Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

Jerlina looked at the man lying on her lap, playing with her fingers. She prepared dinner that night since he seemed so out of it. After dinner, he asked her to join him to watch television and he didn't seem to be watching that comedy sitcom either.

"You can talk to me about Emma if you want, you know..." she said caressing his hair. "Good memories, bad memories... I'll listen..."

She won't mind much, and it would help him if he talks about Emma. Jerlina also wanted to know what Jeremy actually thinks of Emma. And if she knows of that, she might rightly point out how Emma had manipulated him and how the signs were earlier there that he ignored with his love for her.

Jeremy was in deep thoughts, but it was not about Emma. He didn't want to be thinking about Emma today since this is the day Jerlina said that she'd give him a chance.

He was actually thinking about what he should call her.

He wanted to give her a unique nickname. Jerlina is a nice name but it is long. And Jer is out of the question although that is a very good shortening of her name. Linny is what her family calls her and he didn't want to use that either. Bobby started to call her 'Chippy' and that's juvenile. 'Luna' is her title and he didn't want to make that her name.

There is Honeybuns... but there might be others with that pet name.

Something unique... something only I call her...

Her voice made him snap out of his thoughts.

"I am not thinking about Emma," he turned and lied on his back, facing her. "I was thinking of your name... Anikó... It is not a very common name, is it?" he asked. 

Since she calls him using his middle name, he can call her with her middle name too. He probably could use the variations of Anikó like Panni... But...

He wanted her name to be starting with 'J' like his. He liked the nickname others gave him - 'TJ'. Triple Jay... she could be the first J in triple J – Jerlina's JJ... Isn't that amazing? But Jerlina is a little long. 

Joel & Jerlina , Jerlina & Joel... J&J...

Jerlina wouldn't imagine even in her wildest dreams that this big guy seemingly in distress was actually thinking of a couple-name for them.

Why is he suddenly asking about my middle name?

"It is not a common name... It's of Hebrew, Japanese, Latin, Sanskrit origins... So, it has more than one root and is used mostly in Hungarian speaking countries," Jerlina shrugged. "But there is an interesting story behind my name..." she said and he was interested.

Jerlina leaning on the couch casually rested her elbow on the arm of the couch. Jeremy was lying on her lap.

"My grandpa was the one who insisted on this name... but my mom hated it. I mean, she HATED it. She didn't want that name for me but my grandpa didn't back down. They fought so much making dad worry... My grandpa loved my mom more than my dad, although dad was his son..."

"No way!" Jeremy sat up.

"Yes, grandpa said that himself," Jerlina whispered like a secret. "I remember well."

That is the truth. Her mom loved her grandpa like her father and her grandpa stayed with them until her mom died. Her mom died when she was two years old and she remembered how her grandpa would sigh every time he remembered her.

'She should have lived longer,' he'd say. 'I would've exchanged my remaining life with hers if I could.'

Jerlina then proceeded to tell him how both of them then had a competition. 

"The clothing store in their town would display the same color of clothing by the window each day. So they decided that the one who guessed the display color of that store the next day would be the winner. Both of them chose three colors. And..."

"Your grandpa won?" Jeremy laughed. "What a weird way to name a baby... So, who gave the name Jerlina?"

Jerlina laughed along. She found that weird too. "So, my mom was not happy she lost and she demanded that she chooses my first name herself. My mom's dad's name was Jerome and her mom's name was Elena. And so..."

"Jer and Lina – Jerlina... That's interesting..." Jeremy was really impressed.

She is amazing... even her name has such an interesting story behind it.

"What about your name? Is there any story behind it?" Jerlina asked and he stood up. 

"Hmm... nothing much... My dad refused to acknowledge me as his son and forbade her to use his surname and so my mom used a shortened version of his name as my first name... And maybe that's why she never called me using that name...That name probably reminded her of the bitter fights she had to give me a status," Jeremy sighed and held out his hand.

Jerlina's heart skipped a beat. Jeremiah never acknowledged him?

"Your mom wasn't married to..?" She got up and he went silent. Watching his broad back, she followed him on the stairs.

"My mom was never married... That guy was a sales representative back then and my mom was a naive girl from a small town... he already had a family and..." 

"Oh?" Jerelina's heart almost stopped.

And I called him a b*stard! What have I done?

"I'm sorry," her eyes clouded and she held the hem of his shirt.

I should have listened to my grandpa's advice not to curse at anyone for any reason. Sorry, Grandpa..!

Jeremy paused turning the doorknob of his bedroom. He has dealt with his past in his own way and he didn't know why this little one is apologizing.

"...I am sorry for calling you a ba-..." she didn't want to repeat that word again. "I didn't know- but that's not an excuse... I shouldn't have..."

Jeremy wanted to laugh at the woman holding back her tears. She's too pure-hearted.

But seeing her holding his shirt and looking pitiful, he got another idea.

"Yeah... you shouldn't have..." he placed his hand over her shoulder. "Coming from your mouth, I was sooo distressed I cried for three days straight... But I forgive you for you did not know what you did...And -"

"I'm sorry..." Jerlina really felt bad. To use such a hurtful word on someone when nothing was under his control...

"Did you take your pain medication?" he asked seeing her entering his room in her deep thoughts.

"No," Jerlina shook her head.

"Go, take your medication and come back. We'll talk more..." he said and she nodded.

  He watched her leaving to her room and regretted sending her off. He should have made her sit on his bed and brought the pills himself. 

But now... She'd realize that she was about to enter his room and would sleep in her room.

Ah... why am I so... stupid? We could have spent our fourth night together.

He stepped inside his room. But then he decided to wait by his door.

She might come back... Yeah, she might...