1.10-This is how the story goes

After weeks of searching and after several empty promises of call backs from potential employers, Emmanuel had finally landed himself a job in the art field. He worked under Gus Mgonivov, an upcoming artist who painted surrealism pieces in their more pure and unadulterated form. Emmanuel knew he would not become Picasso overnight, but he was willing to work hard to get there and Gus was willing to be a mentor and teach him the tricks of 21st century artistic expression.

Meanwhile, Melanie was suffering at work. She was putting in more hours, but the lack of a social life mixed with her lack of sleep was causing her to make terrible decisions. For instance, she had decided to publish this anonymous celebrity’s letter on her blog. The celebrity professed he had fallen in love with his look alike and Melanie had given the advice that he should follow his heart and go after him. Her followers, who thought the story interesting, didn’t believe it was real and began to unfollow her blog. She was chewed out at work for it, too. Winthrop was upset that she had made such a careless mistake on the behalf of the company and her career. Melanie  had promised him it would never happen again.

What was going on? Had she reached her peak in the world of literature? She had hoped not…she had so far to go.

She was resting on the couch, her head thrown back and her eyes closed when Emmanuel had walked in and spotted her.

“Babe, you okay?” he asked setting his work gear by the door and stepping out of his shoes.

“Life sucks…I mean, completely.”

Emmanuel laughed and sat next to her. “What happened?”

Melanie turned her head in his direction and sighed. “I’m a failure. It’s totally okay if you decide you want nothing to do with me before I hit rock bottom.” She turned to look up at the ceiling again. “I’m heading there now. First class I might add.”

Emmanuel just stared at her and then chuckled lightly. “I take it today wasn’t a good day.”

She just shook her head and put her hands to her forehead. “God, I don’t know why I even try so hard. It’s like no matter how much time I put into writing I’ll never be good enough.”

“Sssh, hey – don’t say that. You’re a great writer,” Emmanuel replied. “Don’t doubt yourself.”

“It’s true…I work and work and I fail and fail.”

Emmanuel frowned and then his eyes lit up. “Hey, I know what you need.”

Melanie turned to him. “A best seller?”

“No,” he laughed, “Well yeah, I guess, but no. You need a night out. We can hit the town tonight, just you and me.”

Melanie sighed. “Yeah, but we don’t have the money for that. Everything’s been kind of tight lately.”

Emmanuel waved her off. “Don’t worry about that. I’ve sold a couple of paintings at work so I have enough to splurge on my girl.” He smiled at her as she turned to him with a look of excitement in her eyes.

“Really? We’re going out?”

“Yes, so get dressed in something sexy.” He winked at her as he got up from the couch. He hoped tonight would help relieve some of her stress, or at least make her happy for a little while.

————-

“Woooooooo!” Melanie screamed as she tossed back another shot of a mixture she had stopped caring about glasses ago. She was feeling and looking good. To hell with her job. If they didn’t appreciate the rare gem that was her then she didn’t need them.

She was saying these exact words to the gentlemen beside her as she tossed back another glass. He smiled politely at her as she continued on with her story.

“Those bastards don’t know a good thing when it’s just sitting there smack dab in their face,” she carried on smacking her forehead with such force she almost knocked herself backwards off the bar stool. “It’s so dehumanizing how they want you to have all these great ideas. I mean…I’m human too!”

“Woah there,”Emmanuel said from behind Melanie as he caught her by the waist stopping her from toppling over.

Melanie turned around to see who had grabbed her and smiled. “Manny! Where have you been? This gentleman here,” she said waving drunkenly in the direction of the guy next to her, “Has been keeping me good company, haven’t you buddy?” She patted him a little too hard on the back and Emmanuel removed her hand before she truly caused a scene.

“I think I need to get you home. Let’s go Mel.”Emmanuel pulled her up and proceeded to exit the bar area. He gave everyone an apologetic smile on their way out the bar.

_____________

Melanie had never drank so much in her entire life…except that one time her mom bought a gigantic box of Capri Sun juice pouches when she was 8. She seriously went to town on the whole thing and ended up having a stomach ache that wouldn’t go away for hours. She felt terrible then and even terrible now as she lay in bed for the third time this week.

Emmanuel said he experienced something similar a few years back when he drank so many alcoholic concoctions he didn’t know how he ended up in Bridegeview…438 miles away from Oasis. Melanie laughed at the joke but held her sides from the pain.

She vowed to never drink again…or at least that much. A glass of some strong amber liquid each day was all she would have…maybe.

After about a few more days of feeling terrible, she decided to go see if there was anything the doctor could offer her to make her feel just a tad bit better.

After the appointment she decided to forgo work the rest of day and she headed home where Emmanuel was busy painting some beautiful work of art on his easel.

“Hey babe, home for lunch?” Melanie rarely – if at all- came home during the day.

She shook her head and sat her bag down in the chair by the door.

“You okay? Still feeling sick?” He dropped the paint brush and made his way over towards her.

“No, doc said I’m fine.”

“Doc? As in doctor? What did he say?”

Melanie chuckled to herself and then her face changed into something more serious immediately. She looked up at Emmanuel and managed to cough out, “I’m pregnant?” before passing out.

“Pregnant?” Emmanuel asked into the air before catching Melanie before she hit the ground. “Pregnant?”