013

Hayes

She didn’t want custody?

The words ran through my mind at every step I took. I left the courtroom quickly, not wanting to see her. Not wanting her presence to make her words truer. 

I made it to the breakroom within minutes. I headed for the table that was displayed with a few snacks. I reached and picked it up, snapping the lid off. 

I lifted it to my lips, parted them and gulped. I kept drinking as her words replayed in my mind to drown them out. 

My only luck was there wasn’t anything stronger so I had to settle for this.

She didn’t fight for us. She made no effort whatsoever. She just gave us up. 

I only brought the bottle down when it emptied. I closed the lid shut and gripped the bottle tightly. I tightened my grip then loosened; using it as a stress reliever only that the stress built up. 

At first, I didn’t even think she would go ahead with this. It was supposed to be some sort of meaningless prank. 

It was supposed to be her getting my attention but sitting in that courtroom and catching every glance she took of me felt more than seeking my attention. 

Her expression held no warmth, no emotion, no pleading. It made me want to know why. Why had she gone through all this? If it wasn’t for my attention then what could she possibly want?

“A terrible mother,” I heard a lady whisper. 

I turned to glance at her. 

She caught my gaze and went silent. She grabbed her friend’s wrist and walked away from me. 

“Tch,” I watched her walk away. 

I couldn’t say Sophie was a bad mother. She used to love Noah more than anything and she never failed to show it. 

I remembered how she would stay awake all night while Noah was sick. She would handfeed him and plead that he take his drugs. 

At times when I woke up to drink water, I would see her sitting by the bed. Her eyes would be shut but at my sudden chuckle her eyes would snap open. 

She would look around with anxiety before she realized it was me. She would sigh but would only make me chuckle louder. Her eyes would grow wide. “Shh,” she would order. 

I remember her making handmade birthday decorations for his birthday parties. She would get multiple paper cuts then bandage her fingers and continue. 

I remember her crying after Noah rejected one of her hugs. It wasn’t soft hums but a hug that said don’t look at me. 

She ranted about how she knew something was wrong but didn’t know what it was. She tried everything to get him to forgive her that day but now she was willingly giving him up.

A hand shot to my face, covered and lips then dragged down my face in confusion.

Realization dawned on me again. 

She didn’t even fight it.

I let out a single, sharp back of a laugh. The sound was entirely hollow, leaving my lips in a flat, bitter line. 

“She didn’t choose us,” the word left my lips in a whisper. 

“It’s so sad what that woman did,” a voice said. 

“She just gave up her family with no second thought. If I was her, I would have never done that but to each their own”.

I didn’t waste my time turning to find their faces.

 Instead, I walked out of the breakroom. 

“Hayes,” Olivia’s voice called once I exited the room. 

I glanced at her to see her lips had spread into a smile. That simple action gnawed at me.

My eyebrows furrowed.

She arrived by my side within minutes. “Don’t be worried, everything is finally over”.

She chuckled. “Sophie deserved what was coming to her. She only made our job easier. You don’t need to feel bad for that woman”.

What?

She parted her lips but before she could say another word, I tore my hand from her grip. I gave her no explanation, leaving her to hurry after me. 

I headed to the courtroom, not exactly because I wanted to but I needed anything that would convince me what had happened didn’t. And I needed that from Sophie.

Something had to be wrong with her. She wasn’t acting the way I knew her to act. 

I made it into the courtroom and took my seat. 

Sophie was already seated. 

I glanced at her a few times but she didn’t see me. It was thought she was intentionally avoiding me. 

Maybe once she glanced my way, it would shake her decisions. 

“All rise.”

The courtroom stood as the judge returned. 

“You may be seated.”

A heavy silence settled over the room. 

The judge folded his hands. “I trust everyone has regained their composure.”

No one answered. 

The judge continued.

“This court reviewed the evidence regarding the welfare of the child.”

My eyebrows furrowed. 

I didn’t want any of this.

“In every divorce involving children, the court’s paramount concern is not the wishes of the parents but the best interests of the child.”

Silence. 

“Having considered all relevant factors—”

My attention was pulled away by the sudden vibration in my pocket. I was glad something distracted me. I reached for my pocket and pulled it open. I glanced through the messages. 

My eyebrows furrowed. I had to leave. 

I searched for my attorney’s number and informed him that I couldn’t stay here anymore. 

I pushed to my feet, and turned. I stole one last glance at Sophie. She still looked expressionless. 

She refused to provide me any slight information on how she felt. It angered me but I couldn’t do anything about it. Staying here would not provide any reason as to why she refused to fight for us.

I wanted no part of this if it left my head ringing. 

I tore my gaze away and headed to the front door with my hands shoved into my pocket. 

Eyes followed me and murmurs filled the room as I exited.