Matthew P.O.V

I finished changing my daughter's diaper and we headed out for lunch.

As we left,I told Lynda that she could leave too because after lunch I was not coming back to the office.It was already late and i had to pick my other two children from school at 4:00pm. They hated it whenever i was late.

We had lunch at brisk hotel and talked till 3:30 pm. I still had 30 minutes to get to my children's school and good enough it was only 15minutes away from where we were. We said our goodbyes and Benjamin left.

I carried quisha to the car, buckled her up in her car seat,then drove off to my other kids school.

However,luck wasn't on my side today,when i was about 10 minutes to the school,all cars were stopped because there was an accident ahead. I started to panic and regret going for lunch and waiting last minutes to go pick my children.

" My children must be crying now,"I thought to myself. I dreaded the picture of seeing my children all alone at school,wondering whether i was coming or not.

Then it hit me,"My kids may be crying thinking i had left them too," I felt a pang of guilt hit me. This has happened before and my kids were traumatized by it. I can't let it happen again.

I called the school,"Hello mrs Green,this is Mr.Bentley calling." I said.

" Oh Mr.Bentley nice hearing from you. I guess you are calling because of the children,don't worry we told them about the accident and most parents are not here yet. They are in safe hands don't worry."the principal assured me.

"Thank you Mrs.Green." I told her feeling relieved. "Atleast my children are safe and fine".I sighed in relief.

My mind drifted off until I was snapped out of thoughts by a crying laquisha.I tried soothing her,giving her bottle and binky but her cries didn't quiet down. I checked her diaper and she was fine but what puzzled me she wouldn't stop crying.

"shussh,shussh princess.Dada is here. Don't cry my love" I whispered in her ears but it didn't work this time. She just kept on crying. Her cries got louder and frustrating to me.

I dont know what came over but i found myself screaming,"SHUT UP LAQUISHA SARONA BENTLEY,I HAVE HAD ENOUGH ALREADY."

My baby was scared I had never shouted at her and my tone scared her. She cried even louder, unable to control tears i cried as I mumbled,"Am sorry honey,Dada didnt mean to scream. Dada is just tired he had a long day. Please princess forgive Dada."

Then i heard a knock of my window. I lowered it letting the screams of my baby out.

The old woman asked if everything was fine with a concerned look. As much as I wanted to say yes. I failed.

"No,its not fine. My daughter has been cranky since morning and now she is crying and wont quiet down. I am just so..so.. tired." I answered her inbetween tears.

"Can i hold her," she asked politely. I just nodded and handed quisha to her. In normal circumstances I wouldn't let a stranger hold my baby but this was different. I had failed to calm my own child. I felt so helpless...........

Josie P.O.V

As i was about to dig into my meal,someone sat across from me at the table.

I looked up and saw a lady smiling up at me. She looked about 22 years,the same age as me,alittle skinnier,blonde hair with blue eyes and had a few freckles.

"Hi,am sheridan,And you are....?",she asked still holding her perfect smile.

"Hi.I...uh am josie." I answered with a perplexed look on my face. No one had ever wanted to speak to me out of their initiative. I found myself staring at her with disbelief.

"Nice to meet you josie",She said snapping me out of my daze back to reality."I hope I am not bothering you" she said looking at me hopefully. I think she realized how i was staring at her.

"Uhmmm,....no... its fine." I replied trying to sound unsurprised but i guess it didn't work for she asked me," Are you sure?".I just nodded.

"You don't know me and i don't know but i liked how you stood up to that bully earlier". She said. I looked at her with wide eyes."someone is actually talking to me out of their own accord,being nice without calling me names,saying they are proud of me.I must be dreaming and I think I don't want to wake up".I thought.

"You know i was a victim of bullying since elementary school until i finished high school and i haven't been able to make friends.So when i heard you today,i thought I would try and ask you to be my friend.Thats if you want."She continued.

"I cannot believe there's someone who suffered the same ordeal like me though hers was quite severe.And she is asking me to be her friend.God if I am dreaming please don't wake me up."I thought to myself.

Then I heard her ask,"So Josie what do you say,do you want to be friend?" She asked looking at me hopefully.

"Why.. Ofcourse I want to be your friend".I answered almost jumping to scream for joy.

Josie charlotte pyre finally has a friend. We continue talking,till it was time for me to get back home. We exchanged contacts and addresses and hugged goodbye.

I actually hugged someone who is not my family. Someone who is my friend.

I may have not been successful at getting a job today but atleast i got a friend and it was "WORTH IT" I thought out loud. And shyly covered my mouth as people around me looked at me.

Reached home,had dinner with my family. I was happy today i gained my family but most importantly i gained a friend thanks to Brittany.

I cleared the table after dinner washed the dishes and went upstairs to take a bath. After freshening up,i proceeded to bed. As i was about to drift off to deep slumber. I heard my phone vibrate,i checked and it was a text from sheridan.

Hi Josie hope you got home safe.

: Oohh yes i did sorry i didn't text you though i was planning to in the morning. Did you get home safe?

Yes i did,thank u for being my friend. Goodnight ❤

: Thank u too. Goodnight 😍

I went to bed that night with a smile and whispered:

And drifted off to sleep.

Author's Note.