falling ☼ Anthony Ramos // [#wattys2017]

dix-sept

Anthony went to Alla and held her hand. "Anthony I can't. I can't do this." Anthony tried to calm her down. But everything he did made it slightly worse.

"Anthony I'm not fit to be a mother. I don't know what it's like having a mother let alone being one." "Alla we're going to go through this together, I promise."

"No, no. You don't get to do that." "Do what." "You don't get to–" "Honey we're going to need you to push." "Okay, okay."

Alla pushed. "Fuck I can't." "Garcia you can do this. I'm here. Push and focus on me."

Alla pushed and instantly regretted not asking for any drugs. She squeezed Anthony's hand hard, her nails dug into his skin. "Okay Alla your nails." "Sorry, I'm sorry." She says.

"One more push I see the baby's head." Alla pushed will all her might. The sound of a baby crying. Tears filled Alla's eyes.

"Okay, honey just a few more pushes." After a few more pushes another cry could be heard. "My babies, my baby girls!" Alla says. They bring both girls to Alla.

"Do you know what you're going to name them?" The nurse asks as she holds a notepad.

"Yes I do." Alla takes the notepad and writes down the names.

"Esperanza Patricia and Magdalena Beatrice." Alla says as she smiles to herself while Anthony holds Magdalena and she holds Esperanza. Alla hands the notepad to the nurse. The nurse looks down at the note pad.

"Last name?" "Garcia." "Ramos."

Alla looks up at Anthony. Anthony looks down at her. "Ant, you can be in their lives but their last name is going to be Garcia." "I'll leave you two to discuss it." The nurse leaves the two alone in the room with the girls.

"But if I'm going to be in their lives they should have my last name." "But Anthony I don't think we're ever going to get back together. And they're going to live with me so they should have my last name."

"They're living with you? You don't even have a job." "Actually I do I work with and for Pippa. I'm mostly at home and I earn good money. I've baby proofed my house and I have lots of people supporting me."

Esperanza starts to cry. "No baby it's okay." She says to the baby as she rocks her in her arms.

"We have to come to an agreement Alla." "Anthony they're going to have my last name. I don't even know if I'm going to find someone right for me I don't know if I'll ever get married but one thing's for sure these girls will have my last name."

Anthony opens his mouth to say something when the door opens. Pippa and Daveed enter the room.

"Diggs look at my girls!" Pippa says as she takes Esperanza from Alla's arms.

"Is this Esperanza." "Yeah that's my baby Za Za. Anthony is holding Magdalena."

"Let me guess her nickname is Maggie." "I was thinking Mags or Nena or something but yeah Maggie works." Anthony hands Magdalena to Daveed.

They all gush over the two beautiful girls. The following days Anthony and Alla come to an agreement. They will essentially "live together" so that they won't have to rotate with the girls and the girls' last names will be Garcia.

Two months into this arrangement Alla gets ready for a date. She met a girl after Pippa's show and they hit it off great.

Alla is wearing a black leggings and a black sleeveless top. She had worked to lose most of the baby weight. And she paired it with a red bomber jacket and black heels. She did her make up quickly but it looked flawless and put her hair up in a braid.

Alla got her purse and put in some perfume, chapstick, her phone, portable charger and a very thin wallet.

She walked out of her room to the nursery. Maggie and Za Za were asleep. She gave them both a kiss on the head. As she walks out of the nursery Anthony walks in. They bump into each other.

"You look nice." "Thanks." "So how long until you come back?" "Well I'm probably going to be out for two hours at least." A few honks can be heard. "Well that's her. I'll see you later." "Yeah have fun." "Thanks" she says halfway out the door.

Alla met with the girl. Her name is Marie. "Marie hey." Alla says as she gets into the car. "Hey Alla. So are you ready to go?" "Yeah just one thing I need to get out into the open. I just wanted to let you know that I'm a mom, of two girls." Marie had a semi-shocked look. "Yeah and?" "That's it?" "Congrats? I don't know what you want me to say." "Well I just wanted to tell you that in case you didn't want to go through with the date." "Alla you're so naïve. I like you for you. You have kids? That's great I love children." Marie pauses. "In a not sexual way that came out terribly." Alla giggles.

After two hours and multiple bar hopping Marie drove Alla back to the apartment. "That was fun." "Yeah it was." Alla wasn't lying. She did have lots of fun with Marie but she didn't feel a connection between the two of them.

Marie kissed Alla. Alla quickly pulled away, grabbed her purse and got out the car. "I'll text you later I guess." Marie says before driving off.