The light from the tv flickers, illuminating the dimmed living room in your house. It feels so weird, being here without you. But I’m not completely alone. Right upstairs, down the hall, to the right, your five year old daughter Lola. That’s right, I’m babysitting. Quite my speciality nowadays, since basically everyone my age is having kids.

Tonight, you’re having a well deserved girls night out, with some of your closest girl friends. Apparently, that prick of a guy you dated for a few months broke up with you last week. So I practically forced you to go out, spend an evening and night with some fun, and I offered to babysit Lola. I know how much she means to you, so you were kinda hesitant to agreeing. You told me you felt bad for abandoning you and Lola’s usual Saturday spa and movie night. But I assured you that me and Lola would have just as fun.

You left at 5 pm, and it’s currently 11 pm. During these six hours Lola and I have had a tea party with all her dolls and stuffed animals, we ate a fancy dinner which consisted of macaroni and sausages, later on we watched the Lorax and half an episode of Barbies life in the dream house until she fell asleep next to me on the couch. So, I carried her upstairs to her room and now she’s peacefully sleeping while I’m here downstairs, mindlessly watching some show on the tv.

It’s crazy really. During our days in one direction we used to go out to clubs and bars basically every single weekend. Quick hookups, paparazzis cameras flashing, fans following us everywhere. It’s so different now. You switched margaritas to milk bottles. I switched my long hair to short hair and a mustache. Different times.

All of a sudden, the low sounds from the tv is interrupted by small, tiny footsteps down the stairs. I furrow my brows and sit up straight as Lola comes into the living room. She carefully waddles over, standing a few steps away from the couch, her stuffed bunny securely held in her tiny hand.

“Hey, what’s up? Did you have a bad dream?” I ask as softly as I can. And that’s when I see her lower lip quivering, the tightening on her bunny. Oh no…

“I miss mummy” she whispers, her voice all wobbly. And before I know it, she’s crying. Internally, I panic. But I try my best not to show it to her.

“Oh honey, come here” I say softly and gently pull her towards me. I set her down in my lap, stroking her back comforting. “Mummy is out with her friends. When you wake up in the morning, she’s gonna be back home!” I try to assure her. But apparently, I’m not doing a good enough job. She starts sobbing. I spend the next 15 minutes trying different ways to calm her down.

At last, I have to go to the last resort… I pick up my phone and call you. I hate disturbing you, but I really don’t know what else to do.

“Hey, so uhm.. I have a crying Lola here in my lap who misses her mummy very much” I speak, as soon as you answer.