"I always knew there was something off about you," Julia said, after Derrick had left the living room. "But now we all see it."
Julia laughed mockingly and walked off.
Becky came and sat on the sofa. She had remained quiet most of the time, allowing Derrick to have his time.
Elise looked into the woman's face, looking for compassion or something. But all she met was indifference.
"What were you looking to find, Elise?" Becky asked. "Some sort of compassion or are you looking for someone who would believe you?"
"And you wouldn't?" Elise asked.
Becky said nothing.
"I know what I am saying, mom," Elise said, her voice already breaking into pieces. "Ever since that day he saved me when I fell into the sea, we became attached. Yes, I was drunk later that night but I do know when I am having a good time with a naked man."
"But he has denied your pregnancy Elise," Becky said plainly, as if that was all that mattered in the issue. "I'm sure you know the meaning of that or do you need me to spell it out for you?"
Elise shook her head from side to side. Everyone was just unreasonable to her. So it was clear that people would believe the man instead of the woman when a disagreement came up, regardless of the fact that the woman was right.
"So you'd believe Marion Oswald even though I am telling the truth? Even though your daughter is telling the truth?" Elise wanted to know.
"You are not my daughter, Elise," Becky stated, and her eyes were hard. Elise saw that she meant every word so there was no need trying to get some pity out of the woman.
Elise had thought Becky would understand and help talk to Derrick, but it seemed that Julia's mother was worse than the man of the house.
Elise knew that she would have to leave as soon as she could. Her father had already made his decision and there was no going back on it.
Elise had been a fool to believe that Derrick actually loved her the way that she loved him. At some point, Elise had been tempted to ask him if it was just all about s*x and nothing more.
But she always ended up getting carried away by each moment. Because it was blissful and she didn't want to spoil it.
Well, she realized that her procrastination had cost her the trust of her father and the rest of her family.
Elise went to her room and packed her things. She'd had to call her friend Sophia to let her know that she was coming to stay for some time. She'd do that once she was in the cab.
Elise tried not to dwell too much on her room because if she did, then she wouldn't want to leave. And she had to.
No one saw her out of the house. They were not too bothered about her anymore.
Elise sat in the backseat of the cab and said nothing.
"Where to, miss?" the driver asked. He had earrings on both ears.
"Anywhere?" Elise blurted out without thinking.
The driver turned to look at her. "Say what?"
"A friend's place," Elise said and took a pen and paper from him and wrote Sophia's address. Then she laid on the backseat, brought her knees to her chin and made the call.
Sophia picked up on the third ring. "Hello, girlfriend," she said, her voice gay.
Elise sobbed into the mouthpiece and Sophia knew something wasn't right.
"I'm.. thinking.. of do-doing it, Sophia," Elise sputtered, her sobs choking her words.
"What are you thinking of doing, Elise?" Sophia asked, her voice a little bit high.
"My father just disowned me, Sophia," Elise confessed. "Threw me out of the house."
"What? What happened, Sophia? Did you do something?"
"Yeah," Elise said, and sniffed heavily. "I had unprotected s*x repeatedly with the wrong person and he had the guts to deny having anything to do with me when I told him that I am pregnant."
"Oh my gawd," Sophia said, and on the other end of the line, she had one palm over her mouth.
"It-It was at a dinner party," Elise continued. "My father didn't believe me because he places his business partners above his own family members."
"No, no, don't say that, Elise," Sophia said, by way of condemning her friend's choice of words.
"I know what I am talking about, Sophia!" Elise yelled. "I know dad! And I have given the cabbie your address, but I don't think I'll make it there."
"What do you mean by you don't think you'll make it here, Elise?" Sophia demanded.
"I'm thinking of doing it," Elise said, and she let the phone fall to the floor of the car. Sophia's panicked voice kept coming out of the speaker until the call was disconnected.
Elise used one finger to swipe and activated Airplane Mode. It was all she wanted at the moment, no disturbance.
Elise sat up and fished in her handbag for some change. "Drop me off at the industrial complex," Elise said, as she wiped her face with the back of her hands.
"But that's not the destination in the paper you gave to me," said the driver.
"Don't be smart now, and just do what I say," Elise snapped. "I'll still give you the full price."
"Should have told me that instead," the driver said nonchalantly.
It seemed that no one took her serious any longer. Elise was completely on her own. She had decided it was better not to be seen as both a failure and a burden in one lifetime.
So she was going to take the easy way out.
The car stooped at her new destination and Elise opened the car door and walked out. There was no need to take anything. What she was going to do didn't need any luggage.
"Hey, lady! You forgot your stuff!" the driver shouted at the top of his voice, calling Elise back to the car. But she paid him no attention. The industrial complex was ablaze with lights and the place looked deserted except for an angry cab driver and Elise.
She got to a staircase and began climbing, her footwear clanging noisily against the metal rungs. She reached the top and felt the breeze all around her.
Elise kept thinking that if she fell from that height, then she could position her body so that it would be an easy death.
The image ran through her mind many times and she saw herself falling, and her body diving headfirst, and the ground destroying her figure.
Her definite end.
But as she stood up there, it was as if the breeze kept pushing her back, some silent disagreement for her no to do what she wanted to do. But Elise had made up her mind. It was a shortcut but she would take it.
The driver turned on his engine when it became apparent that his passenger wasn't coming back anytime soon.
When Elise heard the car sputter to life, she thought that was the right time to do it, let the engine noise drown out her cry.
The car began to move and Elise pushed herself to fall.
But a hand held her on the waist and pulled her back.