Skyline Nights
1102 Words
Clara’Pov
“Keep your eyes open. See what you’ve caused.”
Mommy’s tone was piercing, cutting into my ear like a blade. The light in the hotel room was painful. My head seemed strange. Weighed down as if stones were placed inside.
I lay on a bed. My beautiful wedding gown was scattered on the floor. I had no clothes on but was covered solely by a sheet.
Williams was next to me, grinning. His shirt was open, Red lipstick on his mouth, mouth flipped. I felt like vomiting.
“What happened here?" I asked, my voice came out hoarse.
Mommy chuckled sharply. "You showed up. You chose the winning team. Well done girl.”
I attempted to sit upright, but my legs wouldn’t function properly. "No. I must get to Gabriel. The wedding…”
My sister Ruby entered, holding her phone. She displayed photos to me. I was sleeping next to Williams as he planted a kiss on my neck. My eyes shut.
My heart came to a halt. “You drugged me," I murmured.
Mommy gave my face a frightening slap. "Hear me well, Clara. Gabriel is done, and David holds everything now. If you go back to that boy, I will inform the police that your Grandma, in Mexico, is dealing with bad stuff. They’ll lock her up for the rest of her life. Is that what you want?”
Tears flowed quickly. My Grandma was the only person who ever loved me truly.
“No, " I shouted. "Please don’t harm Grandma.”
“Just follow our instructions, "said evenly. "At the church, you must tell Gabriel that he is poor and unfit for you, then you would laugh and leave with Williams. After that, we all become wealthy.”
I shook my head forcefully. "I love Gabriel. I can’t.”
Ruby clutched my hair. "You will, otherwise your Grandma would die."
I wept until my eyes ran completely dry.
They forced me to hurt the only man who had made me happy. While driving to the church, I kept Gabriel’s ring in my pocket. It felt warm from my touch.
I wished to perish.
When the large doors swung open. I spotted Gabriel standing there, beaming, my heart shattered into countless fragments. I moved slowly because my legs longed to sprint towards him.
Mommy positioned herself in the front row, observing closely like a hawk.
I repeated the words they instructed me to say, the tone that wasn’t my own.
I witnessed life fade from Gabriel’s eyes.
When Williams displayed the photos, Gabriel glanced at me as if I were a monster.
I felt like shouting IT IS FALSE. THEY FORCED ME.
Mommy’s gaze indicated Grandma Rosa would cover the cost. So I spoke terrible words.
“You are too poor for me now.”
Gabriel’s complexion turned pale. I sensed my spirit fracture.
I passed by him. My fingers touched his hand briefly. I gripped it tightly, and I attempted to say I love you through my touch.
He refrained from pressing back then. I was outside in the snow with Williams’s arm around me like a chain.
That evening, they confined me inside Mommy’s residence. No telephone. No cash. Merely a tiny room, with a window.
I wept while clutching my stomach on the ground.
Two weeks passed, and I was still locked in a single room with no phone, just food placed on the table like a prisoner.
My usual monthly visitor was absent, so after two days, I brought out a test strip that I had hidden in my bag and rushed to the bathroom.
Minutes later, I came out with two pink lines. I was expecting a child.
Gabriel’s baby.
Gabriel had vanished. People claimed he had soared off into the distance, with nothing at all.
I placed my hand on my belly and said softly, "I will protect you. Daddy will return. He is powerful.”
If my mother discovered that I am carrying Gabriel’s child in my womb. She would be very angry. In order to hide it, I remained indoors.
Weeks passed. My belly grew quickly, and no matter how I tried to hide, my mother still found out.
She was so mad, “that child belongs to Williams, " she said. "You will marry him and provide us with the wealthy lifestyle we are entitled to.”
I wept each night that passed that I would have Gabriel’s child with another man because of power.
Williams occasionally visited the house. He attempted to kiss me, but I bit his lip hard enough to draw blood.
He slapped me sharply. "You will understand.”
Ruby laughed and snapped pictures. "Baby daddy seems mad.”
One evening, I overheard Mommy and David chatting in the kitchen.
“The company is hemorrhaging cash, " David stated. "Our spending has been too rapid. If Gabriel ever discovers the documents proving I am adopted we are done for.”
My ears grew large.
Gabriel can take everything back. Hope grew in my heart like a tiny flower. I would flee before they give birth to the babies.
I need to go and find Grandma Rosa in Mexico, then I will stay with Rosa and wait for Gabriel to return. I thought, but running needs some funds.
Each day, while they believed I was asleep, I secretly took items. A gold bracelet Ruby had left behind. Mommy’s hidden cash is tucked away in the cookie jar. Ten dollars, twenty dollars then.
I wore three sweaters since the twins made me grow large. I carried my bag containing baby clothes I crafted from old shirts.
That evening, the home was quiet. Williams had gone out drinking. Mommy and Ruby were fast asleep.
I gently pushed the window open, and a chilly breeze brushed against my skin.
I was nearly gone when a hand yanked my hair forcefully. “Where do you believe you’re headed to, little robber?”
Williams’s breath smelled of drink. He pulled me back indoors and noticed the bag in my hand and some cash in my pocket.
His gaze became frightening.
“You aren’t going anywhere, " he declared.
He locked the door and hung the key around his neck.
Then he grinned a terrible smile. “Tomorrow we will announce to everyone that these babies are mine. For eternity.”
I cradled my belly and sensed my twins moving.
Gazing through the window at the night sky, I quietly hoped Gabriel was safe wherever he might be.
Please come back soon and find me, because tomorrow might be too late.
- Writer
