THE EX WIFE'S RECKONING

Chapter 16

I’m bleeding under this rain. Can the world see? See through the rain that there’s a well of tears drooling from my eyes, just pain, of regrets, the pain of being a mortal full of mistakes.

I have been waiting for an answer. But it won’t come today. Can someone out of the blue tell me what to do? Something like; “stop! Go this way.”

It feels like I am a sinking ship in my own pool of mistakes, and the things I can’t control. Will things be okay? I showed the devil its way in. I shouldn't have asked for that ink.

That ink on paper. Am I selfish? I am just a girl. A mortal at that. Do we all make mistakes too? Yeah. We do?

Fire and water intertwined with her conscience. Some time ago, it was hot desire Vs pure love. Today, it is guilt and her unborn baby. Perhaps, a bastard child as the world wanted her to believe. She was even more confused than the world itself.

They say time heals all wounds, but these wounds cut so deep. Time may not

She thought of how to avoid the press on her way to the airport. The worst was how to escape her mother. If her mother suspects, Damian will have the news in a split second and do something silly. Perhaps cancel her flights and take her into captivity.

“I don’t know!” she whisper with a faint voice with both palms forming a cocoon to hold her head from her oxipod, pressing the flesh on both arms against her ears, firmly and her elbow held parallel to each in the air, lowering herself to the flow with her back sliding down from the wall, till her ass met the bare floor.

A posture that sent both knees facing the roof, while her feet were rooted on the floor.

At this point, she had no choice but to leave with just her flight tickets and her regular casual jeans, short pants and sleeveless milky-coloured vintage shirt. Her hair? Of course, unkempt. Not even a handbag did she consider taking along.

Then, she wore the customised sandals she was fond of to ward off suspicion. Finally, her muffler should cover her face properly to avoid courting attention from the press.

Breathes in. Exhales… She walked towards the balcony wearing a not-too-excited face. Her mother never misses sitting on the balcony.

She bumped into Mrs Laurent and jerked a step back on hearing her mother mention Damian before dropping off the call, stealing through her soul through her eyes like she had seen her long-awaited menopause clocking in there.

“Hey, beautiful, your hair is rough. I just spoke with your Damian, he’ll be here in a matter of 30 minutes to pick you up. Wait, sweetheart. Don’t tell me you're stepping out with Damian dressed like a mini-slut.” She muttered unapologetically, giving her a scornful look that demanded a no for an answer.

Naomi stood up, tilted her head to one side and explained, “Mom! Must I remind you that I am a girl in class? How ridiculous would I feel walking with a responsible man in these.”

She waves both palms from her head to her thigh. “I will change as soon as I am back. I want to reach the bank quickly to upgrade my account. I will be back in 20 minutes.” She assured her mother.

“But Damian will be here 10 minutes after you return, you should get going already. You know how he dislikes waiting for your pointless makeovers.

“Bye mother..” only distant echoes could be heard as she was out of sight now.

She arrived at the airport exactly 5 minutes into her flight. Rushed up with the clearance process and settled in with a heavy sigh of relief. That sigh spoke volumes only she could explain.

The flight took off at exactly 11:00 am. Finally, she has left the world behind her, soaring like an eagle in the sky.

One of the first things she wanted to do when she arrived in New Jersey City was, keep her name from the world’s lips.