Page 6 of In a Perfect World
“You guys can’t be serious,” my brother finally chimed in.“You can’t honestly be asking Triana to marry someone that she doesn’t love.I mean, you just can’t be.”
“What better than to marry your friend?”my mother asked, finally shedding light on the ambush that this was.“Friendship often leads to love, and it’s a better option than letting your hormones dictate your future.”
“Are you guys even listening to yourselves?”I practically squawked.“Are you seriously suggesting that I marry a man that I’m not even attracted to in hopes of eventually falling in love with him?”I looked back and forth between my parents.“You cannot be serious.”
“You’re twenty-four,” my mother remarked like I was already knocking on seventy’s door.“It’s time to start thinking about having a family.”
While I’d never had anything against having a family, incredulousness had me in its grip.“Who ever said that I wanted one?”I shot back, not caring how personally they might take it.“Who ever said that I wanted a husband or kids?I’ve worked really hard for my degree, and I’m not going to just set it aside becauseyouthink it’s time that I get married.”
“Well, of course, you’re going to have children,” my mother snapped.“How can you even say such a thing?”
“It’s okay if she doesn’t want to have kids,” my brother said, trying to defend me.“And if she doesn’t, then the last thing that she should do is have them, don’t you think?”
“That’s enough,” my father bit out.“We are not going to discuss you two not having children as if that’s even an option.”
I had no idea where this was coming from, but I was not going to allow it to continue.While I was grateful for everything that my parents had done and continued to do for me, the price for that gratefulness wasn’t my future.I was not going to marry a man that I didn’t love or have children that I might not want just to satisfytheiropinion of what was expected from their children.The new movement had already taken so many choices away from me, so I was not about to allow my parents to take more of them.I love them, and I respected them, but I was not about to let them guilt me into a life that I didn’t want, no matter how much it might hurt them.
“And I’m not going to discuss how you two think that you have the right to dictate our futures,” I fired back.“On what planet do you guys think that you have the right to tell us who we should marry and whether or not to have children?”
“We are your parents,” my father snapped.“We are your parents, and not only have we provided a good life for you, but I’d like to remind you that we still make your lives possible.Do not forget, you work for us, Triana.We pay your salaries.”
“Then I quit,” I practically snarled, making my brother step in.
“Okay, whoa...hold up,” Tomasco said to the table.“Let’s...I think it’s time for everyone to calm down a bit.”
Before either of my parents could say anything, I said, “Maybe you’re right, and I think it’d be best if I left.”
“You will not leave-”
“I am leaving,” I repeated, cutting my father off.“It’d be neither productive or comfortable if I stay, and I’m not interested in experiencing any more of whatever this is.”
“You’re being disrespectful,” my mother huffed, and it took everything in me not to scream at the top of my lungs.
“No, mother,” I replied coolly.“Disrespectful would be making decisions about my life without consulting me, and then going on to dismiss my wants completely.”
“Triana, you will sit and finish your dinner,” my father ordered, but I had more backbone than that.
“No, I will not,” I told him.“I’m going home.”
Before anyone could say anything more, I stood from my seat, then left the kitchen, stopping only long enough to grab my purse and coat.Once I was in my car, I called Sonia to schedule a girls’ night, ASAP.Luckily for me, Sonia was always down for some drinks, and so we quickly made a date for tomorrow night, and I couldn’t wait.
Finally heading home, as childish as it was, I ignored my parents’ phone calls and texts, having had enough of them for one night.
