text: I lay there in my crown of flowers, the purple velvet coat soft under my body. The silver beads in the sleeveless bodice of my ivory dress twinkled in the sun as the tulle skirt fluttered in the breeze. My handsome prince stood above me. He, with his ivory skin, sky blue eyes, and blond hair, slowly leaned down. This was the magic moment, our first kiss. And just as our lips were about to touch, he started poking my shoulder. Huh? I thought. Then I woke up. My eyes opened and I saw the poking perpetrator. My friend, Jason, was sitting beside me laughing. I sat up, annoyance on my face but embarrassment flooding my cheeks. “What were you dreaming about?” he asked, still chuckling. “Shut up!” was all I would say. Golden warm beams of sunlight shone through the giant oak tree leaves. The cool summer breeze blew through my long curly ginger hair as I picked leaves out. I swatted at a mosquito that landed on my bare freckled leg. Ripped jean shorts and a loose tank top with my bikini under had been my ensemble of choice during this summer. I may have dreamed of being a princess in a fairy tale, but I was just a naive country girl. Being as I was 18, I was set to begin college and get a proper education, my parents’ hope. My desire, however, was to get married and have kids but my parents would have none of it. Alas, these last two months at home would be bittersweet. I looked at Jason as he set up his fishing pole next to mine. Nothing was biting that day, as was the norm. I didn’t go for the actual fishing. I went to hang out with my friends. With both Maggie and Alex already gone to their respective universities, it left me and Jason. He brought Anna once or twice in the beginning this season, a friend of his family’s, but usually she was working when we all hung out. How I missed Maggie and Alex, but especially Maggie, my best friend. Still, I was thankful to at least have Jason to hang out with during the last couple of months. As I sat staring while he baited his hook, I noticed how though he was not my type, I was feeling... attracted to him? No, being half asleep must have been causing this delusion. But... his dark tanned skin glistened in the sun, his thick onyx hair cut short, and matching eyes serious as he concentrated on the hook. He wore a light-weight gray t-shirt and cut-off jeans. Noticing his strong neck and veiny hands brought a mysterious tingle into my body. Ew, what am I doing?! I admonished myself as I continued gawking. As if sensing my stare, he looked directly at me. His eyes met mine and I looked away quickly. Because why not make it more embarrassing for myself? He smiled mischievously but then, choosing to ignore the awkwardness, he began chit-chatting about college and the future and we settled into a pleasant state. The lazy late afternoon slowly transformed into dusk as shades of lemon, cherry, and tangerine radiated through the oak leaves. The sunset came and went, revealing the abundance of stars in the sky above. The cicadas sang their song as the full moon casted its gleam on the riverbank where we sat. “I’m going to miss these nights” I said with a sigh, looking up at the twinkling sky. “Anything else you’re gonna miss?” he replied, impishly. I looked over at him smiling slyly. “What do you mean?” I asked as my heart started beating a little faster. With that same wily smile, he moved closer. “Anything, or anyone, else you’re gonna miss?” I looked at him, wide eyed and unable to say anything. Bashful, with that same mysterious tingling sensation throughout my body, I made myself meet his dark deep eyes. Without realizing how or when it happened, we were even closer, so much so that I could feel the heat radiating from him. And before I could make sense of it, we were kissing. Passionately. We fell into one another, clothing cascaded away from our bare bodies. My skin feeling the cool of the grass and the fever of his hands. The music of crickets and the sparkle of fireflies swirled all around. The night more magical than my dreams could ever hope to be. Our serendipitous encounter started a nonstop romance for the next six weeks. Except Saturdays and Sundays, which I assumed were for his family time. I steered clear of bringing him home due to my strict mom and dad, as well as my two younger brothers being there. My parents expected me to remain a virgin until I get married. Hah, that’s out the window now! I giggled to myself. Jason did not take me to his place either. With him being only 6 months older, I surmised the discretion was for the same reason (his parents as well as with Anna staying there). Mine and his gatherings always took place on the same part of the riverbank. We would meet in the late afternoon, as we had in summers past, as friends hanging out. But those nights ended very differently, with fire and enchantment, before heading home in the wee morning hours. It was the fairy tale I had been dreaming of. One Sunday morning, I went upstairs to my room to get dressed when, suddenly feeling nauseous, I darted to the adjacent bathroom. There before me, mostly in the porcelain bowl, was the breakfast I just had with the family. Ew, gross, I thought as I began cleaning up. Bacon and eggs were normally my favorite. Weird. As I grabbed a roll of paper towels from the little cabinet beneath the sink, a tampon box fell and projected the cylinder wrapped products around the bathroom floor. Get it together, will ya?! I scolded myself as collected the scattered tampons. Then I stopped, realization hitting me like a ton of bricks. Scrambling to my feet and stumbling to the puppy themed wall calendar over the cabinet, my fears were confirmed. It had been eight weeks. I’m late, I registered nervously. I could hear my heart hammering in my head and my stomach turned as the room began to spin. I dropped the few tampons I had in my hand and rushed back to the toilet. Moments later, I laid on the cold bathroom tile, contemplating. What am I going to do? I stayed there for a while. As I ruminated though, I was surprised to find my panic was slowly transforming into excitement. Oh my God, I’m going to be a mom? I wondered in amazement. I needed to be sure. I timidly stood up and quietly opened the bathroom door to listen. My brothers must have been outside playing as the only sound came from my parents who remained downstairs chatting with one another. Not sure how long the opportunity would last, I snuck into my parents’ room nearby and rummaged through my mother’s things. Amidst her own tampons, pads, and other items I wish I could forget, I found a pregnancy test. Thank God! I skittered back to the bathroom and waited the longest three minutes of my life. *** I felt euphoric. I’m going to have a baby, I envisioned pensively. Not just any baby, but a baby with one of my best friends... Oh crap, Jason! I wanted to tell him right away so we could start planning. After splashing water on my face and brushing my teeth, I changed out of my normal summer attire. I chose a mid-length floral sundress, bare shoulders, hair down. Looking into the bathroom mirror, I approved of the princess that that was in the reflection. Instead of waiting until tomorrow when I would see him at the river, I decided to tell him right away. I would walk to his house as it was only a mile down the road and surprise him. I could see it in my head: He will run to me, and I will tell him. He will pick me up and twirl me around as we laugh and cry tears of joy. College-schmollege, my life was turning into a romantic comedy! I made it there in about 15 minutes. The pale-yellow two-story home sat quietly at the end of a little walkway made up of concrete squares. Vibrant green oak trees surrounded the property. Do the birds always sing so beautifully? I wondered as I floated to the front door. Nervous, I hesitated for a brief second before knocking on the white wood entrance. I held my breath as the door opened. There Jason stood, the father of my baby, never looking more handsome. I giggled at the surprise on his face. “Surprise!” I tittered. “Oh, hey...” he half laughed, and we hugged awkwardly. “Do you have a second?” I asked, so giddy I thought I was going to jump out of my skin. “Well, just a second, I was about to head out...” he seemed uncomfortable. I could tell this didn’t seem like the right time, but I just couldn’t wait. “I’m pregnant!” I whispered shrilly, putting my hands up in a prayer position in front of my smile. My sage eyes dazzled as I looked into his, widening like saucers, mouth hung opened. As I waited for him to say something, anything, I slowly saw my vision fading away. Instead of picking me up, he stood still in shock. Rather than twirling me, Anna’s smiling face came up behind him, waving to me. Jason and I couldn’t laugh together because she put her arms around him and lovingly kissed him in a familiar way. Tears did fall, my tears. Not of joy, but of dismay as I bolted from that house. My floral dress and ginger curls flowed after me as my fairy tale came crashing down.