096

Lorenzo:

I put the kids to bed. It wasn't as difficult as I expected but it wasn't as fun, either.

They had come downstairs and as soon as they saw me, they froze in the spot and stared at me.

I smiled at them but they didn't return it. They acted like programmed robots and only spoke to me when I spoke to them.

“Hey, I guess Mum sent you three upstairs for a nap. What would you like to eat?"

“Where is she?" asked Ethan.

He was just five and he sounded ice cold.

I tried my best to ignore the frostiness in his voice and smile.

“She went out but I'll be staying home with you three till she gets back."

They didn't smile, laugh, or even say anything. Ethan took the lead and went straight upstairs and his sisters followed closely behind.

I was stuck between a rock and a hard place. It was becoming more glaring that the kids didn't like me.

I had always felt how distant they were and I hoped that it would ease off with time but I didn't. They were still pushing me away even though I was goi