Troubling Love

Messing with the devil.

Stefani tiptoed into the hall, startled as she heard her little girl crying from down the hallway.
She slowly opened the door to the newborns nursery, closing the door behind her so that she wouldn't awaken the sleeping toddler across the hall. Stefani walked towards the crib that rested up against the middle of the wall. Through the rails of the white, furnished crib she would see her baby crying for her. Her pink pacifier dangling from her mouth as she was comfortably swaddled in a white blanket. Stefani picked the small baby up, cradling the baby in her arms, "It's okay, momma's got you." She cooed, pressing a kiss to the tiny girls forehead. She sat on the rocking chair that was in the corner of the room. Situating herself so that she could feed her hungry daughter.

As Stefani began to breastfeed her daughter, she couldn't help but stare at the girl in awe. The little cooes and whines that left the newborns mouth as she was being fed made the woman's heart melt. "Mommy loves you baby girl." Stefani said to her daughter, Sarah. "And she'll never let you go." She continued. Though the baby didn't understand, talking to Sarah brought the blonde a sense of comfort. She had nobody else to talk to at night, she was alone. If only she would've known where she'd be in 17 years.

As the newborn finished eating, she began to fall back asleep. Stefani kissed the infants nose, placing her in the crib. As she walked away, she heard crying again. She turned, walking back to the crib to see Sarah still peacefully sleeping. Who was crying? The crying got louder and louder, the sound began ringing in Stefani's ears. She screamed in pain as her heard throbbed in pain, falling to her knees. Her ears rung, the crying only got louder. What was this nightmare?

Stefani sat up, gasping for air as she was pulled out of the nightmare she had just witnessed. She looked around, becoming more and more aware of her surroundings. The sun brightly shined through the blinds indicating that it was morning already. She sighed, placing her hand on her chest, trying to control her breathing as she tried to forget the horrible dream.

Today was going to be a long day.
-

"C'mon Stefani, you've got to get out of this house." Natali insisted, practically prying the woman off of the couch. "No." Stefani complained. Simply brushing her teeth became a difficult task. "You haven't left the house in almost 4 months. You aren't on lock down Stef. Come on." Natali insisted. "Where do you plan on going?" Stefani questioned. "Well, we can start off simple. Let's just grab some coffee at a cafe and then we can come back come. It's just a small outing." Nat shrugged, explaining to Stefani exactly what she had in mind. "Fine." Stefani sighed, finally giving in. "Alright, go upstairs and get dressed." Natali ordered. Stefani gave her a slight smile, "Yes ma'am." She winked. Stefani's constant act of happiness felt real from time to time but then she'd realize that she was nowhere near happy. She tried, but it never worked out.
-
Natali and Stefani walked into the cafe, to say this was fun would be a flat out lie. Stefani would rather be sleeping or laying around doing absolutely nothing than interacting with people. She had little to no human contact in the last few months, and that was completely fine with her. But of course Natali knew that it wasn't healthy at all. It was only going to harm her in the long-run. "Do we actually have to drink the coffee here." Stefani asked, clearly ready to complain if she got an answer she didn't like. "Yes Stef." Natali answered. Stefani sighed, "Seriously? Can't we just order and go. That's enough human interaction." She protested. "Oh quit whining. You needed to get out of that house." Natali answered. Stefani rolled her eyes, keeping quiet, not in the mood to continue arguing. "Here wait here, the lines a bit long. I'm going to go to the bathroom real quickly. I'll be back." Said Natali. Stefani only nodded, signaling that she heard.

As Stefani stood in line she noticed that someone else had entered the cafe. She didn't care to look but when she heard a few gasps she turned to look at the person who had entered. Her eyes widened in shock when she did. It felt as if her fears were becoming reality.