𝑵𝑼𝑹𝑺𝑬𝑹𝒀~𝒂.𝒃𝒖𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆𖦊
The morning feels way too big for such a small moment.
Tiny shoes by the door.
A little backpack that looks oversized on her.
A coat she keeps trying to take off.
And right in the middle of it,
Lily.
Clinging.
“I don’t wanna go…” she mumbles, face buried into Alfie’s hoodie.
He immediately tightens his hold.
“…you know what, that’s fair,” he mutters. “We can stay home. I’m okay with that.”
From across the room, Reader turns slowly
arms folded.
“No.”
Alfie looks at you like you’ve betrayed him.
“Excuse me?”
“She’s going,” You say simply, walking over.
Lily whines slightly, gripping Alfie tighter.
“I don’t like it…”
“Lils you haven’t even been yet,” You say gently, tucking her hair behind her ear.
Lily peeks out from Alfie’s neck, eyes watery.
“…what if it’s scary?”
Alfie nods immediately.
“Yeah, what if it is scary? Exactly-great point-let’s not go-”
“Alfie,” You cut in.
He stops.
“…yeah?”
“You’re making it worse.”
He pauses, then sighs.
“…yeah, alright.”
You soften, reaching out, brushing Lily’s soft cheek with your finger.
“Hey… it’s just like playtime, yeah?” You say softly. “Toys, other kids, colouring…”
Lily sniffles.
“…really?”
“Really.”
“And if you don’t like it, we come back and tell Daddy he was right,” You add with a small smile.
Alfie perks up instantly.
“See? That’s a great plan.”
You give him another look.
“If she doesn’t like it.”
“…right. Yeah. Of course.”
Lily hesitates, then slowly loosens her grip.
“…you stay?”
Alfie puts her down softly, in front of her now, hands on her little arms.
“I won’t be far, yeah?” he says softly. “And I’ll come back and get you.”
“…promise?”
“Promise.”
She studies his face, like she’s making sure.
Then nods slightly.
“…okay…”
He smiles softly.
“Good girl.”
They get her shoes on, bag on her back, which she immediately tries to take off again.
“No-baby, keep it on,” You laugh gently.
“I don’t like it!”
“You’ll need it.”
“Mummy I don’t-”
“Lily.”
She pauses.
You raise a brow.
“…okay…”
Alfie watches all of this, completely conflicted.
“…we could still just stay here,” he mutters as they head out the door.
“No,” You say.
“…just saying, option’s there.”
“No.”
The walk is slow.
Lily holding Alfie’s hand tightly on one side, Readers on the other.
Every few steps she squeezes a little tighter. By the time they reach the nursery gates, she’s fully clinging again.
“I don’t wanna go…” she whispers.
Alfie crouches down again, heart breaking a little.
“I know, baby…”
Reader kneels too, gentler now.
“Hey… look at me.”
Lily does.
“You’re brave, yeah?”
“…yeah…”
“And you’re going to have fun.”
“…okay…”
“And we’ll be right here after.”
Lily nods
slowly.
Reluctantly.
The teacher steps over, smiling warmly.
“Hi, Lily! Are you ready?”
Lily shakes her head instantly.
“No.”
The teacher laughs softly.
“That’s okay. We’ll take it slow.”
Alfie looks like he might actually cry.
“I don’t like this,” he mutters.
Reader nudges him.
“She’s fine.”
“Well I’m not fine.”
Lily clings one last time, hugging Alfie tight.
“Daddy…”
He hugs her back just as tight.
“I’ve got you… go on, yeah? I’ll be right here.”
She pulls back, hesitates, then slowly takes the teacher’s hand.
Tiny fingers, letting go of Alfie’s.
He freezes.
Watching her walk inside.
“…she’s gone,” he whispers.
Reader crosses her arms.
“She’s in nursery, not moving countries.”
He looks at you, highly offended.
“Still.”
They stand there for a second.
Quiet.
Alfie exhales, a shaky laugh leaving him.
And even though it was hard, even though there were tears.
she did it.
Their tiny girl.
Braver than she thought.
Even if her daddy wasn’t.
The pickup is supposed to be the best part.
Running hugs.
Big smiles.
Stories about new friends and colouring and snacks.
That’s what Alfie is expecting when he gets to the gate.
What he gets instead, is quiet.
Lily walks out slowly, little backpack slipping off one shoulder, head down.
No running.
No “Daddy!”
Just… quiet.
Alfie’s smile fades instantly.
“…hey, baby,” he says softly, crouching down. “How was it?”
She doesn’t answer.
Just walks straight into him, arms wrapping around his neck, face hiding in his shoulder.
Clinging. Tight.
His heart drops.
“Hey… hey…” he murmurs, holding her properly now. “What’s wrong?”
“…didn’t like it…” she whispers.
That’s it.
That’s all it takes.
He closes his eyes briefly, jaw tightening.
“…yeah?” he says gently. “That’s okay. You don’t have to like it straight away.”
She shakes her head slightly against him.
“…was loud…”
“Too loud?”
A small nod.
“…and no one wanted, play with me…”
His chest aches a bit at that.
“Oh, baby…”
He stands slowly, keeping her close.
“Come on, yeah? Let’s go see Mummy.”
That gets the tiniest reaction.
“…Mummy?”
“Yeah,” he nods. “She’s filming.”
That’s enough.
She doesn’t perk up, but she holds onto him a little tighter.
The drive is quiet.
No singing.
No chatter.
Just Lily in the back, looking out the window, silent.
Alfie keeps glancing at her in the mirror.
He hates it.
Absolutely hates it.
“…we don’t have to go again tomorrow,” he says suddenly.
She looks up slightly.
“…really?”
“Yeah,” he says. “We’ll figure it out.”
She nods faintly, but doesn’t say anything else.
And that’s what gets him.
Because she’s usually never this quiet.
When they arrive at the studio, it’s the opposite energy.
Laughter.
Noise.
People talking over each other.
Inside, Reader is mid laugh, sat with Tobi, Ethan, Simon and Josh, or as Lily proudly calls them-
“my cool kunckles.”
“…and I’m telling you, that goal, Mate!-“ Ethan starts,
The door opens.
Reader looks up instantly.
Spots them.
Your face lights up, then pauses.
Because you see Lily.
And something’s off.
“…Lil?” you say, standing slightly.
The boys follow her gaze.
“Lily!” Tobi smiles.
“Come here, little legend-” Ethan adds.
But Lily doesn’t move.
She just buries her face back into Alfie’s shoulder.
Your expression softens immediately.
“Hey…” you walk over, gentle now. “What’s wrong?”
Alfie shakes his head slightly.
“…she didn’t have a good day.”
That’s all it takes.
Reader steps closer, hand resting lightly on Lily’s back.
“Hey… look at me, yeah?”
Lily peeks up slowly, eyes a little watery again.
“…Mummy…”
Reader smiles softly.
“I’ve got you.”
Lily reaches for her, arms stretching out.
Alfie hands her over carefully.
She melts straight into you, holding tight.
“Didn’t like it…” she mumbles.
You rock her gently, kissing the side of her head.
“That’s okay,” you murmur. “I didn’t like my nursery very much.”
Behind them, the boys have gone quiet.
Even Ethan.
Tobi leans slightly toward Alfie.
“…she alright?”
“Yeah,” Alfie nods. “Just… not her usual self.”
Simon watches Lily, frowning slightly.
“She’s usually running about in here.”
“Yeah,” Alfie says quietly. “I know.”
Josh, who’s been hovering nearby, mutters under his breath,
“…don’t like seeing her like that.”
Reader adjusts Lily slightly on her hip, still holding her close.
“Do you wanna sit with me?” you ask softly.
Lily nods.
“…yeah…”
Reader sits back down, Lily curled into her.
The “cool kunckles” keep their voices softer now, less chaotic.
Ethan leans over slightly.
“Hey…trouble.”
No response.
“…I’ve got snacks,” he adds.
That gets the smallest glance.
“…what snacks?”
Progress.
Ethan grins.
“Elite ones.”
Lily hesitates, still a bit sad, but curious.
And that’s enough.
Ethan slowly reaches his hand out, open, waiting, not forcing it.
“How about…” he says gently, “we go sit over there, yeah? We can FaceTime Auntie Faith and talk to Olive.”
That lands.
Lily’s eyes flicker.
“…Olive?”
“Yeah,” he nods. “Bet she’d wanna see you.”
A small pause.
Then, very slowly, Lily lets go of Reader with one hand.
Tiny fingers reaching out.
She takes his.
Soft. Careful.
Reader watches, smiling gently.
“Go on,” you whisper. “I’m right here.”
Lily nods faintly, still holding Ethan’s hand, letting him guide her off Reader’s lap.
He walks slow, matching her pace, like it’s the most normal thing in the world.
No pressure.
Just easy.
“Right,” he says quietly as they sit down. “Snack first or call first?”
“…snack,” she mumbles.
“Good choice,” he grins.
Behind them, Alfie watches it all.
Arms folded, but his expression soft now.
Relieved. Proud.
A little emotional, if he’s honest.
Simon nudges him lightly.
“…she’s alright.”
Alfie nods, eyes still on Lily, now sitting beside Ethan, snack in hand, a little closer to herself again.
“Yeah,” he says quietly.
He exhales, a small smile finally settling in.
“…she’s got good people around her.”
Tobi hums softly, genuine smile on his face.
“She’s what makes us good people.”
Across the room, Lily glances back once, checking.
Alfie gives her a small nod.
“I’m here.”
She nods back.
Then looks up at Ethan, a bit more comfortable now.
“…call Olive?”
“Yeah,” he smiles. “Let’s do it.”
And just like that, bit by bit, she finds her way back again.
And Alfie stands there, watching it all, thinking the same thing over and over,
how lucky she is.
How lucky they all are.
To have this.
