XXI
(unedited.)
Taylor stood behind the counter of the ring store a few weeks later, as he waited for the lady to return with the engagement ring he had picked out. His smile widened as the small box was passed to him before he said,
"Thank you."
"You're welcome. I wish you all the best with your proposal," she said to him before he left. He entered his car and gently placed the ring onto the passenger seat as if it was the most precious jewel. He could hardly contain his excitement as he drove from the store towards their home, the journey feeling longer as his excitement clouded over him.
It had only been a few months since they had lived together. And in those few months, he couldn't deny that he had fallen for her as they had gotten closer. And to think that he almost denied his beautiful daughter, made his heart break. But for now, he was more than happy knowing that he had made the right choice by staying beside Carmen.
Carmen watched her daughter as her chest rose and fell with each breath she took as she slept. She couldn't deny that she was very precious to her and with every day that passed, she felt grateful for having her. However, the changes which came along with having a child was beginning to take a toll on her, even though it had only been a month.
Since she was born, Carmen had been unable to return to her classes nor had she gotten the chance to step outside to be with her friends. She grew more and more envious of Taylor as he came in and out of the house, not tied down with their daughter like she was.
And because of that she was tired.
Tired of living as if her only purpose was to raise their child while he continued to live his life as if there wasn't a child for them to raise.
She stood up from where she had been sitting in the nursery and walked towards their bedroom, tears spilling from her eyes as she got closer. Carmen dried her tears as she walked to the closet, retrieved her suitcase and began packing, ignoring the subtle sounds coming from the direction of her daughter. As hard as it was for her to ignore her child, she couldn't get herself to continue living like this any longer, it wouldn't take long before she went crazy.
Meanwhile, outside, Taylor had just arrived and parked before leaving the car with the ring happily in his hands. From the way he walked, it was as if there was a bounce in his steps as his heart accelerated with each step she took closer to the door.
He walked into the living room with a large smile on his face, holding the small box behind his back to surprise Carmen. But as soon as he saw that she wasn't there, he called out to her. When there was no reply, he walked towards their bedroom, his smile still on his face as he assumed that she was sleeping.
However, as soon as he saw her with a suitcase beside her in their room as she packed, his smile faltered.
"Are you going somewhere?" he asked, walking closer to her. She turned to face him but immediately looked away.
"I'm going home," she replied nonchalantly.
"Home? Are you just visiting your mom? Is something wrong with her?" he asked.
There was a long moment of silence before she said, "No."
"So what do you mean then?"
"I mean that I'm leaving," she said before turning around to continue packing. He held onto her shoulder and turned her around to face him.
"Are you just going to leave? What about Emily?" he asked.
"I'm sorry Taylor but I can't do this anymore. This is just too much─"
"What do you mean? We're in this together and we're doing well─"
"I can't do this anymore! I have a life too!" she screamed. When he heard that, he could no longer contain his anger.
"Obviously, it's more important than your own daughter!" he countered.
"I didn't ask for any of this! If anything, it was your fault. You were the one who kissed me!" She poked his chest with every word she said, feeling tears fall onto her face, until he grabbed onto her arm.
"You could've pushed me away or looked away─something; anything to stop it!" He felt her arm weaken before she pulled away.
"Look, I'm sorry but I can't do this anymore─I just can't."
And with that, she closed the suitcase and grabbed the handle before she walked out of the door, wheeling the bag behind her as the sound of their daughter crying now filled the silence.
Taylor could only watch with his hands clenched around the small box as he allowed her to walk away, away from both his and their daughter's life.
* * *
The End.
(or maybe not?)
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