Ding dong
I open my eyes to see Grayson laying by me. Our bed sheets were everywhere.
Ding dong
I groan and move, but fall onto the floor.
"I got it", Grayson mumbles.
"I thought you were asleep", I say pulling myself back up.
"Nope", he says as he puts on his clothes.
Ding dong
Grayson sighs and runs out of the room.
I lay in bed and curl up with all the blankets.
After a few moments, Grayson comes back up with Bella in his arms.
"My baby", I smile.
"Our baby", he says pointing at me.
"You know what I meant".
He hands me her, and her warmth radiates onto me.
Grayson looks at the time and scratches his head. "I wish you didn't have to go", I say while playing with Bella's tiny hands.
"Believe me, I would stay if I could".
I close my eyes to hold in the tears that were ready to come out.
"But hey, don't worry. I'll be home before you know it."
"Gray, promise me one thing", I say, then he nods.
"Don't keep promises you know you can't keep".
---
Eight months later...
September... ugh such an awful month.
School starts back up for people, the weather is shifting to fall, and summer is ending.
I sat in the bath tub with Bella and lathered layers of water on her head.
I sigh and begin to speak. "Bell, I miss your daddy".
She looks at me like as if I were an alien.
"I know, you don't really know your daddy". She peeps and smacks the water with her tiny hands.
"Well, you obviously don't wanna talk. Want some ice cream?"
---
I was constantly busy with Bella. The bad part of everything was I was eighteen and unemployed.
I had to keep asking my parents for money. I need money to pay bills and buy food, but both of our parents do that.
The thing I hate to admit is I never wanted a child this young. I wanted to do something big with my life.
But today, I came to realize that having a child is a dream. A beautiful and wonderful dream.
Ice cream was all over her mouth. "Bell, you have more ice cream on than in you", I laugh.
She smiles and claps her hands making me laugh even more.
I grab her spoon and feed her some ice cream. "Good girl!" I say as she eats it.
Ding dong
I sigh and wipe her mouth with a rag. I run to the front door.
When I open it, my anxiety builds up again.
"Ethan, why are you here?" I ask firmly.
"I can't see my sister in law?"
"Don't try to lie. You and I both know that's not why", I say.
