Bliss

Okay, so life isn’t always fair. Well, not to me anyway. I’ve been through a lot in the last five years, and I’m only twenty-three. I never wanted to fall in love; my heart totally took the wheel of the boat and guided me that way. Love, yea, love ruins all.

Five years ago, I graduated from high school, with honors. I really studied a lot; there was no one to talk to or even interact with, sadly. But it helped me a lot; got me into one of the best schools in the country, NYU. To be away from my controlling parents, and this little town in the middle of Jersey was my goal, and I got it.

But five years ago was when my luck went down hill; towards the end of the term, before graduation, my art teacher, (I was an art major,) got into a bit of an accident and we got a sub for the rest of the year. A really hot, gorgeous, beautiful, sub named, Mr. Way. He saw something that no one else saw in me, talent. Plenty of people saw my work as very good, but what was my future with art? Was I going to be a hippie in a studio apartment, with paint stains all over my hardwood floor, or was I going to be a high end artist living in a penthouse on park ave in the city? I didn’t know and that scared me.

But, Mr. Way said I was going to make it what I love, art, because I was that talented. And I believed him. Seriously, he could read the phonebook and lie and I’d believe him.

Anyway, Mr. Way and I started hanging out more; I’d help him clean up after my class since it was my last class of the day and he had a break. We got to know each other; too deep for any student, teacher relationship.

I told him about my parents, how they didn’t like that I was going to school with a major that is so vague; (But I could understand that, they didn’t want me living on the street. They were strict about everything, what I did, who I saw, where I was; I was eighteen for God’s sake,) and about his divorce with a devil of a women. (They stupidity got married right out of high school; it lasted a year.). I wasn’t able to be like a normal teenager. So, I never told them about Mr. Way; I told them I got a part time job in the schools library.

But I was sharing coffee, talking about different artist that turn us on. We had the same interests in T.V shows, like Bates Motel, and Once Upon a Time. We were nerds when it came to The Grimm Brothers tales.

Stupidly, only three days before graduation, we were talking and laughing and feeling really good:

“No, no, I can’t wait to get out of here. It’s just, New York is open, free-”
“Perfect for you cause you are… perfect.” He interrupted me, I didn’t mind at all. Perfect. Me, perfect. I turned red, and looked at my hands. His rough, calloused fingers brushed on mine. My head snapped up so fast, I thought I pulled a muscle. “You are, I know you don’t believe me, but you should. You're a brilliant, talented, open minded, funny, beautiful girl who has so much worth in this world. Anyone is lucky to just have you say hi to them. You. Are. Perfect.” With that I sat up in my seat and placed my lips on his. But then I thought, Why the hell am I kissing my teacher. My mid twenties teacher, who probably is taken with a supermodel girlfriend. I pulled away, tripping over my feet and the stool I was sitting on, trying to get my stuff together.

“I’m sorry, I need to get home, my mother-” I turned around, coming face to face with his chest. I felt those same hands that touched mine, grab my face. Pushing my chin up, he pressed his lips against mine, again. I wasn’t forcing him, he wasn’t forcing me. My hands grabbed the bottom of his shirt. I didn’t know what this was, but I really didn’t care. He was kissing me. He pulled away slightly, pressing his forehead to mine.

“Bliss,”

“Yea, it was- oh you mean, yes my name is Bliss.” I stuttered. He smiled, laughing a little.

“That, I don’t know what that was, but, God was that good.” I nodded, agreeing with him, yes it was good. “Why is this so hard?” He sighed.

“Because it’s something worth working for?” I tried to press my lips back on his, but he pulled away.

“I’m older than you.”

“Only by six years.”

“I’m your teacher,”

“Only for two more days.”

“Your going away to school.” His voice whispered.

“I’ll only be an hour away, by train.” I stepped closer to him.

“But, you will have guys there that are your age.”

“They aren’t you.” I bit my lip, hoping he would turn around.

“Bliss, you're okay with dating your ex- teacher?” I nodded.

“Yes, yes. I don’t at all.” He nodded.

“Thank God,” he wrapped his arms around my body, pulling me closer, never wanting him to let go.




We ended up going out for a year; he was my first kiss, my first date, my first boy to really talk to. My first time having sex. We spent a lot of time in my little studio in the city. I didn’t want my parents seeing Gerard, yes his name is Gerard Way. They knew him from my school. So we stayed in the city, until they came to visit me.

Gerard raced around the kitchen chasing me with some pancake batter on his hands. I squealed like a little girl, racing into the living room, jumping over the couch. He laughed, following me.
“Come here!” He laughed grabbing me around my stomach. He pressed his hand on my face, getting batter all over me. I groaned turning to face him. “See now we match.” He smiled, pressing his lips on mine. Of course, they walk in at that time. My mother gasped, stepping back, almost dropping the pan of food she brought.

“Mom!” I yelled.

“What are you doing? Why is Mr. Way kissing you?” She screamed, she slammed the food on to the floor, glass splattered everywhere.

“Um, Mrs. Class, I am happily with your daughter; we aren’t doing anything illegal; she is graduated from high school, over the age of seventeen, and I’m not her teacher anymore. I am fully allowed to be with Bliss.” He explained.

“Over my dead body! Bliss get your stuff, you’re leaving I’m calling the school you’ll be leaving and going to different college.” I stood there gasping.

“Mom! You can’t tell me what to do! I am staying here with Gerard at NYU.” She came closer grabbing my shoulders.

“You’re LEAVING!” She wailed. I pulled out of her grip.

“No!”

“Bliss, I’m going to go, call me. I’m not going anywhere; I just want you to work this out with your mom without me here.” He leaned down kissing my forehead. “Call me tonight.” I nodded watching him leave my apartment.

I didn’t know that was going to be the last time I’d see him. My parents stayed the night; my mother and I fought about me dating a man six years older than me. After early hours into the morning, we all finally went to bed. Well, that’s what I thought. My parents own a little clubish restaurant; they know a lot of people; like large bouncers that would do anything for them to keep their job.
In the middle of the night, I was ripped out of my bed, constrained into a car, and taken to Maine with my parents. They enrolled me into a local college and the same bouncers that kidnapped me for my parents watched me constantly; I could barely take a shower by myself. I was cellphoneless; they wouldn’t let me dial a phone, they plucked me away from Gerard without a goodbye. But that’s not the bad part. When they took me away I was two weeks late for my period.
They took me to a doctor and he said I was about three weeks pregnent.
My parents wanted me to get rid of it, but the doctors wouldn’t kill it without my consent. I refused. If I wasn’t going to be with the one I really loved, than at least I have something that I will always have to remind me of him.

I had little Emma Way was born on July 26th 2012 . She had Gerard’s beautiful dark hair, and his pixie nose. She was perfect. I named her Emma, cause’ Gerard always wanted a little girl named Emma. Anything for him. I thought that I was going to fail as a parent; she’d grow up hating me, getting piercings in places no one should see unless loved by a partner or at a doctors office, she’d do drugs, and leave me alone. But as I got the hang of things, I figured it out. I understood her and she understood me.


Now, she is four, and asking about her Daddy. I tell her Daddy was taken from us, he’s still out there and he will find us one day. But that’s only my hopes. I just finished my masters in Maine, I finished school with honors, again, and finished early because it is my main worry about my daughters future. So, I was offered a new job back in Jersey at Princeton as an Art Professor. I was excited, a hundred grand a year to take care of my little girl, have a house, and send her to the best schools in the state.

At four years old, my Emma was already going to be attending pre-school. Thankfully, Princeton does have a school on campus for students and teachers kids. So, she was on the same grounds I was if anything was to happen, I’d be minutes away.
My first day, I dropped her off at her class, kissing her little cheeks.

“Mommy, don’t!” She giggled. I poked her tummy, pulling her closer.

“Mommy can do whatever she wants, cause I don’t get to see you for five hours! Aren’t you gonna miss me?” I said against her cheeks.

“I will Mommy, but you will see me then. I’m not going anywhere don’t worry.” She kissed my nose and walked into the class. I smiled and shouted I love you! She answered back, Ditto. Ugh she had my heart by her little hand.
I turned around, crashing into my boss.

“Oh, I’m so sorry.” I gasped stepping a decent amount away from him.

“No, no, It’s fine I didn’t mean to scare you; I’m Jim Kinner.” He held out his hand; taking it, shaking. He smiled leading me out towards the main campus, explaining some of the features this school holds for its students. He was very impressed with my work and my resume. He thought I was a kid genius; no I just worked very hard.
When we got to the art department, he guided me towards the chairmans classroom.

“Okay, so this is Professors Way’s class; he teaches mostly the seniors here at this school. He is a very talented artist, and teacher.” Way. Way. Not my Way.

“Um, I’m sorry, what is his first name?” I asked almost losing my balance.

“Gerard.” My heart stopped. I couldn’t breath. I couldn’t- I couldn’t go in there. “Come on he’s expecting us.” Jim smiled, opening the door. I stood behind him, trying to hold my tears. He knocked on the door, waiting for Gerard’s soothing voice call out. Opening the door, Gerard stood from his desk.

“Hey, Professor Kinner, how are you?” He smiled. God, he still looked so good. He hasn’t aged at all. A tear rolled down my cheek. He was right in front of me and I couldn’t run to him.

“Hi, I have the new Professor here, Professor Class.” His eyebrows pulled in. I revealed myself from behind Jim. Gerard dropped all his papers. His body stepped back like he was pushed across the room.

“Bliss.” His voice cracked. I nodded, stepping forward. He fell to his knees, crying.

“Gerard, I’m here.” I ran over to him, he grabbed me pulling me close to him.

“How! What are you doing here, you’re the new teacher? Are you okay? What did they do to you? I’ve been trying to find you? But you’re here.” He rambled in my ear. I started to cry.

“Gerard, God, they took me away, I was watched and told what to do. They controlled everything; who I saw, what I did, where I went. I wanted to find you I tried, I did.” Gerard pressed kisses against my cheek.

“I’m here now love, I have you now.”

“I’m guessing you guys know each other.”

“Class, I don’t know if you remember me telling you my one regret in life, not trying to find the love of my life that was taken from me hard enough; well, this is her.” I smiled, burying my head into his chest breathing in his scent; the scent I have been missing for five years.

“Oh, Gerard, this is the girl that you told Casey about; the one that you loved more than anything.” I squeezed him tight.

“Yes, this is her. I lost her five years ago to her crazy parents that I hope have lost track of you?” He looked down my head. I shook it, sighing and pulled me close. “They aren’t taking you away from me again. Over my dead body.”

“Gerard, Bliss, why don’t you take the rest of the day to get back to knowing each other, plus you gotta tell him about, you know.” I bit my lip. His daughter. Gerard looked down.

“Who, Bliss?” I took his hand, guiding him out the door. Once it was closed, I grab his hand tighter.

“Now, I don’t want you to run, please,” He looked concerned. “Gee, you have a four year old Daughter. Who is right now in the pre-school over by the C building.” I said, quickly. He stepped back.

“What?” He put his hand on his forehead.

“When they took me away, I started feeling sick, I was throwing up every morning; I was craving the weirdest things, Bananas and Ketchup. We went to the doctor and they said I was three weeks pregnent. Her name was Emma Way, she is four years old, her favorite color is blue, she has your hair color and your nose.” Gerard looked sick. “I know it’s a lot to take in; We meet again, you have a daughter you never knew about. I understand, if you want to take your time-”

“No, no, I’m not upset that I have a daughter; I’m upset that your parents didn’t let me know that I had one. That they took you away from me, that I missed four years of her life.” He yelled. I nodded. Yea, I felt the same way. “I wanna see her. Does she know anything about me?” He grabbed my hand guiding me out the doors.

“Yea, she knows what you look like; I still have pictures of us around. Plus, she asks if you’re ever going to come back to us. I tell her that you're trying to find us and hopefully you will soon. She knows that you love to draw and paint, just like she does.” His face softened. He nodded as we walked up to Building C. He breathed deep. I walked inside asking for my girl. Emma ran once she saw me.

“Mommy, you’ve been gone like an hour, you miss me already?” She giggled as she ran into my arms.

“Always baby. I have someone for you to meet. This man, who does he look like?” Gerard stood there with tears in his eyes.

“He looks like the man in the picture you gave me of Daddy, is that Daddy?” I nodded. She smiled. “Hi Daddy,” she said sweetly. Gerard chuckled, tears rolling down his cheeks.

“Hi there, Emma.” I put her down, she walked over to him, extending her hand.

“Nice to meet you, I’m glad you found me and Mommy.” He took her hand.

“Me too.” He went down on one knee. “I am very happy I found you and Mommy, that’s what I’ve been trying to do since I lost her.” Emma tugged on Gerard to give her a hug. And so he did, lifting her from the ground and holding her tight against his chest. He looked at me, over her shoulder. I cried happy tears, making all the painful tears I’ve cried seemed they never existed; my family was put back together again.

Notes

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