Fading Boundaries

Chapter 4

Clara's POV

I woke up feeling lighter, the drips had been removed from my hands and surprisingly I could move my body, there were still areas where the bandages where left but I could move, that was the most important part.

I came down from my bed and walked to the window, it was morning and I could clearly see the morning dew over the city.

"You're awake." I head a voice say behind, it was obvious the owner was still sleepy.

I turned to look at her, she was laying down on the only cushion in the room, I had not noticed earlier but this hospital looked very expensive.

"Yes, you can go back to sleep, I'm fine." I said retuning to my bed.

There was a flower vase with fresh flowers in it and a card, fruits and some beverages, again, sadness watched over me, I was with someone claiming to be my biological mum and pregnant at the same time, I knew I needed to fix my life but I didn't know how to.

"I have to leave today." I blurted out.

I heard rustling and the next seconds she was sitting next to me " you heard what the doctor said, you need to rest child."

I thought I had said that to myself but it was obvious she heard.

"Clara, that's my name." I corrected her .

"Clara, you can't possibly leave now ."

"I have a life outside here and family who barely know about my condition, I can't even find my phone, I need to go home and it may look like I'm being ungrateful but that's not the case."

"I'm grateful for everything but right now everything feels overwhelming, I'm pregnant and you're claiming to be my mum, I need some time."

"Can't you do that after getting better?" She asked.

"No."

"Okay" she was defeated I could tell from her tone.

I picked one of the neatly arranged dresses in the bed drawer and walked into the bathroom to change.

I looked at my reflection in the mirror, I still looked bad but it didn't matter right now, it wasn't the time to stand and mourn my loss.

I changed into the dress and made my way out, Fiona was now sitting on my bed.

"Do you want me to drive you there?"

"No thank you, I can manage on my own."

That was the last conversation we had before I hurried out of the hospital to hail a cab, I still needed to pick my car, but I had to get home first.

The cab driver parked in front of the house I shared with Damian, he was my husband after all and he needed to know about the pregnancy, I tried to pretend the issue we had before I left the house was all in my imagination.

"It was just us." I muttered to myself repeatedly as my hand circled my stomach, trying to gather strength from the little being growing in me.

I walked to the door of the main house and found it looked from within, maybe Damian was inside, I thought as I continued knocking.

The door swung open and there stood my sister in the shirt Damian had worn on the night we had our moment together.

"What are you doing here?" She asked, ignoring how I looked and the physical bandages on my body.

"I want to see Damian, we have something to talk about."

"You both have nothing left to talk about, you left didn't you? Why are you suddenly back?" She asked folding her hands on her chest.

"Stella please, it's really important I talk to him." I pleaded them.

It was the only thing I could do, beg, my sister didn't look like she was going to as I said, she was standing there blocking the door way and I didn't have the strength to push past her.

"You're not talking to him, not on my watch. I don't understand you Clara, he clearly doesn't want you anymore, why are you hell bent on pushing your way in? You're always trying to convert what's mine, don't you have a little bit of shame to spare?"

"Stella, you left him broken on that altar, mom and Dad–"

"Don't drag them into this, you always wanted him that's why you flew in to replace me without thinking of how much it would hurt me. Now he's back and I won't let you come between us anymore."

"Stella–"

"Get out." She shouted, pushing me."I'll have to call the cops on you for intruding into my husband's property." She added.

Now wasn't the time, I was even too weak to push back, I walked out of the gate. I knew if Stella had rejected me, then there would be no difference with my parents, they were always on her side.

I walked on the streets, with no money on me, I had intended to go in and get my money to pay the cab man but he must have left after waiting for too long.

The cold Breeze swept across my face, covering my face with my hair. There was silence only interrupted by the occasional honking of the cars behind me.

I didn't know where I was going to but I needed to walk very far away and fast.

The honk came again and I had no choice but to turn, Fiona's face peeked out of the car as she signalled for me to wait. I stood there watching her as she drove close to me.

"Get in Clara, you're in a bad shape and state, I can't watch walk down this road in your condition."

I looked from her face to the car, it wasn't like I had somewhere to go, I opened the car door and got in.

She drove me to a beautiful house and parked in front of it.

"I wasn't sure you would want to stay at the hospital, so I brought you here instead, I'll get a doctor to come attend to you at home."

I nodded, I followed her inside the most beautiful house I had seen, everything was neatly arranged and the interior designs were enough to to give anyone hope.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked.

"Clara, I don't know how this might sound to you but I lost my daughter 25 years ago with no hope of seeing her again. I did lose hope and kept looking for her, you're the closest I've had over the years and I'm not ready to lose you. I know it's hard, I haven't even processed it but you have to stay alive for me, for yourself and for the baby."

I placed my hands on my stomach again, I needed strength to decide, everything made my eyes blurry.

No matter how nice the offer was, I still felt trapped – trapped by my decisions, trapped by this woman and her house, trapped by the life growing inside me.

I had nowhere to go.