Chapter 7: A Lover's Embrace
Love is an emotion like no other. It empowers all. With its positivity, there is a negative side. It is considered to be dark and even gruesome. It can become an obsession of possession. Love has the tendency to attract lust. Lust attracts jealousy. Jealousy attracts revenge. For now, however, there is solely love.
It's visible in their eyes. It's traceable in their voices. Their hearts swell with the feeling. They believe that it is true love. It's mean to be. Forever and ever. 'Til death tears them apart.
She's happy. He's happy. They've never felt this way about anyone else... until now.
They have a baby (or soon they will have a child). A home. Love. What more could they possibly ask for?
Surprisingly, it's a beautiful day. The sun gleams brightly in all its pride and glory. On this day, the impure air does not ruin the bright, blue sky. The clouds are white and fluffy as they depict various shapes. The lovers lay on the vibrant, green lawn.
Marni rests her head on Nathan's chest. A smile is detectable on her face. Oh yes, she's quite content in his arms. Nathan gently, yet protectively sweeps an arm around Marni. His orbs are half-lidded like that of a feline's. A lazy smile crosses his features.
"I love you, Marni," his voice is but a soft whisper.
"I love you, too, Nathan." The tone of her voice sounds as if it's been dipped in honey. Warm. Sweet. Soothing.
I'm going to be a father in just a few months...The smile grows as the thought occurs to him. "She's going to be beautiful, Marni. She'll look just like you." He's proud already. Nathan beams from ear to ear. They already know that it's a girl. Medicine truly is a wondrous discovery.
Marni laughs. It's such a rich and inviting sound, "Oh, but I'm sure she'll have your features as well, Nathan. She'll be intelligent just like you."
They continue to ponder about how or what their daughter will be like in the upcoming future. Things are left to the imagination. She'll have her mother's eyes and hair. She'll have her father's wits. She'll have much, but at the same time she will have so little.
Something occurs to Marni. Call it a woman's intuition, but something began to bother her. Something is telling her that she will not be alive to see her daughter bloom.
She sighs softly.
She lays there in his arms, "Nathan, do you love me?"
"Deeply."
"Will you always be there for me?"
"Of course I will." It's the simple truth.
"Promise me that you'll be there for her when I'm gone. Promise me that you'll protect her. Don't let her see the world for what it really is."
Nathan is nervous. Normally, Marni is so carefree. Is she leaving me? No, that can't be. He shakes his head at the bitter thought. She would never do that to me... If she did... A darker voice pushes it's way through the crowd. Nathan pushes it back with a frown. He's right. She would never leave him. However, he does not think of the other way one can leave a person - by death.
"Oh Marni, you know the truth. I'll always be there for you and our child. Whatever it takes to keep her safe."
"But Nathan, promise me."
"I promise."
Those words continue to echo through his mind in this lover's embrace.