SWEET REBORN

Delia finished the last artwork, and gazed at it feeling a sense of satisfaction at her handiwork. She wiped the sweat damped on her forehead, feeling a sense of completeness washing over her. She glanced at the other artworks in the room. This was just her final piece of the artwork and couldn't wait to take the artworks to showcase it in the exhibition. Delia carefully packed the artworks with brown papers. She packed the last piece to ensure it dried well and it's protected. After packing the other artworks, she packed the last piece of art before taking all the artworks inside her vehicle at the back seat. She went back to her workshop, and quickly changed out of the apron, cleaning the paints on her exposed arms and face. Delia rushed back to the car and started the engine as she drove speedily to the exhibition events. As she was driving, Delia adjusted her dress, and unpack her hair as it cascaded over her shoulder. She tucked the hair behind her ear before giving the driving a full concentration. Delia's mind went to her husband, and wondered if he had left the office because her mother, Maria, would definitely want to see him in the exhibition. She dialed his line but he didn't answer. Trying the line again, he didn't pick the call. She began to wonder why he's not picking, she just wants to know if he's at the event already because he promised to be there. A few minutes later, she arrived at the exhibition venue. Delia parked her car and hopped out. She hurriedly rushed to the back seat and brought out the artworks, avoiding the eyes of the press and onlookers. She backed the back entrance to the exhibition center, and hastily found her mother, Maria who was overseeing the artworks that were displayed. "Mother," Delia called, to get her attention. Maria gave her a glance then nudged at her personal assistant to take over the artworks from Delia, and the artworks are to be displayed. Delia watched the personal assistant leave, and hoped for a word of praise from her mother instead Maria just gazed at the previous artworks. "Mother," Delia called, trying to initiate a conversation as she saw an unreadable expression on her mom's face. Maria walked towards the other artworks, and Delia followed her closely. "This artwork. It talks about desperation for love, I could see in the little girl's eyes" Maria said, and Delia gazed at the artworks her mom's eyes were fixed on. "Did I do poorly," Her heart sank seeing her mother talking about the artwork in a neutral way. "No dear, it's perfect. The girl is just like you, I can see that same desperation in your eyes," Maria glanced at her. Before Delia could respond, Maria already turned around leaving. Delia turned around to see her husband, Austin and her sister, Sophia. She forced a smile on her face, approaching her husband as she gave him a hug and he hesitated, his response cold. She disengaged from the hug smiling as she faced Sophia. "I brought all the artworks; take a look at it and let me know what you think about it," Delia said. "And did you include my initials, and ensure nothing happened to the artworks? Today is a very important day." Sophia responded in a cold demeanor. "Sure, I'll monitor the artworks and ensure nothing happens to it before the exhibition," Delia said. Sophia walked past Delia as their shoulders collided and Delia fell. Sophia stumbled almost falling when Austin rushed to her, grasping her in his arms. Delia stood up dusting herself as her eyes widened the way Austin held Sophia tenderly. She looked at the blood trickling from her wrist, then looked at Austin who was now staring at her. "Austin," Delia called, and he hastily let go of Sophia. "She almost fell on the artworks and the artworks need to be protected," Austin said, and Delia nodded, understanding his points. "It's fine. I'll be back," Delia said, heading to the washroom to tend to her bruised wrist. Delia got to the washroom and washed the blood off her wrist. She takes a tissue from the tissue roll, cleaning her wrist. Her mind reel with the way Sophia spoke to her even though that won't be the first such will happen, and how her mother spoke to her. Ever since she reunited with her mother, things haven't been the same for her. She could vividly remember how she was brought to her parents house after going missing for five years to see Sophia dressed in a princess gown. When Delia was done tending to her wrist, she went into one of the stalls. She had a private moment there and when she was done, about to leave the stalls when she heard her sister's voice. She opened the stall door a little bit to see Sophia bending over the sink with Austin stroking her back. Delia's neck tilted in confusion wondering what her husband was doing in a female restroom? Did he know that she was in the restroom? "Are you okay Sophy?" She heard his voice laced with concern, and watched as Sophia rinsed her mouth, straightening up as she cleaned her lips with tissues taken from the tissue roll. Delia could barely comprehend what was going on. "Darling, I'm not fine," She heard her weak voice, and the word 'darling' felt like a punch to Delia. Her eyes widened when she saw Austin pulling Sophia into a warm hug, and their lips met in a deep and passionate way. Delia eyes shut as if she has been stabbed multiple times. When Delia opened her eyes, Austin was rubbing Sophia's tummy, planting soft kisses on it. "How's the baby? I know it's the baby that's making you sick and tired but don't worry, I'm with you through this journey," He said, softly, and the way Sophia nodded in agreement smiling, stabbed Delia again all over. Delia stumbled out of the stall, staggering as she held onto the wall, her eyes misty. "D-De-Delia," Austin stuttered. Sophia maintained the sly smile on her face. "W-Wh-What just happened?" Delia stuttered, her mind refusing to accept the scene she just witnessed. "Austin, our baby hates noise, so I think I need to leave. She can't understand because she hasn't gotten pregnant before." Sophia's words were just the final blow, and with that she left. Delia held her tummy, whimpering harder as her heart kept breaking more. It was as if she was trapped in a dream with knives directed at her. Austin tried talking to Delia but she hurriedly left the washroom, giving him no room to talk. She shouldn't let what she just witnessed ruin her emotions, and her mother is expecting the best from her for the exhibition. Delia took several deep breaths, calming herself as she went to supervise the artworks she brought. During the exhibition she could barely concentrate. Her mind is already consumed by the scene she has witnessed in the restroom. Weakness and tiredness has tried consuming her but she has to maintain her composure no matter how much it wants to kill her. After the exhibition, Delia hurried out. She needs to confront Austin. Seeing him, she hurriedly grabbed his hand, taking him to the storage room as she locked the storage door. "Austin, when did it start?" She asked, her voice cracking and barely above a whisper. "Last year, Delia," He whispered. Delia felt her legs trembling as she held onto the wall. "And I wasn't aware of it, Austin dir God's sake! We are married, and I'm carrying your child!" She yelled, as her emotions got the best of her. She had initially planned to inform him about the pregnancy but he was too tired to listen to her and now she caught him cheating on her with no one else but her sister. She felt as if she was punched in the face. Why her sister of all people? Are there no girls no there? The pain was becoming too much for her to endure alone. "Y-Yo-You are pregnant?" "Austin, I'm pregnant. I'm carrying your child. You have to end whatever relationship you have with Sophia, and I'll pretend that what happened in the restroom never existed," Delia whimpered. "Delia,I love her," "No, you love me. Austin, you have always loved me. You can't love her, it's absurd for you to be in a relationship with two sisters, and they're both pregnant for you. Moreover I thought Sophia has a fiancée, she's engaged to him so how come the pregnancy is yours" She said, locking her eyes into his eyes "I already conducted a DNA test and the child is mine. Delia why don't we go and conduct DNA on your baby to be sure it's mine, it's healthy and we can do scan," Delia shut her eyes, "No man has ever touched me," She cried, hugging tightly as if her life depended on it. "I trust you so let's go, Delia" Delia hesitated, but Austin's enthusiasm made her become more weak and she didn't know when she agreed, with the hope he will end things with Sophia when they come back from the hospital. They left the exhibition center and headed straight to the hospital. Throughout the ride to the hospital, she felt a sense of unease and can't really explain the feelings she was experiencing. She was taken to a room and seeing medical equipment, she realized something was about to go wrong. "Terminate the child," Delia heard that familiar voice and wondered how Sophia got to know that she's in the hospital, and how she knew about her child. "What baby are you terminating?," Delia asked as soon as she found her voice. Before she thought of running, she was pinned down on the bed. Delia struggled to free herself, feeling betrayed, and trapped as she felt her world spinning. As the procedure began, Delia saw the joyful smile on her sister's face, standing in the corner of the room, holding Austin's hand. Sophia's eyes sparkled with triumph, and Delia knew she had been played. With her last ounce of strength, Delia saw the smile on Austin's face, a smile that seemed to say, "I'm glad you're dying." And in that moment, Delia knew she was nothing more than a pawn in their twisted game. As darkness was about to cloud her, she hoped and prayed to be reborn.