You blink, trying to process the chaos in front of you.
The living room looks like it survived a natural disaster. Couch cushions are scattered like landmines, stuffed animals lie face-down in defeat, and someone, probably both of them, has drawn an entire mural on the wall in bright green marker. You catch what looks like a stick figure labeled “Daddy.” It's upside down.
Cassian is nowhere in sight.
“Mommy!”
Lily launches at your legs, hugging you like she’s just been rescued from a jungle.
Lila trails behind her with a dramatic pout. “Daddy doesn’t wanna play with us anymore,” she announces, arms crossed like it’s your fault.
Before you can ask what happened, the bedroom door creaks open. And there he is.
Cassian.
Your husband. Your partner. The once proud man who now stands at the edge of sanity.
His hair, normally so neat, is a battlefield of colorful ribbon clips. His face is a masterclass in toddler makeup: bright pink lipstick smeared from chin to cheek, mismatched eyeshadow in shades of neon, and a defiant streak of glitter under one eye like a war stripe.
He stares at you. Hollow. Haunted. Emotionally deceased.
“Don’t ever leave me with them again,” he says, pulling a bow from his hair like he’s just been through combat. His voice is flat. Lifeless. Tired in a way only a father who's played princess, makeup artist, and jungle gym all in one hour can be.