Reclaimed Fate

Months Later

SARA’S POV

The apartment was quiet when I walked in at 5:10 a.m. I opened it with my keys only to meet Brenda in the parlor.

She was sitting on the couch, hands crossed, eyes fixed on her screen. She packed her hair in a bun, a glass of orange juice in her hand, no word from her.

I walked in, “Good morning.”

She hesitated before replying, “Good morning.”

I pulled my heels off, one down and then the second.

“Where are you coming from?”

I expected this earlier.

I didn’t say a word, I went to the kitchen to boil water I’d use in bathing Anna. Brenda walked in almost immediately;

“Where did you go last night? Mom asked me to come stay with your daughter.”

“First off, my daughter yes but she’s your niece. Hope it sticks in your brain, and it’s your duty as my senior sister to look after your niece if I can’t.”

“You still haven’t answered my question, where did you go last night?”

“I was out with Maya, we went to grab a drink, and I’m twenty five, can you stop monitoring my life?”

“Maya was at the club.”

“Where else do we usually grab a drink, isn’t it at the club?” I replied to her immediately in an aggressive tone.

“Watch your tone young lady, I never asked your husband to file for divorce on you.”

My heart sank, no one knows about this yet, I was planning to tell Mom today.

“How come you know he filed for divorce?”

“He told me.” She said immediately then covered her mouth with her hands.

“He told you? Alright.”

I checked the water, still hasn’t boiled.

“Why are you looking so dirty?”

“I’ve told you, I was with Maya. Can you stop this question and answer? It’s becoming annoying.”

“Maya posted on her i********: story around 2 AM, she was alone.”

Fuck this internet is something else.

“That’s because I went out for a walk.”

“Your lipstick wiped off when you went to take a walk? Your hair looks messy from the midnight breeze?”

Thank God, the water has boiled. I said nothing, I took the water and went to Anna’s room. I locked the door, brought out my phone;

“Girl your i********: story almost exposed me today, I told her I went for a walk at 2 AM when you took a snap.” I pushed the send button and sighed with relief.

I woke Anna up;

“Hey baby,” I whispered while tapping her.

She turned and lay back.

“Baby, it’s time for school. Do you want to be late today?”

“Good morning, Mom.” She said immediately she stood up.

“Remember, we have to greet God first, then pray before greeting anyone,”

“I forgot, Mom. I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine darling, now what do we say?”

“Good morning God, I love you.” She said.

She came down from the bed, we knelt and said our prayers.

“Good morning mommy.”

“Good morning my beautiful baby,” I replied to her greeting then left a kiss on her cheek.

I freshened her up, gave her breakfast while I prepared to take her to school, after dropping her off I drove back home. I stopped at the laundry shop, took the clothes that had been there for weeks, and came home.

I got home, began arranging and sweeping the house, my phone beeped.

Maya.

“Brenda called me to confirm if you were at my place, I told her to stop pocking into your life and yes you spent the night here.“

I smiled, that’s my Maya for you.

“Thanks girl, I owe you one.” I hit the send button.

It’s 8:42 AM, I rushed to take my bath to avoid going late to work, packed my breakfast into my box, and left.

At 9 AM I was at my company, I stopped by the secretary’s office; “Bring in the files in 5.” I said and left for my office, I settled then began picking at my food waiting for the secretary to bring the files for today.

Someone knocked at the door twice;

“Who’s that?”

“It’s me, Ma’am. I’m here to report today's file.”

“The door is open.”

She dropped the file and left, I tossed the food into the trash can. My hand went across each file carefully, making sure no errors were made before leaving for the meeting I have with some business partners.

———

It’s been three weeks since that incident and I’ve been feeling weak, I’ve lost a lot of weight, at this point I don’t know if it’s just stress. I told Maya earlier this morning and she suggested I get a pregnancy test since I used no protection.

It is a stupid idea, but I’d do it.

I closed from work early today, while coming back from work, I stopped at our hospital to do a test, but my doctor isn’t on site. I got a pregnancy test stick from them, I bought two just to be certain.

I stopped at Anna’s school to pick her up, then we headed home. After eating and reading I put on her favourite show before going into the bathroom.

I clicked the door lock, the stick in my hands. Seconds later I checked, two pink lines.

Positive.

The air in my lungs vanished, my heart sank, and my shaky hands dropped the stick.

Not again.