THE RUMOR

Chapter 14: She's Here

She's here! My baby is finally here. When I held my daughter for the first time, I could not believe my eyes. I begin to cry, but these tears were happy tears. She is so cute. She has my nose, a head full of shiny black hair, ten tiny fingers and toes. She looks like the baby pictures of me at my parent's house. Today is one of the happiest days of my life; however, I wish my mom was here with me. I am thankful, because I am not completely alone; Joanna has been by my side every step of the way. Joanna took pictures of the baby and me with our cell phones. For a while a Joanna and I just stared at Serenity without saying a word.

"I cannot believe you are a mother," Joanna said. "I know things has been hard for you, but I will always be here for you know matter where I am," she said.

"What do you mean, no matter where you are, Jo I need you," I said sorrowfully.

"I have been thinking about college and I have to keep my options open. I want to stay, however if I get an opportunity someplace else I have to go. You will be fine. You can stay at my place, until you get on your feet. I have been able to pay a few months in advance, just for you," she said.

Tears begin to roll down my cheeks again. "I do not know how I could ever repay you, thank you for being such a wonderful friend. I love you," I said with a smile.

"You do not owe me a thing girly. I want you to find a good job, graduate high school, and go to college." Your daughter needs you. I am glad that I am able to help you," Jo said.

As we both smiled at each other, the nurse came in and said, "You have another visitor. "Who is it" I responded. As those words came out, I saw the shadow of a woman. Who could that be, I thought to myself.

"What are you doing here mom?" I said confused.

"Well, your school called and told me you were being rushed to the hospital. Even though we have not been communicating, I think about you every day. Actually, I have wanted to talk to you for a while. After the school called your father told me everything. I hope he rots in hell. I came here to apologize. I called the police and they arrested him. I regret how things turned out; I should have listened to you. I could not miss the day you became a mother and I had to meet my granddaughter. I will be here for you and your baby from this moment on. Okay, well these (she handed me some flowers and a teddy bear) are for you and what's the baby's name?" my mom said.

"Thanks and its Serenity," I said to her.

"No problem dear. Serenity, wow sweetheart that's a pretty name," she said.

"Well, I cannot stay long, because I have to get back to work, but before I leave I must hold the baby, if that is okay with you, " my mom said smiling.

"Mom, of course you can hold your granddaughter," I said.

"Oh, she is beautiful Michelle. She looks so much like you when you were this age," she said.

"I hate to leave you, but I have to go. I will be back later to check on you guys, she said. Before my mom left, I gave her a hug and she kissed my daughter and me on the cheek.

Joanna came back in the room and I gave her an update on my mother and I. To my surprise the nurse came in to inform me that I had another guest. Now I am really tripping, who could that be?

Matt walked in slowly behind the nurse.

"Get the fuck out! SECURITY" I said with anger.

"Wait, wait Michelle calm down. I need to talk to you and I am not leaving until you hear what I have to say," Matt said.

"Matthew I--," before I could finish my sentence, Matt interrupted me and said, "Let me finish please, please just hear me out." I have changed Michelle. I think about you every day. I know I messed up. I want to be with you and I want to be a father to your daughter. Did you name you her Serenity, like we used to talk about?" Matt said beaming with joy.

"Yes, you remembered," I said surprised.

"I remember everything about you. Let me show you. Let me be there for you, please," Matt said.

"Matthew, actions speak louder than words. Right now you are doing well, but how long is that going to last," I said with an attitude.

"Well, let me start with this," (he pulled out a little gold box).

I interrupted him, "what........what.....what is in that box," I said.

He got down on one knee and pulled out this little crumbled up paper that been in his pocket and he began to read from it.

"I am giving you this ring as a promise to you. That no matter what, I will always be here and I will always be true. I promise that I will lie with you and hold you at night when things throughout your day just don't seem to be going right. For you, I would walk a thousand miles and more. Just to see your beautiful smile that I absolutely adore. I promise that I will make you smile when you feel like crying. I promise that I will comfort you if you feel like dying. I promise to steal away your every sorrow and fear. I promise to wipe away your every tear. I promise to cherish every minute I spend with you, Until the daylight sky is no longer the color of blue. Without your love, I do not know what I would do. I will not have a future unless it involves you. You've changed me for the better, and I have never been so happy. Now, with you in my life, I can't picture a world without you, Serenity, and me. Fate decided it was time for us to be together, And though our time here on Earth is short, I promise I want you always and forever. I promise that no matter what may happen, we will make it through. Please take this ring as a symbol of the love I will always have for you and serenity.", he said on one knee, while showing every tooth in his mouth.

"Matt, oh my God.... are you serious? Is punk'd TV about to jump out and be like i've bee punk'd?, I said while raising an eyebrow.

He laughed so loud that the front desk could hear him.

"Damn Michelle, even in a serious moment your ass still find a way to joke around,"

"I'm sorry Matt," I said laughing. "That's just how I cope with things. I honestly just don't know what to say."

He smiled and said, "Say, yes!"

I could not say anything, I was in shock. Everybody knows, my love for Matt since the fifth grade and when I saw him kissing Jazzy, I was devastated. But, for some strange reason I want to make it work with him. After all he was the perfect boyfriend, until that day. I shook my head and said yes. Matt jumped up on the hospital bed and gave Serenity and I a group hug and kissed Serenity on the head. Matt finally got up after ten minutes of him cooing the baby and placed the ring on my finger.

I burst into tears, when he put the ring on my finger. Apparently, I was not the only crying. "Jo! Are you crying?" I said chuckling. "No! It's just um allergy season, you know I got allergies bitch" she laughed and said. "Riiiiight" I said laughing.

"I thought after the speech you're suppose to place the ring on my finger not ten minutes later.", I said jokingly.

"Dang I can't love on my precious baby? She is so beautiful Michelle, seriously."Matt replied.

Wow. Matthew is already claiming my child as his. Maybe he is serious about this whole thing and being a father figure to Serenity. Only time can tell, but since the first day I met Matt I knew we were meant for each other. Hopefully he continues to hold up his end of the bargain and doesn't decide to hurt me again.