DEAD FISH

I point my eyes to the tree behind the car’s window occasionally looking at Alison in the back seat. Lena keeps an eye on the road as she drives, little Ali sleeping in the back seat; I unwrap the chocolate cookies, and eat them. I stare at Lena as I chew the cookie “You want it?” I say. “I’m driving honey” Lena chuckles.

“Lemme feed you!” I say as I run my hand to Lena’s mouth. “Ngap….” She opens her mouth and eats the cookie. “Mmm...” She chews the cookie and I eat mine. “Mmm… I love the flavor but I usually bought the peanut one” I say as chew the cookie.

“I love everything about you...” Lena says in a whisper. “Pardon me? I can’t hear you” I say. “I don’t say anything!” Lena says in denial. “Aahhh...Come on!” I say as I’m begging her. Lena chuckles as she points her eyes at the road.

When I look at Lena, I realize this is all I wanted, a beautiful wife, and a cute baby girl. I smile and wonder; how could someone like Lena could take my heart like this, I’m falling in love. Rosa texts me, she told me that she comes home late. I’m moving forward my head and looking at little Ali in the back seat, she’s sleeping.

“What happened?” Lena says. “Rosa comes home late tonight!” I say. Lena smiles and keeps her eyes focused on the road. “So, little Ali got an extra nanny tonight…” Lena says. “Hey, don’t worry. We’re fine” I say. “Hey…that’s okay!” Lena says. “Thanks…” I say in a low voice.

Lena stares at me and jokes “You’re the mother of my child right” She says. “Ahhh…Shut up!” I say in disgust. “So tell me about your ex” The question suddenly left my mouth. “Sasha?” Lena says. ”I used to break up with her a year ago...” Lena says as she heavily sighs.

 “I’m listening...” I say. “She can’t accept my decision and keep telling me that she’ll hurt herself if she broke up with me. As a human being, I couldn’t let that happen and I have empathy. But I got tired, I can’t do that anymore. So I leave, I’m about to move out soon. I don’t want to be in the same room as her” Lena says. “You said move out?” I say. “Yeah…” Lena says as she stares at me. “You can stay with me, I have 3 rooms in my apartment and you can rent the room!” I say. “Mmm… alright!” Lena says as she raises an eyebrow.

My phone rings and Ben calls me. I answer his call as I heavily sigh “Hello” I say. “Hey…can we talk?” Ben says. I inhale deeply as I stare at the phone screen “Yeah…sure” I say. “Okay see you soon!” Ben says as he hangs up the phone.

We arrive at my apartment and Lena brought the grocery bags from the car. I carry Alison and brought her into the house. I walk upstairs and put Alison to bed. I stare at little Ali and kiss her cheek. I walk downstairs and help Lena with the bags. “She’s sleep?” Lena says. “Yes… She’s upstairs” I say as I’m holding the grocery bag.

I walk towards the kitchen and put the bag on the table. “So what we got here… Fruits and veggies...” I say. Lena comes and walks towards the fridge as she looks at me. “I have no mood to cook. Can we order food for dinner?” I say.

Lena grabs the orange juice from the fridge and leans on the fridge “Sure…” Lena says as she sips the juice. I walk to the living room and lean on the couch “Ahhh...finally” I groan. Lena comes and turns the TV on. She sits on the other couch. I move around my body and stare at her. “What?” Lena says as she stares at me and chuckles.

I roll an eyebrow as I stare at her “Am I looking at you?” I say. “Yes! In 5 minutes” Lena says as she grins.”I just wanna say thank you for today” I say as I purse my lips and smile. “Hey… Don’t thank me” Lena says as she moves closer to me.

Rosa comes home, she brought pizza for us. “Hey, you guys hungry?” Rosa walks closer to us with a pizza box in her hands. “Ahh…finally” I get up from the couch. “Where’s Ali?” Rosa says. “She’s on her bed!” Lena says. “Ughhh…” Rosa groans and sits on the couch in front of us.

“How’s it going?” I say as I chew the pizza. “The divorce trial is held next week!” Rosa says as she leans on the couch. “And I got a job, the interview is tomorrow!” Rosa says. “Wow… Congratulations” Lena says as she chews the pizza. “So, how’s Ali tomorrow?” I say.

“Umm… I need your help guys, can you guys babysit Ali tomorrow? I promise this is the last time” Rosa says as she begs us. I pursed my lips and stares at Lena. “Please…” Rosa says. “Alright, no worries…” I say. Rosa walks upstairs and checks up on Alison

Lena and I eat the pizza “Jeez…” I mumble. “Why?” Lena says. “We have an interview and photo shoot tomorrow for the cover magazine,” I say in dismay. “Holly crap… are you sure that’s gonna be tomorrow?” Lena says as she put the pizza slice on the table. “Yes…” I say as we stare at each other’s faces.

“So how’s Ali?” I say. “That’s okay, we’ll figure it out!” Lena says as she calms me down. “Damn!” I mumble as I lean on the couch. I walk towards the kitchen and made cups of coffee for us. “Hey… You like coffee milk?” I yell from the kitchen.

“I never had them but I would like to try...” Lena says. I walk to the living room and give the coffee to Lena “Here’s your special coffee Boss” I say. Lena takes the coffee from me and chuckles. She sips the coffee “Oh my goodness… this is perfect!” Lena says.

“When a beautiful wife is made, you have no choice but to sip” I chuckle. Lena raises an eyebrow and stares at me. She sips the coffee and watches TV. “So, when you move here?” I say as I sip the coffee. “Mmm…Maybe in these couple of days,” Lena says.

“Alright then…” I say as I raise an eyebrow and I sip the coffee. The bells ring and someone's coming. I walk to the front door and open the door. I look around and I see nobody, I’m about to close the door but I see a package in front of the door. I take the package and walk towards the kitchen. I call Lena and she comes.

“What is it?” Lena says. “I have no idea!” I say. Lena opens the package and how surprised we were, we find the dead fish with a note inside the package. I’m screaming and walk to the sink, I inhale and calm myself.

I wash my face at the sink as I see Lena opens the messages and read ‘Tick Tock…’ Lena says. I walk closer to Lena and stare at the note “Who the hell is doing this Halloween shit” I say as I put my hand on my head. “It must be Sasha?” Lena says. “Are you sure?” I say. “Yes, she probably follows us when we got here,” Lena says. “Holly crap” I mumble. “I’m sorry, I put you in danger,” Lena says as she reaches over my hand. “No…you’re not!” I say as I hold her hand. “You don’t know her… She’s psycho” Lena says. We clean the mess and walk upstairs.

I lay on my bed and scrolled Twitter. Lena taking shower and prepare herself to back home. I fall asleep for a moment and I see Lena sit next to me. “Hey… You awake” Lena says in a whisper. “Jeez I’m so sorry, I’m tired...” I say as I rub my eyes gently.

Lena smiles as she stares at me “It’s okay” She says. Lena kisses my forehead gently “I’m going back now, take care” Lena says. A sweet smile comes through my face as I stare at her “Take care” I say with a slight grief in my voice. I walk Lena to the front door and watch Lena leaves.