'Where were you all these days?' Asked Hannah to Merylin.
'After John left me I went to red cross-town cause I had nowhere else to go.' Replied Merylin.
'John left you?? But why??' Asked Hannah being shocked.
'Twenty years ago when my son was seven...' Said Merylin.
*Flashback*
Twenty years ago...
John used to be under pressure at that time, cause the workers of his company were going on strike almost every day. Moreover, there were some rumors about him having an affair outside. I knew he was under great stress and frustration so I just used to calm him down. But I had recently recovered from autoimmune disease and was not clearly in nice conditions. We used to quarrel a lot at that time due to his mental state. There were some faults from my side too, and I admit it, but John was the one who never understood how I felt. Whenever I used to step out of my car in a civil spot people used to mock me or gossip among themselves. They used to insult my husband in front of me. But I never spoke a word against them, cause I knew that it was not the truth.
But that day when my son came from school and hugged me. After a second I realized that he was sobbing. I bent down to his level, covered his cheeks with my palms, and asked,
'Why are you crying, Richie?' Richie was his nickname. I and John, we both used to call him Richie.
'Mom...will..da..dad leave..us?' He questioned while his voice broke down in between.
I hugged him again, a bit more tightly this time.
'No honey, who said so?' I asked.
'My friends...they..te.tease m..me mom. Will..dad leave us?' He said hugging me back.
I sat on the floor bending my knees and wiped out all his tears from his chubby cheeks. I then held his small hands and said,
'No one will leave you, my son. Don't you worry, mamma will be always there to protect you.' I gave him a warm smile.
He was just seven years old at that time and I know it was hard for him. It was enough now, I decided to talk to John this time. I will request him to take down this rumor, cause I can't see my son crying.
At night I made Richie sleep earlier. John came home a bit late today. But as soon as he entered the house I was dumbfounded, cause there was a lady with him. Moreover, she had a three-year-old kid with her.
John took me inside our bedroom and started to make me understand the circumstances,
'Look, Mery, you and I have no choices now. So, I have made a decision.' He said.
I was not able to speak anything. After my parents died there was only one man whom I trusted and he broke it. I was lost in my thoughts,
'Mery, say something.' He said and shook me by gripping my shoulders.
I finally came back to my senses.
'Huh?'
'The rumors have been spread now throughout so, I had to do this.' He said and I slapped him.
Soon my visions got blurry and tears began to collapse from my eyes.
'Did you ever gave it a thought John? How could you do this?' I said.
'I always trusted you, but you...you never thought about me or Richie. Did you?' I said.
'I just want to say that we'll take care of Richie. So..' He said and I interrupted.
'So what?' I yelled.
'I'm not going to leave my son. Do you understand that?' I said.
'Why are doing this to me? Why are you being selfish all of a sudden?' He said with a face of innocence.
'Yes!! I'm being greedy and selfish. Anything else that you would like to add?' I said.
'Mery you can't do this. I want to give Richie a better future and that can't happen if he goes with. Moreover, I love my son, Mery please understand.' He said.
I was all shocked, were you always this mean John? I thought. Were you the same man that I met seven years ago? I couldn't help myself, I loved John and he deceived me. How could he be so mean and selfish?
'You have to leave alone and that's my final decision.' He said.
'I'm not going to leave my son alone and that's my final decision.' I declared emphasizing the word me.
He sighed in frustration.
'Let's see.' He said and went out of the room. When I tried to go out of the room I found that the door was locked.
I tried to open the gate but my all attempts went in vain. I sat in front of the door, my back facing the door. I started to sob silently while sitting there was nothing I could for my son. While finally, I heard someone unlocking the door. I stood in the hope to see John, but when the door was opened I saw John's second wife standing in front of me.
I tried to close the door but she pushed me and came in.
'Hmm...let me see. So, this is going to be the room of mine.' She said while taking a round of the room with crossed arms.
'Why the hell are you here?' I asked in a normal voice.
'Just to take a glimpse of the room I'm going to live.' She said looking in each and every direction of the room except for looking at me.
'But I guess I have taken some junk out of here.' She said further looking at me.
'Let's start with you.' She said and grabbed my arm.
She dragged me across the hall, through the stairs. I yelled and asked her to leave me. But there was not much strength in me to stand against her. John was nowhere to be seen. She threw me in the hall finally and my head got slammed against the ground. I somehow stood up covering my forehead with my hand, cause it was bleeding a lot, with all my strength left I went near her and slapped her. The slap cut her lip a big in the corner and it started to bleed.
'You, characterless woman. How could you be so low living?' Did I say?
Just after that John came,
'Are you out of your mind Mery!! why did you slap her?' He yelled.
I was stunned to see how he couldn't see my bleeding forehead but a small cut of her's.
'Come out with me I've booked a ticket for you.' He said and went upstairs.
After a while, he came while I stood there and that lady went inside to cure her cut.
'Hold the luggage. After all, you've to be alone now.' He said and gave me a suitcase full of my stuff and went outside.
I was about to go to meet Richie one last time. I knew that with me he has no future, so after thinking this whole time I decided to leave him with John. I sat there for a while without waking Richie up, cause I was afraid that if he asked that what happened to my head, I won't be able to reply to it. I was about to come out when John came and held my hand and took me out. I just remember at last when I was about to leave the main door of the house that lady whispered in my ear,
'Your son will pay for the slap.'
I begged John to let me take Richie with me, cause now I was more worried about him, now.
It was around 5 am when he left me at the station. It was pouring heavily. I was left all alone at the station.
'Just go somewhere far away from here. I'll send you money every month so, don't try to contact me. Never!' He said and left without even saying goodbye.
Present Time...
'It just took her one night to steal my son and my husband, from me. I never got to say goodbye to my son. I never got to even hug him for the last time. I don't even know whether he remembers my face or not. I don't even know if he is happy with his life or not. I am the most unfortunate mom in the world.' Said Merylin and her love for his son escaped from her eyes.
Hannah hugged her and caressed Merylin's hair.
'Everything will be fine Merylin. Don't worry. You'll meet your son and your husband one day. I'll help you...'