He gave me Butterflies

Chapter 1

The phone rang. I recognized the number immediately but I answered it hesitantly.
"Hello?" My voice was shaking.
"He wanted you to be the first one to know..." The person on the phone answered back. Tears started to swell in my eyes. I nodded slowly as she continued to talk but I could hardly hear a word of it.
"Yeah I'm fine..." I struggled to make out as the back of my throat started to tighten. "Thank you." My face started to brighten in blotchy patches of red. "Yeah, you too. Bye..." I hung up the phone as the first tear rolled down my burning cheek. I put my hand over my face as I sobbed and shrank to the floor. There I stayed.

***

"Sophie?" His voice was gentle as he pushed open my bedroom door. I was silent as I stayed lying there motionless as if I was already dead. I held my breath. Maybe if I waited long enough he'd think I was asleep. His shadow hesitated along my bedroom wall. I watched it intently. He knew better; I wasn't asleep and he there was no fooling him. He carefully walked over to my bed avoiding scattered dolls, markers, shoes, stuffed animals and who knows what else. He sat down on the edge of my bed. I pulled my butterfly blanket over my head and refused to look up at him.
"Sophie..." He whispered putting his hand on my shoulder. "It'll be okay..." I poked my head out from under the blankets. His eyes were watering. My heart seemed to hurt even more. It longed to ease his pain even through my own. I sat up and hugged him. He stiffened then put his arms around me as well. I felt the tears soak into my cotton shirt
"It's okay daddy..." I whispered as I started to cry into his arms. He brushed my ratted hair out of my face with his fingers gently...

***

"Hey Sophie, I'm home." Andrew said as he walked in the front door. He walked into the living room.
"Sophie?" His voice started to panic when I didn't respond. I sat motionless on the kitchen floor. I made an effort to call out to him but the sound was caught somewhere still in my chest. My lungs were tight and my dry throat was in protest. I tried again to force my voice to form his name but instead it came out as a helpless gasp that was soon drown out by another sob of tears.
"Sophie!" Andrew came rushing in once he saw me and fell onto the floor beside me, cradling me in his arms.
"He's gone! Andrew, he's gone" I mumbled through the tears as he hugged me.
"It's alright. Shh calm down, angel. I'm right here." Andrew said as he held me close waiting for me to calm down and explain. I looked straight into his eyes appalled by what I was hearing. A tinge of anger brightened my cheeks as my hands clenched.
"It's not alright!" I wanted to scream but instead burst into more hysteric tears uncontrollably. How could it possibly be alright? "He's gone just like her..." Things would never be just alright again. My rage subsided to helplessness as I cried miserably into Andrew's shoulder.
"I know Sophie, I know" Andrew whispered softly as he ran his fingers through my now messed up hair. His breathing was calm and relaxed and soon mine was too. He had a patient way of waiting out the storm. Andrew took my hand gently fiddling with my ring. "Why don't you tell me about him?" I shook my head stubbornly.  It was too soon. There was simply too much to say. Even if I wanted to, how could I even possibly begin? He smiled sweetly, his eyes glimmering as he wiped a few remaining tears off my face. "What about her then? Mind telling me about her, Sophie?"
"What about her?" I asked genuinely puzzled. I hardly remembered her.
"Anything, Sophie" Andrew said pulling me closer, resting his chin on top of my head. I thought for a moment, considering the idea.
"Alright then... Her."