Searching for Tomorrow - Parts 2 to 4
Part 2
I smiled and went into the nursery. It was beautiful. On top of the baby's crib was a beautiful carving. He had written to Valeria. It was Jess favorite quote. 'It only takes one action to change the world, it's our job that action stays true and for the greater good of others.' Tears threaten to fall but I pushed them back. Mike watched silently. I touch it lightly almost afraid to break it. Those were his words. I remember seeing him carve it. He hadn't finished but I guess that Mike did for him. Below that, Mike wrote 'Love, Daddy.'
"You like it?" Mike asked.
"I love it. Thank you," I said. I came to him and he pulled me close. "He loved you. A lot. He once told me that he wanted to get married and have children. The perfect family with you." He said.
Those words made me lose control and tears started to pour down. He pulled me closer. Offering the only comfort that he could.
"Please stop crying. Please, I feel like I'm going to start to cry too. And nobody wants that." I laughed. That was true. Mike was a big crier.
Mike left me in the nursery to make us dinner. He was making Lasagna and salad with Italian bread with garlic. Homemade garlic sauce.
He doesn't like soda so we eat with ice-cold ice tea. Since I can't drink of course. I ate with a big appetite and Mike didn't mind.
After I laid down, I stared at the ceiling and remembered us trying to draw stars on it. We had glow in the dark paint and painted the while ceiling with stars, moons, and rockets. Those lights often soothed me in the nights. It reminded me of the good times we had rather than the fight he had before he died. We rarely fought. If we did, we fought about stuff that was so silly we were dying by the time we cooled off. Then we'll make love and call it a day. Hmm. Fun to say that... make love. Not a lot of people think about it that way but I did. What we had was love. Ain't no one taking that from me.
Those stars were the only thing that relaxed me when everything was overwhelming. It was something that I could show Valeria when she was able to understand. Her father was a great artist and I hope that she will be too.
I drifted to sleep. I dreamed of Jesse and his crooked smile that was so natural. About the way he kissed my lips in greeting and goodbyes. The way he hold me after making love. The way his breath would warm my neck as we slept.
My alarm clock woke me up and scared the shit out of me. I got out of bed and walked to the bathroom. My hair was a mess and I looked like I hadn't slept in days. Well I kinda haven't since I studied for four midterms. Today was my math one and since it was my worst, I hoped that I would do well enough to pass the class.
After my math test I stayed in the bathroom for almost a whole period. I was having nausea and dizziness. I had a headache from the test and I just didn't feel well enough to go to class.
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Part 3
Shout out to Lucy: I didn't see your comment to my first part until I had submitted my second part but here's my thanks. And I'm not sure if he's the one shall end up with yet. I'm just going with the flow. Please comment!!
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Two Months Later
I was happy. I walked down the aisle with pride and joy. I had done it. I had managed to complete my last year of high school. I was wearing my gown open since it wouldn't close.
I know you hadn't mentioned them but here they are. My best friends Ray and Marly. They supported me throughout my pregnancy. I'm surprised that they didn't show up in my story till now. But whatever.
That's not the point. Ray and Marly have been dating since our freshman year. Almost as long as Jess and me. We started dating the summer before our freshman year.
Walking down the aisle and sitting next to them made me even prouder. Mike was sitting down with the rest of the crowd. I knew he couldn't wait till they gave us our diplomas to scream out loud.
In the back of my mind, I thought of Jess and how much he wanted to get to this point. That's why I didn't give up. I had to keep working for him... For my dad... And to prove my mom wrong.
I had only a month till the baby arrived. I was excited to finally be able to hold my baby. I couldn't wait till she was sleeping in her crib and to hear her first words; to see her first steps.
Ray bought a video camera that takes pictures and of course videos. It was purple with pink swirls. He begged me to video tape my baby girl's life since he's spent about $700 on the camera.
He offered to film the day of her birth but I nicely, yet firmly replied HELL NO! He almost died laughing. Marly looked like she wanted to die too. She started to giggle and soon we were laughing so hard that we couldn't breathe.
It was hard to get control of my breathing but I managed to do it.
But anyway, they helped me walk down and sit down.Everyone went to get their diploma. I went last since it was easier. And everyone screamed for me. Not even joking. Everyone shouted and I was happy. So I cried.
And I gave a speech. Not about me but about Jess. About how much he wanted to be here. And how much I worked to get here just for him.
After the graduation, Mike took me to eat.
"So how does it feel to be graduated?" He asked.
"Well, you should know. It feels liberating." I said.
The night was clear and the stars seem to be brighter than usual. It was nice to be out. The weather wasn't too hot and there was a light breeze.
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Part 4
I stared at Mike for a long time. Like Jess, Mike had light brown flowing hair and light green eyes. He had a dimple on his left cheek that showed up every time you made him smile. He had a crooked smile that often drove girls wild. Jess had that same grin but on Mike it seemed... More natural.
"What?" Mike asked after a period of time.
"Huh?" I asked in confusion.
"You've been staring at me for a while... what's up with that?"
"Nothing just thinking. Guessed I just drifted and kept staring at you."
"Liar. You was staring at me cuz you like my face." Mike said with a mocking grin.
"You know. You're so right. I just can't stop staring at it. What dis you do to make it so perfect?" I said in a superficial voice.
"Ok. So why were you looking at me?" He asked.
"I was really thinking. I was far off." I answered. He grinned then took a bite from his meal.
I was bored. School was done so I had no homework. Since I was pregnant there was little that I could do and what I could do, Mike was afraid that it'll be too much so I was kept sitting down while he did all the work.
Time kept going and then one day... My water broke. My contractions got quicker before I knew it an after 10 hours, Valeria was born.
She was a healthy 9 pounds. Her hands and feet were so small. I felt that if I hold her too tight that she might shatter.
She didn't cry when she was born. She was more observant to the world around her. I guess she was ready.
A week later, Mike picked me up from the hospital. He had been there everyday from the time visiting hours started to the ending hours. He held Valeria so close to his heart. And it finally hit me.
He missed him too. Valeria was the closest thing to Jess there was.
She looked a lot like him. She had his smile. And his eyes. Her nose was the same form but it looked like it would be smaller. Like mine. She looked a lot like me too. Her ears and her eyebrows. Her hair was reddish brown like mine. It was more brown than red but if you looked at it directly you could see the red streaks.
The defiant streak as my father had always said. He once told me that if anyone in his family didn't have that red streak of hair, he would never believe that they are a part of the family. I wondered about this for a while but the streak was common on the family line.
Good to see that my baby followed suit.
Although she woke up crying about four times at night, I was happy to have her. For me, my baby is not a burden. It's not like I went out every weekend to a party and now I can't. My best friends come and see me. If I wanted to go out, Mike volunteered to baby-sit, so it wasn't a problem.
She was the most beautiful thing that I had ever seen. Her smile was often contagious. Her smile was rare and you had to work for it.
A YEAR LATER
"Heather, when are you going to be done? We have to get there in an hour." Mike said.
"I'm almost done. All I need is to double space and send it." I said.
"Hurry up, me and Valee are hungry." He said.
"Alright, alright " I said. I got up, threw on my coat and picked up my keys.
Valeria and Mike were already setting themselves in the car. Well Mike was setting Valeria in the car. She gave me a smile. I threw the keys to Mike and sat in the passenger seat. He flashed me a grin.
He drove quickly and swiftly. Much better than me if I must say. But I never tell him that. He was taking us to eat and watch a movie. It was our family Friday. He started this when Jess and I were dating. He wanted to "host" us. He decided to start this again as a family.
It was Valeria first outing as a family. She was growing big and I was sure she was going to be tall like her dad. And her uncle.
We went to Applebees and then we head out to watch Puss in boots. Ever since Valeria saw the commercial she fell in love with him.
I smiled and went into the nursery. It was beautiful. On top of the baby's crib was a beautiful carving. He had written to Valeria. It was Jess favorite quote. 'It only takes one action to change the world, it's our job that action stays true and for the greater good of others.' Tears threaten to fall but I pushed them back. Mike watched silently. I touch it lightly almost afraid to break it. Those were his words. I remember seeing him carve it. He hadn't finished but I guess that Mike did for him. Below that, Mike wrote 'Love, Daddy.'
"You like it?" Mike asked.
"I love it. Thank you," I said. I came to him and he pulled me close. "He loved you. A lot. He once told me that he wanted to get married and have children. The perfect family with you." He said.
Those words made me lose control and tears started to pour down. He pulled me closer. Offering the only comfort that he could.
"Please stop crying. Please, I feel like I'm going to start to cry too. And nobody wants that." I laughed. That was true. Mike was a big crier.
Mike left me in the nursery to make us dinner. He was making Lasagna and salad with Italian bread with garlic. Homemade garlic sauce.
He doesn't like soda so we eat with ice-cold ice tea. Since I can't drink of course. I ate with a big appetite and Mike didn't mind.
After I laid down, I stared at the ceiling and remembered us trying to draw stars on it. We had glow in the dark paint and painted the while ceiling with stars, moons, and rockets. Those lights often soothed me in the nights. It reminded me of the good times we had rather than the fight he had before he died. We rarely fought. If we did, we fought about stuff that was so silly we were dying by the time we cooled off. Then we'll make love and call it a day. Hmm. Fun to say that... make love. Not a lot of people think about it that way but I did. What we had was love. Ain't no one taking that from me.
Those stars were the only thing that relaxed me when everything was overwhelming. It was something that I could show Valeria when she was able to understand. Her father was a great artist and I hope that she will be too.
I drifted to sleep. I dreamed of Jesse and his crooked smile that was so natural. About the way he kissed my lips in greeting and goodbyes. The way he hold me after making love. The way his breath would warm my neck as we slept.
My alarm clock woke me up and scared the shit out of me. I got out of bed and walked to the bathroom. My hair was a mess and I looked like I hadn't slept in days. Well I kinda haven't since I studied for four midterms. Today was my math one and since it was my worst, I hoped that I would do well enough to pass the class.
After my math test I stayed in the bathroom for almost a whole period. I was having nausea and dizziness. I had a headache from the test and I just didn't feel well enough to go to class.
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Part 3
Shout out to Lucy: I didn't see your comment to my first part until I had submitted my second part but here's my thanks. And I'm not sure if he's the one shall end up with yet. I'm just going with the flow. Please comment!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Two Months Later
I was happy. I walked down the aisle with pride and joy. I had done it. I had managed to complete my last year of high school. I was wearing my gown open since it wouldn't close.
I know you hadn't mentioned them but here they are. My best friends Ray and Marly. They supported me throughout my pregnancy. I'm surprised that they didn't show up in my story till now. But whatever.
That's not the point. Ray and Marly have been dating since our freshman year. Almost as long as Jess and me. We started dating the summer before our freshman year.
Walking down the aisle and sitting next to them made me even prouder. Mike was sitting down with the rest of the crowd. I knew he couldn't wait till they gave us our diplomas to scream out loud.
In the back of my mind, I thought of Jess and how much he wanted to get to this point. That's why I didn't give up. I had to keep working for him... For my dad... And to prove my mom wrong.
I had only a month till the baby arrived. I was excited to finally be able to hold my baby. I couldn't wait till she was sleeping in her crib and to hear her first words; to see her first steps.
Ray bought a video camera that takes pictures and of course videos. It was purple with pink swirls. He begged me to video tape my baby girl's life since he's spent about $700 on the camera.
He offered to film the day of her birth but I nicely, yet firmly replied HELL NO! He almost died laughing. Marly looked like she wanted to die too. She started to giggle and soon we were laughing so hard that we couldn't breathe.
It was hard to get control of my breathing but I managed to do it.
But anyway, they helped me walk down and sit down.Everyone went to get their diploma. I went last since it was easier. And everyone screamed for me. Not even joking. Everyone shouted and I was happy. So I cried.
And I gave a speech. Not about me but about Jess. About how much he wanted to be here. And how much I worked to get here just for him.
After the graduation, Mike took me to eat.
"So how does it feel to be graduated?" He asked.
"Well, you should know. It feels liberating." I said.
The night was clear and the stars seem to be brighter than usual. It was nice to be out. The weather wasn't too hot and there was a light breeze.
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Part 4
I stared at Mike for a long time. Like Jess, Mike had light brown flowing hair and light green eyes. He had a dimple on his left cheek that showed up every time you made him smile. He had a crooked smile that often drove girls wild. Jess had that same grin but on Mike it seemed... More natural.
"What?" Mike asked after a period of time.
"Huh?" I asked in confusion.
"You've been staring at me for a while... what's up with that?"
"Nothing just thinking. Guessed I just drifted and kept staring at you."
"Liar. You was staring at me cuz you like my face." Mike said with a mocking grin.
"You know. You're so right. I just can't stop staring at it. What dis you do to make it so perfect?" I said in a superficial voice.
"Ok. So why were you looking at me?" He asked.
"I was really thinking. I was far off." I answered. He grinned then took a bite from his meal.
I was bored. School was done so I had no homework. Since I was pregnant there was little that I could do and what I could do, Mike was afraid that it'll be too much so I was kept sitting down while he did all the work.
Time kept going and then one day... My water broke. My contractions got quicker before I knew it an after 10 hours, Valeria was born.
She was a healthy 9 pounds. Her hands and feet were so small. I felt that if I hold her too tight that she might shatter.
She didn't cry when she was born. She was more observant to the world around her. I guess she was ready.
A week later, Mike picked me up from the hospital. He had been there everyday from the time visiting hours started to the ending hours. He held Valeria so close to his heart. And it finally hit me.
He missed him too. Valeria was the closest thing to Jess there was.
She looked a lot like him. She had his smile. And his eyes. Her nose was the same form but it looked like it would be smaller. Like mine. She looked a lot like me too. Her ears and her eyebrows. Her hair was reddish brown like mine. It was more brown than red but if you looked at it directly you could see the red streaks.
The defiant streak as my father had always said. He once told me that if anyone in his family didn't have that red streak of hair, he would never believe that they are a part of the family. I wondered about this for a while but the streak was common on the family line.
Good to see that my baby followed suit.
Although she woke up crying about four times at night, I was happy to have her. For me, my baby is not a burden. It's not like I went out every weekend to a party and now I can't. My best friends come and see me. If I wanted to go out, Mike volunteered to baby-sit, so it wasn't a problem.
She was the most beautiful thing that I had ever seen. Her smile was often contagious. Her smile was rare and you had to work for it.
A YEAR LATER
"Heather, when are you going to be done? We have to get there in an hour." Mike said.
"I'm almost done. All I need is to double space and send it." I said.
"Hurry up, me and Valee are hungry." He said.
"Alright, alright " I said. I got up, threw on my coat and picked up my keys.
Valeria and Mike were already setting themselves in the car. Well Mike was setting Valeria in the car. She gave me a smile. I threw the keys to Mike and sat in the passenger seat. He flashed me a grin.
He drove quickly and swiftly. Much better than me if I must say. But I never tell him that. He was taking us to eat and watch a movie. It was our family Friday. He started this when Jess and I were dating. He wanted to "host" us. He decided to start this again as a family.
It was Valeria first outing as a family. She was growing big and I was sure she was going to be tall like her dad. And her uncle.
We went to Applebees and then we head out to watch Puss in boots. Ever since Valeria saw the commercial she fell in love with him.
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