anything and everything

Modern Merek

Age 16

"Pregnant? What do you mean you're pregnant?"

"I mean exactly what I said, Merek. We weren't careful enough." Luize ran a hand through her hair in frustration. She was halfway through her senior year of highschool while Merek was still a junior.

"But I wore a condom and you said you were on the pill." Merek was trying to figure out how this could possibly happen.

"I'm not on the pill. The condom must have broken."

"You said you were!"

"You're remembering wrong." Luize waved her hand, dismissing the idea. "look I want you to come over for dinner tonight so we can tell my dad together."

"Are you sure?" Merek asked. To be truthful Luize's father intimidated him. He was a big man with a short temper and hard set in his ways. He knew this was a conversation that wouldn't go well.

"Yeah. What's the worst case scenario? He forces me us to keep it and get married?" Luize smiled at her lover.

"Yeah." Merek felt a little relieved by her joke. "You're right. I'll help you get through this. Every step of the way."

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Age 18

"Cherry, please stop crying." Merek gently bounced his sobbing infant. "Shh it's okay. It's okay."

After Luize had her baby, she took a stay at home mother role for about 6 months while Merek finished high school. Then she went off to college while Merek stayed at home with Cherry.

Merek did online work he managed to secure. It wasn't great money but it brought them some income. That way Luize could use all her savings on college.  Merek's parents helped as much as they could, even letting Merek stay with them before he could afford an apartment. 

The bottle finally finished warming and Merek picked it up. He gave it another good shake before settling down on the couch and trying to feed Cherry.  She refused to eat and instead continued to cry.

"Merek, honey, what's going on?" His mom asked, coming down to see what all the fuss was.

Merek mother had been against him marrying Luize. However Luize's father wouldn't allow her to terminate the pregnancy. Merek refused to abandon her and their kid so they'd gotten married as soon as she was 18.

"She won't stop crying. I don't know what's wrong." Merek looked up at his mother helplessly.

He was so tired. Cherry had been waking up in the middle of the night a lot lately. Between caring for her and keeping up at work, he wasn't getting enough sleep.

"Here." She gently took Cherry from Merek and held her granddaughter to her chest. She soothingly cooed and shushed the little girl. "Go to bed Merek, I'll take care of her."

"Mom..."

"You need sleep." She wasn't hearing any of it. "Give me the bottle and go to bed."

Merek got up and hugged his mother. She was so kind and understanding. She helped him more than he could possibly ever ask for. "I'm sorry."

"Babies are a learning process. Some are fussier than others. Never be sorry when asking for help." She kissed Merek on the forehead. "now go to bed. She's starting to calm, Ill put her down for the night."

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Age 22

Finally he was able to go to college. Merek carried Cherry on his shoulders as they walked around campus.