“I Want to Marry You, But I Want My Own Kids. Send Him to His Dad. Santa Will Be a Problem”

Jake had always been the kind of guy who paid attention to details. So, when he first saw Emma in his psychology class, he couldn’t help but notice her. She was hard to miss with her constant fidgeting and the way she seemed to be in perpetual motion. Her short, pixie-cut hair bobbed up and down as she moved, making it difficult for Jake to focus on the lecture.

It wasn’t until the third week of classes that Jake finally got a good look at her face. She turned around to ask him for a pen, and that’s when he saw them—her striking blue eyes. They were the kind of eyes that could make you forget your own name. From that moment on, Jake was hooked.

They started talking after class, and it didn’t take long for them to become inseparable. Emma was a single mom with a five-year-old son named Max. Jake admired her strength and independence, but he couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy whenever Max was around. He wanted Emma all to himself.

One evening, as they were sitting on Emma’s porch, Jake decided to bring up the topic that had been gnawing at him for weeks.

“Emma, I love you,” he began, “and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. But there’s something we need to talk about.”

Emma looked at him, her blue eyes filled with curiosity and a hint of apprehension. “What is it, Jake?”

“I want to have kids of my own someday,” he said, his voice trembling slightly. “I want us to have our own family.”

Emma’s face fell. She had always known this conversation would come up eventually, but she had hoped it wouldn’t be so soon.

“Jake, I love you too,” she said softly. “But Max is my world. I can’t just send him to live with his dad. And what about Santa? Max believes in Santa Claus, and I don’t want to take that away from him.”

Jake sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I know, Emma. But I can’t help how I feel. I want my own kids, and I don’t think I can be the father Max needs.”

The days that followed were filled with tension and heartache. They tried to make it work, but the issue of having their own children kept coming between them. Emma couldn’t bear the thought of losing Jake, but she also couldn’t imagine a life without Max.

One cold December evening, as they were decorating the Christmas tree with Max, Jake made his decision.

“Emma,” he said quietly, “I think it’s best if we end this now before it gets any harder.”

Emma’s eyes filled with tears as she nodded. She knew deep down that this was the right decision, but it didn’t make it any less painful.

Jake packed his things and left that night. As he drove away, he couldn’t help but glance back at the house one last time. The sight of Emma and Max standing in the doorway, illuminated by the soft glow of Christmas lights, would haunt him for years to come.