Wait No More

Part Thirty-Seven

The months passed in a blur of texts, calls, and video chats. Olivia poured herself into her studies and new job, but no matter how busy she was, Ethan was never far from her mind. Their promise to stay connected had become a lifeline, a thread weaving through their lives despite the miles that separated them.

At first, everything felt perfect. They shared late-night conversations filled with laughter and dreams about the future, discussing plans for their road trip and the adventures they would embark on. But as time went on, small cracks began to form in their seemingly solid foundation.

Ethan's texts became less frequent, his responses shorter, and the warmth in his voice during their calls sometimes felt strained. Olivia tried to brush it off, convincing herself that he was simply busy adjusting to life back home. She trusted him, but an uneasy feeling settled in her gut.

It was on a rainy Thursday evening that everything came crashing down. Olivia had just settled into her couch with a cup of tea, excited for their scheduled video call. When Ethan appeared on the screen, his face was drawn, his eyes shadowed by something heavy.

"Hey," he said, forcing a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"Hey! You okay?" Olivia asked, her heart racing.

"Yeah, I just... I have something I need to tell you," he said, his voice thick with tension.

The moment hung in the air, heavy with unspoken words. Olivia felt a chill creep up her spine. "What is it?"

Ethan took a deep breath, his hands fidgeting nervously in his lap. "It's about... my past. Something I've been keeping from you."

Her heart sank, and she felt a wave of dread wash over her. "What do you mean?"

"I didn't tell you everything about my life before Job Corps. I thought it was behind me, but... I need you to know." He paused, and Olivia could see the struggle etched on his face. "I have a baby. With my high school sweetheart."

The words hit Olivia like a punch to the gut. She felt the world tilt beneath her, the room spinning as she struggled to process what he had just said. "A baby?" she echoed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Ethan, how could you—"

"I didn't mean for it to happen," he rushed to explain, his voice cracking. "When I was back home, things got complicated. I thought I could handle it, but then she got pregnant. I didn't want to hurt you, Olivia. I thought if I just kept it from you, that maybe it wouldn't matter. But it does matter, and you deserve to know the truth."

Olivia felt a rush of emotions—shock, anger, betrayal, and an overwhelming sense of loss. The promise they had made to each other felt like a cruel joke now, shattering into a million pieces. "You have a child, Ethan," she said, her voice trembling. "How could you keep that from me for over a year? You let me fall deeper in love with you while you were hiding this huge part of your life?"

"I know," he replied, his eyes brimming with regret. "I was scared of losing you. I thought if I told you, you would leave. And I didn't want to lose you. You mean everything to me."

"Everything?" she scoffed, though her voice broke. "You've clearly built a whole other life without me. How can you say that when you've been keeping such a monumental secret?"

Ethan opened his mouth to respond but then closed it, looking defeated. "I never intended for it to go this way. I wanted to tell you sooner, but I kept thinking I could manage it, that I could figure things out without hurting you. I didn't want to lose the best thing that's ever happened to me."

"Best thing?" Olivia repeated, feeling a mixture of despair and anger. "You're a father now, Ethan! That's a huge responsibility. And I'm here, holding onto this idea of us while you're living in a completely different reality."