Peaked in High School

Picture Perfect

After parking his Lexus in the two-car garage, Everett retrieves his bag from the trunk and makes his way inside the house through the newly renovated basement.

Everyday he is thankful for his cushy job at the high-tech company near his hometown that he landed after graduating from college. He had received the hybrid programmer position at a highly esteemed corporation with the help of his computer science degree from Yale. This job is what allows him to pay for his house in a rural area only a half hour away from where he grew up in Columbus, Ohio.

Of course, his wife's own prestigious job also helps pay the bills—probably even more so than his if he's being completely honest.

He met Charlotte during their second year at Yale and fell in love almost immediately. A week before they walked the stage for graduation, Everett had gotten down on one knee and proposed to his first and only love who enthusiastically accepted the impressive ring presented to her.

Lately, however, Charlotte has been distant.

She is less talkative on date nights and has made a habit of retreating back to their room early for bed. Everett has tried talking with her on several occasions, but she always brushes him off or seems frustrated by the fact that he doesn't know what is upsetting her.

Walking up the basement steps, he enters into the kitchen where his wife is sat at the table with a mug of coffee in front of her. She looks like she has been waiting for him considering nothing is on the TV in the kitchen and her phone isn't anywhere that he can see.

Approaching her, he bends down to place a kiss on her cheek in greeting. "Hey, Char. How was your day?" He asks while setting down his bag and taking a seat next to her. With the way she is looking at him, he assumes that she will want to have a serious conversation.

His heart is racing with the possibilities of what she might say, but he is also kind of relieved that she is done ignoring whatever has been bothering her. Everett is ready to know what has been troubling his wife.

"My sister called," she responds with an empty look in her eyes. "She told me that she is pregnant. Again."

Everett can't figure out if this is what's upsetting her. Charlotte loves her nieces and nephews, having another around would usually bring her so much joy and happiness.

Offering her a smile, Everett says, "That's wonderful! We should plan a visit to see them soon. It's been way too long since everyone has gotten together. We definitely need to celebrate with them!"

He quickly becomes concerned when tears gather in Charlotte's eyes and she looks down at the table. Standing swiftly from his seat, he moves over to where she is sat and bends down while grabbing her hand.

"What is it, Char? Is something wrong?" Worry drips from his voice while he speaks to her softly.

Shaking her head, Charlotte is choked up when she responds, "Everett—do you want to have children with me?"

Shocked by this question, he pauses a moment before reassuring her. "Of course I do. I love you and want to have a family of our own someday."

"Someday," she repeats in a sad, mocking tone.

"When will someday be, Ev? Each time I try to suggest that we try for one of our own you brush me off. You refuse to not use a condom and change the subject when I talk about anything baby-related."

Staring wide-eyed at his wife, Everett suddenly feels like a small child himself.

Clearing his throat he stutters, "Well—I, um."

"We're both twenty-four years old. I know that is still young, but I've told you our entire relationship that I want a big family. Pregnancy the closer I get to thirty will get more and more difficult. I know that parenthood can seem scary, but you won't be alone." Charlotte is crying now, but has a determined look on her face as she speaks.

"If we don't try for a baby soon, then I'm not sure that I want to continue this marriage."

Everett feels numb all of a sudden. He has known that Charlotte wants kids, but he was never aware of the timeline in her head to have them. They had gotten married only a year ago. He figured they would have three to five years together before expanding their family.

"I—I didn't know you felt this way. I'm so sorry, Char." He starts off, not knowing where he is going to go from there, but continues nevertheless.

"You have always said you wanted kids, but I just thought we'd have a bit more time to enjoy being a young married couple. We got this house and our new jobs.... Don't you want to travel the world and maybe even get a pet first?"

She has a look of utter disbelief on her face at this response, so Everett knows he messed up.

"I love you, Ev. I really do. We should've discussed this more before getting married." She takes a deep breath to control her emotions as she searches for some words to say to him.

They are still holding hands and she squeezes his before giving her final thoughts. "My bags are packed and I have a flight back to Boston booked so I can stay with my parents for awhile. I had a feeling this conversation wouldn't go well. I plan on coming back in a month to check in with you. If you still don't feel ready to have kids.... Then I will respect your wishes, but I am going to file for a divorce. I'm not waiting any longer to live the life that I've dreamed about for so long."

"Please don't do this," he whispers to her with tears streaming down his face. An ultimatum is the last thing he expected from the woman that he has loved for the last couple of years.

She softly places her hand on his jaw and gently rubs his cheek with her thumb.

"I love you, Ev. I'm not willing to waste anymore time in a marriage that won't give me the present and future that I deserve."

With that, Charlotte gets up from her chair, exits the kitchen to grab her suitcases and leaves Everett crying in the kitchen with his heart in his stomach.