Ross cracked the door open and peeked through not wanted to stir his sister from her routine afternoon nap. Her crib stood where it always has. Next to the window and beside a small phonograph which used to be his great-grandfathers before his passing. Ross sighed while looking at the time. It was 4:00 p.m, like it always was when he returned from school. After rubbing away any tirededness from his eyes and removing his shoes he walked over to her crib. This was almost automatic for Ross. Everyday he did the same thing. Come home and check on his sister. Everyday since his dad left 5 months ago.

He stopped walking for a moment. He never thought about his dad much. Not since the incident.

Flashback

March 5, 2018

"I'm sorry Mr. Huot. We tried everything we could, but your wife... she didn't make it." A doctor with a bloody facemask stated glumly.

Ross's dad, James was shocked. He had faith that his wife would make it. It seems that he was wrong.

Ross was also shocked. However he quickly broke down and started crying. He had too hoped that his mom would make it through.

"Tell me doctor! Did the baby survive?" James pleaded.

"Fortunately yes, but she'll have monitored for a few days. When the mother dies during childbirth it can be very traumatic to the baby's health. However we are almost certain she'll be fine." The doctor replied. "You can see them both for a moment if you wish too."

Ross and James quickly nodded and followed the doctor to room 101. They all entered and saw Catherine, Ross's mom, laid out on a hospital bed. All color had drained from her body and she was covered in a hospital blanket. The new member of their family was being held by her now lifeless body.

James walked up to Catherine and held her cold hand while kneeling at her bedside. Tears rolled down his face as he whispered a quiet prayer to God hoping his wife's soul would forever be peace. Ross knelt next to him and prayed as well.

The doctor left quickly and quietly left the room.

Time Skip

March 8, 2018

Rain battered the roof of the funeral home. It was truly a sad site to see. A mother had been taken from her children to soon. A loving wife taken by the cruel hands of death from her husband. Rapid internal bleeding cause by weak birth canal tissues was what the doctors said. There wasn't not a dry eye in site. Friends wept because of the memories. Close relatives wept because of the bonds they once shared. A family wept because of the love they once held inside.

As Catherine's coffin was lowered into the ground everyone shared a moment of silence. A priest broke the silence after the designated minute with a small sermon. Eventually after her coffin had been completely lowered dirt was piled on until the coffin was no longer visible.

A cruel twist of irony, one gave her life to create a new one.

"A man never sees all that his mother has been to him until it's too late to let her know he sees it." -William Dean Howells.

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"Dad wait!" Ross shouted hoping to get his fathers attention, but it was all for nought. James was set on leaving and not even his infant daughter and teenage son could convince him otherwise. James placed his bags in the trunk of a car.

"What the fuck do you want!" James angerly shouted.

Ross was shocked. His dad never swore. "Where are you going. Why are you leaving us here alone!"

James scowled at his son. "I thought you knew that already. I'm leaving and not coming back! There is no reason for me to be here! I only loved Catherine and now that she's gone I need to leave!"

Ross tried to process the information given to him. "Don't you love us! What about Natalie! What about Audino! What will we do without you!"

"Of course I don't love you you numbskull! You and Natalie were your mothers desires not mine! I never wanted kids, but your mom just had to have a pair so here you are! You could burn in hell for all I care!"

James got into the car and sped off. The tires spun and sprayed Ross with dirty water and mud. The rain only seem to pour down harder as Ross wept on the curb.

"Why dad? I thought you loved us."