129.
Vera’s POV.
My heart has never been this broken before. It feels like it’s about to pop out of my chest. I’m losing my breath and strength is leaving my body fast.
Sitting in the subway station on this frosty night, I sob relentlessly. I can’t stop the rivulet or tears. I can’t stop replaying the scene that occurred before me four hours ago.
I’ve been sitting here for two hours and I’ve missed the first train that swung by. I can’t bring myself to move.
All I feel is heartache.
David…after all he said to me, he still chose her in the end, why?
Indeed, I’m never and I’ll never be enough for him.
After all, he is what he’s rumored to be. A womanizer.
I guess I was too blindly in love with him to realize I’d end up like his ex-wives.
Too bad now, I’m carrying his child.
I chuckle bitterly at the situation I’m in. I feel like it’s a blessed-cursed situation.
I’m blessed because I have a baby made out of my love for a man. But cursed because even before the baby could come into this world, his father rejected me. Because I’ll make sure David never finds out about this baby.
He might have an idea because of the note I wrote for him but he’ll never set his eyes on my child.
That’s why I resolved to move into a new town.
“Lady…” A sharp baritone hits my ears.
I pat my hand over my face, wiping the streak of tears before gazing up at whoever that is.
“Ugh…you okay?”
The strange man with blonde hair asks.
“Mm… I am.” I croak.
He looks tentatively at me, weighing my words.
Maybe he figured I wanted to be alone and decided to keep mute.
In the dark of the night, here in the Subway station, I decide to move on with my life. Even though everything in me is screaming to wait, maybe he’ll come back. Maybe he’ll realize he loves me more.
It’s a whirlwind of ‘maybes’ but I’m done being the second option.
I chose myself at this moment.
Myself and my unborn baby…
At the whistling sound of the oncoming train, I rise to my feet, squaring my shoulders as I clutch my carryall.
When the train halts, I stomp inside alongside other people. I take a seat by the window, watching the dark clouds as the train wheels away from Manhattan.
I don’t have a particular destination in mind but I’ll figure it out along the way.
*
*
*
I didn’t know when I dozed off, but waking up it feels like several days have passed even though it’s only been hours.
I rub my eyes before turning to the man sitting beside me.
“Excuse me. Do you perhaps know where we are?” I ask.
“Yeah, sure. We’re in New Paltz now.”
New Paltz? That’s one of the small towns in New York.
If I stay here, David will never find me.
At that, I wait as the train stops at the subway and I get down along with hordes of other passengers.
Phew!
It’s as if the air is more frosty here, I think to myself, rubbing my arms.
After gazing back and forth, I embark on hunting for a place to stay.
Moving through the street now, I realize the town is more buzzing than I had given it credit for.
Wow, I exclaim, watching the vociferous pubs and people laughing and chattering away.
The streets aren’t deserted even at this time of the night.
That’s impressive. I think this is somewhere I can adapt to quickly.
When I’m settled, I’ll definitely give Sage an update about my shitty life.
The way things are going now, only my BFFs can stand in for me.
I remember Sage’s words some time ago, where she told me not to fall for David.
If my heart had listened, I wouldn’t be in so much pain now.
“New in town, chick?” Some guys standing on the sidewalk say.
OMG, they look like gangs.
Fear trickles through me when I see them approaching.
Swallowing hard, I try to maneuver them but they block my path.
“Why don’t you allow us to welcome you in town, chick?” One of them says.
“Oh, Manson, you’re making it sound so lame. Babes, c’mon feel free with us, and let’s hit the club down there.”
I watch the guy’s line of sight and figure out where he’s pointing at.
“You see there? Yeah. It’s where I want us to go to.” The guy continues.
I forcefully try to maneuver them again but one of them clamps his hand on my carryall, halting my movement.
“Not so fast.” The guy says with a cold voice.
Oh, God. What have I gotten myself into? I murmur inwardly, watching with fearful eyes as he walks into my space.
However, before he could speak again, someone’s voice rang out.
“Step away from her. Right this minute…”
I gasp in relief as I turn and see the guy I sat with on the train.
The boys shrivel at the sight of him and back away immediately.
“Oh, thank you.” I gasp, watching the guy step close.
“It’s the least I can do as the town’s mayor.”
My eyes widen at his words.
“You’re a native?” I bark.
“Yeah. I figured you’re new here and so I decided to step in. These boys are wild sometimes.” He smiled genuinely at me and my heart warmed.
Thank God.
“I appreciate.”
“Don’t sweat it, lady. Mind if I help you?” He asks, gesturing to my carryall.
Without hesitation, I nod and take the bag.
“Here to visit someone or.. ?” He trails off.
“Just to cool my head. Yeah.” I chirp. “You know any motel I can stay in?” I ask, hoping he knows.
“Of course, we have many. This way.”
I follow him silently. Midway through our walk, he breaks the silence.
“Payton. You’re?”
“I’m Vera.” I smile as well as he does.
The rest of the walk is filled with his introduction to the little town and how things work. It’s a little fascinating but that’s not where my mind is.
All I think about is David.
In the end, Payton helps me settle into a cozy motel with a convenient room.
The motel allows pets, that’s why I heard a dog barking just outside my window.
But I prefer that to the deafening silence.
It takes me a moment to settle in but before I know it, I doze off without putting my phone on.
>>> The Following Day>>>
Well into noon, I realize while spending some time with Payton who decided to drop by that I’ve not put on my cell phone.
I decided on doing it later when Payton must have left.
“Oh shit!” Payton curses, staring down at his phone.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, worried.
“I forgot I have a meeting by five. I’m sorry Vera.” He hums.
“It’s nothing. I expect that from a mayor.” I chirp, smiling.
Payton stands up from the lounge chair, adjusting his shirt.
“Thank you for understanding. But will you be able to make it to the nearby pub at night? Would like us to catch up with some booze? What do you say?”
I don’t even think twice. I snap. “No. That’ll not be necessary, Payton. I’d rather rest.”
The young man didn’t find offense in my decline of his invite. He takes his leave and I’m suspended for long moments on the terrace, thinking.
I swear, I don’t even know when it clocked eight p. m. and I trudge my way back into my cozy room.
I eat the fruits Payton bought for me and decide to turn on my phone.
It wasn’t five minutes after I turned on the phone that a call came in.
Knowing it wasn’t David saddened me but when I heard the voice from the other side, something twitched in me.
“Vera Ivanovna?”
“Who is this?” I ask, uncertainly.
“Someone very important to you. Vera…it’s been years…”
My heart thumps, skipping several beats before hammering in my chest.
“Who are you?” I ask, worried, scared, eager to know.
“Your father.”
Hearing those words, it was as if a bucket of cold water had poured on me. I couldn’t move. Couldn’t bat my lashes.
“What?” I croak.
“Yes, child. It’s me. Vera, it’s been years. I never knew I could be able to finally get your number, Christ. Child, where are you?”
My mind war with indecision.
My father? He’s reaching me after…so many years?
Oh, God.
Oh, Jesus.
I can’t breathe.
I lost David but something far better is back in my life.
On autopilot, I rattle off my address to him.
Then he tells me to come to a nearby pub.
Without hesitating, I prepare myself and make my way down to the pub.
_____
The quick preparation allows me to be in the pub five minutes before the actual time.
I settle at the bar, settling for seltzer water while waiting for my father.
Hope, the very feeling I’ve lost blooms inside me after a long time.
“Vera…!”
I jerk at the sound of that voice.
Slowly, I turn and behold…I see those eyes again…the very one I saw that night I was almost raped.
My father…the man from that night.
I’m in shock, unable to move as he barrels close to me and pauses before me.
“Child.” He calls, his tone harsh and dark.
Not a tinge of warmth in place.
His face deadpan.
Is he…really happy to see me as he claims?
“Father?” I call ever so slowly.
As if a dam has been opened, I find myself in tears as I spread my arms around him.
He’s stiff, unmoving but I’m too emotional to care.
“God! You’re still alive? I thought you were all dead?”
He manages a smile as he settles on the seat beside mine.
My father orders a drink for himself and me.
“No. I can’t drink…” I offer, shy.
“Why?” He booms, watching me, studying me.
“It’s a little private,” I mutter.
“What’s private when it has to do with your father?” He asks, studying me.
I don’t know why but I can’t bring myself to tell him.
“It’s nothing. Tell me, Father where were you all these years?”
He swings his face away as bitterness claws up his face.
I wonder what happened to him.
Suddenly, I hear him suck in a breath as if he’s trying not to cry.
“What happened?” I ask, holding his arm in my hands. His body is taut. Way too stiff, I don’t know why.
“Vera…if I tell you, I know you won’t believe me.” He answers, sad.
That adds to my curiosity and I perk up. “Tell me,” I add more pressure.
His next words make my world go dark, my heart pound away from my chest.
“David Truman held me prisoner for twelve years in Alcatraz, Vera.”
“What!?” I gasp in shocked-horror. How true is that?
My heart hammers, jerks, pounds. Breaths seep away from my lungs as he continues.
“He’s always been obsessed with your mother, child…” he trails off.
I look at him and see his eyes glassy.
“My mother?” I question and he nods.
“She never reciprocated his madness. So…David…he killed your mother. When I tried to report him to the authorities, he worked with some officials he had under his grip and I was sent to Alcatraz. Where I spent twelve years as a prisoner.”
My heart immediately stops beating at the revelation.
So…the man I’ve loved with all my heart was the one that wrecked my family?
He was the one that killed my mother?
I can’t…breathe.
Now, it all makes sense. I had this feeling that David had been keeping a secret from me but now I know better.
He’s the one that damaged my childhood… a murderer.
TBC.