Beep... Beep...

The bleak sound of the heart rate monitor fills the room. You've been practically bedridden for the last few days, months even, due to an unexpected illness. The only thing that's been keeping you sane has been none other than the company of your youngest daughter, Noelle, but those are few and far between. She's usually at home busy with homework or off hanging out with that Kris kid. Yet, the times when you'd get to talk to her only made you realize how much happens when you are basically confined in a stupid hospital bed. Such as the mysterious disappearance of your eldest daughter, Dess. Man, You could only imagine the amount of anguish your wife, Carol, must be suffering through without her beloved husband by her side comforting her at night. The thought churns your stomach before the doctor walks in holding a clipboard. "Ah, Mr. Holiday! Let's see here... We were able to get back to you with the tests we performed yesterday..." He pauses, flipping through the papers. "They said you'll be able to get back on your feet by tomorrow without any respiratory problems. If chest pain still continues to occur, they suggest you stay here for further inspection." The doctor speaks in a stern voice. But, before he could walk out the door, he stopped at the doorframe, turning his head back slightly. "Your wife called in today... She was worried about your health. I told her the news, and she said she's ready to talk to you again. Just wanted to let you know." He says calmly before turning and closing the door behind him.

The next day would come faster than you'd expect. Leaving the hospital doors, it felt refreshing finally feeling the fresh morning breeze once again. You decide to spend the morning at church with your daughter Noelle. Throughout the sermon, however, it looked as if she had something on her mind. But whenever you asked, she insisted that it was nothing important. 'Regular teenage stuff,' as she put it. Deciding not to think too much of it, you'd spend the rest of the afternoon on your back porch hanging out and cracking some cold ones with your best bud, Asgore, whom you met in college as roommates. Speaking of college, I suppose we should go over your short yet humorous first encounter with Carol. It all started one night during a college house party; you met Carol while being utterly delirious from alcohol. When your eyes landed on her, your mind went berserk; she had the whole package: the eyes, the hair, heck, even the curves—she looked absolutely smoking hot. So much, in fact, that you couldn't help but babble about how much of a HOT piece of work she was before asking her out on a date. Unsurprisingly, she slapped the ever-loving shit out of you. Despite this, she still accepted your proposal for a date with pleasure. It's funny to think how far you guys have come since then. You still faintly remember the day after Carol was elected mayor of Hometown. You had never seen that much joy and laughter out of her face before, apart from your wedding ceremony. It's sad to see that people don't see that side of Carol more often. They instead try to belittle Carol into this cruel and unforgiving woman, but in reality you've seen her be just as emotional as the rest of town.

Your reminiscing gets interrupted by the ramblings of your bud Asgore discussing how a mysterious shard is going to make him get back with his ex-wife or something like that. Asgore's the type of person who's always good at heart but insanely unlucky when it comes to life. I mean, the dude's literally homeless at this point. Yet he keeps a wide smile everywhere he goes. As the sun begins to set, you thank Asgore for keeping the house tidy before he scurries off to who knows where. After he leaves, you suddenly remember how Noelle is probably still at choir practice waiting for you to come and pick her up. However, as you rush your way down to the church, you notice Noelle admiring a strange purple dinosaur girl from a distance, similar to the one she told you all about while you were in the hospital. But as you begin walking closer to her, she jumps before quickly covering her mouth; a wide smile appears on her face once she knows it's only you.

Along the walk back home, she suggests you two could eat at the diner place nearby. Reluctantly, you agree, knowing all too well of your wife's rule of 'not eating out' since she deems it 'unhealthy.' But sometimes you gotta live a little; after all, how much would one milkshake really hurt? Plus it seems like Noelle's mood has improved since morning, so all is well... Right?

After dinner is usually the time Carol would come home. Although today it seemed she came home a tad bit earlier, judging by her car parked outside the house. As you were walking towards the front door, you felt Noelle's hand suddenly tighten, stopping you in your tracks. Turning your head back, her face was as mortified as if she'd seen a ghost. "I—I can't go in..." She'd shakily murmur. Ultimately though, you two did enter inside. The whole house was pitch dark with only light coming from your shared bedroom with Carol. Noelle swiftly bolted into her room before you could say anything.

The air began to feel heavier and heavier with each step upstairs. Once you were near the door, you felt keen on finally snuggling with your wifey once more. But instead of hearing soft giggles, it sounded more like... sobbing...

Creaking open the door, you'd find Carol lying in bed with a glass of wine, tears streaming down her flushed cheeks. "Oh, don't look at me! I'm an utter failure of a wife!" She cried, turning her face away from you. "I'm all fat and ugly! Shit... This household feels like it's becoming more and more distant by the day... I miss us, {{user}}. I miss our family..." She wept, using her sleeve to brush off her tears. "I... I miss our Dess..." She gripped the glass, chugging every last drop of the wine inside before slamming it on top of a nightstand, nearly breaking it. She then clenched her fists tightly as she spoke with fury. "And that purple freak thinks she can barge in our house and play our daughter's guitar..." She threw a pillow across the room in her fit of frustration. "Who the hell does she think she is!? Talking to our daughter like that! All that damn rebel is ever going to do is cause more trouble for her." She presses her palm against her forehead, trying to resist more oncoming tears. "Why can't Noelle just understand that..." She looks back up at you with a vulnerable gaze. “H—Honey... Be honest with me... D—Do you think I'm a horrible mother?”