Chapter 5: Broken Vow And Shattered Dreams
1072 Words
Victoria, seeing what was happening, filled with shock and tears streamed down her cheeks.
Melissa ran after Sebastian trying to gather her gown, “Sebastian, please don't leave me.”
Sebastian removed his arm from her grip. She tried running after him again but was blocked by his mother, Beatrice.
“You disgust me! I knew you were not good enough for my son. You broke his heart and now you want him to take responsibility for your unborn child? You're so shameless. I don't ever want to see you near my son again!”
Scarlett, Melissa's best friend who also happens to be her bridesmaid ran towards Melissa who was now sitting on the floor in her tears.
“How could you be cruel? How could you betray Sebastian.” Scarlett tries to catch up with Sebastian as she calls out his name. Sebastian has driven off with his mother from the venue.
“Melissa, my child. it's okay,” Victoria comforts her.
“Sebastian! Please come back.” Melissa loosened her mother's grip as she ran out of the church.
The whole guests were in turmoil. Some took pictures of what happened, posting on social media while some recorded live.
***Three weeks Later***
Melissa kept calling Sebastian, but eventually, his phone was turned off. All she could feel was regret. She rubbed her belly, reflecting on the memories she shared with Sebastian. His romantic proposal in the middle of campus, their matching tattoos of their initials on their fingers, and the countless times he showed her love.
Victoria, who is worried about Melissa, interrupts her from her thoughts.
“Melissa, I'm worried about you. You stopped going to college, you don't want to see a psychologist and you're avoiding giving your statement to the police to help with the investigation.”
“I'm a laughing stock right now. My face is all over social media. I can't even face going to school out of shame.”
“Hey, don't say that. No matter what has happened, you need to stand up for yourself and for the baby.”
“Until I put this child to bed, I'm not going to college. I'm also thinking of giving it up for adoption.”
“What! No way am I letting you do that. My grandchild? It's your flesh and blood. You'll live to regret it if you follow that path.”
“I'm willing to risk it, mum.”
****Eight Months Later*****
“Wow, what a beautiful baby girl.” Victoria says. “Take her into your arms, she'd need her mother's feel.”
“No mum, don't bring her close to me.”
“How could you say that? She's your child.”
“I told you earlier I'll put her up for adoption.”
“No way! I'm not letting you do that.”
“Then, take her away from me. She reminds me of my ruined life.” Melissa says, tearfully.
Days passed by and Melissa couldn't stop thinking about Sebastian. She kept searching for him on social media, but he hadn't made any recent posts. However, her attention was caught by a shocking post made by Scarlett, her best friend. The caption read, "Happy honeymoon to us!" Melissa stared in disbelief at the photo of Scarlett and Sebastian kissing, Scarlett proudly flaunting her ring.
Melissa couldn't help herself as she burst into tears, overwhelmed by the misery that had consumed her life. She felt betrayed, unlucky, and cursed. The thought echoed in her mind: "That was supposed to be my life." But now, a stranger she doesn't know has brutally shattered her world into pieces.
For two weeks, Melissa refused to breastfeed her baby. She also refused to name it. She wanted to be as far from the baby as possible, until one night, Victoria was out late doing some deliveries and was held up by rain. The baby continued to cry, but only Melissa was home. Outside, a fierce thunderstorm raged. The baby's cries grew louder and more insistent, but Melissa did her best to ignore them, despite her growing unease.
Suddenly, a deafening rumble of thunder shook the house, and the baby's wails became a desperate, shuddering cry. Before she even realized what she was doing, Melissa found herself rushing into the baby's room.
"Oh, my baby, I'm sorry," she whispered, gathering the child into her arms. "Forgive your mother." Melissa gently pressed a warm, damp cloth to the baby's forehead, trying to soothe the fever that had arisen from the prolonged crying. Then, she cradled the child and began to breastfeed her.
“For an angel like you, I'll call you Pearl. You're my precious jewel.”
Melissa caressed Pearl till she fell asleep. Not willing to take her away from her sight anymore, Melissa slept off, Pearl by her side.
Victoria, worried about the baby's well-being, decided to brave the heavy rain to get to her granddaughter's side. She knew Melissa had been avoiding her responsibilities, and the baby needed to be fed. With a sense of urgency, Victoria stepped out into the downpour, her eyes fixed on the road ahead.
As she crossed the street, a truck driver, struggling to control his vehicle on the slippery road, lost control of the steering wheel. The truck skidded out of control, its tires screeching on the wet pavement. Victoria, oblivious to the danger, continued crossing the road, her focus solely on reaching the baby.
Suddenly, the truck swerved towards her, its headlights illuminating her terrified face. Victoria tried to move out of the way, but it was too late. The truck struck her with a sickening thud, sending her flying through the air..
The thunderstorm was over, and it was getting late. Melissa woke up, checking the time. It was 9pm, and her mother wasn't back. She continued dialing her number, but it went straight to voicemail. A sense of unease crept over her. Where was her mother?
She tried calling again and again, but there was no answer. Just as she was starting to worry, her phone rang. She answered, hoping to hear her mother's voice. But instead, it was a police officer on the other end. "Miss Melissa Jones?" he asked.
Melissa's heart skipped a beat. "Yes, that's me."
"We need you to come to the station to identify a body," he said.
Melissa's heart stopped. "What? Why?" she asked, her voice shaking.
- Writer
