FIVE YEARS LATER
Lara's pov
Just as I had predicted earlier in the match, my union with Zeta Rho had ran its course. Not even sweet Tal could make us stay together, and fighting custody was pointless, as it always goes to the father by Kryptonian Law. Those thoughts took a backseat in my mind when the screaming match resumed in our clinically white kitchen. Plates chucked and tossed without a care, poised to strike the other person, in this case, me. Zeta had gone crazy. That monster could never truly love. But he could take from me the only one we shared that I did love. Our voices escalated
"You coddle him! How is he going to be a man to be feared if you treat him like a lapdog?!"
I count to three, trying and failing to calm down
"CODDLE?! No, I LOVE him! You would not know love if it slapped you in the face! And on that note..." I did not gve him time to question my silence before aptly slapping him across the face. What a satisfying smack that was. Soon, the Council annulled our so called union, but, as I feared, Zeta got custody. Shedding tears for the son I would have to leave, since the scornful sorry excuse of a man did not grant me visitation rights and the Council could not interfere in the arrangements, I held him one last time as I wrote him a letter to be read on his eighteenth birthday
"My Dearest Tal- Rho. I am your Jeju, Lara Lor-Van. I am so sorry, my Una, for not being around. The truth is, the match between your father and I failed, but my love for you is forever strong, across time and space. Your father won't allow me to see you, so, I write this for you to read once you reach the age of 18. Currently, you are five, napping away in my arms as I write this and bite back bitter tears. I love you, baby. Farewell. My parting wishes for you are a great, full life, full of love, hopes and dreams, and that you know I will always love you."
Sobbing quietly, I hid that letter in a place I knew Zeta would never find it, kissed my baby's face one last time, and left, returning to my childhood home, as is customary of single women. Now I had to await the next match my father found.
During the wait, I ran into Jor-El once more, and I felt a flutter in my stomach as he smiled. I nervously tucked my hair behind my ear
"H-hi, Jor-El."
He smiled, the warm and gentle smile he always wore
"Hi, Lara."
We both asked at the same time
"How are you?"
The way we spoke in sync caused us both to chuckle. We had been close since childhood, it always puzzled me why my father and Seyg-El never thought of matching us. I urged him to go first, since my news was not all that sunshiny to begin with. He finally obeyed
"I was betrothed to my lab partner Raya Shu- Ster. We wed and she is expecting a little girl, Lan Jor- El."
I had to work to plaster a smile on my face, even though I was happy for my friend
"That's amazing! Congratulations!"
He thanked me, then asked about my trainwreck of a life. My words, not his. Sighing, I got him caught up, and his compassion shone through, arm around me, consoling me. Little did I know I soon would repay the favor.
A few months after meeting up with Jor-El, my father found me another match. Val-Dez. A quiet man until you got to know him, but very opinionated from then on, for better or worse. But I could see his gentle spirit. Vulnerable yet strong, this was a man. One I actually felt I could love. It was about the time that I found myself in my third month of pregnancy with our son Ky-Dez that Jor-El contacted me, in tears
"Lan Jor-El is here, but Raya..." he choked back a sob and my heart started pounding, knowing where this was headed. My suspicions were sadly confirmed as he mustered enough courage and emotional energy to finish the sentence
"Raya is gone."
Having heard the conversation, my husband nodded, knowing what I had silently suggested. With that cue of approval, I went to Jor-El's house and hugged my dear old friend, comforting him in his time of need as he'd done with me in mine. I was glad to have him in my life.