Square can't shine as bright as you

I swear, it's true

I was about to start the second verse when Layla walks out of my bathroom, I look up to see her smiling and I smile back.

"Please don't let me stop you, she likes it better when you sing it." Layla says laying down on the other side of Delilah and I continue with the song,

Hey there, Delilah

Don't you worry about the distance

I'm right there if you get lonely

Give this song another listen

Close your eyes

Listen to my voice, it's my disguise

I'm by your side

By the time I'm finished the second verse Delilah and Layla are asleep, I kiss them before closing my eyes, "daddy can you put me to bed mama is sleeping?" Ivy's voice rang out through the dark.

"Okay precious. Come here but try not to wake your sister." I tell her

She climbs over to me not waking Delilah or Layla which I found very impressive for a five-year-old and I take her over to her bed, laying her down, when she grabs the end of my shirt.

"Daddy can you sing to me please?" she says in a tiny voice

"Okay," I say and start singing

Gotta hold on easy as I let you go

Going to tell you how much I love you

Though you think you already know

I remember I thought you looked like an angel

Wrapped in pink, so soft and warm

You've had me wrapped around your finger

Since the day you were born

You're beautiful baby, from the outside in

Chase your dreams but always know

The road that will lead you home again

Go on, take on this old world but to me

You know you'll always be my little girl