Bring Me To Life

Again?

The next morning, 

Jenn's Perspective

I awoke in a daze, disoriented and enveloped in my own bed. My memories of the previous night were foggy, a blurry mix of passion and desire, but I couldn't recall how I had ended up back home. As I turned my head to search for Ben, who had been a prominent figure in my hazy recollection, panic coursed through me when I realized he was nowhere to be found.

I quickly dressed in shorts and a tank top, foregoing a bra, and cautiously made my way downstairs. There, I stumbled upon a scene that sent shivers down my spine: Ben, my love, was in the kitchen, engaged in animated conversation with my mother, their laughter echoing through the house.

"Good morning, hubby. Good morning, Momma," I greeted them, a forced smile masking the unease I felt. I leaned in and kissed Ben, a gesture he reciprocated with an unsettling intensity.

Their camaraderie had an undercurrent of secrecy, like there was something I wasn't privy to. "Hmm... I love you, Mr. Affleck," I whispered, trying to regain some sense of control.

"I love you more, Mrs. Affleck," Ben whispered back before resuming his cooking, his eyes never leaving mine. Something was off, and I couldn't quite put my finger on it.

My mother, never one to miss a beat, inquired about the supposed business trip they had taken. I silenced her with a subtle gesture, unveiling my left hand to reveal the new wedding ring that adorned my finger.

My mother's confusion was palpable. "You guys went jewelry shopping?"

"Ben and I are married again," I announced, my eyes darting between Ben and my mother. "We signed the papers to dismiss our separation and to be married again. We got married in Vegas."

A surprised gasp escaped my mother's lips. "What? Oh my god! Finally!" She quickly rose and enveloped me in a tight hug, laughter bubbling up between us. Her words echoed with a strange sense of inevitability, as if she had known all along that Ben and I were destined to be together.

"What do you mean, finally?" I laughed, trying to dismiss the strange tension in the room.

"I knew you two were going to get back together," my mother insisted, her eyes locking onto Ben's. "Ben is a good man, and you two are meant for each other."

"Thank you," Ben replied, his smile masking an undisclosed truth. Their embrace, a poignant moment of unity, sent shivers down my spine.

"I'm happy to see my two favorite people happy together," my mother said as she beamed with pride.

"You're so sweet, Mom. Thank you," I replied, though my unease lingered.

As we settled down for breakfast, my mother left to check on the kids, leaving Ben and me alone with our mounting questions and secrets. "How do you feel, Mrs. Affleck?" Ben asked, his gaze penetrating my soul.

"I feel great," I replied, forcing a smile. "You make me happy. I feel like when we first got married."

"Tomorrow is the beginning of July... are we going to Europe for your birthday?" Ben inquired, the anticipation in his voice thickening the air.

I stared at him, my stomach churning with a sudden bout of nausea that seemed to claw at my insides. "Hold on," I stammered, my voice trembling as I rushed to the restroom.

Ben followed me with concern etched across his face. "Are you okay?" he asked as I retched, the violent heaving making me feel like I was expelling my own soul.

Finally, I finished and looked up at him, my face pale and drawn. "Are you okay?" he repeated, his eyes locked onto mine.

"I feel much better. I think it was the drive back home. I was feeling queasy in the morning," I mumbled, my voice trembling with uncertainty. We both averted our eyes, but the truth hung heavy in the air.

"Are you...?" Ben began, his words faltering as the unspoken fear gripped us both.

"I haven't gotten my postpartum period yet... I can't," I laughed, a nervous giggle escaping my lips.

"Yeah," Ben chuckled, his anxiety mirrored in his forced mirth.

"What if you are?" he asked, his voice a mere whisper.

"Then I'm completely canceling all of my projects and putting them to the side until I have the last baby," I admitted, my mind racing with the enormity of the revelation.

"I'll put my projects aside too," Ben declared, his commitment unwavering.

"Let's go to the hospital and do a test there?" I suggested, and he immediately nodded in agreement.

Sneaking out of the house like rebellious teenagers, we hurried to the car. Ben, ever the protector, bought me some food before we reached the hospital. As I nibbled on a small salad, my unease ebbed, and I began to feel a semblance of normalcy.

When we arrived at the hospital, we checked in and requested a test. My status afforded us some privileges, and we were ushered into a room promptly. Ben held my hand tightly as the nurses prepared for the blood test, and we waited in a heavy silence, the unspoken truth lurking in the shadows.

To be continued...