Fate || BENNIFER

Old Patterns

Jennifer's P.O.V

As I slowly opened my eyes, my first instinct was to reach out for Ben's warm body next to me, as I never placed my pregnancy pillow between us. However, as my hand grazed the empty space beside me, I realized that he wasn't there. I sat up in bed, my eyes scanning the room, looking for any sign of Ben's presence, but the room was quiet. I checked my phone, but I had no message from him.

He knew we had a doctor's appointment, as we had been talking about it before going to sleep, so it was unlikely that he would've forgotten.

I calmly got out of bed and started my morning routine. I brushed my teeth and washed my face, all while wondering why Ben had left so early without waking me up. But I didn't dwell on it. As I made my way to the kitchen to prepare breakfast, I couldn't smell the coffee, and his mug remained unused in the cabinet.

I sat in the back seat of the car, my phone pressed to my ear as I waited for Ben to pick up. It was the third time I had tried to call him, but each time went straight to voicemail. My anxiety level rose with every unanswered call.

My bodyguard, who was driving the car, watched me in the rearview mirror, noticing my distress.

"Do you want me to try calling him, ma'am?" He asked, his voice calm and reassuring.

I hesitated for a moment, not wanting to bother him with my personal problems, but I finally nodded my head in agreement.

He took out his own phone and dialed the number, holding the phone up to his ear. But just like me, he was met with the sound of the voicemail tone.

"I'm sorry, ma'am, but it appears he's not picking up for me either." He said.

I slumped back against the seat.

"He's always so good at answering his phone. What could be so important that he can't pick up?" I said quietly, more to myself than to him.

He remained silent, giving me space to process my thoughts.

I sat in a corner, my eyes fixed on the door, unrealistically waiting for Ben to arrive. A nurse stepped into the room and called out my name, my heart raced. But as I started walking towards the door, I hesitated, my eyes still on the entrance.

"Do you think we could wait just a few more minutes?" I asked her. "My partner isn't here yet."

"I'm sorry, we have to keep things moving." She gave me a sympathetic smile.

I knew she was right, and I couldn't come back later. I told myself I'd still get to see the baby. But during the ultrasound my mind was still on Ben, wondering where he was and why he hadn't shown up.

I sat on the edge of the couch, my eyes fixed on the front door. I had been waiting all day for Ben to come home, and yet there was still no sign of him. My mind raced with worry and confusion as a million different scenarios played out in my mind, each one worse than the last.

With a deep breath, I tried to calm myself down to avoid the consequences that too much stress could have on me and the baby being twenty-nine weeks pregnant.

I glanced at my phone one more time, hoping to see a message or call from Ben, but there was nothing. Just as I was about to give up hope, the sound of a car pulling into the driveway caught my attention. I stood up with a mix of relief and apprehension.

I couldn't shake off the feeling of insecurity that had been gnawing at me all day. We were only two months away from having a baby, and now it seemed all my fears were far from unrealistic. Since the very first moment I decided to go all in on this journey, there was a part of me preparing emotionally for this situation. I didn't want to believe it could happen, but experience told me that if it had happened once, it could happen again. He wasn't a cheater, I knew that. But when it came to our relationship, he had always lacked commitment. His behavior during the previous weeks should've been enough to realize that he was falling into old patterns, I just refused to see it.

I exposed my heart knowing that I could get hurt again, but I thought he was worth the risk, as my feelings for him were too strong to ignore them.