Married…with Children
(5 years later)
A 4 year old girl in a pale pink dress was running around the garden, chasing a 6 year old boy. They each had bubble guns, and were acting like cops. The roses swayed to the wind; the sky magical in pink and purple hues.
"Amanda, sweetie, come here, you'll ruin your dress!" Quinn called out as she saw Amanda running around with Rachel's son, Myro. Rachel had cut her hair really short, pixie-short, and she was wearing the slinkiest red dress that Quinn saw, at least on her.
"You got to relax." Rachel laughed as she drank some of her tropical punch. "They're kids. Actually can't believe Myro's six already!" She sighed. "He's growing up too fast."
Quinn tapped her on the hand. "He'll be alright." She said. "How's the divorce going?"
A couple of years ago, Rachel and Mark, a guy she met on Broadway, have gotten married. But apparently, the life they thought they'd have wasn't really what they got. He wanted her to stop acting, and she just wouldn't give in. A couple of months ago, they finally decided to part ways.
"It's okay." Rachel said. "He's cooperative. I mean, we never really want to be around each other anymore, and it's not healthy for Myro."
"Well, he's a tough kid." She shot back. "You raised him well."
"You're not doing a terrible job with your kids, mind you." Rachel said.
Kids.
The word was bittersweet, Quinn thought. Sure, she loved those three kids that she's got, Amanda, Azalea, and Regina. She loved them, but sometimes…the whole motherhood thing was a tad too exhausting. She's always at home, and couldn't really leave them because they were still young. Sure, she still had an online fashion store, but she just couldn't go out so much anymore.
Sometimes, she envied Will for still being able to work. He's now the principal of William McKinley High School, which is now a school for the arts. He still has time for himself. He still sees other people all the time.
Unlike her.
There were days when she felt like he doesn't look at her anymore the way he used to; like he was just too busy, and whenever they talked, it was like…she had nothing to add to the conversation.
She hated it; hated the fact that things were that way.
She also hated the way she looked. She put on a bit of weight, but for her, it was like a LOT already. She had her hair cut the same way as Marilyn Monroe's, but for her, she just felt like Marilyn Mon-wrong. She didn't feel confident anymore. She wondered whether Will still loved her; whether he still thought that she was beautiful, and endearing, and all the things that he liked about her before.
She thought about the last time they ever really spoke. Sadly, she couldn't remember. Maybe, it wasn't just his fault; most of the time, she already felt too tired that she didn't want to talk to anyone at night. She didn't want to share details of her boring day with him.
"Quinn?" Rachel asked. "You okay?"
Quinn looked at Rachel. "Yeah, I'm fine. I was just—"
"Thinking?" Rachel smiled. "You think too much." She looked ahead, as if thinking of a lot of things, too. "You know, maybe, you should start going out again, too. I'm pretty sure that would be good. You can't allow yourself to be cooped up here all the time."
"But I have the kids. Mom couldn't be around every day and—"
"And you can't, either." Rachel told her. "Come on." She smiled. "Maybe, you and Will could go on a trip or something."
Quinn rolled her eyes. Rachel has an amazing life, even though she was going through a divorce. Maybe, that's why she doesn't understand: She's not the one trapped in Lima, never knowing whether she'd still be able to see the world or not.
"Well, enough about me." Quinn said. "What about you? I mean, any plans of dating anyone?"
Rachel laughed. "I actually have a date later. I'll just drop Myro off at his dad's, and you know…" She took a deep breath. "Oh, Quinnie, I just feel like a new person!" She laughed, and then noticed the look of sadness on Quinn's face. "Sorry." She muttered.
"What?" Quinn asked, and shook her head. "No, don't be. I'm alright."
I'm alright
I'm alright
I'm alright
That's what she always told herself.
She only wished that she believed it.