TANNER
Counting my steps and movement as I paced in the sitting room waiting for her arrival.
I was worried and restless. I've been sober for two days and when I might have avoided shutting off my thoughts, sometimes, it gets hard.
But now, my mind is starting to go places that are forbidden. I want out. I need a beer. I yearned for it. It's the only thing giving me peace. The only thing keeping me sane.
I heard movements outside, and I knew I would be her. I waited patiently for her to come inside. Glancing at the baby, the child is still sleeping peacefully.
She entered the house and walked closer to me, I notice her face was having mixed feelings. Happiness. Sadness. Fear.
"How was the job hunt?" I asked curtly.
"I got the job." She answered softly, walking to her baby to take a closer look at the little life.
"Good."
Her eyes found me from across the room. "I don't know how to thank you...I don't know how to express my gratitude for all this..." She gestured her hands everywhere.
"It's nothing." My voice was hard and edgy. I looked briskly at her figure before facing the door and proceeding to leave.
I walked quietly to the door when I heard her speak. It was low but I heard every word she said.
"Will I... see.. you again?" she asked softly.
I stayed silent for a while wondering the answer to give. I almost said yes but then again, I might be lying. She needs to move on. She needs to be able to take care of her baby without thoughts and worries.
"No," I stated curtly.
Silence. "Oh." She whispered at last.
"Take care of yourself and your baby, this will be our last time seeing each other so make such to stay safe. Goodbye, lady." I said, walking out into the streets to get drunk so I'll be able to forget.
More beers. No worries.
TWO MONTHS LATER.
LUDALE MACCULLY
This girl is playing with fire and she didn't know anything, he thought.
He had obviously been cool about her escapades all those times she had tried to escape and that was why she was obviously still doing it. He can't wait to get his hands on her.
Looking at her room makes me want to chop off her head. Oh! She was playing with fire.
After all the allowances and properties I had given to them is this how their daughter choose to repay him?
He had every right to do what he wanted with her. She was bought and paid for...still being paid for! She is his property.
Her mother Doreen goes shopping more like she owns my money and her father had become a house owner all because of his daughter's marriage to him.
They never cared about their daughter and he cared less because he wasn't the one to show her love.
He never loved her, he only loved raping and hitting her at any intervals which he came across.
He tightened his fist as he remembered the little and harmless blow which he had thrown at her and regretted not making him faint and stretch for my mercy.
Oh! Jasamina, you're finished.
Any minute I lay my hand on you I'd make sure I suck all blood connected to your veins.
Why hasn't she been found!? He took his phone and called the police, in one ring it connected.
"Commissioner of police." Came the gruff male voice.
"It's the congressman, Ludale McCully," I said losing my patients.
"Oh. Good day, sir."
"There's nothing good about the day, Mr commissioner. My son and wife are still missing!"
He heard the man clear his throat. "Yes, sir, we are still in search of your wife, but it hasn't been easy on us. The last two calls we had received concerning your wife had been prank calls and the only one we thought was leading to her was a groceries shop, but they said their CCTV camera hadn't been working for months now." The Commissioner said, the fear in his voice apparent.
Ludale snorted. Same old story.
"Mr. Commissioner, I would not want to hear this story by next week, I won't be taking this anymore. What sort of incompetent sergeants do you have working for you? I asked for a small favor and it's taking so long to be accomplished. You know very well the kind of havoc I can wreck for you all if you can't find my mentally sick wife and poor baby."
He hung up, unwilling to hear the incompetent commissioner anymore.
That girl, Jasamina, has turned me into a fool and dragged my name into the mud by making me the talk of the whole damn town.
"I would so crush you," he said out loud to the empty room, his eyes blazing. "I'll beat you to hell and after you've been raped by all my men, you'll beg for mercy but none would be granted. You kiss my foot and lick the ground I walked on!"
Stupid ingrate!
*****
JASAMINA
Arranging books to their numbered shelf was not quite an easy job for me but I was totally happy with what I got.
Jaime had been a really good baby ever since he started feeding well, he had grown so beautiful and his color was now lighter and smooth. He was a cheerful baby and that made me happy for myself at least for having the courage to run away because if I hadn't my baby would have not been feeding well and my breast milk would have become sour for the baby to feed from.
I climbed up the wooden ladder and arranged the books to their rightful place before climbing down to get some more books when one of the frequent customers came for. I walked gracefully to her front to attend to her.
She was a chubby woman and seems nice but I don't care much. Everyone might look nice but only the mysterious drunkard was really nice to me.
"Good afternoon ma'am." I greeted her politely. My new signature smile was always intact for them to see.
"Oh Mina, how are you?" She asked me smiling as always. Sometimes I wonder if she had any worries.
I shortened my name to Mina, instead of Jasamina so no one will recognize me.
"Fine, so what book would you be reading?" I said changing the topic.
"Oh! Well, I won't be needing any books, for now, just came to return these" She said handing me the books and turning to go before saying again. "And thank you, I enjoyed your recommendation," she said as she left.
I went back to my work and continued from where I had stopped. And my mind drifted to things that had happened lately.
In these past two months, a lot had changed, I had dyed my hair from black to blonde and I had started dressing Jaimie like a baby girl. I told people her name is Mia.
Our names were now Mina and Mia. Seems fitting.
All these disguises because I don't want to be found. I don't want to be connected to Jasamina McCully and my baby to Jaimie McCully.
Sometimes my mind had wandered about how the drunkard was faring after giving us his house. Where would he stay or would he continue wandering around the streets? Guess it's the latter.
He was a blessing in disguise to both me and baby Jaimie. If he hadn't helped me, by now I don't know where I'll be. Probably back in the hands of my wicked husband, Dale.
If not for the drunkard we would have starved to death and by now my breast would have been a forgotten food for my baby.
"I hope you're well, wherever you are," I whispered, my mind to the drunkard.
I looked at my baby sleeping on his bassinet and smiled calmly. We will keep on surviving, I vowed before walking back to my work load of arranging books.
JASAMINA I'm giving Jaimie his evening bath smiling, the way he's growing is really surprising. He was giggling and playing with the soap. He stared at me and flashed gums without teeth in them. "Yaiii!" "Yaii!" I shot right back as I ran my hand all over his little body. I splashed little water on him and he laughed out loud. "You love playing with water, don't you?" I said splashing more water on him. I've never seen a child who loves water more like him. Not that I've seen many children of course. I'm the only child of my parents and I'm just twenty years old. I brought my mind back to the present and stared at my child good-naturedly. "Will you want me to put you back in the tub if I bring you out again?" "Yaii!" He beat his hand in the water, splashing it. I laughed a little and carried him out of the water. The smile cleared from his face, he cooed sounds as if in a complaint. "You'll be in the water again soon enough, young man," I promised him as we entered the s
🎁🎁VIVIAN🎁🎁 As soon as she stepped out of the bookstore, she shuffled through her handbag to get a hold of her phone. I needed to call the police right away. She needed to tell them who she had just seen. Jasamina McCully. The run-away wife of Ludale McCully. The wife of the state's congressman and a multi-millionaire who had absconded from home and had her husband searching frantically for her. And their baby. She wasn't mistaken in recognizing the lady even though she was hiding under a disguise. She lived almost close to where she resided with her husband so she does see them often. Moreover, the news of her disappearance was splashed all over the news and a huge sum of money was promised to whoever had news about her whereabouts. So, she couldn't afford to keep mute. She needed that money badly. A hundred thousand dollars would surely go a long way in clearing some of her outstanding bills. So, it was time for her to act fast. Before another person recognizes the lady
She stared at it for a full minute before she cocked her head to the side. "Well, it looks like Mina, the full-time employee." The woman frowned a little. "But she has black hair, unlike the lady in this picture." Now, we're getting somewhere, I thought. "Where is she? We need to specifically find her and search through her belongings." My colleague stated firmly, then continued, his face serious as he turned to Vivian. "Tell her what you told us." "She's not Mina. She's Jasamina McCully. The wife of Ludale McCully. She just dyed her hair black to cover up her identity. I live around here, so I know her very well. Even the baby is not a girl but a boy. And I overheard when she called him 'Jaimie'. That's the name of the McCully's son." Vivian explained to the people in the library. There were gasps and shouts. The customers and everyone looked so surprised apart from the old store owner. The part-timer stammered, stunned. "How...how...did you come up with this? I never even susp
When I was through, I quickly zipped the box and headed for Jamie, gently picking him up so he won't wake up and start bawling. With my box in my right hand and Jamie in the other, I made for the back door of the house that faced the other street. Seems the back door is now my savior. They have helped me to scamper off without being caught. I opened it with a force and scanned the area for any watchful eyes as I tiptoed out. Luckily for me, the coast was clear. Clear as crystal. I made my way out, walking as fast as I could, with my hair covering half of my face. "Let's check the back!" I heard one of the policemen say, and fear gripped me tightly. Just then, my distant neighbor, an older woman opened her door and gestured for me to hurry in. I didn't think it through, I held Jaimie tight and rushed into the woman's house. The side was neat and cozy. She locked the door instantly. "You're the wife of the congressman. I knew there was something familiar about you." The older woma
DOREEN RUTHERFORD I paced about the living room with a tall glass of wine in my hand. To say I was angry would be an understatement. I was in a rage....thinking about Jasamina. That girl will give me premature gray hairs at this point. Just minutes ago, the commissioner called and told us that she had been found a thousand miles away from her. She had been in disguise and working as a librarian. I was really happy. Finally, all this will be over. That girl that refused to grow up will be back in her husband's house. The next call that came ruined my happiness. Utterly ruined it. "She escaped! She took my son and escaped those incompetent fools!" Ludale had groaned in rage. What does Jasamina really want!? That little witch! Does she not care about her parent's happiness!? Does she wants us to go back to poverty!? "If the floor weren't tiles but carpets, you'll wear a hole to it," Mathew said as he entered the living room. I glanced at my husband and he isn't looking so happy
XIZAX. Xazix Dantes was having a very good sleep this morning when his friend barged in on him. He had been determined to ignore Petra and get his much-needed sleep, but his friend had refused to be ignored. "You just have to get you, Xax." Petra groaned, throwing a pillow at his face. Afterward, when Xazix found out that it was completely unavoidable, he woke up rather begrudgingly. "You'd better have a good reason for this, Petra." He groaned as he rose. "Or you'll have my head, I already know. Don't worry, I've got a pretty good reason." In the sitting room, Xazix flung himself on the couch. He swirled his wine in his cup, taking a long look at his friend Petra who had just told him something ridiculous. "Repeat what you just said." Xazix stated, staring pointedly at his wineglass. "The congressman, Ludale McCully, is in need of a professional bounty hunter to help him search for his runaway wife and his baby." "What does that have to do with me?" Petra shifted uncomfor
🎁🎁JASAMINA.🎁🎁 My legs hurt from constant walking and blisters had started forming on my leg. I clutched Jaime tightly to myself as I trudged on. I've lost track of which day it is. I feel like I've been walking on these streets forever. The shoulder I hang the leather of our portable traveling box hurts really bad, and my right arm hurts from holding Jaimie for a long time. Tears filled my eyes as I walked on. It's night again and I'm looking for a motel room to rent with the last money I have. At least, I know that I'm almost at my destination. I glanced at my poor baby and tears rained down my eyes. Jaimie is sick. He has an unusually hot temperature and he'd been really restless. He cries every little chance he gets, and the sound of it tears at my heart, knowing that there's nothing I can do to take the pain from him. In desperation, I rushed going to a pharmacy in the afternoon and had them examine him, not giving a damn about getting caught. The nurse had written down
I took a few minutes to take my bath and change into my last clean clothing in the bag. A simple gown that hugged my curves. I'm going to beg for money, and I pray to find a good person that'll lend me some. But if I don't find it, I have to be ready to do anything...offer anything, to get money. My pain and determination coursing through my veins, I walked out of the motel and into the harsh cold world to fight for my baby's life no matter the consequence. In the street, I looked around. People were passing by. I have to beg for money. I saw a woman purchasing goods from a nearby store I decided to strode her way. "Good evening, ma'am." "Evening, how may I help you," she asked. "Please, I really need money...please help me." At that moment, I remembered what I'd been through in the past few days. Tears filled my eyes. "Oh really? Do I look like some charity organization to you?" She snided curtly, glaring at me. "No at all ma'am, am just pleading for you to help me out am badl