Second Chances // Joe Burrow

Prolouge

I thought the worst day of my life was the day that I told Trevor, my friend for the last five years, that I was pregnant. What was supposed to be one of the happiest days of our lives, quickly went south when he suddenly had a position at the University of Melbourne, teaching a music history class. He wanted nothing to do with me or our, my, child. I wished his a painful death by kangaroo as he left the key to our, my, apartment on the kitchen island.

But no, the worst day of my life happened three weeks late. I invited my moms to dinner to tell them the news, they were both so excited to be grandmas that they started picking out (fighting over) grandmas names. Mama Kate decided she's be Nana and Mama Ruth decided she would be called Mimi. Things were great. We talked about my plan for being a single mother, how I would support us. They said they would help in any way they could. We even started picking out baby names. Mama Kate liked Katherine or Calliope, she was so sure it would be a girl. Mama Ruth was so sure it would be a boy that she offered up Henry or Benjamin. I told them I'd think about it.

We laughed, cried, and hugged and I sent them on their way, never to hear from them again. I was in the bathroom, throwing up, when the knock came at the door. The cops said that I was so hysteric that they had no choice but to have me hospitalized to make sure I didn't do anything to myself.

When I came too, my uncle from Ohio -who I only saw maybe four times a year these days- was there to check me out. Him and my aunt insisted that I come and love them, it was what my mother would have wanted.

Which leads up to today, my moms' joint funeral. My apartment was packed up and a moving truck was sent on the way to Cincinnati,Ohio from Roanoke, Virginia yesterday. All of my stuff will be there when we get there later tonight.

"Ruth and Katalina were the definition of true love. Coming from a town that was less than accepting of their love, they overcame every hardship thrown their way. The day my little Ruthy told me that she would finally be able to marry the love of her life, I cried, we all did. And when my father refused to be there to give her away, because he didn't and still doesn't believe in that lifestyle, I stepped. Without hesitation, and I know in my heart that should would have done the same for me. My sister was my favorite person in the whole world, and nothing will be the same now that she is gone. Ruth, I am so sorry that your life was taken too soon, that you'll never get a chance to see Madison get married, or meet your grandchildren. But I swear, I promise, I will always be here for them, for you, because I know you would do the same for me if the roles were reversed. I love you so much sissy, say hi to grandma for me." My uncle, the toughest man I know, was crying in front of a room full of my moms' closest friend and family. I didn't stand a chance. I started crying, and I don't think I stopped until hours after arriving in Ohio.