She went inside the bedroom and changed into home clothes then lazied around; watching tv and playing with her phone all day.
When the nighttime came, she looked at Mira's message and went inside the bedroom then changed into a purple blouse and black jeans. She picked up her bag and quickly hailed a taxi after leaving her apartment building.
__ Thirty Minutes Later __
Clara stood in front of the quiet neighborhood and stared at the housing estate in front of her.
The streets lights shone brightly against the wide metal door where two security men were standing. She didn't expect Mira to live in that kind of spacious building.
She walked forward and one of the men made a call after she told them her friend's name. Then shortly after, he signaled the other man who opened the door for her with a welcoming smile.
Inside the estate, her eyes darted between the many apartments lined up in two rows and wondered which one belonged to her friend with a frown.
She spotted a young girl walking in her direction and quickly stopped. The girl knitted her brows and stared at her in confusion.
" Please do you know a lady that lives here. . . she has the same height as mine and she has brown hair__ "
The frown on the girl's face deepened and she stared at Clara like she had grown two heads.
" Oh, her name is Mira." Clara quickly added. Wondering if the girl did not understand her language.
the young girl's eyes brightened and she made an 'Oh' sound then pointed toward her left.
Clara chuckled at the girl's reaction and looked in the direction she pointed.
" Thank you. " she turned to the girl who tilted her head and walked away without replying.
Clara watched her perplexedly and found her reaction weird.
" Hehe, Clara, stop staring, she's mute that's why. "
" Huh?.". Oh, it's no wonder. She stared at the girl's back and sighed. ' poor girl, who could ever imagine such a young and beautiful girl would be mute?'
" Wait.. when did you get here.? " Clara stared at Mira who was not there a second ago.
" Oh, I was watching you from there. " She pointed to a direction behind them. She had seen when Clara entered because she left her apartment when the security man informed her she had a visitor but decided to play a prank on her.
" You..." Clara chuckled and walked toward the apartment.
Mira stared at her back and her expression turned gloomy, she slowly walked behind her with a sigh and opened the door which they both entered.
Clara sat down on the couch after changing her sleepers and stared at Mira, finding her a little slimmer than before.' is she sick again?'
Mira dropped the juice and snacks on the table, after coming out of the kitchen. She sat down beside Clara on the couch and looked down while fidgeting with her fingers.
" Mira, what is happening, why are you acting weird?" she asked softly with furrowed brows. Wondering what could have happened between her and Zach.
Mira took a deep breath. She needed to let it all out then maybe her heart would finally be at ease. She looked up with glossy eyes then narrated to her how Zach and his brother had saved her and several other kids from the orphanage, how she fell in love with him, what Maggie did to her on that night and how he had treated her.
" What!" Clara jerked up not expecting to hear the things her friend has just mentioned. She stared at Mira and sighed while controlling her emotions. " What kind of a man would treat a girl like that? You're obviously the biggest victim and he'd got nothing to lose."
Mira sighed and continued. "A few days ago, he told me that he's sorry for what happened that night and he also loved me. But__" she burst into tears and Clara's eyes widened.
" It's okay, stop crying, " Clara said softly and hugged her while patting her back. And after Mira had quieted down, she sighed and stared into her eyes. " But why are you running away? I understand if you don't want to forgive him, but didn't you say you still love him."
Mira sniffed and looked down." Actually, I'm not sure if he truly loves me or was just feeling guilty, because he didn't mention what he did after that, and, and also. . . my heartache whenever I see him because he always reminds me of her," she softly muttered, feeling exhausted from the crying.
" Who?" Clara's brows knitted and she stared at her confusedly.
" Hmmm, there's something else you should know, " Mira sniffed and sighed heavily.
Clara studied her friend's expression with a frown then slowly nodded and watched as Mira stood up, then went inside her bedroom. she sighed again wondering how Mira could smile every day after having that kind of dark experience. Then after a while, she looked up and her coming back with a small photo album in her hand.
Mira sat down and bit her lips while trying to control another fit of cry, then carefully placed the album on her lap with shaking hands.
" Huh?" Clara frowned and looked between Mira and the album then she quickly took the album from her, wondering what could be inside. Then a gasp escaped her lips as she flipped the cover.
On the first page was the picture of Mira in a hospital gown holding a day-old baby.' Oh my God'.
Her head jerked up and she stared at Mira who now had a hand covering a mouth while muffling her cries. " Mira. . .?" she whispered in astonishment.
" Yes. . . that is my baby, " she replied and covered her face with both hands and couldn't control her tears anymore. She knew this memory would forever be engraved in her heart but had convinced herself that she would eventually forget it.
Clara stared at her in disbelief. Just how many surprises would she get today.? She slowly turned the remaining pages which all contained the pictures of the same baby and sometimes with Mira on them. She noticed that the baby was slowly growing up as she turned the pages. But then on the last page, the picture she saw made her jump up; It was still the picture of the cute baby who now looked five months old, however, she was on the hospital bed and many devices were attached to her.