I feel better after meeting my parents. I was astonished by their arrival, which I never expected when they apologized to me. Something they aren't used to-something a respected family isn't used to, especially my father, who forced me into this marriage and, moreover, who discharged me from school.
Whatever the issue was between me and my parents, it has been resolved, even if the wound has not healed. Luke and the ladies are now my top priorities. I hope they spill some clues or maybe I can trigger them with the information I got.
"Sarah...", Delores knocked on the door.
I rolled my eyes. Just what I needed! I said under my breath.
"Yes?", I answered the door to find my LOVELY mother-in-law standing in front of me.
"I need you to come with me to Abrams Home. I organized a small event there," Delores explained.
"WOW!" I said, arching my brow. "Are you sick? Or what, did somebody slap you?", I said.
"Look, I don't intend to start an argument with you. I need you to be there for the reason that my socialite friends wanted to meet my daughter-in-law.", said Delores.
"What if I'm not keen on meeting your SOCIALITE friends? Why don't you bring your ladies? Say to them that they are your daughter-in-law. People assumed they were your daughter-in-law the entire time. WHAT A SHAME!", I said
"Not every event I host, I invite them", said Delores.
"I won't beg you, Sarah", she said.
"Neither do I. I would never expect a dignified woman to plead with a young girl," I explained.
Holding back her anger, she said, "What do you want, Sarah?!"
"Nothing. I miss your nasty face," I said.
"Stop fooling around! Are you coming or not?", she said.
"I'd love to see you like this. I promised to do it more frequently," I said.
"Sarah!" she shouted.
"Whoa! Calm your rage, it's not healthy to be angry all the time, your radiant face will wrinkle," I advised.
She glared at me.
"I'm coming with you, mother-in-law, your SOCIALITE friends will get to see me", I said.
"My bad, having a daughter-in-law like you. I'm being patient with you for the sake of my friends," she said.
"I should have more than one child, at least I don't have to take you", she said.
"My bad, having a mother-in-law like you, or my life would be amazing. At least I won't have to look at your GORGEOUS face," I said.
"Don't provoke me!", Delores pointed her finger at me.
"You don't know who you messed with, Sarah, you better not!", she walked away after warning me.
Like I do not know who I mess with, my marriage life is an example, I said under my breath. My bad to be one of the Abrams! as I closed the door.
We were en route to the Abrams Home. I sat next to Delores.
"You know, I thought you were all inseparable, but I was mistaken," I added, beginning a talk about the ladies.
"Do they agree? With you bring me over them", I said.
"I don't give a damn if they disagree; it's my decision", she declared.
What an answer. They are a gang of wicked.
We dropped by the restaurant, picked up boxes of food, and then proceeded to the location of the event. We reached Abrams's Home. The kids were already playing in the wide front yard. It's an outdoor event. The children were dressed in red shirts and white pants.
The children ran towards us as we exited the car, accompanied by their guardians.
"As I promised, this is her, my daughter-in-law", said Delores.
I knelt down and they hugged me.
"Aunty Sarah... you're so pretty!", said the little girl.
"Thank you! Same to you dear", I said.
"Really?", she said.
"Yes, you are", I said.
"I'm pretty, I'm a pretty girl!", the little girl danced with joy.
They dragged me to the yard where they were playing, leaving Delores and their guardian behind.
"Aunty, why don't you ever visit us?", asked the bubbly girl.
"Yes aunty, if you take much longer, you can't see us anymore", said the little boy.
"We can't play with you anymore", said the bubbly girl.
My heart drops. "Why did you say that? Why can't I play with you?", I asked.
"The doctor stated some of us aren't going to live much longer," said the little boy.
"Why? You're healthy and strong; what's the problem?" I inquired.
"Some of us here have cancer. I'm one of them. Do you see my bald head?", said the little boy as he showed his head.
"I thought... they shaved your hair," a sharp pang sliced into my chest.
"No aunty, our hair falls out due to the ailment we suffer," said the little boy.
"And her", he pointed to the little girl beside him.
"The one who sings, I'm a pretty girl, she has heart disease, if she doesn't have a donor, she'll die", said the little boy.
"Up to this point, the hospital had not found a heart donor for her. Day by day her condition is getting worse, we will lose her", said the bubbly girl sadly.
"Oh my God, why must you suffer from such a disease!" I'm helpless.
"Because god loves us, he wants us to be by his side, and turn us into an angel, so we can protect our loved ones", said the little girl (with heart disease).
I have no words.
I embraced them.
"You are all fighters. I should have come sooner", I said.
"You should, we will have plenty of time to play", said the little girl.
"I just found out that my parents-in-law own The Home. She told me this afternoon, and took me along with her", I said.
"If you knew, I bet you'd visited us in the first place", said the little boy.
"Yes, I am", I said.
"All right, no time to waste, let's play," I said.
"Let's play!!!", shouted all the kids.
Before I joined them, I approached the little girl, who was standing quietly, holding a teddy bear.
"Hello there", I greeted her.
She stared at me.
"I'm Sarah, you?", I introduced myself as I extended my hand.
"Ayla", she shook my hand.
"What's on your mind, little girl?", I asked.
"Emm...I... do you really want to meet us?", said Ayla.
"Yes! Why?", I asked
"I didn't mean to listen in, but I kind of heard what they said." She said,
"They?", I asked
"Delores and the head custodian of this home", she said.
"What did they say?", I asked.
"You didn't want to see us, you didn't like visiting places like this, it's so difficult to get you here," she explained.
"WHAT?! No, it's a lie", I said.
"That's what she told the head custodian," she explained.
"Don't take her word for it; I would never act in such a way" I said.
"I fall for the kids the moment I saw them, and I care about all of you," I added.
"I found out everything today. All this time I knew nothing about the home", I said.
"I believe you, you seem like a good woman", she said.
"Thank you", I said.
"Sorry if I offended you", she bowed.
I pulled her into my chest. "There's no need to be sorry, it's not your fault,"
"Did you tell others?", I asked.
"No, I didn't want them to feel bad, they were so excited to meet you", she said.
"You did the right thing, I don't want any misunderstanding between me and them", I said.
"Enough of that, let's join the other", I said.
She took my hand and said, "Come on."
Before I step further, something caught my attention. I took a glance to the side.
"Is something wrong?", asked Ayla.
"No, let's go", I said.
Someone there? Why do I sense someone's presence? There's no one behind the large tree. I'm probably hallucinating.
I get back to the kids.
I admire Delores for being sympathetic to these children, not for the lies she peddled about me! Bloody! I glared at Delores who was busy chatting with her socialite friends. To look good in the eyes of others, she dares to trash her daughter-in-law. Is this how these people function?!
In the midst of rollicking with the kids.
"Sarah," Delores waved at me.
What does she want now?! I walked to her.
"What?"
"They're waiting for you", said Delores.
"I won't spend much time with them", I said.
"I won't let you either, dear", said Delores.
She led me to them.
"Guys, I presented you, Sarah, my daughter-in-law", said Delores
"Hello there", said Julia, the blonde.
"Hi Sarah!", said Lauren, the bob hair.
Her friends greet me, and I return the greeting with a phony smile.
"Have a seat with us, Sarah", said Julia.
"We'd like to get to know Delores' daughter-in-law", said Salma, the Arabian woman.
"You look uninterested," observed Lauren.
"I'm not used to chit-chatting with elderly people," I explained.
"I get it, young people are never interested in sitting with the aged", said Lauren.
"You're very knowledgeable, aunty...?", I said.
"Lauren. Please have a seat, we insist", she said.
"I'm not taking long here", I said.
"Don't worry, we won't keep you long," Gina, the blue-eyed woman, remarked.
I sat down in between them.
My bad, the single empty seat was in the middle of them.
"How do you feel about being Delores's sole daughter-in-law?" Gina inquired.
"I feel nothing", I said.
"That surprised me. I wasn't expecting that", said Gina.
"Dee, she's a fiery young lady. I like her!", said Gina.
"She's my favorite girl", said Dee.
I feel like puking.
"How long have you been married?", asked Julia.
"6 months", I said.
"Half year. You haven't shared with us the good news", said Salma.
"Good news?", I asked.
"Pregnancy?", said Salma
"Oh, after marriage, how long does it take to announce the good news?", I asked.
"3 months", said Salma
"Is it a bad omen if you don't share it within three months?" I inquired.
"Not at all, it's fine if it's been more than three months," Lauren said.
"Then it's not an issue at all," I said, curving my lips upward.
"I didn't mean to intrude on your personal life. Did you do it with your husband?" Julia inquired.
"Do what?", I asked.
"Intercourse...? On a daily basis", said Julia.
Was she genuinely asking me this?
"Frankly, we do that all the time, sometimes in his office", I said.
"In the office?! Like in front of people?", said Delores, dumbfounded.
"I mean in his workroom", I said.
"Oooh... I'm on fire," Julia exclaimed.
"Then, why is it taking so long?" said Lauren, as she put her finger on her chin. "Perhaps, you should see a doctor."
"We will, aunt; thank you for your advice," I answered.
The feeling of being watched crept back in. I returned my gaze to the large tree.
"Who's there?", said Lauren.
"No one. Just the kids." I said,
I'm not hallucinating, someone's there.
"Are you sure?", asked Lauren.
"I'm sure", I said
No, I'm not, there's someone over there.
"You know what, your mother-in-law heaped praise on you, Sarah doing this and that," Salma added.
"Hard to believe, maybe she bad-mouthed me, right mom?", I smirked.
"Do I look like a bad mom-in-law? I'm not an evil woman.", said Delores.
"You are the BEST mother-in-law that any bride could ask for," I said.
Fear slithered inside of me, I must leave the group, something's not right.
"Excuse me, I need to use the restroom," I said.
"Come back again", said Julia.
I won't
I looked behind my back as I strode along, the day becoming creepy. I stepped into the restroom and looked at myself in the mirror. The second time I felt watched. Does Delores play any part in this? Not possible. Their faces were identical at first sight. Are they the same person?
Why is he following me around? I don't remember having a boyfriend. If someone obsessed over me, he must have stalked me long ago. Why should it be during my wedding and now?
The restroom door slammed open, a man in a hoodie burst in, clutching a knife.
"Don't shout!", said the man.
I froze in terror as he pointed the knife at me.
"Who are you?! What do you want?" sweat trickled from my face.
"Angel of death.", he said.
"I came to sacrifice your life!", he said.
"Poor you! Such a pure woman" he said.
"You're the sacrifice of the wickedness your close ones committed."
"My parents never did anything!"
He burst out laughing.
"Your FAMILY, Sarah! Your BIG FAMILY did!" he said.
"I've been waiting for this, to exact my revenge!" he said.
"Surrender!" he said.
"Please...don't kill me," I said, taking a step back.
Rage flowed through him like lava. His eyes blazed as he swung the knife at me.
"DIE SARAH DIE!"