"Congratulations honey!" Marie's parents yelled cheerfully as they ran to give their daughter a bone crushing hug. "I can't believe my baby already graduated, I guess you not a little girl anymore huh?" Marie smiles as she cleans a tear from her father's eye.
"You have been through so much honey and even then you have worked so hard, we are so proud of you honey and soon we will see you as a doctor." Her mom said bringing her daughter in for a hug. After that hug the trio hugged one last time. "Ok I don't know about you girls but I think it's time to celebrate." Her dad calls out while walking back to the car.
After a delicious celebratory dinner in Marie's favorite restaurant the family arrived home. An emotionally exhausted Marie quickly excused herself and headed to her bedroom. She did not want to tell her parents so they wouldn't worry but she did not want to celebrate. All she really wanted was to go home cry a little and think of the things she could have done if Shadow was still with her. They would have graduated together. In fact he graduated as well but chose not to go to graduation. Little did she know he had been there proudly cheering her on.
Marie laid in her bed and looked at the ring in her left hand. "Congrats my prince, my black cat I'm proud of you for graduating as well I hope you are happy without us. If only you knew how much I miss you." She whispered while rubbing her belly with the right hand a tear escaping the corner of her eyes. "What do you think my child? You do think he misses me? Are you proud of mommy for making it to graduation? Yeah me too" she whispered.
Of course Marie was proud of herself. Graduated at 17 with the highest honors even after missing over a month and a half of school and undergoing serious situations. She had also managed to earn a scholarship for a full ride to the best University in America but she couldn't find it in her heart to be happy. Receiving that scholarship only made her think of him. She remembered talking to him during their date about applying to the university and his excitement for her.
Flashback
"You could go back to school online you know, we could get you back in when we get back home you could still get in and we could go to America together and start a new life. You and I free in America. You could become a doctor, I could go into business and we could have a family. What do you think princess?"
"Really? If I got in you would come with me?"
"I love you princess, I would follow you anywhere."
End of flashback
Marie let another tear fall. Her heart broke at the thought that it had all been a big lie. He would have never went with her. He had planned to leave her way before then. Now here she is alone, pregnant and only three months away from holding the baby in her arms but she was alone. He would not be there with them.
What was she supposed to do now? How was she supposed to manage that on her own? Honestly she was surprised she had managed to keep her pregnancy a secret this long. She guessed it had to do with the fact that her depression had made her lose a lot of weight but with her pregnancy she pretty much looked the same.
She really thought Shadow would have found out already since she noticed his friend staring at her a lot for the past four months. She figured it was to keep Luke informed about her but she didn't think about it much telling herself it was all in her head. Luke had left her, he did not care about her so why would he ask his friend to watch me.
Marie looked at her ring again and then towards her belly. "What do you think baby? You think daddy still wears his ring? Do you think he still loves me like he said he always will?" She rubs her tummy as she talks to her unborn child. At that second the baby kicks and Marie smiles. "You do? Well maybe, but then again maybe not."
After a couple of hours Marie is startled by a hard knock on the front door. "That's odd no one ever comes here" she whispers to herself. Marie is tempted to go downstairs and find out who it is but she did not want her parents to see she had been crying.
"Marie!" her eyes widened at the sound of her mom calling her name. Was someone at the door for her? "Yes?" Marie asked as she opened the door to her room walking down the steps curious to know who was at the door. "Someone is at the door for you." Mrs. Flores signs out Marie could have sworn she was smirking.
Marie's heart began to skip a beat. "For me? Could it be him? Did he come back for me? I don't have any friends so I'm not sure who else it could be." Marie kept questioning herself in her head as she approached the door. She secretly hoped it was him. She wanted for him to come back for her badly. She wanted to see him, to hear his laughter, to feel his arms around her again, and to make love to him again.
Her smile fell and a frown adorned her face. It was clear she was she was disappointed. The man at the door was not who she wanted it be. The man could see the disappointment in her eyes but he could also see uncertainty He knew he was not who she expected but did she know he sent him?
For a second she had not noticed who the gentleman on the door was. The night fell and it was quite dark out. It was not until he walked into the light that she noticed who he was. Black hair, and dark brown eyes, the same dark brown eyes that watched her at school for months.
Flashback
"Welcome back Marie" Mrs. Brown uttered as Marie walked in the classroom.
"Yeah thanks" Marie muttered as a response.
"Mrs. Brown?" a voice was herd for behind Marie making her turn.
"Yes AJ what can I do for you?"
"Well I am not sure if you heard but Luke will now be attending online studies and is wondering if you can get ahold of him and speak to him about how to handle the assignments and things?" AJ spoke looking for Mrs. Brown to Mari as is he was giving her a hint as if he wanted her to hear it.
"I did and I sure will thanks AJ"
End of flashback
Marie stood frozen as she stared at the guy in front of her. AJ his best friend! But why was he here? Marie was stunned to see him there. Although he stared at her from afar he had never spoken to her before. He has also graduated today she saw him earlier in the ceremony but once again she wondered why he was here? And how did he find out where she lived? What did he want with her? Her thoughts were interrupted when he gave her a shy smile and spoke up.
"Hey Marie can we talk?"