Chapter 50

...Emile pov…

I was walking through the park when I stumbled upon a popcorn stand. I decided to treat myself to a small bag of buttery, salty popcorn.

"Thank you." I said as I paid for the popcorn.

I sat near on the bench near a swing and savored the crunchy kernels, I felt a sense of contentment. I walked out of the park and continued down the street savoring each bite of my large bag of buttered popcorn.

Suddenly, I felt a sharp jolt, and my popcorn went flying into the air. I looked up to see a man standing in front of me, a sheepish expression on his face.

To my surprise, it was Henry!, "Oh no, I'm so sorry," he said, looking genuinely apologetic.

"I'm so sorry," he said, sounding genuinely remorseful. "

I looked down at the mess of popcorn on the floor and sighed. "It's okay," I replied, trying to brush it off.

The man's eyes locked onto mine and he offered a warm smile. "Let me buy you another bag," he said, reaching out his hand. "I feel terrible about ruining your snack." I hesitated, not wanting to impose. "Really, it's fine. I can just go get another bag."

But he was insistent. "Please, allow me. It's the least I can do." I relented, and before I knew it, we were walking back to the concession stand. As we reached the stand, he asked, "What's your favorite kind of popcorn?"

"Buttered, of course," I replied with a grin.

Henry chuckled. "A classic choice. Coming right up."

He bought me a fresh bag of buttered popcorn and a bag for himself, and we turned to walk.

"Thank you so much, Henry," I said, taking a bite of the hot, buttery kernels. As we walked away from the popcorn stand, I turned to him and asked, "So, what brings you here? Just here to collect some fresh air and savor the surroundings?"

He chuckled and replied, "Yeah, that's exactly why I'm here." I noticed the bag of popcorn in his hand and said with a laugh, "You don't seem to be a big fan of popcorn, do you?"

He shook his head and said, "I just... I get it. It's not my favorite snack."I took the bag of popcorn from him and giggled, "Well, can I keep it then?" He smiled and said, "Sure, go ahead."

I held the bag under my arm and continued munching on my own popcorn. I looked at him and asked, "So, what do you like to do in your free time?" I asked him as I wiped some popcorn from the corner of my mouth.

"I enjoy hiking and exploring new places," he replied. "That sounds like a lot of fun," I said. "I love the great outdoors too. There's something so calming and rejuvenating about being surrounded by nature."

We continued chatting and walking, discovering that we had many common interests. I felt a connection with him and was grateful for the chance encounter at the popcorn stand.

Before we parted ways, he said, "It was great talking to you, Emile. I hope we can do it again sometime."

I smiled and replied, "I would like that too."

As Henry and I walked down the street, the warm sun shining down on us, he suddenly turned to me and asked, "Hey Emile, would you like to attend a music show with me next weekend?"

My heart fluttered at the thought, and I immediately replied, "Yes, that sounds wonderful!"

Henry beamed at my response and gave me the details of the show, including the address and the time. "It's going to be a great night," he said with a smile.

We continued our walk, talking about music shows we had attended in the past. Henry mentioned a particularly memorable show he had gone to a few months back, and I shared a story about a show I had attended with my friends.

As we talked, I couldn't help but feel grateful for this moment. Spending time with Henry was always a highlight of my day, and the idea of attending a music show with him next weekend filled me with excitement.

"You know what's funny?" Henry said, breaking the silence. "At my last show, the lead singer kept talking about how much he loved popcorn. I swear, every other sentence was about how delicious it was."

I laughed, imagining a singer rambling on about popcorn on stage. "That's definitely something you don't hear every day," I replied.

Henry chuckled. "Yeah, I think he might have had a bit too much sugar before the show," he joked.

We continued chatting, telling jokes about some of the more unusual shows we had attended, and before we knew it, we had arrived at our destination.

As we said goodbye, Henry offered to buy me another bag of popcorn. "Just in case the lead singer's love for it rubs off on you," he said with a grin.

I declined, not wanting to be a bother, but he insisted, and before I knew it, we were walking back to the popcorn stand. As I munched on my snack, I couldn't help but feel grateful for the little moments like this. Spending time with Henry, talking about music shows and enjoying a bag of popcorn, was the perfect way to end the day.

As we walked away from the popcorn stand, Henry asked me, "So, what kind of music do you like?"

I thought for a moment before answering. "I really enjoy pop and indie rock. How about you?"

"I'm more of a classic rock guy," Henry replied. "But I'm always open to trying new things."

We continued chatting about music, discussing our favorite artists and songs, and before long, the show next weekend was all we could talk about. We both couldn't wait to see the performances, and I felt so lucky to be able to attend with Henry by my side.

As our conversation came to an end, I couldn't help but feel grateful for this moment. Spending time with Henry was always special, and the thought of attending a music show with him next weekend filled me with joy. Henry still had his eyes on me as I hopped into a taxi and headed home.

I was sitting by the taxi window, staring out the window as the scenery passed by. I was lost in thought, my mind wandering to the strange sensation I had been feeling for the past few days. I was ravenously hungry all the time, and I couldn't seem to get enough to eat. It was like my body was demanding more and more food.

Suddenly, it hit me. Was it because I was pregnant? The thought was both exciting and terrifying. I had always wanted to be a mother, but I wasn't sure if I was ready for the responsibility. It came so suddenly and unplanned.

I tried to shake the thought from my mind, focusing instead on my upcoming dinner. I was still angry with Dickinson for not informing me that I was pregnant. It was something that he should have told me right away, and I couldn't understand why he had kept it from me.

As I continued to ponder these thoughts, I realized that I was starting to feel overwhelmed. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. I needed to get a grip on my emotions and figure out what to do next.

I decided to try and focus on the present moment, taking in my surroundings and letting my mind relax. As I gazed out the window, I noticed the beautiful trees passing by. They were so tall and majestic, and I couldn't help but feel grateful for their beauty.

Before I knew it, my thoughts had shifted back to Dickinson and our upcoming date...no dinner I corrected myself.

Honestly deep down I was both excited and nervous to see him again. I wasn't sure what to expect seeing bhim face to face again knowing I was carrying his child but I was determined to make the most of the evening

I walked through the door of my home, I could hear mom in the kitchen. " Mom, I am home," I called. "Where have you been?" she snapped. Just with some friends I will go up now, I said , climbing the stairs.

"Dickinson came looking for you earlier," she added, as she continued with her household chores. " Oh I see," I said in a low tone. "He is worried about you too, try talking to him". Mom appeared at the door of the kitchen all wrapped in an apron.

"It's alright mom," I smiled at her and climbed up to my room.

****

As I stepped out of the shower, I wrapped a towel around my body and walked towards the mirror. I noticed a subtle change in my body, a result of my 4-week pregnancy. Although it was not yet noticeable to the naked eye, I knew that in due time, it would become more apparent.

I gazed at my reflection, taking in my curves and the way my skin glistened with droplets of water. My long dark hair was damp, so I took my brush and began to comb it out, the bristles gently detangling my locks.

I combed my hair as I thought about the changes that were to come. I couldn't help but feel a flicker of anxiety mixed with nervousness. It was a new chapter in my life, one that I was ready to embrace.