Under-going maintenance & extreme re-writing
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Helaina and Andrew were the power couple of high school. Not many high school relationships were destined to become more than that, but everyone expected Helaina and Andrew to get married and last for...
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"What're you doing here?" I asked quickly, gnawing on my lip nervously. I began fidgeting with the sleeves on my white long sleeve t-shirt in attempt to calm my nerves.
"I want to talk." His voice cracked as he spoke. I knew I was moments from reaching my breaking point and we've only spoke a handful of words to one another.
I put my hand on the door again, preparing to close it.
"I did, too," I nodded, allowing my vulnerability to peek through. "Over a year ago."
With that, I shut the door calmly in his face, careful not startle Hope, and slid my back down until my butt hit the wooden floor.
The tears that began pouring down my cheeks seemed endless as it sunk in what had just happened before me.
Andrew Matters, the man I'm hopelessly in love with and the father of my daughter, showed up at my door after 18 months, ready to talk.
He looked the same for the most part. Aside from the small details that I'd always noticed about him that maybe others hadn't.
Like his eyes. The eyes that are identical to Hope's on a normal day are now a darker blue that could possibly be mistaken for black. He looked like he has lost all the life in him. His normal clean face was covered in stubble that was several days overdue of being shaved. The bags underneath his eyelids were dark and deep enough that they could be mistaken as a black eye, but I've cared for enough of Andrew's black eyes back in the day to know the difference between bad bags and a bruising eye.
I felt like the Andrew at the door was a stranger compared to the one I used to know.
The timer on the oven that went off was what snapped me back into reality.
Not reacting immediately, I stood up and called Leah. I would've called Brennan, but they are together, and I preferred to talk to Leah at this given moment.
"Hey, Helaina, everything okay?" She asked that because I have never called to interrupt any of their dates before. I promised only to do it in case of an extreme emergency.
The extremity being held at the level that me starting a fire in the kitchen was not worthy over interrupting their date.
This, Andrew, he was the level of extremity that was worth an interruption.
"He's back, Lee, he came h-here." My voice failed me again, cracking before I could barely finish my sentence. I used the back of my hand to wipe my tears away.
"Andrew?" The only reply she got was the sound of me practically choking on a sob I refused to let out. "We're on our way."
The call ended and I sighed.
Who knew that this is the turn the night would take?
I lifted Hope from her bouncer, thankful she was too small and too carefree to acknowledge all of the drama occurring right in front of her eyes. I kissed her tummy and made her giggle before I placed her in her least favorite place - her highchair.
