ThisTiger wrote this gorgeous short story which is absolutely beautiful!

A light, and especially gradient, blue was painted up above everyone's heads throughout the day, the canvas changing ever so slightly with each passing second as the artist continued on layering different coloured paints into a beautiful rainbow-like hue. It didn't stop there, though. This artist continued on painting, and painting, until finally the colours that they splattered onto the sky began mixing in a rather unpleasant way, eventually turning it into a jet-black shade of emptiness, while tiny dots twinkled through the void. The stars perfectly filled in the role where all light was absent, while continuing on not being the only light shining upon London that night. Lampposts glowed in the living darkness, coating the alleys and streets with a faint golden gleam, piercing through each window uncovered.

As it was no longer light outside, people were either snuggling up within their cozy, little cots, or even returning home after a day of work; the exact task that a particular man was doing. As he turned onto the road of the neighborhood he lived in with his family, he couldn't help but smile since this was his favourite part of the day — returning home to his wonderful family, with a home cooked meal made especially by his wife each and every night. Not being able to contain his immense joy much longer, the father pulled into his driveway, turned off the pearly white car, and hopped right out to approach his door. Before he was able to even attempt to find which key exactly is the correct one to unlock his house's door, the wooden object swung open to reveal two boys who looked all too similar to each other, yet completely different in his eyes. They shouted out, "Dad! Welcome home!"

In the man's eyes, his two sons were completely divergent from each other to even be remotely mistaken as twins. Though that could easily be because he was their father, so quite obviously he'd see them differently than any mere stranger. Nonetheless, with his views set aside, that all didn't matter since he showered them both with the same amount of love and affection each and every night he came home. Shoving his metal keys into his coat pocket, he used both of his free hands to place them on his children's heads, ruffling their messy, brown mops of hair. "What's up, kiddos? Ready for some supper? I'm starvin'," he said to them, his voice harbouring an all natural, fruity tone to it.

They glanced up at him with their glittery, different coloured eyes — the main thing that sets them apart from each other to strangers. "Of course," Riley chirped.

While the other one, Colt, challenged his brother, "Not as hungry as me! I'll prove it by beating you to the table." With that, he took off without a second thought, leaving his twin in a split confusion before he, too, ran after the other. This was a usual thing for them to do from time to time, making the simplest of things into a race of some sort just to show the other that they're "better than them," even though they're equally as great as the other. They just don't see it.

Soft, quiet thumps began making their way down the stairs, each sound quickening in pace as they reach the bottom, as well as revealing who those all-too-familiar noises came from. Of course, it was made by his youngest of the three, the man's only daughter. The sight of his little girl made the, already glowing, expression on his face brighten up more, if that was possible at this point. Kneeling down on the ground, he held his arms open so the child could easily tackle him in a firm embrace just like she always had, and today was no exception. At the first sight of her father, the small girl wearing a loose, white dress took a running start, practically leaping into his arms, while happily calling out, "Papa!"

"Pumkin," he said in reply as soon as the two made contact.

After a brisk few seconds, which could seem like a minute to them, Alexis enthusiastically pulled away, shoving a piece of paper, that she had been clutching in one of her hands, into her pa's face. "Look! Look, Papa! I drew something for you!"

The man couldn't help but chuckle at her childish charm. "Okey, okey. Lets see what you have here," he said, pushing the drawing away from his face just enough to be able to actually see what it was that she drew. It was a backgroundless drawing, the only thing that could be considered part of the background being the straight line of green going across the paper. Ontop of the green grass was two people: a rather tall man, and a very short girl holding hand in hand, bright smiles on their faces. Without even needing to have any clarification, he knew eaxactly who his daughter drew; her and himself. "This looks absolutely splendid, darling. Why don't you go hang it up on the fridge while daddy takes off his coat?"

Her smile widended at her father's earnest compliment, confidence fueling into her system. "Okey," was all she responded with before skipping off to the kitchen to do as she was told.

Letting out a tired sigh, he unzipped his coat, slowly took it off, and lazily threw it on their pile of shoes neatly lined up beside the door — of course, after putting his own shoes in the respectful spot as well. All that was Riley's own doing as he was very particular on cleanliness, and order throughout the household. He knew full well that his son would nag at him later for leaving his jacket in a completely untitied place, but he was exhausted, so who could really blame him. Practically forcing his feet off of the ground with each movement, he moved into the dinning area with everyone else for dinner, and graciously took his seat at the head of the table, looking over everyone. His wife, Vivian, handed out plates full of food at such a rapid place, all the while getting all the kids settled down at the same time. She definitely was an amazing wife, one that he was so glad to have in his life. Once Vivian gave him his plate, he said, "Thank you, hun," before kissing the beautiful woman on the cheek, and immediately dug into the food.

It tasted absolutely heavenly, as always. However, once the noise all around him seized to exist anymore, he got a slight chill prickling at his arms, sending waves of sensors to his brain. Slightly unnerved by what he was feeling, he lifted his head up to glance around at his family. Every single one of them were looking down st their food with a sorrowful, even pitiful expression washing over their features, and played around with the food on their plates. It was odd, to say the least. What happened while he wasn't looking? What could've possibly taken place within a few minutes to make their bright, happy, and loving exterior auras be replaced with this cold, empty one; one that made them almost unrecognizable to him. A concerned looked took over his face as her continued to watch them. Wondering what was going on, he swallowed the foot that was still left in his mouth, and spoke up, "Hey, is everything alright?"

Simutaneously, all four of their heads lifted. Vivian was the only one to reply, and her two sentences was more than enough to stun the man motionless, "We've all talked about this, and belive that it's time for you to finally move on. We love you, Simon."

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