Never meant to || fillie

Perfect

"happy birthday to you"  we all clap and cheer around isabel.

everything has been perfect. Finn and i have pretty much figured out how to co parent.

everythings perfect,and  i know thats selfish, but he doesnt know and we dont argue so its ok. were ok now that that part of our life is lost. I love him, and its for that reason i wont tell him. i cant .

Mary begins handing out cake and Stephanie and Finn pull Isabel and I into the hallway. "If its okay with your mommy isabel id like to give you a gift." stephanie says coming around to finns side giving me a hopeful look. " of course thats ok". She reaches behind her to a table packed with presents picking up a small blue bag.

"I really hope you like it, bel. your dad helped pick it out." finn looks at me and smiles, theyve become so common now yet they still make me feel a certain way. we look down as isabel pulls out a small blue box out of the bag. she opens it and gives out the cutest giggle ive ever heard. "what is it sweetie, what did daaddy give you?"

"A bell!" she yells as she pulls it out. a small half inch white gold bell on a thin white gold chain.

"A bell?"

"mhm, a bell, for my bel." isabel laughs a little louder and runs towards stephanie and finns legs. "i love it" she yells as she hugs both their legs. " Im so happy you do baby, do you want me to put it on?" stephanie says taking the necklace in hand. she nods and stephanie turns her around asking finn to pick her hair up for her. Before I realize what she's doing, Stephanie takes off Isabels other necklace.

"there , it looks beutiful.oh and i hope its okay but i took off the one she had on, here you go mille." She says as she holds out the necklace by the chain letting the ring come swinging down. It's as if everything suddenly begins moving at an agonizing slow pace. I turn my head in time to see Finn's eyes widen as he notices what it is. My heart begins pounding a mile a minute as panicked begins to dawn on me. Everything was perfect. Finn and I were happy with our child. But I should've seen it coming that in the end, it always comes back to bite me.

"Can I see that?" Finn says reaching out to grab the ring. Before I could stopped myself I yanked it from Stephanie and pulled it behind my back. "No! Um, it's nothing important it's just a silly ring." They clearly didn't buy it, Finn raised his eyebrows at me and Stephanie stood their shocked, arm still extended. She comes to seconds later. " Isabel baby lets go get you some cake". Isabel nods and a second later it's just Finn and I. It's quiet. Uncomfortable. And it hurts, wed just gotten that back and now, I'm about to lose it all again.
He gestures to a room behind me and I very timidly nod. I lead the way, him trailing behind me and the short walk feels eternal. I clutch the ring to my chest and try to think of what I'm going To say.
He closes the door behind us and moves to the other side of the room.
" let me see it, please" I nod my head once more
" it's not important."
"Millie. It clearly is. I know I've seen that ring. I can feel it. And if it didn't mean anything you wouldn't be holding it as if your life depended on it."
" it does. Everything is perfect as it is Finn please."
" Millie give me the necklace." Despite the fact that I know even if I don't show it to him things won't be the same, I can't, itll complete ruin it all.
" Millie, I don't want anything to change either, trust me everything will be ok."
" it won't. You say that now but I know it won't. Finn please, don't make me do this. Let's just go out and enjoy our daughter's birthday." I say starting to turn . I feel his grip on my arm and turn to meet his eyes. Hope pouring from his face . His eyes begin to glass over but I can see he's trying to keep the tears from falling.
"Please" He said. "Let me see the necklace"

Every inch of me was ready to say No. I wasn't willing to show him, but it was the sound of his voice, broken, desperate, that made me see, this perfect life, is only perfect to me.