~Carlos~
Groaning softly, I forced myself to sit up in bed. My body felt heavy like it was being weighed down by chains and I felt like I hadn't eaten in a week. I looked down and saw that both of my arms were being circled by my girls. Avery had herself wrapped tightly around my right arm, while Allison was spread out on the bed, gripping my left hand as she slept. All I wanted to do was curl up in a hole and wallow in my misery, but I didn't have that luxury. I didn't have just me to think about right now. I had to put on a brave face for my girls and show them that their daddy would be coming home no matter what... even when I didn't completely believe the lie myself.
Slowly, I pulled my arms free from the girls and climbed out of bed. Both girls whimpered at the loss, so I shifted A
