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It felt too real. So real he could feel them. Smell them. Sitting in their bed back at home. Sophie still shaky from giving birth, gently guiding his hands as he gave Miriam her first bath in a basin on their bedroom floor. He took the towel Sophie handed him, wrapped it around their daughter, and straightened up to give her back to Sophie so they could all try and get some sleep.
And then he woke up.
Alone.
On a grimy hotel room floor.
Somewhere in Nebraska.
He checked his phone.
Twelve messages from Sam.
Those he ignored.
But there were three texts from Sophie.
A video and two messages.
The video was a little shaky, a little dim, taken in Jody's living room. He realized Sam or Cas must have sent her to stay there. To stay safe.
Miriam sat on the floor over by the dining room table, a few of her favorite toys were up close to the camera in the foreground.
"You've got it!" Said Sophie's voice from behind the camera, "You can do it. Show Daddy what you learned."
And slowly, tenuously, Miriam stood up, toddled four steps, and tumbled forward as she reached for her xylophone.
"Yay! Good job! That's my girl!" Sophie enthused.
The video cut off then.
He read the texts.
"Miriam learned to walk," the first one said, "Thought you'd want to see."
And then the second. Sent about a half hour later.
"I miss you. She misses you. Please come back to us. Please my love."
He wanted so badly to reply.
He wanted to go rushing back.
He turned off his phone and went to get dressed.