Bruises ↛a.c.m

twenty four.

Word Count: 1509

| A Q U I L A |

As the weeks passed, the decision to terminate my pregnancy soon began to fade. To my sake, Austin somehow became sweeter. He brought me flowers almost everyday, he began replacing all the baby things he had destroyed weeks prior and I didn't know how long that would last but I knew I had to enjoy it while it happened.

It had been weeks since that night and the marks of his fingers still lingered around my neck and small bruises decorated my legs and parts of my arms.

Hiding them only became easier. I wouldn't leave the house the first couple of days until the color faded and then I'd cover them up as much as I could with concealer and foundation.

Exactly how much could I take after this?

"What should we do tonight?" Laura asked as she sat at the breakfast bar, playing with the fake grapes that sat inside a modernized basket.

"I don't know. I have an ultrasound appointment today. I'm supposed to find out the gender." I said, trying to keep my voice light.

Laura tilted her head as she examined me. "You don't seem so psyched about it. Why?"

I looked away from her, putting away the cutlery from the dishwasher into their suitable place in the drawers. The clink of the silver drowned out my thoughts. I couldn't tell her.

I couldn't mention that I had thought about an abortion. I couldn't tell her that it made Austin so angry that he spiraled into a frenzy, knocking me into doors and glass shattered cross the walls right in the other room.

I couldn't tell her. I couldn't risk her finding out that Austin wasn't the perfect man that strutted around in this apartment. He held an image in everyone's eyes that I couldn't bare to destroy.

"Aquila?" I heard her ask.

"Huh?" I'm sorry, what was the question?"

"I said, you didn't seem so psyched to find out what bundle of joy you're carrying." She said. I could hear the smile in her voice. Another person I would wreck if they knew I wanted this human out. I wanted this pregnancy to end and it wasn't for the most positive reasons.

"Oh." I said, keeping my smile small. "Um, no, I am excited. I'm really excited. I'm just tired, Laura. Being 6 months pregnant is starting to kill me."

She hopped off the stool, taking the plate I was holding in my hand and set it carefully on the counter. She embraced me into a hug and I hugged back, my heart strings tugging at each other.

"You're gonna be a great momma, I know it." She kissed my cheek and pulled away, squeezing my shoulders and put away dishes for me.

I sighed, sinking into my brain again.

**

I arrived 30 minutes early to my appointment. Austin sat beside me as I filled out some insurance forms, watching my every move with his chin on my shoulder.

He would kiss the spot behind my ear from time to time and sigh against my hair and I subconsciously leaned into him when he did.

God, I loved him when he was sweet and kind. I wanted him to be sweet kind, always.

"We should go out to dinner tonight to celebrate our baby." He said softly as I signed my name at the end of the page.

I looked at him, the softness of his eyes made my heart thump. "I would love that." I said before I stood up and walked to the front desk, handing the nurse my clipboard.