Help Me Push Aside All the Things I've Left Behind (Tayley)

21: Ripping Wings Off of Butterflies

Chapter 21:

Taylor’s POV:

I stood there, just staring at her tremble. Just staring at her search her thoughts for an excuse. Or words.

I was just there waiting, and more waiting.

I sighed heavily and took her shaky hand in mine.

She looked up at me with watery eyes.

I gave her a faint smile and pulled her closer to me. I pressed her against me and embraced her in my arms. She dug her face into my chest and began to sob.

And I tighten my grasp on her as I rested my chin on the top of her head. I rubbed her back in a comforting manner.

But I felt guilty for making her feel this way. But I also felt hurt that she would hide something so big from me.

I’m not mad, nor disappointed. I’m just confused and scared. Frankly, I’m terrified.

“Hey.” I got out with a raspy voice.
She pulled away from me and wiped the tears off her eyes.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” She dropped her sight to the gap between our bodies.

I shook my head. “No Hayley.” I rose her sight to mine. “Don’t shut down on me. Please not right now. I need answers.” I placed my hand on her face. Slightly stroking it with my thumb. “I need you to talk to me. Tell me what’s going on. Please.” I swallowed the knot that was forming in my throat.

She took her lip between her teeth and sighed.

“I just realized it a few minutes ago. I just didn’t want you to get all worked up about something that isn’t even real yet.” She got out with shaky voice.

“Hayley, I am your partner. I don’t ever want you to feel like you’re alone. In any way possible. I am here and I am in love with you, more than ever. But you need to start letting me into your life. You need to tell me things like this. Because this.” I bent down and picked up the test off the floor. Holding it in front of us. “Is something that can affect our future. DO you understand that?” She nodded. A faint smile on her face. “Now, I need you to take this. Because the unknown is slowly eating me up inside.”
She shook her head. “I don’t think I can.”

“Yes you can Hayley.” I gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. “You are the strongest young woman I know. You are brave, you are kind, you are genuine, and you are beautiful. And I know for a fact that you,” I playfully bobbed her nose, “can do whatever you set your heart out to do.”
She looked up at me and grinned. A smile as bright as the thousands of stars that are visible when we hit the road at night. If not even brighter.

“Will you be there?” She stepped closer to me.

I nodded. “I’m not going anywhere.”

She smiled. Releasing a sigh of relief. “Okay.” She rose herself to plant a soft kiss on my lips. “Get out so I can go about my business.”

I chuckled. “I’ll be right outside this door if you need anything.”
She smiled. “I’m pretty sure it won’t be that difficult.”
“You know what I mean.”
She giggled. “I do.”

She shut the door behind me right after her last words.

And I was too nervous to sit. And too anxious to stand around and wait.

But I did sit. Mostly due to the fact that I felt like I was going to pass out at any given time.

I sat with my legs apart. My elbows on my knees. My head in my hands. And my right leg shaky as I impatiently waited for that door to open. And be told potential life changing news.