“Wherever he is. Listen. Before I can let all of this go and forgive you, I need to know how things will change. Have I grown enough for you? Am I now woman enough for you?”
He exhales. “Zo, I would have never laid a finger on you had you not been grown enough when we met. What the hell is going on out there?”
Now I exhale…a lot. Now the tears.
“You didn’t have to get me pregnant, Stenton.” I bite my lips to fortify myself against my next confession. “I would have married you back then. It may not have been my ideal destination for our relationship, but I would have followed you to the moon, just to love you forever. I didn’t need a baby to do that. I wouldn’t have left until your commitment to me changed.” I choke on my tears. “I was so young, Stent. I didn’t know everything. I could only tell you how I felt and that was that my love for you opened me to the possibility of anything. I only wanted you.”
“Ni?a…”
There’s silence. I use the time to allow my pent up emotions to release. Oddly, I feel the activity of my lungs. They’re expanding, filling and releasing. I’m beginning to breathe. They’re short stints, but I can feel it. After seven years, I take my first breath.
~~~~~~~~~~
Frantic knocking tosses me from my sleep. My head is heavy and eyes are swollen as I fight for lucidity. I look around the room to find Bernard up, rubbing sleepiness from his eyes. His presence across from my bed on the pullout reminds me of where I am. I’d settled on a standard room, trying to stay within his budget.
The knocking occurs again, this time louder, harder and longer. It’s now frightening. I throw Bernard a glare and gesture to ask if he’s going to answer it. He returns a blank stare, annoying me.
“Who is it?” Bernard unsuccessfully attempts to scare off the perp. Even I was unconvinced.
I start dragging my legs then trunk from the bed and straighten the sundress I apparently fell asleep in. I don’t even recall returning to the room. The banging happens again. I grab the knob and swing the door open.
It’s him.
He’s here.
Holy. Mother. Of. Joseph.
“Get your shit and let’s go.”
I turn behind me when I hear Bernard demand, “Who is that?”
I return to the door. He’s wearing track pants with a denim jacket.
“Zoey, who is that?” I pivot back to Bernard behind me as he’s approaching.
Stenton steps into the doorway, placing his foot on the carpet inside, and that’s when I see two burly figures just beyond him. It clicks. He’s here to extradite me.
When I’m able to crack my lips, I whisper pleadingly. “Just hang on, okay?”
I don’t want this to get out of hand. Bernard’s a turd, but he doesn’t deserve to be intimidated. That’s when I feel the wind from him arriving behind me.
“What’s this, Stenton?” Then he looks at me. “Did you call for him after our fight?”
Stenton’s eyes rush to my mine that are swollen.
“Fight? Did he touch you?” Stenton’s shoulders broaden as he fully steps inside the room this time.
“No!” I speak up.
“No!” Bernard declares at the same time. “But you haven’t explained what you’re doing here.”
“That’s easy,” Stenton minimizes his tone, appearing to calm himself. “I’ve come to get Zoey.” He tosses me a glance. “Get your shit and let’s go.”
“Wait a minute! She’s not going anywhere. You don’t talk to her like that. You have no authority to.”
I grab my head. It’s still fuzzy from all the drinking last night. I thought I dreamed that conversation with Stenton. We’d gotten disconnected after he called my name.