My Time With You

Unexpected Surprise

Steven stood in the water while I closed my eyes and hoped for the best and Pearl held her breath. He stepped out of the fountain with a confused look on his face. He lifted his shirt, and slowly removed his bandages.

We were greeted by a troubling sight. The wounds were still there, only a tiny bit more healed than yesterday when I had applied the bandages. I gasped and covered my mouth with my hand while tears began running down my cheeks at an alarming pace. Pearl and Steven both looked away from Steven's wounds and up at me. Steven lifted his hand and tried to grasp mine, but I ran away in tears before he could. I ran as fast as my legs would carry me, tears streaming down my face. I had no clue where I was going, or why I was running, but it distracted from the thoughts bolting through my head.

I was forced to stop after about 20 minutes of running. I leaned against a wall and took deep, shaking breaths. The tears started streaming down my face again. I realized just how much I had been crying lately, and I was suddenly sobbing. I couldn't take it anymore. The baby, Steven being hurt, all of these emotions, I just couldn't do it anymore.

After about 30 minutes of sitting there and wondering to myself what could possibly get worse, I got up. I tried not to fall as my knees shook, but I forced myself to stand strong. I walked back to where Steven and Pearl were waiting, streaks on their faces from their tears. I cleared my throat and they looked at me. I smiled weakly and I heard Pearl sigh in relief. She had put Steven's bandages back on, and he smiled at me. I hugged him gently, being cautious of his wounds. He kissed the top of my head and I relaxed, breathing in his familiar scent.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know this would happen. But I promise that we will find another way." He released me and I smiled up at him. I quickly wiped away a tear that had come close to escaping and nodded.

"I know. It's just a little hard to handle. I mean, a few days ago was simultaneously the one of the best as well as the worst day of my life. It's kinda hard to take in." He smiled at me, and my grin grew the tiniest bit.

"I know. But I promise it will all be okay. And you know better than anyone that I don't break my promises." I chuckled at this, remembering all the little promises he had made and how all of them were still intact.

We warped back to the temple, and we decided, despite the men's protests, to go home. We packed up what little I had brought, and left for the house. My parents dropped us off, and we immediately went to bed to sleep the day away. I snuggled up close to Steven, and with the events of everything, fell asleep almost as soon as my head hit the pillow.