Chapter Two
1198 Words
“I feel nauseous Juji.”
Melissa gruntled as she rolled uncomfortably from one end of the bed to another.
It was the weekend, one month after the business trip with Liam Martinez. If only she could foresee the future she wouldn't have gone on that trip.
“Maybe we should go see the doc…
Before Melissa could continue, she fled to the bathroom where she released the content that lingered in her throat. She rinsed her mouth and lowered herself to the bathroom floor, resting her back against the bathtub.
“That's it! We're going to the hospital now!” June added.
*****
After a series of tests and interrogation at the hospital, Melissa was starting to feel uncomfortable. The doctor broke the news.
“Congratulations ma’am, the test shows that you're 5 weeks pregnant”
Maybe she didn't hear the doctor right, or it was the fever kicking in again.
“Pregnant? How!!!”
Tears trickled down her cheeks as reality hit her. The night with Liam Martinez is about to cost her future.
Melissa let the tears flow freely, resting her head on her sister's shoulder, she cursed Liam.
June was confused and craved some explanation immediately but Melissa wasn't thinking straight at all.
She picked up the test result that slipped from Melissa's hands, dragged Melissa up and left the hospital.
“I'm Confused Lissa! What did the doctor mean by saying you're pregnant?
June paced round the room confused and hungry for the next word Melissa would say.
“You've never been with any man besides your high school boyfriend, so how did this happen?!” She added.
Melissa couldn't hold the tears back as they flowed freely.
“I tried to stop him, Juji. I tried my best, but he forced himself on me” She said with tears.
Melissa narrated all that happened to her sister, leaving out no details.
“I'm sorry, I should have told you earlier.”
“That explains why you came back late that day." June added.
Melissa dashed into her room. She couldn't believe her life was coming to an end. Everything she toiled hard for, all her dreams would go down the drain, all thanks to the devil in human form, Liam.
The clouds thundered outside as it began to rain. Even the universe wept on her behalf.
The door creaked open as June tiptoed in.
Melissa hadn't left her room for hours. She missed lunch and refused to eat dinner.
She just laid on the bed crying.
“I can't continue living here June. '' Melissa announced from beneath the duvet. She perceived her sister's citrus fragrance.
“He wouldn't let me live if he finds out Juji, I would lose my baby” her breaking voice added.
She had thought about it for hours and had made the decision to relocate from Texas. If Liam Martinez were to find out that she was pregnant, he'd get rid of her immediately.
Liam would do anything to remain in the limelight with no rock stain on his white.
“That’s Bullshit Melissa! We have nowhere to go! June was starting to get triggered
“If only Mom and Dad were alive, all this wouldn't happen” June cried.
Just when life seems to be getting better, her sister wants them to move again!
“I'm not going anywhere!
She cried and stomped out of the room.
Her world was crumbling down. She failed her sister.
After the accident that took her mum's life and left her dad in a coma for weeks, he was finally recuperating in the hospital. He called on both of them and asked Melissa to promise to take care of her sister with everything she has.
It was the same day his friend made a promise too.
Melissa stood in front of the mirror, her eyes swollen from crying. She checked to see if her body had started changing, but there was none. Her hands went beneath the fur sweater she was putting on and rested on her tummy.
There was a life growing inside of her.
“I will never fail you.” Melissa murmured.
I'll protect you with my last breath."
****
The horn from different cars on the airport road was enough to block one's ear.
Melissa approached the boarding pass with a single box trailing behind her.
Her flight to London was in thirty minutes.
She stopped working. Cut off her lines so no one at the company could reach her.
If she had dropped a letter of resignation, it would get to Liam, and he'd suspect something was going on.
Liam doesn't read his emails early. Only the really important ones get to him, so before he would notice her absence, she would be long gone.
Melissa contacted her childhood friend who lived in London to get her a place.
She had no job anymore and relied on her savings until she could get a job in Chicago.
Her sister, June, stayed back in Texas. She couldn't bear the stress of starting afresh again. She moved in with her boyfriend who lived very far from where she and her sister used to stay. Melissa couldn't afford to pay rent for two apartments, and she sought the safety of her sister. June assured Lissa that she'd come visit regularly.
With her protruding tummy at 3 months, she walked lazily to the plane, ensuring the hoodie and sunglasses covered her face properly. Only her sister was aware that she was relocating, and she expected it to remain that way.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, fasten your seat belts as we are about to take off”
The hostess announced.
Melissa felt a weight in her heart. Her heartbeat pumped unusually. She was anxious about what her new life held for her.
In no time, they had reached the London borders and were heading for landing.
The plane landed and Melissa strolled out looking for a placard with her name written on it.
The housing agent would pick her up and take her straight to her apartment.
“MELSSA” She read boldly from the placard held by a man in his mid-thirties.
“Gosh! He couldn't even spell my name right!”
“That would be me” she indicated as she approached him.
“You should take some English lessons because your spelling is terrible” Melissa murmured.
“I'm sorry, what did you say?”
I said “Nice to meet you Mr …..” It occurred to her that she didn't bother asking for his name during their chat online.
“Joseph” he replied, reciprocating the handshake Melissa introduced.
“Can we go see the place now? My legs hurt from standing”. She was starting to become uncomfortable.
She met two pairs of eyes constantly following her as she walked into the building with Joseph, the housing agent
“Nosy neighbors” Melissa thought to herself, feeling comfortable, removing the hoodie cap she'd been wearing.
But that didn't seem like it as one of the women picked up her phone and dialed a number. Immediately she got a glimpse of Melissa's face.
- Writer
