Cassidy hadn't gotten used to the cold yet. She held a sleeping Willow close to her and stared at his pillows next to her. She takes a deep breath and closes her eyes. She was so tired...but her racing thoughts forced her eyes open again.

'The bed is empty, the bed is empty, the bed is empty.' She takes a shakey breath before her mind wanders darker- 'He isn't coming home, he isn't coming home, he isn't coming home. He's gone. He's dead. He left. He never wanted to be here-'

Cassidy quickly lets go of Willow and lets her sleeping daughter roll away from her. Cass sits up and stifled a cry, her sobs were muffled into his hoodie sleeve. How could she even think that last bit?! Of course he wanted to be here! He loved her and Willow...She takes another breath, and another, and another. What if he wasn't coming home though? It had been a year now...she thought she would've been used to his missing presence. But she just...wasn't.

"Mommy...?" Willow squeaks out. Cass remained silent, holding in the painful cries.

"Yes love?" She asks quietly.

"Are you crying?" Willow asks, Cassidy felt the bed move with the little girl sitting up and leaning forward trying to see her mothers face. "You are!" Willow's eyes widen. "Why? Mommy! Why are you crying?! Stop it!"

Cass can't help but chuckle at her daughters concern as she flounced around the matress in a sad attempt to cheer up Cassidy.

"I just miss your daddy honey..."

"Daddy will be home soon mommy." Willow says quietly. "He isn't going to stay away forever." Cassidy looks at Willow before hugging her daughter tightly and petting her head. Willow hugs her mom tightly. "My bad dreams are gone...I'm going to go back to my room." She says quietly. "I don't wanna see you cry."

Willow climbs off the bed and waves to her mother, carrying her blanket out of the room. Cass watches her daughter go before breaking down in violent sobs and laying back down. She pulls his hood over her head and grabs his pillow hugging it to her chest.

The bed is empty.

The bed is empty.

The bed is empty.

His spot is cold.

His spot is cold.

His spot is cold.

The bed is empty.

His place, in her bed was empty and it was cold.

She was cold, Cassidy is so...so cold. She presses her face into his pillows fabric, almost as if maybe if she didn't look long enough...he would reappear.

It didnt work and the bed was still empty.