𝐓𝐄𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐒 |𝟏𝟖+ (#𝟏)

𝙵𝙾𝚁𝚃𝚈-𝙾𝙽𝙴 |

41
AMBER JACKSON
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I was officially done.

I defended my thesis on the impact of relationship marketing and consumer behavior.

I was partly shocked I didn't have to explain in depth my reasoning for missing damn near three weeks of classes and assignments, but it seems Alessandro and Jade took care of that for me. Something about me being brutally mugged and spending much of my time in the hospital recuperating.

I guess my bandages and bruises served as enough of an answer when I met with the dean of business studies because she didn't ask any questions but simply informed me that my professors were keen on accepting my late assignment in a week's time. Thank God I was already ahead by weeks before everything blew up in my life.

I was officially receiving my master's degree in two weeks at my graduation ceremony and by now, five months after the incident my bruises had faded, and I looked a lot happier and healthier by everyone's opinion – even Dr. McKenzie.

I was finally at a stage in my healing where I was happy.

I was happy with Alessandro, sharing more laughs than tears.

I was happy for Jade and happy for my niece's birth in a few weeks.

But that's after I gave her the letter.

Three months ago...

She was getting bigger as the days went by. She was eating more too. In front of me, she lay with a bowl of fruits – strawberries, green grapes, watermelon, pineapple, and blueberries on her protruding belly – using it as a table. Beside her was a bottle of water and a family-size bag of Lays salt and vinegar chips.

She'd just finished eating a BLT sandwich I made not even an hour ago on half a baguette.

Recently her wardrobe has changed from tight-fit jeans to baggy sweatpants and tank tops that rose without remorse over her growing belly. I had set up a pillow under her back and one beneath her knees as she lay on the couch as comfortable as worn old shoes.

"Amber?" She questions, drawing me out of the depths of my mind. My hum prompts her to look over at me, the questioning gaze she wore reminiscent of times she asked something she necessarily didn't want to. She was going to press, hard.

"You know I'm naming her after you, right? Sarai Madeline-Amber Scott"

Sarai Madeline-Amber Scott was already beautiful. I smile, my head down watching my fingers twiddling with one another. "That's really beautiful bubbles. Thank you."

My voice cracks towards the end and our gazes lock together; she's already crying while I try my best to keep my tears at bay. "You're important to me, always have been since we met. I can't imagine not doing this without you, I can't imagine not honoring you that way."

"I know. I'd do the same." The words taste bitter when they escape my lips, but my voice thankfully didn't show my disdain for the memories being conjured up.

She nods. "I love you. We share everything but it feels like you're far away all the time when I'm around and I don't understand. Are you okay? Are we okay?"

"Do you feel like I'm not happy for you?"

Her head swivels to me fast, her eyes tearing up even more and it answers my question enough for me to start feeling even shittier about my feelings towards her. Despite everything, I never wanted Jade to feel that level of coldness from me. Ever. She was already having a hard time with her pregnancy, and the thought that she'd be like her mother eventually abandoning her child at any sign of hardship never left her mind.