•The Journey•

Chapter 8: Ethan Claire and Harry

(ETHAN)

"So it all began seven years ago when I first saw Claire at the university. Both of us were 18. We met at the literature class.
It was friendship at first sight. She always helped me with my projects and studies. I soon began falling for her.

But I thought its better if I don't take this friendship to another level beacuse I don't know if she felt the same for me.
I thought she didn't have the same feelings for me so for one year, we were friends.

Best friends precisely.

We did everything at college together. Even the hangouts after college. Just the two of us.

She was always so perfect for me since the first time I saw her.

Its funny you know, how when you like someone, you start to notice everything about them and it seems more attractive even when it seems normal to everyone else.

Fours months of the second year of university, and I decided it's time to tell her. We were at a cafe. It took all my stregnth to finally tell her,

"Claire. There is something I want to tell you."I tell her softly.

"Yeah?Tell me."

"But you need to promise, even after this we stay friends. Nothing changes between us."

She laughs and says,"Yeah. Come on now tell me what it is."

"Uhhh I...I love you."I say stuttering my words

"Wait what?"

"I mean every word of it Claire. Trust me."

She doesn't say anything and honestly, I was scared to even look into her eyes.

After five minutes of silence, I finally dared to look at her. She is half smiling. I didn't know what was in her head. I just tell her,
"It's okay if its not the same from your side. It's fine. But we still stay friends. Just like we were before I said this."

"It's the same from my side Ethan. I too more than like you since a few months, I promise. But, relation and all is too much right now."

Without giving a second thought , I tell,
"It's okay , I'll wait. I'll wait Claire. For you."

She gives me a smile and holds my hands.

"You're the best!But you need to relax and stop blushing."she tells me. We both laugh.

(MIA)

Ethan then pauses and looks at me. I tell him to continue. He gets up from the couch and comes and sits on the right side of the bed. I shift in slightly.

"You're comfortable Mia?" I nod . Ethan then continues.

(ETHAN)

So then for another one and half year, we were friends. The same spending time together, hanging out, her helping me out with studies.

After graduation, we spoke about it and decided its time we tell our parents. The plan was when both of us get a job, we'll tell our parents after which I'll ask her hand from her parents.

Everything went according to plan. Four months after getting our jobs, we had our wedding ceremony.
We were so happy you know.
Our life was so perfect.
A life any married couple would dream for.

I did all that I could do just to make her happy, just to see her smile. She too, I guess, loved me back then.
Atleast her actions from those days proved that she loved me.
One months after marriage, she got pregnant. That was the first time I cried in front of her when she told me we were soon going to be parents.
Two months of pregnancy and I asked her to leave the job. She used to be home all day. My mom used to be with her all the time. I used to spend as much time as I could with her.
Dealt with all her mood swings and satisfied all her cravings.
The last days were tough for her as so for me.

We had a baby boy after thirty seven weeks of her pregnancy. We named him Harry. Harry Ethan Baker.

(MIA)

He tells his child's name and a tear drops his eye. I could feel pain in his voice. I sit besides him and keep my hand on his lap."You want a break maybe?"I ask him softly. He nods a no.

"Where is Harry now?" I ask him.

"He is with my mom at my residence."he says.
His eyes were still wet. There was grief in his eyes.

He keeps his hand on my hand and continues his story .

(ETHAN)
It was Harry's first birthday celebration. Jace was invited too as Claire's friend.
I was so naive to believe that they were actually friends.
Things between us had started changing till then. She wasn't the same. She wouldn't talk to me much. She would avoid me most of the times. Our sex life too had been going down.

But I loved her too much too think anything wrong about her.

A month after I met Jace, Claire got a call. She was busy in the other room with Harry, so I received the call. It was Jace.
"Hey babes."  Jace said from other side of the phone. It was awkward for me but then I thought it was normal.
"Hey Jace, Claire is in the other room with Harry."

"Ohh, hi Ethan. Could you pleased tell her to call me back."
"Yeah sure I will." I tell him.

"Thanks." and the call declines.

Claire was always hanging out with Jace
. I still didn't tell her anything. I believed in her more than myself.

Then one day, I went to a cafe with my friend. Just as I enetered , I saw Jace with some girl. I didn't see the girl in the beginning. He was sitting so close to her. And the moment I shifted my eyes towards the girl, it was...."

(MIA)

He couldn't complete his sentence. It was Claire obviously.
I press his hand. He keeps his head on my shoulder and starts crying.
I had never seen a man cry so hard. Never.
He wouldn't stop crying.
"Ethan. Ethan stop crying. It's okay. Look at me. "

I tell everything I could to console him but he wouldn't stop crying.