Act Like You Love Me

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January 7 th, 2026

"Okay baby." You said, your eyes popping down to your beautiful daughter standing in the doorframe. "Say goodbye to daddy."

She sent you a friendly smile reaching her eyes and for a second, you couldn't help but noticed how much she looked like Shawn when he was younger. She had the same warm yet goofy look in her eyes as Shawn did on the baby pictures Karen had shown you years ago.

It forced a sore sigh to escape your mouth as your eyes flickered around your familiar surroundings. You felt a yank in your heart as your eyes reached Shawn leaning against the front door to your house. Well, his house now to be fair.

You couldn't get yourself to look behind him and into the house, there were too many memories and too much heartache to be found. You swallowed the lump appearing in your dry throat as you removed your stare to somewhat managed the wave of pain surfacing in your chest.

You watched as Shawn kneeled down to Leah and how he wrapped his strong arms around her tiny body. Even with a broken heart likes yours was, you could still feel the warmth in your chest when Leah cuddled into her dad and you could tell she felt completely and entire safe in his arms.

"Bye bye daddy. Love you." She told him, but began to giggle when he tickled her tommy before planting a kiss on her forehead.

"Goodbye little ace." Shawn said, removing a tot of her wild hair from her eyes. "I'll see you soon, okay?"

They looked at each other for a few seconds as Shawn made her the promise, before Leah nodded with a laughter and once again entangled herself to her father's arms. You couldn't help but notice the painful look in Shawn's eyes while he hugged your daughter tight and prepared himself for you to take her with you.

"Daddy loves you." Shawn told her, kissing her cheek repeatedly to make her laugh. "Remember that."

"How much?" Leah asked him, letting her tiny eyes fall on him. Her soft smile grew wider when Shawn lifted her from the ground and began spinning her around in the air.

"This much." He said, stretching his arms as far up in the air as possible.

"Me too, daddy."

Shawn smiled as reply and then, he placed her feet on the ground again. He planted a loving kiss on the top of her messy hair, sending her an affectionate smile.

"Leah, go get your bagpack." "You told her, poiting towards the house.

She nodded in response as she ran into the house and disappeared from your vision. It left Shawn and you in a rather awkward and uncomfortable silence neither of you knew how to handle. You began rubbing your palms nervously to distract yourself from this awful situation, you had brought yourself in, eyes darting from Shawn to ground and then back again.

"You took your ring off." Shawn noticed, his eyes glued to your hand.

Unwillingly, your fingertip slipped across your ringer, rubbing the empty placed your silver ring used to be. As an ache grew in your heart, you hurried to tug your hand in the pocket of your jeans.

You swallowed a lump in your sore throat while your eyes fell on Shawn's already burning on you and you felt nothing. Your heart felt numb or maybe even empty. And you had to remind yourself that maybe it was better this way. A little lonelier but somehow better.

"It was time." You mumbled back, avoiding seeing Shawn's reaction to your hurtful words.

You had taken off the wedding ring a couple of weeks ago, but you still kept it at home. You couldn't get yourself to give it back or throw it away, it meant too much for you to let it go completely.

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