Shattered

Sienna’s POVThe moment the door opened, everything felt wrong.Too tight. Too loud. Too much.Desmond stood there.Gabriel stood there and I was in the middle of them with my children holding my hands.For a second, I forgot why I came.Then the children saw him.“Desmond!”They slipped out of my grip before I could stop them and ran straight to him.My heart jumped into my throat.“Wait—”Too late.They reached him, wrapping their small arms around his legs, looking up at him like nothing had changed.Like everything was still the same.“Where did you go?” Max asked quickly.“You didn’t come back,” Milo added, his voice small.Maya held onto his hand, her eyes already glossy. “Mommy said we have a new daddy.”The words landed hard.I froze.“And we don’t want him,” she continued, shaking her head. “We want you.”Silence.It was thick heavy and suffocating. I couldn’t breathe.Desmond didn’t move at first.Then slowly, he crouched down to their level, his expression softening in a w

Disoriented

Sienna’s POVThe silence in the room didn’t last long.It couldn’t.Too many emotions were pressing in from every direction, too many truths sitting between us, waiting to be faced.Gabriel was the first to move.He walked slowly toward the children, his steps cautious, like he wasn’t sure how close he was allowed to get. His eyes stayed on them, studying their faces like he was trying to see himself in them.And maybe he was.I watched him carefully, my heart still racing from everything that had just happened.This was why I came.To tell him the truth.But now that it was out… I didn’t know what I expected.“Hey…” Gabriel said softly as he crouched down in front of them.The children didn’t move closer.They stayed where they were, right beside Desmond.That alone said everything.Gabriel noticed it too.His jaw tightened slightly before he forced a small smile.“I know this is a lot,” he continued. “But… I need you to understand something.”Max frowned a little. “Understand what?”

Revelation

Sienna’s POVSleep didn’t come. No matter how long I stayed in bed, staring at the ceiling, closing my eyes, turning from one side to the other, nothing changed. My mind refused to rest. Every time I tried to drift, something pulled me back. A memory. A voice. A look. Desmond.I exhaled slowly, pushing the covers away before sitting up. The room felt too quiet, too empty. I hated it. I hated how silence made everything louder. There was no one to talk to, no one I trusted enough to lay all of this out without feeling judged or misunderstood. Sylvia was gone. Gabriel… was Gabriel. And Desmond…My chest tightened at the thought. I stood up quickly, shaking my head like I could physically push him out of my mind.“I need a distraction,” I muttered under my breath.Anything. Something.I stepped out of the room and into the hallway, the soft light from the lamps casting faint shadows along the walls. The house was still. The children had cried themselves to sleep earlier, their small voic

Impromptu Visit

Sienna’s POVThe morning started quietly.For the first time in days, there was no tension in the air, no heavy thoughts pressing against my chest the moment I opened my eyes. Just stillness.I needed that. I welcomed it.It was the weekend, and for once, I let myself focus on something simple. Something normal.Cleaning.I moved around the house slowly, putting things in place, wiping down surfaces, organizing what I could. It wasn’t really about the house. It was about keeping my hands busy so my mind wouldn’t wander.But it still did. It always did.Desmond.I shook my head lightly, pushing the thought away as I adjusted a vase on the table.“Mommy!” Maya’s voice called from the living room.“Yes?” I replied, not looking up yet.“Come see!”I sighed softly, setting the cloth down before walking toward them.All three of them were sitting on the couch, eyes fixed on the television, their small faces unusually serious.“What is it?” I asked, stepping closer.Milo pointed at the scree

Final Decisions

Sienna’s POVThe ride back felt unreal.Desmond had been discharged faster than I expected. The doctors insisted he needed rest, but he refused to stay any longer than necessary. That was him. Always in control. Always pushing through. But I could still see it, the weakness, the way his movements were slower, more careful, the way his breathing shifted slightly when he thought no one was paying attention. He wasn’t fine. Not really. And that thought stayed with me as I drove.The children were quieter now, but not the tense silence from before. This one was softer, filled with relief and lingering worry. Maya sat close to him in the back seat, her small hand wrapped tightly around his as if letting go would make him disappear again.“Are you still hurting?” she asked gently.Desmond glanced down at her, his expression softening. “A little,” he admitted.Her brows pulled together. “Then you should sleep.”A faint smile touched his lips. “Yes, ma’am.”Milo leaned forward slightly. “Whe

Forever begins with you

Sienna’s POVThe evening felt… different.Calm, but not the quiet kind that made my thoughts louder. This one felt warm. Soft. Like something was settling into place, even if I didn’t fully understand it yet.The house was filled with small sounds. Laughter. Tiny footsteps. The occasional argument over who got to sit closest to Desmond.“Mommy,” Maya called, running into the room with her usual energy. “Daddy said we’re going out!”I looked up from where I was sitting, slightly confused. “We are?”Milo and Max followed right behind her, both talking at the same time.“He said it’s important.”“And we have to dress nice.”“And we can’t ask questions!”I raised a brow, my gaze shifting toward Desmond, who was standing by the doorway.He looked… calm.Too calm.There was something in his eyes. Something I couldn’t quite place.“What is this about?” I asked.He walked toward me slowly, stopping just close enough for his presence to wrap around me without touching.“Trust me,” he said simp