Green Eyed Monster

First Born

Breathless and teeth clinched, squeezing my couch cushion, Solomon sits watching me until this contraction is over. Once I exhale he asks, "What do you want to do baby?"

"Let's wait. I don't want to get sent back home."

He nods, lifts my feet onto his lap and starts massaging them. Today is hard. Solomon has a list of who to call once I go into labor, but my mommy isn't on it. My contractions are still hours apart. Solomon pampers me until he falls asleep. The room now silent, I sit regretting excommunicating from my mommy.

The night of our wedding was horrific. Everyone was fighting around me, but no one was saying what actually transpired. I'm not stupid, so it was easy to figure out. Still, my mind couldn't accept that was truly it. After all the chaos, finally Solomon and I are alone in our rented Rolls Royce, headed to our hotel suite for the night. He looks numb as he dazes into space.

I say, "I need to hear you say it."

Wide-eyed, he looks my way. A tear falls, but he quickly wipes it.

"Say it, King. I'll only believe what you tell me."

Frowning, he shakes his head no. Devastated, I drop my head, sobbing. He grabs me but I start punching him all over, screaming, "Why King? How could you do this to me?"

He touches me, but I pound his hand with my fist. Each time he reaches out I hit him. He then snatches me close, putting me in a bear hug. I'm screaming like a maniac, "I HATE YOU! GET YOUR HANDS OFF OF ME!"

By now he's sobbing when he whimpers out, "Baby, I'm so sorry. I love you so much. I'm so sorry."

I'm screaming and kicking, but I can't loosen his hold. The driver keeps shouting, "You guys, please!"

Screaming even louder, Solomon starts kissing my face, neck, and chest crying and begging, "Please don't leave me, Lo! I'll die without you! I love you so much. Please forgive me. Please baby!"

We're finally in front of the hotel but I'm yelling, "Don't you dare kiss me! Let me go! I hate you!"

Suddenly, the car doors open and there are police officers on each side. The driver must've went inside without us knowing. Breathless, I jump out yelling, "Get me away from him! I want my daddy!"

Solomon begs, "Please officers! It's our wedding night. Don't separate me from my wife. We just need to talk."

It's then I run to a police car. I'm jerking the door shouting, "Let me in! Take me far away from him!"

One officer opens the backdoor, locking me inside. Solomon's calm making his case, but the officers explain I don't want to be near him. I can't hear their conversations, but soon my officer gets inside and pulls off. I merely glance at Solomon as he stares through the window, hopeless and despondent. All night I weep in my daddy's arms, still wearing my beautiful wedding gown.

Solomon doesn't reach out to me the next day, then the following day he's headed to Greece without me. My daddy was so proud of me for leaving him, but once he left for work Stacy wanted to have a heart to heart with me. We laugh over past stuff for a bit then she says, "Solomon really loves you Lola."

Instantly, I start shaking my head no, crying. Grabbing my hand, she says, "I know it's hard. It's beyond hard, but that man will die without you."

"Well, it's not my fault, but his choice."

"You have to at least hear him out."

"I tried, but he refused to talk!"

"Men aren't like women, Lola. They're very careful and meticulous about their words when they're trying everything in their power not to hurt us more. After all that turmoil and madness, he didn't know what to say. It's been a couple of days, he'll talk now. ...Don't you love him?"