Failures

## all i want is love that lasts-

Mia looked out the kitchen window at the two figures in the backyard. Karlos was laughing, his mouth wide open, and Hannah was twirling around, her arms outstretched, her face in a wide smile. It was a sight Mia had become used to over the years, Karlos and his daughter, Hannah, playing together.

Mia had been dating Karlos since she was eighteen and he twenty-one. They had met at college and had been inseparable since. But, as much as she loved Karlos, Mia had never been able to shake her envy of the relationship he had with Hannah.

Karlos had had Hannah when he was just thirteen, with his high school girlfriend Ansley. Mia had never met Ansley, but she had heard stories about her from Karlos, stories of how Hannah had been a surprise, but one that they had both embraced with open arms.

Mia had always wanted a family of her own, but at twenty-one, her infertility struggles meant that it was unlikely she would ever be able to give Karlos the children he wanted. She knew Karlos loved her and that he didn’t care if they ever had kids, but Mia couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy when she watched him with Hannah.

Hannah was a snobby ten-year-old, but Karlos didn’t seem to mind. He treated her like she was the most important person in the world, and Mia wished she could find that kind of unconditional love with Karlos.

As Mia watched them, she felt the familiar wave of envy wash over her. She turned away from the window and sighed.

“Mia?”

Mia jumped at the sound of Karlos’ voice. She turned around and saw him standing in the doorway, a smile on his face.

“Hey,” she said.

“What’s wrong?” Karlos asked.

Mia shook her head. “Nothing,” she said. “I just…I was watching you and Hannah.”

Karlos’ smile faded. “Is this about us not having kids?” he asked.

Mia looked away. “Yes,” she said softly.

Karlos stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her. “It’s okay,” he said. “I don’t need kids for us to be happy. I have Hannah, and that’s enough for me.”

Mia wanted to believe him, but her heart ached with longing for something she would never have.

“I know,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Karlos kissed the top of her head and stepped back. “Come on,” he said. “Let’s go outside and join Hannah.”

Mia nodded and followed him out the door, her heart heavy.

## enchanted

Mia was in shock. She had just found out that she was pregnant at the age of 21, something she never thought was possible. She had been told years ago that she was infertile, and yet here she was, expecting her first child.

Mia had to tell Karlos, her boyfriend of three years. She had known him since they she was a teenager, and had been with him for most of their adult lives. She had seen him juggle the responsibility of fatherhood at the age of 13 when he had his daughter, Hannah, with his ex girlfriend.

Mia was nervous, she didn't know how Karlos would react. She took a deep breath and steadied herself as she walked into the living room where Karlos and Hannah were sitting.

'Hey,' she said, her voice shaking.

Karlos looked up at her with concern. 'What's wrong?'

Mia took a seat beside him and looked him in the eye. 'I have something to tell you,' she said.

Karlos nodded. 'What is it?'

Mia took a deep breath. 'I'm pregnant,' she said, her voice barely audible.

Karlos looked at her in shock for a moment, before his face softened and he smiled. 'That's amazing,' he said, his voice full of emotion.

Mia smiled back, relieved that he was so accepting.

Karlos then turned to Hannah, who was looking between her father and Mia with confusion. 'Hannah,' he said gently, 'you're going to be a big sister.'

Hannah's eyes widened and her mouth dropped open in surprise. 'Really?' she asked.

Mia nodded. 'Yes, really,' she said, smiling.

Hannah's face broke out into a huge grin. 'Yay!' she exclaimed, jumping up and throwing her arms around Mia in a hug.

Mia laughed and hugged her back. She was glad that Hannah was so excited.

Karlos smiled and put his arm around Mia's shoulder. 'We're going to be a family,' he said.

Mia smiled back at him, feeling a warmth she had never known before. She knew that no matter what happened, she and Karlos would be there for each other and their growing family.

## bigger person

Mia couldn't believe it. She had finally made it to the second trimester of her pregnancy, and she was only 21. After years of being told that she was infertile, it seemed like a miracle.

She was even more surprised when her boyfriend, Karlos, proposed to her. He was 23 and had been a father at 13 to his daughter, Hannah, with his ex-girlfriend. Mia said yes, and they got all 'lovey' with each other, embracing and sharing a kiss.

But then Karlos opened up to her about something he hadn't told anyone else. He had been physically and sexually abused at the age of seven by his older brother, and his brother's girlfriend had tried to rape him. He had also been raped by his ex-girlfriend when he was twelve, even though he hadn't wanted to have sex with her. That was when Hannah had been conceived.

Mia was filled with so many emotions. She was horrified at what Karlos had endured, but she was also filled with admiration for his strength and courage in coming forward with his story. She hugged him tightly, trying her best to comfort him.

'I'm so sorry,' she said softly, tears streaming down her face. 'I can't imagine what you've been through.'

Karlos looked into her eyes and smiled.

'Thank you,' he said. 'It means a lot to me that you're here for me. I know it's not easy for you to hear, but I'm glad I can share it with you.'

Mia nodded in agreement. Despite all of the trauma Karlos had gone through, he was still here, standing in front of her, and that meant a lot.

'I love you,' she said, her voice breaking.

Karlos smiled again and kissed her gently.

'I love you, too.'

## deathbed (coffee for your head)

Mia was exhausted. She was only 21 and already in the third trimester of being pregnant. It had taken years for her and Karlos to conceive, and when the news finally came it had been a relief.

Karlos, her fiancee, sat beside her on the couch, his arm draped over her shoulders protectively. As they watched a movie, a sudden sadness crossed his face.

Mia could tell he was thinking of his daughter, Hannah.

Karlos had been a father since he was 13, when his then-girlfriend Ansley had become pregnant. Ansley had raped Karlos when he was only 12 and she was 14.

'Sometimes I worry about her,' Karlos said softly, speaking of Hannah.

Mia nodded, understanding. 'I know you do. What are you thinking?'

Karlos sighed. 'I just want her to be happy. I want her to grow up with someone who will love and protect her the way I do.'

Mia reached out and took his hand. 'She's lucky to have you,' she said. 'I'm sure she's going to grow up just fine.'

Karlos smiled and kissed Mia's forehead. 'Thank you,' he said. He leaned back and looked at Mia, his eyes shining with love.

Mia smiled back, and for a moment all her worries melted away. She knew that no matter what happened, Karlos would always be there for her and their child, and for that she was grateful.

## only love can hurt like this

Mia screamed in agony as she felt yet another contraction. She had been in labor for hours and it was only getting worse. Karlos, her fiancee, was beside her, holding her hand and telling her encouraging words.

'You can do this, Mia. You're so strong,' he said, his voice shaking with worry.

Mia tried her best to focus on his words, but the pain was too much for her. She could feel the baby struggling to come out, and the doctors had given her a ton of medications to help, but nothing seemed to be working. Tears streamed down her face as she felt yet another wave of pain.

Suddenly, the door opened and Mia heard a familiar voice.

'Hannah! What are you doing here?' Karlos said.

Mia looked up and saw Hannah, Karlos's 10-year-old daughter from his ex-girlfriend, Ansley. Mia hadn't expected her to be here, but she was glad to see her.

'I wanted to be here for you,' Hannah said. She was looking at the baby, who was still not dilating fast enough.

'Why does it look so ugly?' she asked.

Mia was taken aback. She didn't know how to respond, but Karlos spoke up.

'She's going to be beautiful, Hannah,' he said, his voice filled with love and admiration. 'She's going to be the most beautiful baby in the world.'

Mia was overcome with emotion. After years of being infertile, she was finally having a baby. She was determined to make it through.

Finally, after 16 long hours, Mia gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. They named her Sadie Lynn.

Mia looked up at Karlos and Hannah, feeling a wave of love wash over her. Despite the pain of labor, she had never felt so happy.

The three of them gathered around the baby, marveling at her beauty.

'She's perfect,' Karlos said, tears of joy streaming down his face.

Hannah smiled, her eyes filled with love and admiration.

Mia looked at her family and smiled. She had finally gotten her miracle.

## bad idea right?

Mia stared at the woman in front of her, her heart racing in her chest. She was a few years younger than Mia, and yet, she was the mother of her fiancee's daughter. Mia had known about Hannah since the day she and Karlos had met, but this was the first time she was meeting her mother, Ansley.

The two women stared at each other for a moment, before Karlos stepped in between them. He was holding their newborn daughter, Sadie Lynn, in his arms, and Mia could only imagine the emotions he was feeling.

'It's nice to meet you,' Karlos said to Ansley, his voice strained with emotion.

Ansley nodded, but her eyes were fixed on Hannah. 'It's nice to meet you as well,' she said, her voice barely a whisper.

Hannah stepped between her father and Ansley, her eyes wide with curiosity. She was only ten years old, but Mia could tell she was already wise beyond her years.

'It's nice to meet you,' Hannah said softly, her gaze still fixed on Ansley.

Mia watched as Ansley's eyes filled with tears, and she extended her arms to give Hannah a hug. Hannah hesitantly stepped into her embrace, and Mia felt her heart swell with emotion.

This was the first time that Mia had seen Ansley and Karlos together since Hannah had been born, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. It was clear that both of them still held a special place in each other's hearts, even after all these years.

Mia stepped forward and took Sadie Lynn from Karlos' arms. She looked down at her daughter and smiled. This was the start of something new, and she was grateful for the chance to start over with her new family.

Ansley stepped back and wiped the tears from her eyes. 'I should get going,' she said, her voice still unsteady.

Karlos nodded. 'Take care,' he said, his voice thick with emotion.

Ansley smiled at Hannah one last time before she turned and walked away. Mia watched her go, her heart heavy with emotion.

Mia took a deep breath and turned to Karlos and Hannah. 'Shall we go home?' she asked, a smile on her face.

Karlos smiled and nodded. 'Let's go,' he said, his arm looping around Hannah as they began walking.

Mia followed them, her heart full of hope for the future.

## arcade

Mia watched from the comfort of her living room, Sadie Lynn cradled in her arms, as Karlos and his daughter Hannah appeared on the television. The interview was about men being abused by females, and Karlos was telling his story.

Mia felt a sense of pride as she watched, knowing the story Karlos was telling was about her, and the daughter she had given birth to just three days ago. She had been told she was infertile all her life, so the fact she had been able to conceive and give birth was a miracle.

Karlos began the interview by talking about Ansley, his ex-girlfriend who had raped him when he was just twelve years old and she fourteen. He then moved on to the subject of finding out he was a father at the age of thirteen, to his daughter Hannah.

Hannah interjected at this point, her voice quiet, but her words strong and clear.

'I was ashamed at school,' she said, her voice quivering, 'People didn't know what to think when they found out.'

Karlos nodded, his eyes never leaving her face.

'I know,' he said, his voice soft, 'It was hard for all of us.'

Mia felt a lump in her throat as she listened, her heart aching for the pain both Karlos and Hannah had suffered at the hands of Ansley.

Karlos then turned to the subject of his parents finding out about the pregnancy.

'When my parents found out, they were furious,' he said, his expression sad, 'They wanted nothing to do with me or Hannah. I had to take care of both of us on my own.'

Mia felt a deep sense of love and admiration for Karlos as she listened to him recounting his story. She knew he was a strong and courageous man, and her heart swelled with pride.

The interview ended soon after, and Mia watched as Karlos and Hannah left the studio. She looked down at Sadie Lynn, who had fallen asleep in her arms, and smiled. Karlos had gone through so much, but now he had a beautiful daughter, and a wonderful partner in Mia. She was sure that together they would be able to raise Sadie Lynn in a loving and nurturing environment. She snuggled her daughter close, and kissed her forehead.

Mia kept her eyes firmly ahead as she walked down the street, her arm linked with Karlos's and her five day old baby girl Sadie Lynn cuddled in her arms. She could feel the eyes of the paparazzi and news reporters on her skin, burning like the sun on a hot summer day. Karlos had been invited to speak on a TV show about men being abused by females, and he had brought his daughter Hannah with him. Mia knew the show was about Karlos's ex-girlfriend, Ansley, and the thought of it made her stomach turn.

As they walked, the reporters began to shout out questions.

'Karlos! Are you going to press charges against Ansley for what she did to you?'

Mia stiffened, her heart racing. She watched as Karlos took a deep breath before he answered.

'Maybe,' he said, his voice steady.

The reporters pressed on.

'Do you think Hannah will be okay with her mother going to prison?'

Mia glanced down at Hannah, who was walking alongside them. The little girl's face was set in a determined frown.

'I don't know,' Karlos said. 'It's not up to me to decide.'

Mia's heart ached. She wanted to protect her family from all of this, but she knew that wasn't possible. All she could do was stand by Karlos and Hannah and offer her love and support.

The reporters continued to bombard them with questions, but Mia tuned them out. She focused on putting one foot in front of the other, and the feel of Karlos's arm around her shoulders.

When they finally arrived at their destination, Mia was relieved. The interview was over, and she could finally breathe again. She glanced up at Karlos, and saw the same relief in his eyes.

Mia thanked the reporter for their time, and the four of them walked away. As they headed home, Mia felt a strange sense of peace. For the first time, she felt like they were finally a family.

Mia stared at her new daughter, Sadie Lynn, in awe. Just seven days ago, she had given birth to a healthy baby girl after years of being told she was infertile. She still couldn't quite believe it.

She was about to turn to tell her fiancee, Karlos, the news when her phone rang. She could hear Karlos talking in the other room. Mia picked up the phone and heard a woman's voice on the other end.

'Hello? This is the adoption agency. We have a special case we'd like to discuss with you,' the woman said.

Mia felt her heart leap into her throat. She had almost forgotten that they had put their names down on the list for adoption. 'Yes, we're interested,' she said, her voice trembling with excitement.

The woman on the other end of the line explained that there was a thirteen-year-old boy in need of a home. He had no family and had been in the foster care system for several years.

Mia looked over at Karlos, who had just finished the call. He was looking at her anxiously, as if he knew what she was about to tell him. 'What do you think?' she asked him.

Karlos smiled and reached out to take her hand. 'I think we should do it,' he said.

Mia smiled and nodded. She knew Karlos had been a father at thirteen when his ex-girlfriend, Ansley, had raped him. She had no doubt he would be a wonderful father to this boy.

'Let's do it,' she said.

The two of them called the adoption agency back and told them they would take the boy. They didn't get to meet him yet, but they knew they were making the right decision.

Mia then turned to her daughter's half-sister, Hannah, who was ten years old. 'How would you feel about being a big sister?' she asked her.

Hannah's eyes lit up with excitement. 'Yes, I want to do that!' she exclaimed.

Mia smiled. She knew that Karlos and Hannah would do a great job raising this boy. She couldn't wait for the day when they finally got to meet him.

Mia walked into the room, her heart pounding in her chest. She was finally about to meet the boy they were about to adopt. She clutched the hand of Sadie Lynn, her week-old daughter, and Karlos, her fiancé, held onto her other hand. She glanced over her shoulder to see her daughter, Hannah, walking alongside them.

When they entered the room, Mia saw the boy. He was tall, with a mop of dark curls. He was wearing a pair of jeans and a t-shirt with a cartoon character on it. He was much younger than she expected.

The boy's lawyer was talking to him in hushed tones. Mia could barely make out what he was saying, but she heard the word 'mother' and the boy's eyes filled with tears. She felt her heart break for him.

Karlos cleared his throat and the boy looked up. Mia was surprised to see a strength in his gaze that belied his age.

'Hello,' Karlos said gently. 'My name is Karlos and this is my fiancée, Mia. We're here to meet you and to talk about the possibility of you coming to live with us.'

The boy nodded, his gaze never leaving Mia's. She felt a wave of emotion wash over her.

'My name is Draevon,' he said quietly.

The lawyer then explained the situation. Draevon had been born to a young mother who had died in labor. His father had been in school and had abandoned him.

Mia felt her heart swell with compassion for the boy. She glanced at Karlos, and he gave her a small nod. She knew he was feeling the same way she was.

'We would be honored if you would come and live with us,' Mia said. The words felt strange coming out of her mouth, but she meant every word.

Draevon smiled. 'I would like that,' he said.

Mia felt a wave of relief wash over her. She had been worried that the boy wouldn't want to come and live with them, but it seemed like things were going to work out.

She looked around at her family, and she knew that they were all going to be okay. They were going to be a family.

Hannah stared at the boy standing in front of her. He had an anxious look in his eyes, as if he was unsure of what was going to happen next. He had his hands clasped tightly in front of him, the knuckles turning white as he grasped them.

She took a deep breath and tried to steady her voice. 'My name is Hannah,' she said. 'I'm ten years old.'

The boy nodded, his eyes still wide. 'Hi, I'm Draevon,' he said.

Hannah smiled. 'It's nice to meet you,' she said. 'My dad, Karlos, wanted me to tell you about the house. We don't have many rules. We just want everyone to be happy and safe.'

Draevon's brow furrowed. 'How old is Karlos?' he asked.

Hannah hesitated. How much should she tell him? She took another deep breath. 'He's twenty-three,' she said. 'But he was a father before he was even a teenager. His ex-girlfriend, Ansley, got pregnant when she was fourteen and he was thirteen.'

She watched as Draevon processed this information. He seemed to be trying to make sense of it all.

'Ansley didn't plan to have a baby,' Hannah continued. 'But she did, and my dad had to take responsibility for me. He was only a kid himself, but he did the best he could. He loved me even though it was hard for him.'

A tear slipped down Draevon's cheek. Hannah reached out and touched his arm. 'It's okay,' she said softly. 'Things are different now. We're a family. We just adopted you and Mia just had a baby, Sadie Lynn, eleven days ago.'

Draevon wiped his eyes. 'That's so cool,' he said.

Hannah smiled. She was glad he was starting to relax. 'We all love each other,' she said. 'Karlos is a great dad and we all look out for each other. You're going to be part of that too. We'll all learn together and be there for each other.'

Draevon paused for a moment, then nodded. He seemed to understand what she was saying.

Hannah smiled. 'Welcome to the family,' she said.

Draevon smiled back. 'Thank you,' he said.

Hannah knew things were going to be alright. She was sure that Draevon was going to fit right in with the family. She couldn't wait to get to know him better.

## daylight

Karlos looked at the young boy in front of him with a mix of emotions. He was 13-year-old Draevon, who Karlos and Mia had adopted a few days ago. Karlos had an instant connection with him, even more so than with his biological daughter, Hannah, who was 10.

Karlos smiled as he thought about the little bundle of joy he and Mia had welcomed into the world just 17 days ago - Sadie Lynn. It had been a miracle, considering Mia had been infertile at 21, but the two of them had kept their faith and been rewarded with a beautiful baby girl.

He could see that Draevon was looking at him expectantly, and Karlos realized he had been lost in his thoughts.

“What did you say?” Karlos asked, a little embarrassed.

Draevon narrowed his eyes. “I asked if you liked how Hannah was brought into the world.”

Karlos felt a wave of sadness wash over him. He had been just 13 when he had found out that he was going to be a father, and it had been a difficult time. His ex-girlfriend, Ansley, had raped him when he was 12, and she had been 14.

“Oh, I love it and hate it at the same time,” Karlos said, his voice heavy with emotion.

Draevon nodded, as if he could understand what Karlos was feeling.

“Are you going to marry Mia soon?” Draevon asked, his eyes wide with curiosity.

Karlos smiled, the sadness replaced with joy. “We have been planning it,” he said. “We just need to find the right time.”

Draevon smiled, and Karlos felt a warmth spread through his chest. He was thankful for the chance to be part of this family - it was a blessing he had never expected to have.

“I’m glad,” Draevon said. “I think it’s important for families to stay together.”

Karlos nodded. “I agree,” he said. “I want us all to be happy.”

Draevon seemed satisfied with Karlos’ answer and he went back to playing. Karlos watched him for a few moments, feeling a wave of love for the young boy.

He was grateful for this chance at a new life, and he was determined to make the most of it.

Draevon's heart raced. With the baby in his arms and the knife in his hand, he tried to cut the apple, but he only managed to cut his finger. He had no idea what to do. His mind raced as he tried to think of a solution, but his thoughts were interrupted when he heard a voice coming from the living room.

'Draevon, are you okay?' Mia asked, her voice full of concern.

Draevon took a deep breath and stepped out of the kitchen. Mia was standing there with Karlos and the new baby, Sadie Lynn. Karlos had a look of concern on his face, but he was still smiling.

'I'm okay,' Draevon said, trying to sound brave. He held up his hand, displaying the small cut.

Mia sighed. 'Oh, sweetheart. Let's get that cleaned up.'

Draevon followed her into the living room. Karlos handed over Sadie Lynn to Draevon, and he cradled the tiny baby in his arms. He felt a sense of pride and responsibility as he held her, and he couldn't help but smile.

Mia grabbed a first aid kit and went to work cleaning and bandaging up Draevon's finger. As she worked, she asked Draevon if he wanted to babysit Sadie Lynn for the day.

Draevon nodded, his heart pounding with excitement. He had never been asked to babysit a baby before. He was a little nervous, but he was also very excited.

'I'll be careful,' he promised, and Mia smiled.

'I know you will,' she said. 'Just make sure you keep an eye on her. She's only 20 days old, so she's still very fragile.'

Draevon nodded and took Sadie Lynn back to his room. He put on some music and started to think about what he wanted to do with the day. He thought about playing some video games, but he decided that wasn't really a good idea with the baby in the room.

He opened his diary from when he lived in Burbank and started to read. As he read, he remembered the people he had met and the things he had done. He remembered his girlfriend, Marli, and the foster parents he had lived with.

After a while, he put the diary down and started to think about what he could do with Sadie Lynn. He wanted to make sure she had a good day. He decided to put on some cartoons and give her a bottle. He watched as she smiled up at him, and he couldn't help but smile back.

He spent the rest of the day playing with Sadie Lynn and reading her stories. He couldn't believe how quickly the day had gone by.

When Mia and Karlos came in to take Sadie Lynn back, Draevon felt a sense of loss. He had grown so attached to the baby, it was hard to let her go.

Mia smiled at Draevon and said, 'You did a great job today. I'm so proud of you.'

Draevon blushed and said, 'Thanks. I had fun.'

Karlos smiled and said, 'We'll have to do this again soon.'

Draevon nodded and watched as Mia and Karlos left with Sadie Lynn. He couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. He had done it. He had taken care of a baby, and he had done a good job. He smiled and went back to his room, feeling a sense of accomplishment.