"Open it! Come on, come on, come on, come on!".
Elizabeth excitedly pushing Henry to open the gift she has adamantly gift-wrapped for him. She was beaming with pride.
"Alright, alright!" Henry chuckled. He obliged. Seeing how excited her wife was, he wouldn't want to disappoint her. It's been a long day and he just got news that he's deployment has been moved earlier than expected. He was to leave tomorrow for a 2-week training before he'll be sent to Iraq. He hasn't told his wife yet.
He was dumbfounded when he opened the gift. Sitting in the middle of the box is a pregnancy test kit. It reads PREGNANT. His forehead creased.
Elizabeth's smile slowly fades as he sees Henry's reaction. That wasn't the reaction she's expecting. She knows this wasn't planned but they have been talking about having a baby. And clearly, he looked rather upset about her surprise.
"Hen…"
"What the hell, Elizabeth?"
She froze. Henry stared at her with fury in his eyes. He ditch the box, and held her tightly in her shoulders.
"I thought you were on pills? What were you thinking?"
"I… I thought…"
"You thought what?" He snapped.
"You're still in school. How will you manage having a baby and your masters? And you know I'll be deployed anytime soon. You think this is a good time to have a baby? I know we've talked about this, but you also know this isn't the right time. Isn't that the reason we agreed you take pills in the meantime?".
Elizabeth couldn't find the words to say. Henry was shouting at her. And she couldn't get her mind to work. She was shocked. This really wasn't part of the plan yet but she thought it'll make him happy. She imagined this news will make them both ecstatic. She just stared at him, tears streaming on her face. She was crushed.
"And now you're crying. Great! This will get us somewhere. Did you even think how this will go? GOD Elizabeth. I didn't think for one second you'd be this stupid. The person I married was smart. And this isn't very smart. What am I supposed to do with you? With this?"
Henry stared at his wife as she stood in front of him, crying. He wanted her to talk but it seems that's not happening anytime soon. It frustrated him more.
"Fine. Since you don't want to talk, I guess I'll leave. I need to think."
Henry hurriedly walked out, slamming the door hard behind him, it startled Elizabeth.
He left her feeling abandoned, unwanted. She felt very small. It was painful. Painful than when Will decided he's better off away from her. Painful than spending Christmas and new year alone in the campus. Painful than when her parents died. She felt like dying in that moment. She didn't expect those harsh words from Henry. Her Henry.
Slowly, she walked towards their bedroom. She took a bag and got her clothes. She is no longer just a wife. She will be a mother. And as painful it will be, her main priority now is her child. Clearly, Henry doesn't want to have her child, but she does. She already loves their child more than anything else. She looked at their wedding picture by the bedside table before finally leaving. She has decided it's best to leave. She'll raise their child alone. It'll be hard, but it's better than raising it with someone who doesn't want it. She's afraid Henry might even suggest to have it aborted. So she'd rather leave now.
She stepped outside their apartment. She gazed one more look at their home, their first home. It was small and crumpled but it was theirs. She reminisces the first time they moved, how they christened the place. So many memories. She'll bring those memories with her.
