Just when her world was tumbling apart, Teresa found it in herself to stay afloat and figure out how her life should be. That was solicitous enough.
She knew that there was no way she would be endorsed by her family, she hid her secret. Only her embryo knew it. She used to converse day and night with it on its future, it listened and stayed, giving her hope and courage.
The few days went on without raising concerns, it was as if nature was on her side. She was living her life at home and school like a ninja. She had goosebumps every time the biology teacher talked about reproduction. That was said quite frequently
After that, all hell fell loose. Her tummy was now growing bigger by the day.
At first, she claimed that it was just weight she put in but she could only lie for so long.
She had facial changes. Her face was growing bigger by the day and her mother being a woman was smelling the warning. Before her was girlfriends who Teresa managed to fool , their only prayer is that she added more weight- which she did.
"Is there something I should be informed of? What's wrong with you?", Teresa's mother inquired about it one evening. It had been two months since its inception. She knew the dates quite well because she slept with him once.
That was simple, she should have lied her way through. She did not, the decision for truth was pleading, knowing just how much trouble she might be in. The lie was eating Teresa, consuming her being, she had to halt it.
" I'm afraid it's bad", she started. Tears washed her face down wetting her blue dress. Maybe if she wore something loose she would have escaped it for a week or so.
Her remarks made Mrs Smith tense. Disbelief was written all over her face.
" You're not pregnant, are you? Eh!", she snapped.
She hit right where it was hurting. Teresa fell on her knees sobbing. It was not up to her anymore. She wished that maybe she would be forgiven for being honest about it.
She seemed sorry and genuinely hurting. Her mother never needed an explanation nor showed sympathy. She stormed out of her room slamming the door . Teresa was still on her knees holding herself up against the bed. That's when she needed her mother the most ,it would help if she cussed or anything. Nothing's worse than silence.
Teresa was not the type to scream and raise attention. The noise that managed to escape from her mouth never made it past the four walls of her little hell which had been a haven.
The time was right for dinner. Her father was at the table talking about how he was going to make the next Christmas count. He had plans to take his family to Paris, everybody was talking about it.
With him was Chloe, the little sister. The two were having father-daughter moment and so far it was fruitful. She was smiling showing her crystal-white baby teeth and cute dimples. She was the loved one by far, understandable as the youngest.
Her mother strode past them without a word and in seconds she put dinner on table. Plates , spoons ,forks and mood were next. She ruined it for Chloe.
She wasn't alone, when Smith was pouring his heart out that's when Chloe asked about Teresa. There was unusual silence sharper than a chef's knife. It's true to say that whenever the family is together less Teresa Smith can never be happier. That's when he becomes real charmer , nobody knows when his relationship with Teresa turned sour.
That had been obvious, they all despise her, her mother, now more than that ever before. She asked Chloe to serve Teresa and leave the table for grownups.
Chloe argued before doing it for cash. She likes to have snacks on her way back from school. Smith nodded.
"What's the matter? She's too lazy to get her food too? What's wrong with your daughter?", Mr Smith asked. He referred to Teresa as her mother's daughter mostly as if he had no contribution to her DNA.
"I'm afraid it's bad. She's pregnant "
Smith could not have handled it calmer, it was worse than he imagined. She had been destroying his family's reputation and now that? Was she sent by the devil to wreck evil on his family?
He couldn't breathe. He fainted.
It took time to get it together and some fluids. After that, he was as red and bitter. His discomfort was plain and his anger manifesting He was ready to climb the stairs and grab her ears. He needed to calm down.
Maybe get some air. He went out. His hands were shaking and it was hard to breathe in there.
Her mother was limited to what she could do. If the old man got up there only God knows what he would say or do. He was impulsive at times and when pushed he could be violent. That was well known in the family although he never got violet at home. His face is enough intimidation when angry.
×××××××××××
Chloe knocked on the door, she lacks patience. Kicking it wide open she flooded in, two plates on her hands.
Teresa was getting ready for whatever was behind that door. She wiped out the tears and looked the other way. How relieved she was after a friendly face showed up
"Chloe!", called heartedly meeting her halfway. She helped with one plate. Yams, arrow roots ,beef and potatoes was the diet, if it was better times she would have at least looked at it, she loves such foods.
"I have got your food, we're going to stay up here, they're having 'grownup talk'", Chloe stated mocking her mother. Teresa faked a smile, if it was a good day it would be funnier.
"What's wrong? Are you sad?", ever observant Chloe asked finding clues in her eyes. They were red as a rose and swollen. She smiled in assurance.
" Come, wanna sit? I'm fine"
As she sat Chloe down she was anxious. Chloe was wise enough to frighten her at times.
"Why did you miss dinner?", the little one inquired looking straight into her eyes," your eyes are red. We're you crying?"
Teresa had just enough to go through. She needed to make it stop with Chloe. "Jesus! I am just having a bad day, why don't you lie with me, uh!"
"I wanna eat "
"Go on then"
"Aren't you joining? You haven't had anything the whole day, please eat, Uh!"
Teresa climbed onto the bed. Chloe was still asking about everything as she sat at the small table. The table was meant for studies, but she failed in that Teresa sent her downstairs to eat with their parents, which she was reluctant to do but obeyed. " I'll come back to check on you", said Chloe closing the door behind her.
Teresa was left lying on her bed planning her escape from her haven to wherever it would be safe. She had money from the boy meant for abortion, maybe that would sustain her. She checked and it was still there.
If only she knew that it wasn't over with her family yet. Maybe she would have run away that night. It wasn't worth her stay anymore, she should have known that her father was climbing the stairs to get to her.
Now that she is remembering it would have been better if she jumped out, twisting a leg would be better.