[Tierna]
I slip into bed next to my fiancé and kiss her cheek. "Hey, baby what are you reading?" I ask while peering over her shoulder.
"A book." I roll my eyes but take note that she most likely wants to be left alone and I pull out my phone to read the latest news on the camp planning.
"Can we talk?" Lucia finally speaks up trying to start a conversation.
"Sure." I put my phone back onto its place on the nightstand before turning towards Lucy.
"Something happened today and I think you should know about it. Just so if it comes up at a later time it doesn't cause any problems." She explains.
"Mal showed up at the door today drunk and said she loved me. I sent her away but I thought you should just know." I go to kiss Lia and tell her that it doesn't matter but tiny footsteps from their doorway interrupt my plans.
"Mommy? Mama?" I peer over my shoulder surprised by the interruption. "What's wrong Lily?" Lucia questions while motioning for the little girl to come in.
"I can't sleep." She says and suddenly her toes seem to get very interesting for her. "Do you want to sleep with me and mommy tonight?" I ask her while peeling back my blanket already knowing the answer.
Lily nods shyly while crawling between me and Lia. I kiss both my girl's heads before settling down to sleep sooner than I thought I would.
[Lucia]
I can't shut my eyes while I worry about what could come of tomorrow. Every possibility is running through my mind and they just keep coming.
To try and suppress my thoughts I slip out of the bed and get a glass of water but it doesn't seem to be working.
I am about to go back into bed when I hear the hinges of the front door creak and quiet footsteps. I grab the big knife casually sitting on the kitchen counter like a generic horror movie while ducking down to hide behind the island.
I peer over trying to make out the figure standing in the living room but I'm unsuccessful to match it to anyone with a key to the apartment.
I hear a light switch click and my eyes bolt over to the hall where Lily is standing and she stares blankly at the now obvious robber in the living room.
"Who are you?" She signs tiredly. "I'm your mom's friend." A strange voice stays sweetly to my daughter. "Which one?" Lily questions and a look of disgust flash across the women's face.
"What they are doing is wrong and a sin." The woman says and pulls out a gun. I am panicking silently behind the counter while listening to their conversation. I opt to just stay quiet and hope for the best.
I hear fading footsteps and my eyes widen as I peer over to the woman now walking down the hallway.
I quickly find my way to my office and send a quick text to Tierna to hide somewhere and anywhere in the bedroom before calling the cops.
"911 what's your emergency?"
"There is someone in my house."
"Ok, ma'am do you live alone?"
"No. I live with my fiancé and daughter."
"Are they safe?"
"I-I don't know. I was getting a drink of water from my kitchen and someone just came in so I hid and when she was out of sight I came into my office to call you guys."
"Ok ma'am there are officers on the way just stay calm. Do you know if they have a weapon?"
"Yes," I whisper while hearing footsteps outside the door.
"Is it a gun?" I stay quiet and hear a second pair of footsteps but they are heavier like a mans. "Yes," I whisper silently.
"What's this room?" I hear a deep voice ask. "I don't know boss but it's locked." Then the door handle rattles which just pushes me over the edge and I feel my legs starting to give out from under me so I quickly go under my desk while it's getting harder to breathe and I'm shaking.
"We'll get in there!" He semi-shouts which causes me to let out a quiet sob. My phone vibrates so with the best of my abilities I pick it up but with a combination of my hands shaking and my blurry vision from tears in my eyes I can only make out the words safe, Lily, with, and me so I think that she's safe with Lily in the bedroom.
I hear the door open and two sets of footsteps so I try to make as little noise as I can but it's hard when your in the middle of a panic attack.
"Boss you didn't say they had a dog." I hear Cocoa coming closer which worries me since she will give away my hiding spot.
"I didn't know ok?" The man walks by and just makes it worse as I start to panic even more. Cocoa starts to bark at them loudly so when the police come in after a minute or two they come right in here.
The man sees me and he pulls me up putting a gun to my head. It starts to get even more difficult for me to breathe and Cocoa is growling at the man holding me.
"Let the woman go." I start to feel dizzy and everything goes black but next thing I know I'm still shaking but on our couch in Tierna's lap. I look up at her and she's crying but trying not to.
"Good your awake." An officer says and I motion for him to stop for a second. "What's wrong?" I ask her as I wrap my arms around her torso. "They took Lily." My face drops and I let go of Tierna.
"Wha-what?" Is all I could get out while holding back tears. "Ma'am we need to ask you some questions." I nod and he asks me about what happened so I explained everything. By the time I finished, I was crying. I looked around the room at all the officers just coming in and out while acting like nothings wrong.
"Ma'am?" My heads snaps to the officer. "What?"
"I asked if you have a recent picture of Liliana for us." I nod and slowly stand up before making my way to my office. I open my top drawer to see a picture of her and me at the park and I was teaching her soccer.
I hand it to the officer and I almost didn't let go. "Don't worry ma'am we are going to just make copies of this and you'll have it back tomorrow." I nod and numbly make my way back to Tierna who is a mess. I sit down and motion for her to cuddle into me which she does and I hold her tightly.
"It will all be ok. They'll find her and it will all be ok." I whisper unconvinced everything will be fine but I need the woman in my arms to believe it. I'm sure she isn't convinced either but they will find her...
Right?
