“I told you to come with me..” I mumbled to you, my face against the side of your head as I spoke into your ear. “M’so sorry.” I whispered, my hand stroking your hair.

I left the house for a few hours to deal with some things, it was nothing violent so I asked you to come with me and bring our daughter but you said you’d rather stay home. I decided to leave without you, expecting nothing to happen at all.

I got a notification on my phone from the security cameras and I dropped everything and immediately made my way home. I couldn’t figure out who these people were, they were dressed in all black with balaclavas on to cover their faces. I didn’t know what they were planning to do and I never will.

Thank God that you used your survival instincts and you hid somewhere in the house. Our house is massive so it definitely took them awhile to search the places they did before I shot them dead. I called the cleaners and they’re now dealing with the mess while I try to calm you down in our bedroom.

You were sat on the edge of the bed, stray tears escaping your eyes and it just made me feel so much worse for leaving you alone when I knew something could happen but it didn’t cross my mind in the moment. Our daughter lay comfortably in her cot fast asleep, she was definitely tired from all the crying she had done and now you were too.

You took all your time since the break in trying to settle her down instead of letting me do it, I wasn’t mad at you because I know how startled you were but I just wanted you to rest. I’d finally guided you to lay down in bed, holding you close.