Addicted to You

"Make You Feel My Love"

As I sat on the hood of the car with Timothée, we were watching the sun set over the lake, I couldn't help but feel a tinge of regret wash over me. I had given up on my dream of attending Berkeley, and it still stung.

But as I looked at Timothée, and felt the gentle kick of our baby inside me, I knew that I had made the right choice. I had chosen love, and a different kind of future.

I thought about how far I had come, and how much my life had changed. Just a year ago, I was focused on getting into Berkeley, and now I was about to become a mother.

Timothée squeezed my hand, as if sensing my thoughts. "Hey, what's wrong?" he asked, his voice soft with concern.

I shook my head, smiling wistfully. "Just thinking about Berkeley," I said. "I still wonder what could have been."

Timothée nodded understandingly. "I know," he said. "But you made a choice, and it was the right one. You chose us, and our future together."

I nodded, feeling a sense of peace wash over me. He was right. I had made that choice, and I wouldn't go back on it even if I could. I had Timothée, and our baby, and that was all that mattered.

As we sat there, watching the sun set, I knew that I was exactly where I was meant to be. And that was all that mattered.

Graduation was just in a few weeks, senior year was practically over. I couldn't believe it. Seems like it was just yesterday I was that scared 14 year old girl walking into the front doors of the high school.

"Can you believe it?" I said, turning to Timothée with a playful grin. "High school is already over. It feels like just yesterday we were stressing out over freshman year."

Timothée chuckled and shook his head. "I know, it's crazy. It feels like we blinked and suddenly we're graduating."

I laughed and nudged him. "Yeah, and it's even crazier when you think about how we didn't even know each other until senior year. I mean, you had no idea I even existed before that."

Timothée smiled sheepishly. "That's true. I was oblivious to the amazing Leia standing right in front of me."

I teased him, "Yeah, it's a wonder I even noticed you, considering how clueless you were."

Timothée playfully rolled his eyes. "Hey, I resent that. I'm a quick learner, okay?"

I giggled and leaned into him. "I guess you are, since you managed to win me over in just one year."

Timothée wrapped his arm around me, pulling me close. "I guess I did something right, then."

As we sat there, wrapped in each other's arms, Timothée leaned in and kissed me softly. I sighed, feeling a mix of emotions swirl inside me.

I loved Timothée, and I loved our baby, but a part of me still longed for something more. I didn't want to stay in this small town forever, stuck in a routine that wasn't truly mine.

But as I looked into Timothée's eyes, I knew that I couldn't leave. Not now, not when we had a life together. I was torn between my desire for adventure and my love for this little family we were building.

~

The next few weeks passed in a blur of preparation for the baby's arrival. Timothée and I had set up the nursery, attended parenting classes, and read every book on childcare we could find. We were as ready as we could be.

But then, the agency called. My heart sank as I answered the phone, fearing the worst.

"Leia, it's Karen from the agency," the voice on the other end said. "I'm afraid David and Katie are still pursuing custody of the baby. They're not backing down."