6: Thrown out!

BELLA

 

I was undettered by the heavy downpour and even though the road was slippery, I couldn't stop running. The only rational thought in my head was getting a cab and getting to the hospital.

My dad was involved in an accident?

I still couldn't believe it but the voice at the other end of the phone had been crystal clear. My dad was involved in a ghastly mother accident and he was in a critical condition. Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, I was punched in the face by the most horrible news that could happen at this time and as I sat in the cab that I was only able to flag down after trying for almost 15 minutes because of the heavy rain, I couldn't stop myself from shaking. 

Not from the cold, but from the prospect of what this accident could mean. 

My dad... My dad... My poor dad. I couldn't stop myself from crying and the driver, sensing what must be going on from the address he was driving me to tried to comfort me but my pain was too loud for me to even hear a thing.

The drive took less than 20 minutes but it felt like 2 hours and with each passing minute, I felt like I was literally dying. We eventually got to the hospital and I barely waited for the driver to properly park before I dashed out of the car and ran inside the hospital. 

When I asked, the receptionist pointed me in the direction of the operating theatre where I met Mara and her mother sitting, their faces mirroring my expression. They didn't even acknowledge me, didn't act like they could see me as they held themselves while I had no one to hold me as we waited for the operation to be over. 

After hours of what felt like someone was hacking my body with an axe, the operating door finally slid open and the medical practitioners had barely stepped out before I jumped in front of them, Mara and her mom hot on my tails.

“How’s he? How's my father?”

“How’s my husband?” My stepmother’s voice overshadowed mine as she pushed me aside and before the Doctor even said a thing, I already knew. I already got the answer in the grief in his eyes, in Hos hunched shoulder. 

Somewhere in that hallway, someone was screaming and shouting hysterically. It sounded like me, felt like me but it also felt like I was having an out of the body experience and watching someone that looked like me mourning the sudden death of her father.

***

Everything happened too fast and or happened in a blur.

One minute, I was having the time of my life with Trevor, the next, I was realizing that I was just a victim of a very cruel joke, the next, I found out that I was pregnant, the next, I heard that my father was dead and now, I was burying him. 

I still couldn't wrap my head around everything but I was here, sitting on a wooden chair in the funeral house, dressed in a black gown that Dad got me a couple of months ago and I was swimming and drowning in our memories together as I watched people troop in and out, paying their final respects. 

Again, I was reminded of the fact that my dad was dead and he died in an accident that happened while he was on his way to surprise me just after arriving in the country from his business trip. 

I was detached all through, just like my wolf whom I hadn't felt in days. I just wanted everything to be over and done with so I'll return to the sanctuary of my room. 

I was counting down in my mind when my nose suddenly picked up that all too familiar and strong scent that could only belong to a true Alpha.

Trevor was around. 

Soon enough, he was walking into the funeral house, all dressed in black, his face bore no expression as he walked in to pay his condolences and Mara stayed beside him all through, clinging to him as if she was his second skin and not once did he even glance my way or notice me. 

Even when he turned to leave and walked right in front of me, he never turned to look at me and Mara stayed by his sides, his hand wrapped protectively around her till they got to a corner. I knew I should look away but my eyes remained locked on them. 

Even when he pulled her in for a hug, when he started whispering words of consolation that I could hear because of my wolf’s hearing, I didn't look away.

All of a sudden, my pain and anger started building and they found an outlet in my eyes. Before I knew it, tears were rolling down my cheeks again and that propelled me to stand up and force my way out through the small crowd before I started bawling my eyes out in the presence of everyone again. 

I found myself on a bench outside and I collapsed on it, sobbing without care. I still couldn't believe my life, I couldn't believe how everything had deteriorated that fast.

I was still crying when I suddenly felt the warm caress of someone’s eyes on me and I whirled around to look in the direction but nothing was there. No one was there. 

But someone was there. I was sure of it. My wolf even felt the presence of someone watching us but who could it have been? 

And why were they watching me?

The funeral ended with my farewell speech for the only person who has ever truly loved me and while reading the speech, I couldn't help but break down because it dawned on me in its finalist then; that I was utterly alone. 

And I was pregnant.

***

On getting home, I was greeted with another shock. My bags were outside, with some of my clothes and shoes scattered around. I faltered in my steps, not believing what was happening, not understanding what was happening.

The four flung open and my stepmother, with that permanent scowl that was reserved for me, stepped out.

"I hope you know you no longer have a place in my house," she said, disgust written all over her face.

What? I was getting thrown out? Panic built a lump in my throat, making it hard to breathe.

"Bella this, Bella that, look where it ended. You ended up killing your father! Just get your filthy things out of my house!" she barked.

I knew she had only tolerated my presence here because of my father but this was my father’s house and she couldn’t just send me packing on the same day he was buried.

"Favourite daughter!" this came from Mara as she came out, taking her place beside her mother.

"How were you able to leave your father's grave? You should have moved in with him," she continued, laughing dryly.

I broke into heavy sobs. I couldn't believe they were doing this.

"Please, don't send me away. I have nowhere to go." I said, looking at my stepmother.

"I have nowhere to go...” Mara mimicked and burst into a throaty laughter.

"I think I know a perfect place for someone like you," she said, pouting as if trying to recall something, “under the bridge, yes! That's where the less privileged are. You should join them already since you look like them," she said with an excited glint in her eyes.

I begged and begged but my stepmother paid no attention. I had no idea where to go from there. No friends, no relatives, nothing...just me and the baby in my womb. I knew it was the end for me. I began picking up my clothes and shoes scattered around. They had made their decision and it was final.

Again, I was alone. Utterly and completely alone.