Chapter One

                                                                      CHAPTER ONE

Switching on the shower, I let the water to hit my head, dripping down from my shoulders to the rest of my body. My eyes closed, hoping the water would wash away my sorrows. I dropped to the floor; my legs couldn’t carry me any further as I felt the whole world crumbling down on me. I could still feel my tears dropping down my cheeks even though the water came down on my face at full force. How could this happen to me? Why would this happen to me? Why would she leave at this most important time of our lives? The world is indeed a cruel place to live in if all it does is to take away the people which we hold dear to our hearts at the time their present matters most to us? I couldn’t help but let my emotions run wild. My very essence; the only person that made me a fulfilled man had just left me and was not going to come back anymore. 

I felt my heart shattering into a thousand pieces knowing it would be extremely difficult to live the rest of my life all by myself, with the huge task of raising our baby all by myself.

I got out of the bathroom when I couldn't feel my tears no more, stark naked and the water still dripping down my body. I looked around checking for the towel, she would always be the one waiting with the towel each day ready to wipe me clean. Reaching for the towel from where she had hung just by the wardrobe, flashes of what she had told me the previous filtered through my head.

“Babe please remind me that I need to wash this towel whenever we get back from the hospital.” those were her exact words.

Tears gathered in my eyes again and it flowed without warning. I turned and my eyes caught our wedding pictures which stood at the edge of the bed. I got hold of the picture, staring deeply into it. I couldn’t hold back my emotions this time around. I cried like a baby.

“Tess why would you choose to leave at this point. We’ve only being married for how long?... 2 Years and all you could think was to leave? How on earth am I going to take care of our new born baby? If God wanted one of us to leave, why didn’t he take me instead. He sure knows how bad I can be in this parenting shit.” I cried out loud with my tears flowing uncontrollably.

Images of the good times we had shared and how we had had our lives planned out kept flashing through my face. How the hell was I to continue in this world without Tess? Just few days ago, we were just over excited and already planning on becoming the newest parents in the hood. We had already prepared for him (our baby's) room with all excitement. Joan had wanted to come around to help in the preparations but I had to decline because she was always a pain in the ass from the first day, I met her. I never wanted her to come boss me around in my own house.

Tess and I were just too excited that we were going to be parents. We both had agreed that we wanted kids; three of them actually but what I never knew was that fate had prepared to set us both on different paths. It was actually preparing me to be a single Dad.

“Babe, can you hurry up? we’re going to be late for the doctor’s appointment!” I shouted from the sitting room.

It was already 9:00 Am in the morning. Our appointment with the doctor was supposed to be in 45 minutes but Tess was still in the room wearing her make up. She would always want to look dazzling at all times and I guess that was one of the reasons why I loved her so much.

I had fallen in love with Tess from the very moment we met. I knew Tess would be the love of my life from the very first chat. As awkward as it may seem, I met Tess online and instantly fell for her. I guess, just like they say, you can find love in the strangest places. I could still recall how it all started, right from the very first day. 

It had looked like a normal day which would always start and end like every other day; working remotely as a freelance writer. The day rolled by smoothly not until my buddy Greg visited and came up with one of the stupidest ideas, one that ended up changing my life completely.

“Hey Matt, ever heard about Tinder dating app?” Greg asked

“No.”

“Man, you are really missing a lot on this site. I tried it few weeks ago and I got to meet some smoking hot Miami ladies. I’ve even gone on date with a couple of them and guess what?” Greg chipped, grinning from both sides of his teeth

“What?” I asked, looking at him awkwardly as I turned from my laptop to give him a little attention.

“I had sex with one of them last night.” He said, this time his grin turning into laugh.

“Oh, that’s good for you man. I hope you used protection ‘coz I know you don’t like that shit.” I said to him, turning back to my PC to continue with my job

“Yeah, you are probably right but come on man, you need to check out this app”. He said as he brought his phone close to me trying to distract me from my work. “I’m pretty sure you going to meet someone you might like. You know your life has been boring as hell ever since you broke up with Shantel. You need to catch some fun man.”

“You know I can’t afford such luxuries now man, I’ve got to deliver this story in the next fourteen days and I’m already behind schedule. Besides I’m really not cut out for these social media shenanigans. Thanks man but no thanks.” I said and continued my work.

“Man, you’re just so boring. How on earth did I even get to meet you.”

“That’s the same question I ask myself too. How did I end up meeting a Casanova like you?” I said to him laughing.

Just as Greg left, I tried to get back to work but I just couldn’t concentrate. I tried to write but all I wrote didn’t make any sense to me. I heard my phone beep. It was a message from Greg.

“What the heck?” I mouthed.

He was just gone only a few minutes ago and he was already texting me. I picked up the phone, it was a screenshot of all the pretty ladies he had already met and the link to the dating site. 

“This crazy Jackass.” I said with a smile. He just knew how to get you to do what he wants and he wouldn’t stop till he achieves that.

I worked for a few more minutes and decided to take a sort coffee break. I always did that whenever I was stuck in between my write ups.

I picked up my phone just as I had poured myself a cup of coffee from the kitchen. I went through the screen-shots of the girls. They were just too beautiful to say the least. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to sign up, I thought. I signed up for the site and updated my profile. For once I agreed with Greg. There were so many beautiful that one might end up getting confused. I kept on scrolling through different profiles of beautiful and sexy ladies trying to see the one that might best suit my personality or perhaps the ones that might prove less difficult to chat with. Just then, a message popped into my inbox. I checked; it was a friend request from a beautiful lady. I quickly accepted it and almost immediately, then came a message.

“Hi.” it read.

“Hello.” I replied.

“How are you doing.”

“I think I’m doing great. How about you?”

“Well, I’m okay. Seems like you’re new here?”

“Yeah. I never wanted to sign up here but my friend has been on my neck to sign up. He believes I could find the love of my life here.” I replied with an LOL emoji.

“LOL. He must really value you so much to believe that you’d find the love of your life on a dating site.”

“Yeah, I can imagine. Well, My Name is Matt, Mathew Simpson. What about you?”

“I’m Tess Galloway.”

“Wow, that’s a nice name Tess. Where are you from?”

“Miami” she replied and I just couldn’t believe my luck.

“Wow, I’m from Miami too, from Downtown Miami actually.”

“Are you serious? I’m from Brickell.”

“Wow, seems like you’re my next-door neighbor. We should have coffee sometime. What do you think?” I asked.

“It wouldn’t be a bad idea. Depends on when you’d be free.”

“How about tonight?”

“Fine, just call me.” She replied and sent her number.

                                         # # # # # #

“How do I look babe?” she said flaunting herself before me, full of smiles.

“Come on babe, you know we’re already late for the doctor’s appointment.” 

“Yeah, I know but you know I need to look good. This baby bump is trying to put me out of shape but I’m not going to let that be.” She said sulking.

I walked up to her, planting a kiss on her soft lips, staring into her blue eyes.

“Babe you still look as gorgeous as the first day we met. And the baby is going to make you even more gorgeous.”

“Awwn Babe. You’re just so romantic.” She said kissing me back.

“Come on Babe, we’re already late and you know how Doctor Flanagan hates us coming late to his appointment.” I quickly reminded her as soon as I broke away from her kiss.

“But what’s the point going. We can as well book for the cesarian section from home. We could only go when it’s time for delivery.”

“Babe we’ve talked about this” I said holding her hand. We’re going to go see Doctor Flanagan today and she’s going to check you and make sure you’re okay.”

“But I…”

“No ‘buts’ Baby, we’re already going late. You’ve got your hand bag?”

“Yes” She grumbled.

“You sure we aren’t forgetting anything?”

She shook her head.

“Then let’s get going.” I said, kissing her on the lips and gently walking her to the car.

She didn’t seem happy going to the hospital but I had to make her do it since it was for her own good.