A Family That Cannot Be Saved
1832 Words
WET FROM THE HEAVY RAIN, Aela walked towards her daughter's school and waited for her class to dismiss with the two large suitcases in her hand. People could not help but look in her direction wherever she went, and their eyes were full of confusion and pity for her.
Aela's mind was blank as she sat on the bench just outside the daycare center. The sky is now clear but her mind is still clouded as she can't process what happened to her.
Today was supposed to be a happy one, where she and her husband will celebrate one of the most important events of their lives. But instead of a celebration, she was greeted with betrayal.
Her husband who looked so perfect in her eyes suddenly became a merciless villain, even not caring about the child they made together. Just because he wants to be with a woman much younger than her.
Slowly, her hands touched the crevices on her face. From the reflection of her face on the parked car, Aela couldn't help but compare herself to her husband's mistress.
"Am I really that old?" she asked herself while tracing the lines on the side of her eyes, on her forehead, and the side of her lips.
Looking at her own self and comparing herself to Sera, Aela started to notice her flaws. "I don't look good enough for Ignacio. I haven't taken care of my appearance for years," she muttered under her breath.
She looked so exhausted. The dark circles under her eyes were so prominent, and the bones on her cheeks were visible. She just realized that she lost a lot of weight compared to before.
Aela was busy checking her flaws when she heard the bell of the daycare center ring. She hurriedly stood up and looked at every child walking out of the school.
"Ania!" she shouted when she caught a glance at her daughter's pigtails with pink ribbons.
The small child looked in her direction before a huge smile covered her face. "Mamma!" she spoke before running towards her mother with arms wide open.
Because of her small steps, Ania took a minute to reach her mother. She immediately hugged her but frowned when she noticed Aela's wet clothes.
"What happened to you, mamma?" Ania asked while pressing her mother's wet clothes repeatedly. "Did you bathe in the rain?"
Aela's small slowly faded as she remembered the reason why she was soaking wet. The sadness in her face didn't escape Ania's eyes.
"Why are you sad, mamma?" Ania asked as she tried to reach her mother's face with her small hands and short arms.
Aela nodded quickly. "Mamma just had a bad day, mi figlia," she lied before standing up, holding her daughter's hand. "We will stay in the museum's boardhouse for tonight, is that fine for you?"
The child pursed her lips. This is the first time they didn't sleep in their house, and she can feel that something is wrong. However, her innocent and young mind can't grasp the situation.
"Will Pappa stay with us in the museum?" she asked innocently as they walked towards the direction of the museum. It wasn't that far and riding public transportation won't be feasible because of Aela's appearance.
Aela tried to control her voice to sound normal. "No. Pappa will stay in our house. It's just the two of us in the museum."
"Did you and Pappa fight?" the child asked as she tried to understand the reason why they would stay in the museum. Her mother used to give reasons for everything they did, but Aela didn't give her anything.
Ania looked up at her mother and saw the conflicting emotions on her face. Suddenly, the child used her other hand to tug her mother's wet formal shirt.
"It's okay, mamma. Let's stay in the museum for a while," Ania stated before giving a warm smile to her mother.
Aela's worries faded away. She still cannot find the right way how to explain the happenings to her daughter. She was still innocent and the truth might make her heartbroken.
To lighten up the mood, Ania shared what happened in their daycare that day.
"We played tag in school, mamma! At first, it was Felly. But she ran after me!" Ania pouted while stomping her feet to the ground. "I became it until the end of the game. I can't chase anyone! Is it because I'm too small?"
Aela chuckled at her daughter before pinching her chubby cheeks. Compared to the children her age, Ania is smaller. One would think that she's still three years old because of her size.
"It's so difficult to run fast, mamma. I felt like I would lose my breath," Ania added while touching her chest.
Aela suddenly felt worried for her child's health. "Did you have difficulties breathing, mi figlia?" she asked her daughter. "We should have a check-up."
The child immediately shook her head. "It's normal, mamma. I was running too fast for a long time so I will really have heavy breaths," she answered. "Don't worry, mamma. This child is strong."
Ania even acted like a strong man, flexing her arms and biceps to her mother. "Roar! Strong Ania is on the way! Roar!"
Just a small act made the smile back on Aela's face. Her daughter never failed to make her happy. Ania helped her forget her problems. She's her light and hope.
That night, Aela tucked her daughter in bed. The room in the museum wasn't that huge compared to their bedroom in the house, but it was enough for the two of them.
It's a good thing that Arianne already left the museum before they arrive, because Aela's sure that she will receive lots of scolding from her best friend.
Aela grabbed for phone which is surprisingly still working even after the rain. She dialed Ignacio's number and hoped that he would respond.
However, after countless times, her calls were never answered. The phone kept ringing on the first trial before it couldn't reach the number anymore.
Aela bit her fingernails as anxiety washed over her. In her mind, she needs to save their marriage — their family. Ania cannot live in a broken family. She promised that her daughter wouldn't suffer the same things that happened to her.
THE NEXT MORNING, Aela sent her daughter to the daycare before going to the company that Ignacio leads. It was the same company that she inherited from her father.
"Good morning, ma'am," the security guard greeted her as she walked inside the company's lobby.
She greeted him back before riding the elevator that would take her up to the Chairman's office. Aela needs to meet and talk to her husband today, and to fix their problem immediately.
With a nervous heart, Aela opened the door. She was greeted by the sight of her husband resting on his swivel chair with his eyes closed.
"Caro," she called for her and walked slowly towards the table.
Aela didn't even reach the table when Ignacio opened his eyes. The two brown orbs were glaring at her. She can even see a handful of air going out from his nostrils heavily.
"Why are you here?" he asked with an annoyed voice before standing up straight, looking down at her wife.
Aela swallowed the lump in her throat before answering. "Let's go home together, caro. Our daughter is looking for you and—"
Ignacio slammed the table with his palms, making the contents bounce because of the force. "Go home together? I'm the only one who will go home, Mykhaela. Didn't I tell you that you can't live in my house anymore?"
"Besides, I told you that I don't want to see your face, so why are you here?" he added with a hint of insult.
Aela immediately defended herself. "Caro, please. Our daughter needs you. Let's just fix everything, okay?" she held his arms with pleading eyes. "I can forget everything that happened. Just take us back, please."
Without even listening to her words, Ignacio pushed his wife to the ground. Aela's knees hit the cold hard floor, sending pain through her body. She let out a groan of pain while touching the aching part.
"There's nothing to fix, Mykhaela. This marriage is beyond saving," he spit on her clothes before adding more words. "You seriously will stoop this low just to cling to me? I didn't know that you were after my wealth."
Aela's eyebrows furrowed. "I'm not after your money. Besides, your wealth came from me!" she stood up and pointed at him with glaring eyes. "This company came from me! The money in your accounts came from me! The house you're claiming came from me! Everything you have, from your head to toe, came from me!"
"This is all mine! Nothing came from you, gold digger!" the man shouted before calling the security
Two bulky men entered and grabbed both of Aela's arms. They dragged her out of the office as the woman tried to reach for her husband.
"Ignacio! Please! Think of our daughter!" she pleaded while her hands were holding the door frame so hard in order not to be dragged by the guards.
The man just became more irritated. "Take her out! I don't want to see her again! This woman is prohibited from entering my company from now on!"
"No!" Aela screamed and kicked her feet. "Ania needs you! My daughter needs a complete family!"
She slapped the guards' hands and tried to crawl towards Ignacio. "Please! I'll be a better wife. I'll be more beautiful for you. Just make our family complete again!"
But her words fell on deaf ears. The guards pushed her out of the company while she was screaming for Ignacio's name. No one dared to listen to her, even those who were working under her before she gave the company to Ignacio.
Aela stayed outside the company, waiting for her husband to come out. Afternoon already come but she still could not see his shadow.
In the end, she walked back to fetch her daughter, carrying a piece of bad news.
"Mamma, you don't look fine," Ania spoke when she got near to her mother. "Did someone hurt you?"
Aela couldn't help but cry. She hugged her daughter who was oblivious to the situation. "I'm sorry. We still cannot go home. I'm sorry."
The child hugged her mother back and caressed her trembling body. "It's okay, mamma. I can sleep in the museum for more days. Don't cry, mamma."
Aela sniffed and wiped her tears before looking at her daughter straight in the eyes. "Mamma will fix this, okay? We will stay with Pappa again. He will love us again. We'll be fine again."
Ania pursed her lips. "Don't be too hard on yourself, mamma. I'm fine wherever we stay," she smiled and kissed her mother's cheeks. "We'll be fine as long as we're together. I promise."
- Writer
