When Love Breaks by Jack

His voice, clear and unusually solemn, combined with the depth of emotion drowning in his eyes, made me forget to breathe.

My heart skipped a beat, yearning to nod in agreement, unable to muster any objection. But I wasn’t in my early twenties anymore. After a few breaths, reason took over.

I pursed my lips lightly, “I think I want to wait… until all these things settle down.”

Seeing the flicker of disappointment in his eyes, worried he might misunderstand, I couldn’t help but explain, “These issues are like ticking time bombs. Whether it’s Palmer, Dorothy Pearl, Kane, or the mastermind behind it all, having a child now would only give them and our worries more leverage. Gregory, I too wish for us to start a family soon, I believe we’ll strive to be great parents.”

“But not now.”

“Jane,”

Gregory’s lips curled into a smile, “Do you ever feel like you’re talking like a player? Like I’m the young stud you’re keeping.”

I choked, unable to find a rebuttal.

In those clichéd affair stories, it seemed the men always promised the women: Don’t worry, we’ll have kids, but not now.

he started the car, gently

him closely, afraid of missing any

“Really.”

with one hand while ruffling my hair, probing, “But this time, if

“We can.”

raised an eyebrow, “I haven’t finished my

know what you’re

held his handsome, slender hand, ding, “Though the

softly

promise you, if it happens, I’ll

anticipation for a child

preferring to wait for a sure thing before considering

at the hospital, my grandmother was awake, stretching her limbs in the living

saying, “Ramona, how are you feeling? Better after

Mr.

couldn’t entirely prevent its effects. Before this session, Ramona had felt numbness in her