After the Rain Stories

Tears and Fears

In the minutes before the sun revealed itself to the day for the first time, Daphne was awake with thousands of thoughts running through her mind. She was laying on her back, with Simon's arm draped over her waist, to which was starting to feel much too heavy on her queasy stomach. She had remembered her Mama being sick in the morning during the early weeks of her pregnancy with Gregory, but she did not think it the reason for her upset stomach. It could not be.

Daphne ran the weeks in her mind numerous times, always ending up at the fact that she had not bled for 5 weeks now, and she had never been irregular before. Maybe the travels had differed her courses, or maybe all of the sex? She could not be certain, for she was never told much on the subject.

Of course, she would be thrilled to be with child, but there were two things that worried her if it were to be true. One being that she has been drinking wine occasionally throughout their trip, and she was sure that was not good for a growing life inside of her. Two, she was terrified that Simon would go back on his vow he made to her, and leave her. She knew he loved her, truly, but she also knew how much trauma Simon had experienced as a child, and his sensitives around being a father. That made her unsure of what he would be able to give his attention to more, her and their child, or his dreadful past. Daphne's stomach started to feel queasier by the second as she kept thinking, and for some reason, she had the strongest inclination it was not from the wine.

Daphne abruptly slid from under Simon's arm and ran to their bathroom, throwing up every last bit her stomach contained. Once she was finished, she quickly freshened up her mouth and body then returned to their room. She was relieved to find Simon still asleep in their bed, and thankful for the open window that provided the sound of waves crashing over her sickness. Daphne slid back into bed, hoping that Simon would not wake, for he looked so serene in this moment. But, just as Daphne lifted his arm to slide back over her body, Simon's eyes opened hazily.

"Is everything alright?" he asked sleepily as he pulled himself closer to her, wrapping his arm tightly around her torso.

Daphne wished to not lie to him, but she also did not want to have this discussion this early in the morning. She decided on a half-truth as she said "I think the wine did not sleep well in my tummy that's all, nothing to worry over."

Simon's arm grew stiff around her as he said "Daph, you should have woken me, I would have taken care of you."

Daphne leaned to the side and kissed his shoulder to soothe his worries, then said "Worry not my love, I can take care of myself you know."

Simon opened his eyes now, taking her in as his eyes adjusted to the sun that was peeking through the window. His eyes bore into hers, trying to see if something was off, but all he could see was happiness.

"I guess your Mama was correct, one glass is plenty," he teased.

Daphne did not laugh at this, as it only reminded her that if she was with child, there could be a problem. Simon immediately saw the slip in her face, and was leaning over her body now.

"Daphne, what is it you're not telling me?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.

Daphne stared into his warm brown eyes, and in that moment, she knew she could not put it off, and mentally willed herself to be strong if his reaction goes south.

"I-I," she started, her willpower already fading. She was scared to death of this tearing them a part because she did not know how to live without him now. He had become everything to her.

Simon kissed her softly, trying to ease the panic he saw rising in her eyes. Once his lips left hers he said, "Please don't be afraid to tell me things Daph, I promise you whatever it is, we will get through it together."