"Morning." I said with a smile as he entered the kitchen. "Good morning love." He said groggily, pouring himself some tea. He smiled, kissing my temple. "I'm sorry about everything that happened." "It's okay Lou...It's not your fault." He smiled and hugged me. "I could've helped you more though." "It's okay. You're helping too much now." "Mummy!" She exclaimed, running into the kitchen. "Hey babe." I said, letting go of Louis and picking her up. "Hi uncle Lou." "Hey sweetie." He leaned over as kissed her head. "I'm going to go check on Karen. She's still not feeling well." I nodded and looked down at Ava. "I have to go talk to Daddy okay baby?" "Can I come?" "Yeah I guess so. I'll go tell uncle Lou and aunt Karen, alright?" She nodded and jumped out of my arms, running into the family room. "Louis!" I called, running up the steps. "Yeah?" He called, stepping out of their bedroom. "Me and Ava are going out for a while. Just thought I should tell you." "Alright. Just call me if you need me." He said with a smile. "Alright. Thanks." I ran downstairs, finding Ava on the couch, watching TV. "Let's go." She hopped up, following me outside to the car.

•

I knocked on the door, waiting for an answer. Nothing. He's here. His car is here anyway. I got my key, unlocking it carefully. "Mummy where's Daddy?" "He's in here somewhere." She nodded and followed me inside. There were beer bottles on the table, cigarettes on the ground and a glass pipe on the ground. I grabbed her hand and walked up the stairs. "Harry?! Babe?!" Suddenly, he appeared in front of me. "Harry!" "Hey..." He said, pulling me closer to him. When he breathed out, I smelled meth. "Harry, have you been doing drugs?" "Y-Yeah..." I backed away from him, shielding Ava behind me. "Ava?" He asked curiously. "She's here." I moved out of the way so he could see her. "Hey babe..." He said quietly. She waved a little, then buried herself in me. "Harry why are you doing this? Why are you getting drunk, doing drugs, smoking... Why?" "I was stressed okay?" "Why? Why didn't you just talk to me?" "I didn't know how to. I didn't want to make you worry." "Why don't you stop now?" "Now that I've started I can't stop." "Why can't you at least try?" "I just can't." I sighed and looked at Ava. "You won't even try for her." "Babe I-" "Why were you stressed?" "Football." "So you started drinking and doing drugs and smoking all because of one game?" "Well, I started doing drugs so I would do better and the others followed." I sighed and ran my fingers through my hair. "Call me when you start trying." I said with another sigh, picking up Ava. "Bye daddy..." She mumbled quietly as we went down the stairs.