Chapter 5

I was sitting with Brendan, Shane, and all of our parents together at our house, listening to what everyone was saying, occasionally piping in.

"...We've already gone over that possibility twice! There's no way it would work." Papa was saying.

"Maybe not from how you're perceiving it," Brendan's father answered. "But they did what they did for a reason. Liliana and Brendan, would you have done that if you didn't want to get married to each other?" Brendan and I paused for a moment then shook our heads.

"But," Shane protested. "Should they be rewarded for acting against the forbidding of Liliana's father?"

"We wouldn't have had to if you'd just have let us alone!" I pointed out. "Brendan and I wouldn't have gone through with what we did again if it wasn't fo-"

"'Again'?" Echoed Momma. I could feel my face turn red.

"I- Nothing," I murmured. "It wouldn't make a difference anyway. You're going to make me stay with Shane for the rest of my life and I'll never be happy again." I began to cry at my own, defeated words. "You've never cared about my happiness before, so why bother now!" I ran into my room. Brendan must've started to come after me, but a sharp word from my father made him stay.

In my room, I laid myself down on my blanket, trying to escape the dread of the conversation going on in the other room.

"Why can't they leave us alone?" I sobbed.

A few minutes later I regained my composure and reentered the discussion. When I entered, though, I was listening to them discuss housing arrangements.

"I'm sorry," came a whisper from the corner of the room.

"Why? What's going on?" I asked as dread filled my thoughts.

The only response I got back was, "I'm sorry,"

"Liliana, come. Sit by your future husband." Shane sneered. Horror filled my face.

"No!" I cried. A twinge of sorrow and fear churned in my stomach. I turned back to Brendan. Falling to my knees, I cried, "I refuse, I refuse to marry anyone but Brendan, the one I love!"

"I'm sorry, Lil, I'm so sorry," Brendan was crying. "I tried to convince them otherwise, but they wouldn't listen. I'm sorry," I wrapped my arms around him, and rested my head on his chest, once more, and possibly for the last time, listening to his breathing. I wished I could undo my parent's decision, but it was too late. I'd just have to make my last few moments with him last.

"Liliana," Momma said gently. "We did this in your best interest. When you get older, you'll better understand."

"No, Momma," I cried still clinging to my loved one. "You don't understand. I can't go through with this. I don't even think I could be friends with Shane anymore, I need to be with Brendan!"

"Lil, I've got to go." Brendan said, taking me by the shoulders. "It's getting late. My father already left a while ago. He'll be wondering what happened to me." I clung back to him.

"Can't you please stay? This'll all be worked out, you'll see!" I pleaded.

"Liliana, let the boy go home." Papa ordered. "It's been a long day, he must be tired." I shot a nasty glance at Papa. "Go to bed, Liliana."

"No, not yet, not until I can be with the one I care for." I answered.

"Do as I say, Liliana." Papa was getting impatient.

"Papa, do you want grandchildren?" I asked.

"Yes," He answered hesitantly.

"Then I cannot marry Shane." I said.

"And why is that?" Papa seemed interested.

"Shane swore that any child I bare that is not his, he shall kill. I refuse to be with him in that way, even if you somehow manage to get me married to him." Papa looked to Shane.

"You will marry my daughter and raise her child as your own." He said simply.

"Yes, sir," Shane said.

"Now," Papa turned back to me. "Say your goodbyes and goodnights and go to bed."

"This will work out one day." Brendan promised. "I swear on my mother's grave, may she rest in peace."