“Winter, the doctor just said that it won’t be good for you when you think about too much stress.” Ava’s face changed immediately, her eyes pitying me as if she wasn’t used to seeing me like this.
This was the first time she’d seen me in this state. She hadn’t seen how much my heart was breaking. Because I didn’t sleep every day while I was in Spain, I’m not sure what reaction she was having. She probably didn’t think I’d end up in this situation after witnessing my daily laughter and our minute-by-minute stories about our life dreams.
“How can I find Randle if I just lay here?” Perhaps he’s seeking food, or perhaps he’s looking for milk because I’m not with him. Who is going to combine his milk?” I’m battling with Ava right now because she makes me rest and covers me with a comforter, which I’m removing. “Are you hiding something from me?”
I held her hand, so she wouldn’t do anything else to me, since it was pointless. I’m going to stand, and I will simply be going to stand again, no matter what. So, she somehow, well, stop what she’s doing.
“N-no. Nothing. What can I hide from you?” She stepped back twice as if she realized that she was holding me while my body is fire. She seemed to be burned because she promptly removed her palms then turned to the door as if she was waiting for someone to save her.
“Then let me out. The doctor said I need to eat, my stomach is still empty.” I stomped my foot on the cold floor. But as I stood up, my feet suddenly gave way as if it were the first time I had stepped on the ground. I look like Ariel in the famous cartoons of The Little Mermaid. If only Ava hadn’t caught me, my chin might have hit the wood of the bed.
Our situation was made even more amusing by the fact that she was clutching my top garment. Too easy, I think. Maybe it was just easy on her, or if she just acted like a man. We miss the days when no one else was worried about how to get by the instructors while cutting class since we were so tired. We haven’t spoken since I got home. She placed me back down on the bed.
When I looked her in the eyes, she seemed much more agitated. It seemed as though she hadn’t slept because she was so worried about me. Now I wonder what if she wasn’t there? What about me?
“Winter, I’ll just get you some food, I told you, you can’t come outside.”
“Thank you but-”
She didn’t hear what I was saying any longer, since she raced out the door without listening to what I was saying. What she did shook me to my core. It appears that part of her personality is to behave without listening to the person with whom she is conversing. I’m not sure why she and Turstin stayed together. I just don’t know if they’re married yet. I simply disregarded her rush.
I pressed my numb feet together. I can still feel the tile’s coldness. However, I am no longer able to feel my whole legs. Perhaps it was due to what Alex had injected. I instantly remembered what was done to Alex; he became a victim, but I can’t justify what he did correctly. Maybe he was still thinking clearly, but his need was overpowering his body.
I tried to rise and move carefully when I felt my foot go down. It took me about 30 minutes, but Ava still hadn’t returned. I stood without assistance and, thankfully, I was able to stand and move. When I opened the door, there was no one in the entire home.
I even went on a walk to see if there were any helpers, but I couldn’t find anyone. I could hear every step of my foot on the only polished and brown stairway. Even if I’m not wearing slippers, I can hear my feet, although faintly. Looking out the window while holding the railing, I noticed a crowd forming outside the gate.
I stepped out quietly, making no noise, so as not to disturb them while they were busy. Turstin placed his arms around Ava’s back as she held a piece of paper. I noticed Ava’s child playing with the assistants when I turned to the left. I would have gone because it appears that what Ava and they are discussing is serious, but my eyes nearly widened as she tore the page she was holding.
Even though she didn’t hold much movement, she seemed to be chasing her breath. Turstin calmed her down, but she suddenly pushed someone outside so my feet that were supposed to go to her daughter suddenly went straight towards them. Ava is not violent, so, surprisingly, she acted like this and Turstin did not even stop her.
They still can’t hear me or notice me because my steps are so light. Until I came out, I didn’t wear slippers, so the wet grass touched my feet, I wasn’t disgusted because I also liked to do it when I was young. I stopped behind them and saw a police officer who seemed to be accompanied by an attorney. I would have just touched Ava when she spoke again, and it was loud as if she couldn’t control her anger anymore.
“WINTER WILL NOT SIGN THAT! JUST WAIT AND SHE WILL TAKE HER SON BACK!” She pointed to the torn papers. The policeman did not move as well as the attorney who was with him, but the attorney looked at me.
“Looks like you shouldn’t be the one answering that. Why don’t we give Miss Winter Harris a chance to give her answer? I’ll just follow the paper for her to sign.” The man held out his hand to me as if to present and introduce me to many people.
I could not understand what they were saying. What are they asserting? But I’m only sure of one thing. They mentioned something about Randle. Ava gave me a way to face the man who reached the sky with a grin. I frowned.
“Which demon sent you today?” I don’t have to show them that I’m hesitant because when I do that, I’m just giving them a spot where they should hit me.
The attorney’s face changed, his hands clenched, but the policeman just stayed in his place, it looked like he just needed to accompany this attorney for the possibilities to happen.
“Miss Winter, miss Charlotte, wants to adopt your son Randle Harris. That will be replaced by the last name of Mr. Randall Adams because he also wants your child to go to him. However, there is a law that says the child must grow up with the mother if it is only one to seven years old. There is also a law that says the father can take the child back if the mother is no longer can support the child financially.” He sneezed, and the smile seemed to win at some gamble. “In what happened to you, it looks like even a box of milk you can no longer afford for the child -”
He didn’t finish what he was saying because Turstin’s fist had already landed on his face. His glasses were shattered, and he looked like a defeated bully in the anime I often see in what Randle watches.
Adopt? Will the last name be changed? Did Randall think I would just let him do that to me? To my child?
“He should give my son back to me. I will find where I can borrow money just to accuse them of both -his demon fiancés. Until tomorrow, if he doesn’t return my son to me, we will only meet in court.” The smile on the attorney’s lips was gone. I pushed Turstin and Ava slightly, and I closed the gate.
At times, I discovered that Randle is in Randall’s hand. It eased my heart, but it was quickly overtaken with the terror of knowing Charlotte was with him. That woman might think otherwise; Randall may wake up one day with my son suspended in the air, a rope around his neck. When the gate closed, I gazed at it for a long time, trying to find the solution to my dilemma.
“Sorry. I didn’t realize he’d do that, and I’m sorry I didn’t warn you.” Ava sniffed, even though she hadn’t done anything. I was even more delighted because she tore up the papers, something she knew I would never do. She is a mother.
“Why? Did she do anything so far apart from sending that worthless attorney here?” I did not hold back my laughter at every slur that I hurled at them.
“Yes. It was broadcast on television,” she says hesitantly.
“And what other lie do I have to watch and hear from their rotting words mouth?”