Choice

Part four: Liam

"I love you more" circled in my head over and over again. My forehead was against the plan window for the entire trip. My eyes felt dry and heavy, and my whole body ached. I looked dead, and felt dead. I hated my parents, I hated Kate's family, I hated myself for actually going along with this plan. I should've stayed, but it's too late now. Once the plane landed, I was greeted to her family. There was nothing I could do, so I pretended to be happy. I smiled and shook Kate's hand. She didn't seem too happy herself, but she was pretending, just like I was. Her parents said they would spend the day with us, then me and Kate would be shown our new home. The whole day was hell, holding in every ounce of sadness and rage exhausted me. It got to a point where when I got to my new home, I ran to the bathroom and stayed for an hour. I desperately needed a break. But Kate didn't stop me at all. In fact, she left to the backyard. I didn't see her for a good two hours. But that didn't matter to me. Once I left the bathroom I immediately tried Cole's phone number. But nothing came through. I tried it over and over, but to no avail. Finally, I gave up. There was no point now, it was time to move on, wether I liked it or not.

The two weeks before the wedding were dreadful. Everyone sounded so happy for the wedding to happen. The only people that weren't truly happy were me, and most likely Kate. She doesn't even talk to me when it's just the two of us, not that I judge her. But it's obvious this marriage isn't going to work out well. Finally, the day that I've been preparing for my whole life came.
The wedding day.
I had already seen the venue the week before. But once it was decorated, it seemed so much bigger. Our parents had saved up their money to give us the biggest wedding they could. And it truly did look like a cheesy movie scene. Big flowers everywhere, candles, food, everything. I sighed at the venue. I would have favored it to be smaller, never was the "big wedding" type. My dad helped me with my tie when he said "you've definitely made the right choice son." I wanted to run out of their after he said that. What was he even talking about? I never had a choice in this at all. HE made me do this. All my life of him beating me and punishing me for wanting something different, and he's saying I had a choice. I was beyond furious, but I held it all in to the best of my ability.
"Do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?" The pastor asked me. I breathed in, trying not to lose it. "I do." I mumbled. "And do you, Kate, take this man to be your husband?" She paused, then said "I do." Once we were announced a married couple, I was so sick to the stomach I wanted to puke, and this kiss made it worse. Before the reception started, I rushed to the bathroom and actually started throwing up, and crying. "No...no, no." I whimpered. I couldn't breathe, it felt like I was being squished farther and farther into a dark abyss that I couldn't escape from. I cleaned myself up, and told myself that I was going to be okay. Lying to myself seemed to be the only way to get through with this wedding.

That night, Kate and I headed home. "I'm sorry." Kate said, she refused to look at me. I raised an eyebrow to her. "Sorry for what?" "For being so short with you." She made direct eye contact with me. "You've been my friend since we were little kids, I should've said something to you." "It's fine." I said as I took off my jacket. We both sat down on our bed for awhile, not saying a word. "What now?" Kate finally asked. "I think you know what." I said, coldly. "Oh." She said in a shaky voice. It was part of the contract, we need to have a child, but neither of us were ready. I don't think I'll ever be ready.

After months of trying, Kate finally announced she was pregnant. We had made the deal that after Kate got pregnant, we would never have sex ever again. It's not something ideal to do with someone that feels like a complete stranger, after all. However, we still slept in the same bed, sometimes I slept on the couch. Why do I feel this uncomfortable with her? Yeah we never wanted to marry, but she was my best friend, you'd think it's better than with someone I never knew before. As time went on, I came to a sudden realization. I always had a better relationship with the guys in Kate's family. And if they ever cat called a woman, I could only notice other men. I knew I was gay. God I can't believe it took me this long to realize it. But what now? I'm married to a woman and expecting my first child, I can't do anything except just going with it. At least, that's what I thought. It was 3 weeks before Kate's due date. "Liam, sit down, I need to talk to you." That's the most she's said to me since the wedding. "Yes?" I answered. "I've been wanting to tell you this for a while, but I don't know how you'll react to this." "It'll be fine, just tell me." I tried saying in a reassuring voice. She was silent then said something that changed everything for us. "I..I'm a lesbian." I was definitely caught off guard by that. I mean it's obvious as hell, but I still wasn't expecting her to tell me this soon. "Well, I'm glad you told me. Because I'm gay." I'd figure if we were finally sharing secrets, might as well share mine. Her eyes widened, then she started laughing. "That's quite a coincidence." I chuckled, "Yeah, I guess it is." We continued talking about our sexualities, I even told her about my relationship with Cole. It felt so good to talk to another person about these things. We finally had an actual conversation for the first time in almost a year now. "Don't get me wrong, your my best friend, but I really wish we could..ya know." I didn't wanna sound rude, so I cut myself off. "Divorce?" Kate asked with a slight grin. "Heh, yeah." I said weakly. Kate nodded, but then realized something. "Maybe.." she whispered. "Maybe what?" I asked. She thought for a moment then spoke. "It's just a thought, but maybe there's a loophole in that contract." I raised my eyebrow slightly. "You think so?" "Maybe. We can go over to my parents to see it."

The next day, me and Kate visited her parents. However, the only way to see the contract was to sneak past them. Her parents haven't let anyone near it in years, so one of us needed to be careful. Finally, after two long hours, I snuck off to find the room. The mansion was huge, with roughly 20 rooms on each floor. Finding it wouldn't be easy if Kate hadn't have told me where it was. At the end of the hall on the 3rd floor (top floor) there was a door with the seems so faint it looked like the wall. I quietly opened it to a dark and musty room with several boxes and cobwebs. I didn't have a light on me, so once I shut the door behind me, I let my eyes slightly adjust to the darkness. I skimmed through boxes and old books, only to find that the contract was beneath the floor boards. I carefully pulled it out and put it my pocket before rushing back to Kate. "Goodness boy, did you get lost?" Kate's father asked. "Sorry Mr. Story, I did." Both parents laughed, and I gave Kate a nod that I had found it.

We returned home an hour later, and I placed the 100 year old contract on the kitchen table. I let Kate look through it, only to see her back from it, shaking in rage. I took a look for myself, and I gasped.
"After the tragic incident that my father, William Stewart, has caused; I shall send a family member to mate with the Story's. According to the victim, Thomas Story, marriage is not necessary. However it is preferred."
Immediately after reading that, sank into the nearby chair, almost defeated. "We didn't even have to go through with this. God-Go..GOD DAMN IT." Kate yelled as she punched the wall. I didn't stop her, I knew her anger, and I was angry as well. For fucks sake! I could've been with Cole by now. Our parents have lied to us for years. Before I could say a word to her, she took the contract and left. I didn't see her again until midnight. She returned with tears streaming down her face and onto her neck. "Kate, this can be a good thing still. Remember that." I told her in a calming voice. She knew that we could still find our happiness, and she stopped crying. I knew at that moment her parents wouldn't be to see the birth of our child.

A little under a month pasted, and out beautiful daughter, Jayden was born. Before she came, I never wanted children. But now that my baby girl is here, I am the happiest I've been in a long time. My daughter gave me a new sense of hope and joy. After her birth, me and Kate planned our divorce. I know it sounds messed up, but it's better to do it while Jayden is young and doesn't remember it. Now, Kate is a wonderful person and a loving mother. But she never got the freedom she deserved as a child, so at first, she was willing to give me 100% custody of our daughter. But I talked her out of it. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to stay with my daughter as much as possible, but she deserves time with her mother as well. A few days before the court for custody, Kate forgave her mom and dad, whom have been apologizing for weeks now. They volunteered to pay my flights back to America. Once the court ruled the custody would be 50/50, me and Kate finalized the divorce. The plan was for me to fly to America, legally move Jayden into the country, and go home to my parents. I was about to leave on my flight, my bag in one arm and Jayden in the other. I heard Kate rushing from behind me to say her goodbyes to Jayden. "Do your parents know yet?" Kate asked, out of breath from running. I shook my head, "No, I haven't. All I told them was that I was visiting for a bit." Kate looked worried for a moment. "Don't worry, it'll be enough time for me to find place to stay." She nodded, and kissed Jayden on her forehead. "Be safe, okay?" "I will." Then, I walked onto the plane.