Homebound

Chapter 1

          Numb. Shock. Inconsolable. Robert is surprised he can feel all these emotions at once. Ha. That emotion can be added to the list too. He doesn't feel like he's standing in the middle of the hospital's waiting room. He feels like he's drowning in the depth of the vast, vacant ocean. He wishes the water can fill his lungs and he can slowly die. He doesn't want to be alive without his Delilah. 

          Delilah.

          What is he going to do? He can't survive without his rock and best friend. She was the one who can make him feel on cloud nine, the one who can make him smile when he's down, the one who cranked the radio up and sang out of tune, but it was music to his ears, the one who danced in the rain, and the one who ate his failed attempt of dinner and said it was delicious. She was his beloved wife.

         Life was going so well. High school sweethearts, Robert and Delilah were the couple everyone wanted to be.

       "You love me?" She had asked one day.

       "You love me?" He returned her question.

        "I asked you first!" She pouted, and he couldn't resist.

        "I love you with all my heart and soul." He looked her straight in the eyes and tried to convey his emotions that couldn't be put into words.

       "Then promise you'll marry me?" The question took him unexpectedly. She always managed to take his breath away. He chuckled and pulled her into a loving kiss. Of course, Delilah would be the first to propose.

        When they told their families of their plans, they disagreed. They were far too young. They couldn't manage on their own, let alone raise a family. Only sweet and positive Laura, Delilah's best friend, gave her blessing. As soon as school ended, they ran away. He took on two jobs while Delilah did the same. They lived in a one bedroom apartment with the walls too thin, you can hear the neighbors fighting, and the faucet was always leaky. Yet, those were the best times of his life.

       "Robert," Delilah said seriously, opposite to her joking personality. "We need to talk."

       He knew that something was up. Did she want a divorce? He tried to think of a reason why. Maybe she wasn't happy with where they were living. Maybe she wanted something more in life. Delilah deserved everything, and he swore he would provide her that. Maybe she had fallen out of love with him. He all of a sudden felt self-conscious. Had he gained weight? Was he balding?

         "I'm pregnant." He sighed in relief. A baby. He was going to be a dad. He felt himself begin to tear up.

         "Don't you dare cry on me!" as tears poured down her face. "I scared you, didn't I?" They laughed, and he kissed her. They were going to be a family.

          "What do you think the gender is going to be?" He questioned while massaging her swollen feet.

        "A boy. He's going to look like you because you're hot, but he'll have my nose." She immediately answered.

        "Someone definitely overthought this." He laughed, yet it was perfect. He imagined himself playing ball with his son, reading him bedtime stories, carrying him on his shoulders, sneaking him sugary sweets when Delilah bans it, teaching him to ride his first bike, dropping him off at school, giving him the advice to woo the girl, dad jokes upon dad jokes, deep conversations that were reserved for men because mom would never understand, 'manly' hugs, wrestling for fun and Delilah demanding they stop now or else. He could have thought of more scenarios, but Delilah was asking for pickles and peanut butter.