The Downfall of Genesis

Chapter 1

As you grow up, you learn to see things differently. Nothing is ever the same. I just wish I had known that when I was younger. I had always thought I'd stay the same as I grew up. I would always be me. But, now, I don't think I am. I don't feel like me anymore. I'm a stranger, no longer someone who I could say that I knew. Others say this is who I really am, underneath everything, but am I really?

Sitting, contemplating what I thought when I was younger and what I thought now, my fiancé walked in. Noah had a rough face, always an empty look on his face. But, when his eyes met mine, God. You could see the light flowing into them as a large smile spread across his face. He came around the dining room table, kissing my forehead and rubbing my shoulder softly. "How'd you sleep?" His voice flowed out raspily, giving me a sign that he had barely just woken up. Noah was a handsome and breathtaking man, leading me to wonder why he had ever decided to settle down with a woman like me, but I suppose I shouldn't question it too much.

My lips lifted, spreading into a smile as I watched him walk over to the kitchen, going to get his morning coffee. I set down my pen, folding my hands underneath my chin as my elbows rested on the tabletop. "I slept like a baby, I just feel amazing. Feel like today is gonna be a good day for us, don't you?" I asked, tilting my head slightly as I gazed at him. His back was to me, but as I spoke, he turned to glance back at me with a kind smile. He now had a scolding cup of coffee clutched in his hands, taking a sip from it.

He looked past me, probably out at the window, showing the view from our apartment. I could feel the rays from the sun beating down against my back, but very lightly. Just warmth spreading all throughout my body. "Yeah, I think today is going to be a great day for us, hunny." He slowly walked towards me, placing his soft hand on my bare shoulder before rubbing it kindly. I leaned my head against his side slowly, closing my eyes and relishing in the feeling of his warm touch.

My eyes slowly opened to focus in on a picture frame of us, placed on the wall beside an old clock that ticked quietly. It was a photo from our senior prom, the both of us were smiling with bright faces. His lips were stained lightly with my red lipstick, but that didn't stop us from commemorating one of the best times of our lives. His golden strands ended just below his ears, having been cut just a week before. We looked so young, so breathtaking in the photo, our youth just seeping from the picture frame. My hair has lengthened since that time, now to the middle of my back with a light ginger colour. I instinctively touched my hair, looking down at it as I internally thought about getting it cut again soon.

Noah's voice is what brought me back to Earth, him calling out my name loudly as though to grasp my attention. "Genesis? Hunny?" He called out to me, causing my eyes to snap up to meet his light blue pair. I looked at him in confusion, realizing I hadn't heard what he had asked me before. "I asked what you were writing about?" He asked in a somewhat condescending tone, as though I was a child that needed to be reprimanded for not paying attention. I shrugged it off as I looked down at the piece of paper before me.

"Oh, um.. I had been writing about who I have become, over the years. How I am different than how I thought I would be when I was younger, that's all." I smiled down at my paper, proud of myself. My therapist had recommended me to write about who I once was and who I am now, causing me to feel overwhelmingly proud at the progress I had made over the years. Noah's hand shot out to grab the paper, looking at it as he read it thoroughly. I felt my chest grow tight as I watched his hand crumple the paper ever so slightly.

He looked back at me, smiling softly as he set the paper back onto the table. "That," He motioned towards my paper. "Is really good, Gen. I like it, you're doing really well." He leaned down to push back my bangs, kissing my forehead with such gentleness. I almost sighed at the feeling of his lips pressed to my forehead. When he pulled away, his eyes glanced down at the slight swell of my belly. His eyes immediately looked away, glancing at the clock that was positioned by the picture frame. "Shit." He turned, rushing down the hall and to our bedroom, where the door was still wide open. "I'm late for work. You can go on ahead of me, Gen. I'll see you when I get home, okay?" He called out to me from the bedroom. I glanced at the clock as well. It was time for me to leave, as well.