The Mechanics of Us

Chapter 11

As the story goes, the couple met at a football game when they were in middle school. Both were left under the bleachers by their supposed friends, and I guess it was love at first sight. They spent the rest of the game together talking about everything, anything, and nothing. Right away, they both knew they would get married, and they dreamed about settling down together and starting a family. They both wanted the suburban life that everyone else had.

They couldn't be apart from one another for longer than a week. One of the stories they told me was how one went on vacation with their family, and then the other flew out to meet them halfway through it. I am not sure if that is endearing or desperate. Nevertheless, the two went to the same high school, both declared to be the power couple of their school. Both graduated with honors, both competed to be valedictorians, and both were declared prom king and queen. After high school, the mother went to school to become a lawyer, and the father did the same. However, they didn't go to the same college.

According to the mother, they wanted to test their relationship to see if it would withstand the distance and to quote her, "the distance makes the heart grow fonder." But I believe if love is real and genuine, one doesn't need to test it to verify the authenticity of it. Nevertheless, it was hard on both of them, but they made it through. They graduated, decided to live in the same state again, moved in together, got married, got employed as financial lawyers and then they decided they wanted something more. They wanted children.

When they talked about their desire for children of their own, they spoke with an intense passion, as the mother believed that the combination of her and her husband's genetics would make the perfect child. In a way, she saw that to be her purpose in life. To create an experience that would impact the world, and she would be the reason for it all. However, her plans did not go as planned. I understand now as to why their daughter meant so much to them. The daughter wasn't supposed to exist at all as the mother couldn't conceive naturally. Needless to say, the couple was devastated but they kept trying, employing every medical procedure possible. The whole process cost them an arm and a leg, but when she finally found out they were pregnant, they couldn't be happier.

When their daughter was born, they both agreed to make sure they didn't miss a moment with her. They took photos of any chance they could, which is why there are so many picture frames lining their walls. In addition, the mother quit her job to give her child the one-on-one attention she needed. They revolved their whole life around their daughter. She was their sun, and they were the planets that orbited her. That is until the sun started to die right before their eyes.

After the accident, the mother had to go back to work to pay for the medical expenses, and the father worked double or even triple overtime. Now they are struggling financially to pay off their debt, give care to their daughter, and make sure they are making ends meet. This is why they want me to babysit or nanny, I suppose for them. The way I reacted today showed the woman my pure heart, my empathy, my protectiveness. The characteristics that emerged not so long ago. I agreed, though. I still do not know why, but I did. Now I am watching their daughter 6/7 days of the week from 8:00 AM- 4:00 PM.