NEW HEARTBEATS
1163 Words
Alison’s POV
“Alison”, my stepmom, called this time.
I summoned courage and opened the door. I was so surprised to see my stepmom jumping in excitement. I took a deep breath, excited that they weren't knocking because I was discovered to have gone out.
"Congratulations to us, Alison. Your billionaire husband has agreed to marry you and we are free from our debt", she said in excitement.
"Wow", I said softly, partly grateful that I was not caught, but very bitter about this bad news.
"Ain't I fortunate? I don't have a choice, do I?", I chuckled but in pain as I stared at their faces.
"We've been over this, Alison. Keep your mouth shut and don't say a word about this.", Dad instructed sternly.
"But I don't want to marry him", I shut my eyes in disgust.
My dad grabbed my hand and pulled me out, dragging me as I cried after him. He took me to the pond outside while smelling stagnant water but no fish. He dipped my head in the pond for a few minutes and pulled it out .
"Are you getting married to Mr. Brunsen or would you rather die?", I didn't say a word as he asked. I kept crying and he dragged me to dip me in again and I shouted.
"Yes! Yes!!" I shouted out out of fear. I was trapped, my dreams of escape extinguished.
"Good", he said as he left me lying on the floor.
"Yay! Congratulations Mrs. Brunsen. Mom, we have a wedding to plan.", Stacie mocked.
They both laughed and left me lying there helplessly. I cried myself into a stupor until I didn't have the strength to get up. I mustered the strength to get up and take a shower and I lay in bed.
It was past noon already and I had planned to see Lee and Brenda at noon. My phone began to ring and it was Brenda.
"Hi Aly, where are you? We have been out here waiting for you" , she said.
"I'm so sorry. I'm not sure I'll be able to meet you guys today. I don't feel so good. I was really tortured tonight. We'll have to reschedule, please.", I said weakly.
"Oh darling. I'm so sorry. Please take care of yourself. I'll call back later to check on you. Lee is saying hi...."she didn't finish talking before Lee interrupted and took the phone from her.
"Aly... I'm so sorry. Please stay strong."
"I will. Thank you so much guys." I wanted to end the call but I wanted to let them know what happened earlier in the day.
"Guys, you won't believe what happened last night", I said softly.
"What happened?" Lee asked desperately.
My voice trembled with a mix of excitement and guilt. “I went to a bar, guys. I met a man and… something incredible happened.”
Brenda shouted with curiosity. “What? Alison, how did that happen? You’ve got to tell us everything.”
I took a deep breath. I felt a bit better, as I recalled the experience. “He protected me from the perverts in the bar, and there was this undeniable attraction between us. We… We ended up spending the night together.”
Brenda gasped. “You had a one-night stand with a stranger?”
"You're kidding, Alison. How did you even leave the house? I don't believe you", Lee laughed.
“I'm not joking, Lee. After I met with you guys and I returned home, my dad told me he was marrying me off to the wicked Mr. Brunsen to clear his debt. I had no choice, the pain was too much, I had to do whatever would make me feel happy. Before I finally accepted my fate to get married to that old man."
"Oh my... Alison! This is a lot. Wow!", Brenda exclaimed.
“This is not a conversation we should have over the phone. I hope you feel better soon so we can meet. For now, take your time to rest.”, Lee ended the conversation and as I shut my eyes, my mind was filled with memories of that night of passion. My heart ached with longing for a man whose name I didn’t even know. I laid in bed in pains, both physical and emotional pains.
The entire jubilation and preparation went on in the house for days. My dad celebrated his freedom from the debt he owed so excitedly, but my stepmom’s excitement was because of the fact that they were finally putting me away.
I knew I had to accept my miserable fate, but each passing day deepened my depression, and the weight of my impending marriage bore down on me like a heavy shroud.
The days went by speedily. I had the most miserable birthday ever and it was two weeks past already. I kept getting weaker and sicker as the wedding date drew closer. I finally had to seek medical attention before it got really worse.
“Pregnant?”, my eyes popped open at the doctor’s diagnosis.
“How? Why? When", I asked myself, as I wondered.
"Yes. Congratulations and from the scan, I could see three babies ", The doctor responded.
"Three?", I exclaimed. I was speechless. Is being pregnant not bad enough? Why does it have to be three?
I stood there confused and heartbroken. I rushed immediately to meet my friends in tears.
"Just one night and you are pregnant with triplets? How did that even happen?", Brenda exclaimed in shock the moment I told her.
I couldn't say a word, neither did Lee. He just kept looking at me.
"You are supposed to be getting married soon. How do you intend to hide this pregnancy? It's already some weeks old.", Brenda asked with concern.
"Lee...I need that birthday gift now. You need to help me run away on my wedding day. Just do something", I put myself together and spoke with courage.
"If my dad or this Mr.Brunsen finds out about this pregnancy, they'll hurt me and my babies. I really need you guys now more than I ever did. ", I continued.
"I've been waiting for you to get to this point. I knew my suggestion would finally make sense to you.", Lee said with so much satisfaction.
"But how do we trace the father of your children?", Brenda asked.
"I don't have any idea. I don't even know if I'd recognize him if I see him again.", I replied sorrowfully. "I've gotten myself in a big mess and it's all my father's fault. This is why I must go very far away from them."
"How about you check the bar again? If he is a regular, you might just meet him.", Brenda suggested.
"OK, I will, but not with hopes though." I responded.
I, Lee and Brenda went to the bar that night, in search of the mysterious man, the father of my babies.
- Writer
