This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things

Embers of New Beginnings

The gentle sway of the boat lulled me into a peaceful reverie as we floated along the serene waters of Kyoto's canal. Resting against Sam's chest, the rhythmic beating of her heart became my melody. Soft cherry blossom petals danced in the air around us, casting a delicate spell on our honeymoon voyage.

"Do you remember this place, Mon?" Sam's voice was laced with nostalgic affection, a gentle reminder of the moments we cherished.

I lifted my head, catching Sam's gaze with a smile. "How could I forget?" My laughter joined the gentle lapping of the water. "This is where we indulged in those amazing matcha-flavored treats."

Soft raindrops began to trickle down, painting delicate ripples on the water's surface, adding an ethereal touch to the atmosphere surrounding us.

Lost in the tranquility of the moment, I turned to Sam, locking eyes with her. "Sam?" I called out softly, "Yes, my love" Sam responded, her voice a gentle whisper, "Promise me this is forever?" I whispered, my voice quivering with emotion.

A tender smile graced Sam's lips as she gazed into my eyes. "I promise," she said softly, the sincerity of her words carrying a profound depth.

Our souls intertwined in that fleeting moment as our lips met in a gentle kiss, sealing the promise of everlasting love.

Reality slammed into me as I blinked awake-a sterile hospital room replacing the warmth of the dream. Panic surged momentarily, but the pieces of my memory began to form a hazy picture.

I remembered collapsing on the roadside. A flicker of hope ignited within-a desperate longing that Sam had found me, had brought me here, and that maybe, just maybe, we could piece things back together. But as the doctor entered, that hope flickered and died.

"Good morning, Miss," the doctor greeted me in a professional tone. "You were brought in by a gentleman. He found you unconscious near the road."

For a moment, I yearned to hear Sam's name, wishing against all odds for her presence. Yet, the doctor's words cast a shadow on that hope.

"You're in a delicate condition, Miss. You need to take extra care," the doctor advised, her tone tinged with concern.

"What do you mean, my condition?" I asked, a knot of confusion tightening in my chest.

"You're pregnant," the doctor disclosed gently, adjusting her glasses as she spoke.

My world ground to a halt, the doctor's revelation plunging me into a whirlpool of emotions. "The IVF procedure worked?" I gasped, the reality dawning on me. "I'm going to have a child... Sam's child."

In that moment, the recent arguments with Sam flashed vividly in my mind, magnifying the chasm between us. A storm of emotions-fear, excitement, and regret-raged within me.

"Sam doesn't know," I whispered, the weight of this new reality pressing down on me. To keep the child or not? It was my baby, a dream we both held so dear.

"Is the baby healthy?" I managed to ask, my voice tinged with worry, desperately seeking reassurance amid the whirlwind of emotions.

The doctor smiled warmly, her demeanor calming. "Yes, both you and the baby are in good health," she affirmed, her words offering a glimmer of reassurance in the midst of uncertainty. "But given your condition, you must take extra care."

A fragile smile crossed my lips, but inside, a tempest of emotions swirled. The notion of becoming a mother was both a beacon of hope and a sea of uncertainty. Meanwhile, the intricate threads of my relationship with Sam felt entangled and frayed.

"Can you call my mother? She'll pick me up," I requested, seeking solace in the familiar comfort of family amid the chaos of my emotions.

As the doctor nodded and stepped out to make the call, I instinctively placed a tender hand on my belly, feeling the gentle flutters of life within. "Hey there, little one," I whispered, my voice a tender caress. "You're a miracle, you know?" A soft smile crept across my face as warmth flooded my heart. "You're so loved already."

Gently rubbing my belly, I found solace in speaking to the life growing inside me. "You and I, we're going to figure this out together," I murmured, my tone filled with both determination and tenderness. "I promise to protect you, to give you all the love and care you need." A sense of conviction filled my voice as I added, "I'm going to keep you safe, no matter what."

The reassurance of this intimate moment with the baby in my womb brought a fragile calmness amidst the storm of emotions. Uncertainty still lingered, but in that instant, the bond forming between us felt unbreakable, a glimmer of hope in the midst of the unknown.

The car ride home with Mom was a silent journey filled with memories that tugged at my heartstrings. Daddy Aon's concerned glance at the rearview mirror reflected the worry etched on his face.

Stepping into the sanctuary of my childhood room, I was met not with the images of my past, but with a collage of Sam's pictures adorning the walls.

But it was the corner near the window that beckoned me-a spot where Sam had once tenderly held my hand and whispered, "Let's go back to our home."

Tears welled in my eyes, a poignant ache gripping my heart. Sam's absence weighed heavy, her memories weaving through the room, illuminating the emptiness. The echoes of her words haunted me, a gentle plea from a time when our future seemed boundless.

I stood there, fixated on that place, the flood of emotions overwhelming. Sam's absence amidst the vivid traces of her existence felt like an unfathomable void. The photographs on the wall, a tribute to my admiration for Sam, now served as a heart-rending reminder of a connection that had once felt unbreakable.

The love that once flourished now seemed fragile, hanging by a thread. The room, now devoid of Sam, echoed the emptiness within me-a poignant reminder of an interrupted journey, shattered dreams, and an uncertain path ahead.