Did Heather just hear Taylor right? She thought, marriage, really? Where did that idea even come from, they haven't seen each other in months and their phone calls have decreased to once a week and he was thinking about marriage? Not to mention that Heather was in a committed relationship with Naya.
A million thoughts ran through Heather's mind all at once, she didn't know what to say. It wasn't until Taylor repeated the question, that she realised she had to say something, anything.
Heather looked into Taylor's bright blue eyes; he had a huge smile on his face. It was true that Heather hadn't loved him in a long time, but they had history and Heather still cared for him, this was why it was so hard to break up with him. She looked at Naya, she was staring back at her, and Heather could see the shock on her face. Realising that her silence had continued for too long she focused back on Taylor.
"Um" she spluttered out. "Wow, I mean Taylor where did this come from?"
"I know it's kind of out of the blue but I love you so much Heather" Taylor replied.
Heather suddenly noticed all the eyes watching her, waiting for an answer, she couldn't think. "Taylor can we talk alone please?" Heather asked taking his hand and ushering him out of the room. She found an empty cloak room at the end of the entry way, she walked Taylor inside and closed the door behind them.
"Heather your kind of freaking me out babe, I wish you'd say something?" Taylor said as he sat down on the bench. Heather was pacing the room, trying to gather the right words to say. She was in love with Naya, she didn't want to marry Taylor, but was she ready for this, to break Taylor's heart and have the whole world know about her relationship?
"Look Taylor, this is sweet but it's just taken me by surprise you know." Heather began. "You and I have been together for a long time now and you're one of my best friends, you know how much I care about you Tay."
Taylor who was so excited began to look concerned. "I know baby, that's why I did this, I want to take us to the next level, I want to do this with you".
"Look, I have to tell you something okay, Taylor I –". Heather was suddenly interrupted.
"Excuse me" Mrs Morris walked into the room, "Taylor do you mind if I speak to my daughter privately for a moment?"
Taylor was just as perplexed as Heather, "um sure, I'll give you two a minute alone". With that Taylor left the room closing the door behind him.
Heather sat down on the bench where Taylor was, she rested her pounding head in her hands, what had just happened she thought.
Mrs Morris moved to stand in front of Heather; she was a tall slim woman, not unlike her daughter. "So" Mrs Morris began, "Why didn't you give the boy an answer?" she said in a disapproving tone.
The lack of surprise and shock in her Mother's voice or on her face lead Heather to believe that she may have had something to do with this mess. "You knew this was going to happen didn't you? You knew he was going to propose!" Heather exclaimed looking up at her Mother.
"I may have had an idea" Mrs Morris replied as she straightened her dress." Catching Heather's disapproval at her answer she continued. "Look he came to your Father and me a couple of days ago, he told us how he felt that he was losing you and he wanted to do something. He brought up proposing as an idea and let's just say that I didn't discourage it". With a pleased smile on her face she looked into her daughter's eyes. "This still doesn't answer my question, why didn't you give him an answer?"
"Because" Heather began with a huff, "I don't want to marry him Mum".
Mrs Morris face quickly turned from a grin to a grimace. "But Heather, you and Taylor have been together for so long now; he's such a lovely boy".
Heather sighed, it was all true, they had been together for a long time and if this were any other two loving people than marriage might have been the next step, but not Heather and Taylor the relationship was a lie and it had been for a while. Heather was trying to think of something to say to her Mother, anything so she'd understand and maybe help her out of this situation, but nothing came to her. She was so tired of fighting the truth, it was exhausting and she couldn't keep this secret anymore.
"I'm in love with someone else Mum! And I have been for quite a while now". Heather couldn't control herself any longer; tears began streaming down her face.
"Someone else, Heather what is going on? Who is he?" Mrs Morris pleaded.
Heather shuttered at the word 'he', with a deep breath she let it all out. "It's not...Mum, it's not a he it's a she okay! Not any she, its Naya, I'm in love with Naya" Heather blurted out with tears streaming down her face. "We've been seeing each other for a while, she's amazing, she makes me feel alive, when I'm with her I can do anything and be anyone I want to be, she makes me a better person".
Mrs Morris turned to face the door, her hand clasped over her mouth.
"Mum" Heather pleaded walking over to her Mother. "I'm sorry I've wanted to tell you this for so long, it's been so hard keeping this inside and lying to everyone. I was going to tell Taylor but he's never around so I never felt the urgency, but now he proposes? Mum you need to help me" Heather sobbed grabbing her Mother's shoulders, "tell me what to do, tell me what to say to get out of this". Heather could barely get the words out she was crying so hard.
Mrs Morris turned around quickly; there were no tears in her eyes, no smile, just a hard expression across her face.
"You will marry Taylor; you will not shame this family! and Heather?" She said in a tone Heather had never heard before, it was flat and demanding. "You will never speak of this again, to me or anyone".
Heather's stomach dropped, she never expected her Mother to be happy by this news but this? "Mother" Heather pleaded, "Please, I don't love him!" Heather shouted.
Without warning, Mrs Morris slapped her daughter across the face.
They both stood in silence for a long time. Mrs Morris than straightened up and looked Heather straight in the eyes, "It ends now, your marrying Taylor" and with that she turned and walked out of the room, slamming the door as she went.
Heather stood glued to the spot, her head tilted to the side, her hand grasping her face. She fell to the floor and began to sob.
