I'll Be Okay (C.M.B)

Chapter 1 - New Beginning

It was 2am when I woke up to the sound of my one year old, Carter, crying. I turned towards my boyfriend, Matt, signaling for him to go handle the situation. However, he was sound asleep after a long nine to five typical business job and wouldn't budge. Even though I graduated, I decided to pursue a career later when Carter was older. Since I assumed the role of "stay-at-home-wife" without the wife part, I dragged myself out of bed to go check up on Carter.

"What's wrong baby?" I asked picking him up and cuddling him. He looked frightened, so I read him another story and put him to sleep again.

When I came back into bed, Matt's phone began to ring. The contact said Nick Johnson, so I picked up the phone to let them know Matt was sleeping. I've never heard of that person before, but I just assumed it was a co-worker in dire need of a favor.

I picked up and heard a female voice, "You're coming over tomorrow right?"

"Who is this?" I asked.

"Who is this?" They answered.

"I'm his girlfriend," I spoke.

"No, I'm his girlfriend," the woman replied.

"Matt and I have been dating since high school. We have a one year old son together," I huffed.

"He didn't tell me that. We started dating just a few weeks ago," The woman replied.

"I'm going to wake him up. I will definitely be separating from him, you can have him all you'd like," I stated.

"Oh I don't want him either," the woman agreed, "I'm just gonna ghost him like he deserves now."

I cheered her on and then hung up the phone to violently shake Matt awake. He woke up after a few nudges and groaned.

My face felt flushed and I was boiling. I looked Matt in the eye and was able to mutter, "it's over. I know about her."

"Baby I can explain," Matt spoke up, "it's just like—"

"I need you to pack your things and leave by the time you wake up. If not you, I'll do it myself and bring Carter with me. You don't care about me or your son," I spat feeling my eyes water slightly. I attempted to prevent myself from crying, but to no avail the waterworks began.

"No, I love you. I just, I was making a mistake. Work's been so stressful and I don't wanna make you upset or bad. It's like an unhealthy vice. I swear to god, I can stop okay," Matt defended himself.

"I don't care," I replied, "my mom was right about you. I'm glad we didn't get married yet."

"Baby we still can. This is a one time thing, it'll never happen again. I swear to god," Matt got up out of bed trying to put his arms around my waist.

"Don't touch me," I pushed him away and ran over to Carter's room.

I heard his footsteps following me, but I shut the door and locked it. I immediately called my friend, Rachel, and told her about my entire newfound situation begging her if I could take refuge in her home. Of course, she accepted and within seconds I was packing a small bag of Carter's things for the night. I didn't bother bringing any of mine because I knew I'd come back for my stuff eventually.

After enduring the banging on the door and the crying baby besides me. I ordered an Uber, picked up Carter, and ran past Matt.

Matt was a scumbag, but he'd never resort to violence. He couldn't help, but watch the two of us leave in that instant.

The Uber took me to Rachel's house which was a good twenty minutes away, but the trip was worth it. Carter continued to cry, cranky that I woke him up from his slumber. I continued to try to soothe him just with my words and cradling him. It worked eventually and when we reached Rachel's house he was dead silent.

I knocked on Rachel's door and she opened it immediately. She had a one bedroom apartment, so the two of us would be sleeping on her couch. She had it set up for us to go right to sleep. I put Carter down first and then I spoke with Rachel.

"I cannot thank you enough for this favor," I began, but Rachel cut me off before I could continue.

"It's what best friends are for. Just relax and don't think about him, go to sleep and we'll get your stuff tomorrow. You got this. You're doing great Emma. Don't let him convince you to go back with him either."

"I am NOT feeling like a girlboss right now," I sighed slouching down on her wooden chair.

"Hey, it can only get up from here! You know you can stay here as long as you want, but after tomorrow we're job searching and daycare searching for the two of you. It'll be a fun distraction," Rachel exclaimed taking two water glasses out and passing one to me.

"Great sounds like a blast," I groaned.

Rachel smiled at me and clinked our cups against each other, "to new beginnings!"

"To a new beginning," I grumbled looking over at Carter.

He stayed perfectly still. His growing dark black hair was sprawled all across the make shift couch and his thumb was in his mouth. I knew I didn't have too much time to mourn my relationship with Matt, but just looking at Carter made me upset. He'd be coming from a very broken home, and I couldn't provide everything like I would've been able to. This child deserved the world and I was going to give it to him.

"I couldn't hear you," Rachel teased.

"To a new beginning!" I exclaimed clinking my glass once more.