Arranged marriage

Be safe.

"Baby, What happened?!" Jay asked concerned. I pulled away and wiped my eyes annoyed at myself for crying. "Sila, what happened?"

             "Here." Rushing to the bathroom I clutched the test in my hand. My ten year old self would be so mad at me right now. Jay was still standing in the living room confused and staring at me. "This is yours...in both biologically and figuratively." He held it looking for a good minute trying to process everything.

"Y-you're pregnant?" He stuttered wide eyed at the test then back at me. "You're pregnant! Holy shit you're pregnant with my baby?! I'm a dad?! Wait what?! Oh my god, Sila!" He lifted me up without warning holding onto me.

          "Jay! Calm down! You're acting insane, just calm down for a second!"

             "How?! My baby is having a baby! You're so tiny as it is and now you're growing a human in you that's ours, all ours!"

"Dude, I'm an hourglass and size six, I ain't tiny."

                  "Yes you are, I can fit you in my pocket."

"Haha! I don't know if I should cry or laugh at his reaction!" Both me and Jay turned our heads to see Tejah on the floor laughing like a seal.

"Tejah, now isn't the time to turn into a cartoon character."

"It's always the time to turn into a cartoon character, Sila." Our conversation was ended short when I felt Jay's arms wrap gently around me and pull me into a hug. "Yea, I'm just gonna slowly grab my stuff...walk to the door," she grabbed her jacket threw it on then slowly backed up to the door. "Unlock the door...then flee." As quickly as she got up she was out the door.

               "Hey, you okay?" Jay asked pulling away with a pout.

               "Y-yeah. Why'd you ask?"

              "You won't stop playing with your hair and your breathing is really fast." Grabbing my hands he placed them on my side pulling them away from my hair.

                "Nope. I'm fine." Smiling I stopped myself from biting my lip. "Oh! Do you know what we should do?!"

                   He laughed placing the test on the stand by him. "What should we do, huh?"

                   "Cake! Lets make cake!" Jumping I grabbed Jay's arm and dragged him into the kitchen.

                     "Baby, we need to get the ingredients for the cake first."

                       "Oh...hold up, lemme get changed real quick then."

                        "Wait, why? You look fine."

                      "I wanna be in something more comfortable."

                         "Then, I'll change too." He faked a frown and followed me upstairs like a lost puppy.

*****************************************

      Biting my lip, I shot up. This isn't working. I can't go to sleep. "Somethings wrong..." My eyes started to water. Rushing out of bed I ran to my nightstand and grabbed my phone. Without thought my finger pressed on Jay's contact. Pick up, please pick up.

"Caller can't be reached, please leave a message at the beep." The voicemail rang in my ears and I looked at the time. 7:28, his break started ten minutes ago, he always texts me.

Me: Jay, please call me as soon as you can. I'm worried and I need to hear your voice...please.

After sending the text, I broke down. Please be ok...

Ten minutes went by, I called again. Voicemail. Then twenty, I called once more. At the twenty two minute mark hit, his name flashed up on the screen. "Jay?! Why weren't you picking up? I was worried sick." My legs gave in and I sat down on the bed.

"Hello? Ma'am, I believe you know Jackson Parker?" An unfamiliar voice echoed through the phone. My heart sank as the sirens lightly came through the other line. "Ma'am?"

             "I-I'm his wife...where's he?"

              There was a small paused, but with a sigh, he continued. "I'm so sorry I have to be the one to tell you this." My limbs began to shake. "I'm afraid he's been a horrible car accident. The paramedics found his phone in his pocket as they were bring him into the er."

              I tried to say something, nothing but air left my mouth. I could taste the saltiness of my tears rolling down my face. "W-Which hospital?"

              "St. Christopher. I'm officer Frank, I could have my team come and-" throwing the phone on the bed, I couldn't slow my breathing. I grabbed my keys and ran out the house. I didn't even remember half the drive to the hospital, I'm shocked I made it here at all.

              Speeding past the entrance I ran up to the front desk in tears. "My husband was in a car accident this morning I need to see him."

               "Ma'am, please calm down I can take you to him but please try to calm down." An officer from the waiting room walked in then, straight to me.

               "Are you Mrs. Parker? I'm the one that called you. Look, he's in surgery right now. While we wait, I can take you to the Cafe so I can tell you more about what happened." Please be okay, please.

              "I-" My legs finally gave in on me and I sank onto the floor sobbing. The officer grabbed me and called a few nurses to my side. "Please be okay...please."

             "Take her to a chair!" They helped me up and placed me in a chair in a private room. After straight ten minutes of me crying, my tears had stopped. "Here's some water and some tissues." Wiping my tears, I couldn't get the courage to lift the glass to my lips.

             "How...how did this happen?" Staring straight ahead at the floor my mind flashed back and forth from our first month together.

             "Driver fell asleep at the wheel...hit Mr. Parker into a tree." My facial expression hadn't changed a bit.

              "You know...it's funny how life works. I hated Jay my whole life, we were arranged shortly after I was born. Slowly after we actually talked...I got to see a side of him he never let show. A side only I was allowed to see, a week ago I found out I'm pregnant. Its almost been a year from when we got together. Really basic, huh?" A light smile appeared on my face at the memories. "I was broken and he fixed me...he fixed broken glass. I stitched up his cuts, and I fell for him."

"He's gonna come out that room, and be able to hold your baby. I can promise you that, Mrs. Parker."

"Sila, call me Sila. Mrs. Parker makes me feel old." I felt the tension in the room lessen.

"And I'm Frank." We shook hands and I laid back in my chair. Usually Jay would be the one to hold me and tell me it would be okay...I just wanna say I love you one more time. Feel his warm embrace, hear him whisper a lullaby in my ear when I cant sleep. Just one more time.