Part 6 - Life's A Bitch

The buzz around the restaurant faded into a murmur and he could feel the spear of reality stab his chest, pierce his flesh and rip through his heart. He could not feel anything but the thumping in his chest growing harder and harder after every breath. He took a long drag of his cigarette, trying to get back to the present and assess the situation as objectively as he possibly could. He felt that same feeling he had standing on top of the hill, the crushing feeling of heartache. He was not sure how to react or feel once her statement finally sunk in. The murmurs now turned to echoes of non-descript chatter then it slowly came back to a clear buzz of conversation. He could hear her asking him if he was alright or that maybe he needed a glass of water.

"Er, no I don't need a glass of water", Matt said to her, realizing that the waitress was standing at their table waiting for his answer.

"I need a double shot of scotch on the rocks, please."

"Are you okay babe?" she asked, not knowing how he would react to the question.

"I don't know. I thought you were…never mind. It doesn't matter now. So what were these last six weeks, just sex and a bit of fun? So this is all a lie?" he asked, shifting in his chair nervously at what her answer might be.

"No sweetie! Of course not…I have had the best time in such a long time but its complicated babe. Iqbal, my husband, and I have been having problems for about a year now. He..I.., I caught him with someone else and since then we have been trying hard to patch things up but it's been useless. Then we met and things just happened so fast, and I was happy that it did. Happy like a school girl again. I have not felt this way with anyone, not even Iqbal and it felt so right, being with you, even right now. It feels so right! I don't know what to do baby."

"So why are you telling me this now?" Matt asked.

"Because he has been away the last three months and he arrives home tomorrow night. Then it's going to be difficult to see you."

"Fuck babe! I..I don't know what to say. I'm lost for words. I thought this was going somewhere and I never once thought you'd be married. If I had known, I wouldn't have..well, you know!"

"I know and I'm sorry baby. I want this as much as you do, I really do and I wish things were different." Jasmine said and he knew she was genuine about this, about them, whatever "them" meant. She was serious and somehow he believed her.

"And there's something else baby", and now she looked really worried.

"I'm four weeks pregnant."

"Oh Fuck!" he said as he slammed back the scotch.