I woke up that morning and just sat on my bed for a while. Today was the day I was to go back to work. I was excited, but scared at the same time. I really didn’t want to leave the girls. But Cassie told me she would be happy to watch them while she wrote.

They were pretty distracted, anyway. Bernie had sent two dolls for them, with a note saying that they were special. I was a bit wary of this, but the girls loved them.

But even still, I felt terrified. I just wanted to get the girls, bury back into the covers and never leave the house. But I had to. I had to work. Cassie couldn’t carry us by herself.

So I went to work. And they were impressed with me! They promoted me to a better desk job. And with the money I earned, i thought I’d do something nice for my lovely cousin.

She was thrilled. The old computer broke all the time and she got so frustrated with it.

As time went by, the girls grew and learnt. Played with their dolls. Bernie called still. I tried to be happy.

The girls had their birthdays.

And grew into adorable, identical children. Bree loved science, and spent a lot of time at a chemistry set we got for her, and Darcy loved playing video games.

I worked hard, and got promoted. I did a lot of thinking about my life. I was young still, and I had two young children. Whatever money we earned was spent repairing our house and getting more things we needed. We tried to save so we could move, but then something would break or we’d need something new.

I was sad. Horribly, horribly sad. I felt I was useless and that I couldn’t get enough for my family. I couldn’t earn enough money to move into a larger house, so we were stuck in this tiny place. I couldn’t even make my children’s father stay with me when he told me he loved me.

We argued that night.

I went to the corner of my bedroom and cried.

I didn’t want this.

I wished things were different.

I didn’t want to love him any more.

But, of course, the girls just knew how I was feeling. And they made me feel better.

I felt better.

I hadn’t spoken to Bernie in ages. I tried not to care. There were more important things.

The girls had grown into teenagers. Darcy was still into technology, and Bree still into chemistry.

Cassie grew into adulthood.

And so did I.

I was older. Successful.

Then one day we had a knock on the door.