Now that I had told about my pregnancy to my friends, I felt relieved,but I still needed to tell it to my parents and that bothered me because I knew it would bring so much pain and shame to them.
But I couldn't hide it from them forever, so I decided to go home once I got my final grades,and in the meantime, I had to try to appease them by trying my utmost best to be as fillial as I could.
After a couple of weeks, my wait was over. I was overjoyed as I had aced most of my papers and it would be easier to plead my case if my grades were good.
I packed to leave home amidst all the tears and hugs and promised to return soon. We had decided to live together and share the rent as both Gabby and Aurora had found jobs in the same city, and I couldn't have been happier as I knew I'd be needing so much of their support during the course of my pregnancy as well.
I reached home in the evening around 7pm and I was surprised to find that mom and dad had gone out on a date night.
They never ever did that for as long as I remembered in the almost 21 years of my life,but I was glad that they were happy and making efforts to spend time with each other.
I grew up listening to happily ever after fairy tales,and my parents' love for each other and how they still managed to be together after all the highs and lows they went through together,and it made me long to be with someone who would give me a happily ever after as well.
I wanted to be with one man for life,but it all turned out to be one big joke. I tried loving Roy with all that I had despite the fact that he really treated me like shit,I loved him with my crazy side, and with my sober side, with my devotion and patience and understanding, but in the end, he still ditched me and took me on an emotional ride.
A tear rolled down my eyes thinking how naiive I had been all along,with all my Utopian thoughts that I would get my own happily ever after with Roy. Would Roy ever regret what he did to me? I somehow still believed that he was a good person deep within,just a bit lost in his craze for seeking attention.
However, I decided not to let my bitter thoughts stress me out lest it affected the fetus that was growing inside me. I was still amazed that a life was growing inside me and I had to protect it with all I had, and instinctively, my hands went to my belly as though wanting to assure myself that my baby was alright.
I went down to the kitchen to see if there was anything I could cook up for myself and just as I was preparing some pasta and soup, the front door opened and my parents came in.
"Issy dear, I'm so sorry we couldn't be here to welcome you home. You know your dad and his excitement for going to Brady's for his steak", my mom came to hug me.
"Yeah yeah, your mom doesn't like it either. Honey, could you please stop making it sound like I love steak better than my daughter? I love her just as much as I love steak", my dad joined in, and gave me a nice warm hug only he could give ,and I felt the warmth in his embrace.
I only wished I didn't have to break their hearts when I delivered the news of my pregnancy to them.
"Let me make it up to you by making the pasta, it looks like what you're making is too bland. you had a long day, go ahead and rest for a while Issy. I'll call you when its done", my mom offered.
"Mom, its just pasta, I can handle it. In fact, you need to go up and rest. Dad, you as well,its late and your beauty sleep", I joked with them and carried on with my cooking as they didn't need to know that bland was what I chose to not make me feel nauseous.
At my insistence, my mom gave up and they both retired to their room. I finished cooking up the pasta and soup,had my dinner and started coming up with plans to how to broach the impending discussion and after many failed ideas, decided to let it wait for tomorrow.
I woke up early next morning to nausea and rushed to the toilet to vomit. The doctor had advised to take less stress but here I was stressing over how to open up to my parents about my pregnancy and it wasn't helping me in any way,let alone with my morning sickness.
By the time I came down to the kitchen, mom and dad had already prepared breakfast for me, baked eggs and sausage, frittata,ricotta pancakes and fresh milk,all my favourites and I felt a pang of sadness with the hurt I knew I was gonna inflict on them with what I was gonna tell them.