Daddy's Love

It's been a week since the fight and I haven't seen Ana or Christian even once. I put Ana's belongings in a box outside their house, the morning after his birthday. I got a box in return with Carol's stuff the same evening. He was here. He did not ring the door bell.

I don't think both of them have left their apartment since that day. But surely Christian must be going to work? I earn a lot. He doesn't. How will he support himself and Ana?

After four days all his messages and calls stopped. Most of them were apologies and saying how they love and miss Carol and me. One said, he needed help as both of them were sick. I read the message two days after it was sent. So, there was no point in going and checking them out. Or was there? He begged me in some messages to forgive him.

I try not to think about them. About how our lives are incomplete without Grey and Ana. About how Carol talks about them in her sleep. About how I dream about them every night. About how I miss kissing Christian and holding Ana in my arms. About how she giggles when I take her side over her daddy's.

Another three days pass. I still haven't seen any of them. I have asked friends casually if they have seen Ana or Grey when I am at the park with Carol but no one has. Apparently, he has quit his job.

I am worried. It's none of my business I try to tell myself but I am worried. No texts, no calls. I hope they are okay.... Should I text him? Call him? Make Carol talk to Ana so At least I know they are okay? Among all the texts from Grey only one was from Ana.

I miss you Carol. I miss you uncle Jay. Please, come see me only once. I want that as my birthday gift which is next month. I love you both. Daddy misses you both and loves you both too. That message was a week ago. I ignored that too. It makes me want to cry. What should I do?

I know they are alive and all because I see someone deliver some food to his place. Must be the grocery.

Another week passes by.

Carol and become really quiet and is mostly inside her room drawing sketches for Ana. Sometimes I don't realise she is there in the house. I miss her laughter. I miss Ana. I miss Grey.

I take Carol to the park and we are both surprised to see Ana sitting in the sand, with some other kids. Carol wants to run towards her but I hold her hand. I don't want to but I cannot help it. She seems to get the message. Ana doesn't see us. She has lost so much of weight and looks so fragile as if she'll break off. I look around for Grey and he is not there. Cannot be. What an idiot he is leaving Ana alone in the park? I push Carol towards the swing. She goes there half heartedly. I keep an eye out for both Ana and Carol. The park is crowded and Ana seems to be lost in her own world. Not smiling, not playing. Just sitting there. She looks so pale. I think it's the first time she has gotten out in the sun in days. She has Ems with her.

A huge kid goes into the sand box to play. Ana stands up carefully to leave the box as she sees the kid is trouble and the kid pushes her for no apparent reason and she falls down!

Before I know it I am running towards Ana and see Carol do the same.

She is crying and her knees are bleeding. Her palms too.

"Hey hey, Ana! Baby." I pick her up and hug her close to my chest. She sees us and is startled a minute before it registers that it's her uncle Jay and Carol. Carol is crying too. She hugs me tight. I see Carol picking up Ems.

She is sobbing like someone's dead. I swear.

"Hush....it's okay. Let's take you to get the ouchies fixed okay? You'll be fine. I got you."

I pick her up in my arms and tell a few people to inform Grey when he comes back that Ana was with me.

"No Mr. G, please." She says in between her sobs. She can't seem to stop crying.

I rock her in my arms. "Baby, I am taking you home, okay? No Dr. G. Uncle Jay is going to fix you, alright?" I kiss her cheeks and rush back home.☐☐☐☐