What's Next?

A Modest Proposal

Everyone seems to know what they want to do with their life. There's teachers, doctors, musicians, artists, and more; all who knew what they wanted to do from a young age. Many people have their career set and prepared. Rory thought she did to, she wanted to be a journalist forever. Now she's 34, married with a Bachelor's degree from Yale and is working at 14 dollars an hour for a newspaper.

***

Rory was typing a new story for the paper when her mind began wondering. She longed to do something more with her life, for her being to live up to more than just minimum wage and 20 minute lunch breaks.

Rory sighed and laid her head on the table. "This sucks."

"Looks like someone needs cheering up." Lorelai entered with coffee and donuts.

"Ahh life-saver!" Rory took a gulp of coffee. "You know how long it's been since I had good coffee?"

"Umm, two days?" Lorelai guessed.

"Three." Rory laughed. "I've been so busy with Haeven and work; there's been no time for self-time."

Lorelai opened up the bag and began eating a glazed donut. Rory reached over and picked out a sprinkles one. "Mmm. I feel like a kid again."

Lorelai just laughed. Her eyes maneuvered over to the computer screen. "What are you working on?"

"Just some stories. Pretty basic. Kirk demanded I include an article about his new service: öööber."

"I thought he gave that up?"

Rory set down her donut. "Nope. He told me 'It had a rocky start, but Henry Ford never gave up did he?', but I can barely see the correlation."

"Interesting."

Lorelai noticed her daughter's uneasiness and grabbed her hand. "Hey, kid you okay?"

Rory sighed and forced a smile. "Getting there. I'm so stressed out."

"Oh, honey," Lorelai brought her into a hug. "It's going to be okay. I love you so much."

Rory felt herself tearing up for what felt like the millionth time this week. "I've so emotional lately, I have no idea why."

"Probably because you're stressed. Stress does crazy things to people." Lorelai stoked Rory's hair and kissed the top of her head. "You take care now, don't keep up that worrying."

Lorelai took off and Rory finished up at the paper then headed home.

*****

Upon getting home, Rory was welcomed with a kiss from Jess and a nice prepared meal of steak and spiced asparagus on the table.

"Oh my, Jess!" She was truly amazed.

"You like it?" Jess smiled and made a plate for her.

Rory took a bite and smiled. "This is wonderful!"

A small cooing came from the high chair and Haeven raised her hands up. "Ummy!"

"Yeah it is!" Rory clapped. "Good job, baby."

Rory began eating when nausea hit her like a brick. "Oh no." She raced to the bathroom and emptied the contents of her stomach into the toilet.

Jess rushed to her side and held her hair back. "Is my cooking really that bad?" He joked. When Rory didn't laugh and kept throwing up, he went silent.

"Jess...I don't feel good." Rory leaned back as the sickness subsided.

"Oh baby, I'm sorry." Jess held her.

"It wasn't your cooking, I just suddenly felt-" Another wave of nausea hit her as she hit the toilet again.

Jess just kept stroking her hair and ensuring her.

After she finished, they went back to the table. Rory tried to clean up but the sight of food made her queasy.

"It's okay, hon, I got it. You go rest." Jess patted her back. "I got Haeven."

The baby whined as she saw her mother leave but Jess quieted her down. 

*****

As Rory fell asleep, many thoughts rushed through her head. All except the one that was the cause for all this sickness.