After: a Maxerica Story

Part 22

Maxon and I haven't talked for two weeks. I've seen him in the hallways. I've tried to talk to him, but he won't listen. I can feel the country falling apart.

To make the situation even worse?

I'm pregnant.

Again, for the third time. It must've happened before the rebel attack. I'm sure it did.

But now, Maxon won't talk to me. Or listen to me. So how do I tell him?

Today's the day I will talk to him. I will force him to look at me. I will force him to talk to me.

I run down the hallways, looking in every room for him. He's in none of them.

When I'm about to give up my search, I see a door I missed. It's cracked open. I hear his voice.

Racing over, I sit with my back against the wall, next to the door.

"I don't let her talk to me. She's going to yell at me and tell me that I'm wrong and stupid and a horrible husband and father," Maxon says.

He thinks that?

Another voice speaks. "You should give her a chance, Maxon. You don't know what she's thinking."

"I do. I know her. I love her. And I'm sure she wants this."

Wants what?

"You should ask her if she wants a divorce. It'll change everything."

"I don't need to ask her. I know."

"She's going to need to sign the papers."

"And she will do that willingly."

The other person lets out a sigh. "Whatever. Don't blame me when you're unhappy the rest of your life."

Maxon doesn't respond.

"And you're going to have to remarry. Kriss will have to come back to the palace."

"Well, send word that we need her here."

"King Maxon, you're making a huge mis-"

"Hush!"

I'm almost in tears. Divorce? Kriss? No! Why?

I run away. I need to stop running from my problems. But I have so many, there's nothing else to do.

Once in Amberly and Gerad's room, I finally let the tears come.

"Mommy, what's wrong?" Gerad asks, walking over to me.

"Oh, Daddy's very mad at me. And I don't know how to make him happy again."

Seeing me cry, Amberly starts to cry. I try to comfort her. But how can I comfort her when I need comforted myself?

Gerad's hand moves to his ear. I think he's scratching it, but he tugs on his earlobe.

"I saw Daddy do this. Why does he tug?"

My eyes pop open. That's it. That's how Maxon showed me it was him. That's how I will show him I'm still me. I'm still his America.

I rock Amberly back and forth until she falls asleep. Putting her back in her crib, I pick Gerad up and start to sing.

The song is a love song I used to sing to Maxon before bed, after we were married. Now it makes me sad.

But this will turn out okay. It has to. I love him. And supposedly, he loves me.

So why aren't we okay?

I fall asleep with Gerad in my arms. I wake up the next morning, with Gerad squirming and Amberly crying.

"Good morning, Gerad," I murmur, putting him on the ground and moving towards Amberly.

"Shh, shh, it's alright, Mommy's here."

After a bit, she stops crying and I carry her out of the room while Gerad grabs my hand.

I go to my room and put them on my bed.

Moving into the bathroom, I comb out my hair, making sure to keep an eye on the kids. I showered last night so I should be good. I put on fresh makeup and look into the mirror, seeing a single year running down my face.

Is this depression I feel, like a rock in my head that won't go away?

Without Maxon there's a whole in my heart.

And I need to fill it.

Rummaging through my closet, I find a dark blue dress. Matches my mood well enough.

Before I go back into my room, I try to calm myself. And fail. I'm crying internally. I can't stop it.

I compose myself and walk out of the bathroom, smiling.

"Does Mommy feel better?" Gerad asks.

"Mommy feels better," I lie. Yeah, right. I'm not okay.

"Mer!" Amberly exclaims, squealing.

My heart lights up. "Mer!"

"Yes, Amberly, that's my name! Mer! America!"

She giggles as I kiss her on the forehead.

I take Gerad and Amberly to Anne and Mary. I consider seeing Lucy, but there's a sign on her door saying 'STAY OUT, GO AWAY' in bright red.

So I walk around instead. Trying to contain the sadness.

I look up in time to see another girl walking down the hallway, facing me.

I recognize that face.

Then it dawns on me.

Kriss.

-

I must've passed out, because I wake up to Kriss bending over me.

"America! Are you all right? I saw you fall and you hit your head!"

There's a throbbing pain in my head. I must've hit pretty hard.

"Kriss... What are you doing here?" I ask weakly.

"Maxon said you and him were getting a divorce." She sighs. "It's too bad. You were doing well as queen."

There's sarcasm dripping from her words.

"You little bitch!" I scream, punching her in the jaw. "You don't know what's happening between us! That's only for me and him to know! So you just stay out of our business!"

She's on the ground, jaw swollen.

"He doesn't love you, I hope you realize." I stand up straighter and walk out of the room, kicking Kriss on the way by.

Just my luck, Maxon is walking outside.

"What went on in there-"

I tug my ear, tears forming in my eyes, and run away, to my room.

Moments later, Maxon bursts in the door.

"What's going on?" he demands angrily.

"Maxon, I love you! I always have and I always will! I was trying to tell you that but you wouldn't listen. I don't want a divorce! Please, Maxon, please don't..."

He's still angry. Hasn't softened up a bit. "What did you do to Kriss?"

"I hit her. I was mad, she was disrespecting me- and you! Please forgive me. I'm begging you."

"If you want me to forgive you, maybe you should start by not punching my new fiancé."

He storms off, leaving me in confusion and depression.

-

This chapter took forever to do, and it's not even that long! I'm still on vacation. Bear with me.

Thanks for 4,000 reads! I'm so happy!

I love you all!

Eve