“No, mister. Keep off. I do not have any more time to waste,” Wendy uttered. She kept her face down and flung the door open to leave the young mister. She wasn’t ready to play around.
“All right, Wendy. If you say so, one night it is,” the young mister replied, throwing his hands up in defeat.
Wendy left with brisk steps and her heart was pounding as the elevator descended smoothly. She was somewhere she was not supposed to be. Nobody must find her looking like a fleeing whore. She put her face down and walked out of the popular, red-roofed building, which was directly opposite the lacrosse club. She didn’t have a hard time spotting her Dodge Charger parked recklessly in front of the clubhouse.
She was messy and needed to clean up before driving to college. Wendy was one of the lucky graduates who got a temporary teaching job after graduating from college. She got a contract to assist Professor Dave after her graduation. From the little she was saving, she was able to financially support Leonard, put resources together, and start up a factory that was doing quite well.
She recently even took out a loan to support Leonard in paying for the house she thought would be their matrimonial home. Perhaps she had high expectations for their relationship. Everything was going on so smoothly that some naysayers couldn’t even help but wag their tongues about the couple and how Leonard was taking so long to put a ring on Wendy’s finger.
She never knew that Leonard was a viper and had it all planned to suit his tasty, forked tongue. Tears started to flow as she recalled sweet memories with her once-dear Leonard. She parked in front of a home that she once looked forward to seeing, and her stomach wrenched. She sniffled uncontrollably and let out a painful scream. It took her some time to gather herself together, and she walked briskly to the front door.
She touched the smart card on the sensor, and nothing happened. Her heart skipped a beat, and she hoped immensely that it wasn’t what she was thinking. She tried again and again, but the smart card was declined. She searched fearfully for the keys to the back exit and scrambled frightfully to the other side of the house. The keys had been changed. She fell back on the wall and began to cry and shiver. She was lost in what was happening.
How did it come to this? Why did Leonard put out a ring if he had it in mind to betray her? Her trembling hands picked up her phone to dial Leonard, but it entered voicemail. She tried over and over again, but it dawned on her that everything that happened was real. With her unsteady fingers, she searched for Silvia’s number and dialed it.
“Hey, Wendy! Last night was a blast,” Silvia said from the other side of the call. Her voice was lazy and raspy from the cold weather.
“Silvia, Leonard locked me out.”
“I beg your pardon."
“I have been locked out of the house. My smart card is not working, nor are the keys.”
“Son of a bitch! But how?”
“I can’t even drive, Silvia. I’m literally shaking, and my head is spinning.”
“I’m coming right away. Are you at the house?”
“Yes. Yes. I’m dying, Silvia. I’m dying…”
Wendy let the phone fall from her trembling hands. She felt lightheaded in her head and heavy in her heart. Her vision became fuzzy, and her ability to control her muscles began to wane. It happened in the twinkle of an eye, and then she sprawled lazily on the floor, losing consciousness.
* * *
ONE WEEK AGO.
“I feel so lucky to have you. A woman who is beautiful on the outside and at heart. What more should I ask for?” Leonard said to Wendy with his loving gaze fixed on Wendy.
It was their third anniversary, and Leonard was looking lustfully at the woman who had stood with him all through the years.
“Shhh! Do you like it?” Wendy’s soothing voice asked.
“Definitely. This was very thoughtful of you.”
Leo fondled the heart locket Wendy gifted him for their third friendship anniversary.
“Time flies, baby. Just yesterday, we met, and now it’s our third anniversary. I remember vividly how this started and how much we’ve grown. Your sacrifice, love, and kindness brought us this far. How can I ever repay you?”
While Leonard kept singing words of gratitude, Wendy's eyes glistened and were filled with imagined stars. It was love that was indescribable. They planned their third anniversary in the Olbrich gardens, and they sat on the ultralight mat, facing each other just like two love birds in the lovely breezy weather.
Leonard moved closer to her; his eyes locked on her face as he stroked her cheeks. Wendy continued to give him that sensual smile. He moved his lips to press hers while tenderly holding her jaw...
The above scene played out in Wendy’s head in her unconscious state of mind. She lay on the hospital bed motionless but began to utter Leonard’s name as her mind prepared to wake up from her third state of unconsciousness within 3 weeks.
Silvia was by her side, and she held her hand passionately. Wendy's eyes were blinking open, and the nurse was now tending to her. She squinted her eyes to adjust to the room's increased brightness.
“Leonard betrayed our love,” Wendy sobbed softly while she lay on the hospital bed.
“Wendy, I’m here. You’re safe, Wendy.”
Silvia held her compassionately as she said those words.
“Where am I?"
“Hospital. You blacked out again.”
“Silvia. Am I all right?”
“I believe so.”
Wendy sighed softly. Leonard’s betrayal was taking a toll on her. She has been feeling sickly, bitter, and depressed. She had taken some time off from college to recuperate, but it seemed to be getting worse. Silvia confronted Leonard, and it ended up being a disaster. Silvia became violent upon seeing Vera in the house, so Leonard called the police, who issued a restraining order against her.
“I believe you’ll be discharged quickly this time. I just couldn’t take chances. I wanted to make sure you were all right.”
Wendy didn’t say a word again; she just lay on the bed, looking pensively at the ceiling.
In the evening, Wendy was discharged from the hospital, and Dr. Stone was there in person to give counseling.
“Miss Wendy, I think there’s something you must know that we just found out. I cannot attribute this to your frequent blackouts, but it’s possible.”
“Am I dying, Dr. Stone?" Wendy’s voice inquired curiously.
“Far from that, my dear.”
“Do you mind her presence?” Dr. Stone asked Wendy, gesturing in Silvia’s direction.
“Not at all.”
Dr. Stone touched her nose while spontaneously processing how she would reveal the information.
“You’re with a child, Miss Wendy.”
Wendy, who had been lying quietly the entire time, jolted out of bed upon hearing the news.
“What? How’s that even…”
“O my God! This can’t be Dr. Stone.”
Her mind raced back to her last sexual encounter, which was with a total stranger. Her heart started beating very quickly.
“Well, it has happened, miss. It has, and you’ve got to brace up and make a decision for yourself and what is growing in you.”
“This is not the right time; this can’t be happening to me.”
Silvia’s face was a complete description of confusion. She was still trying to wrap her head around the news.
“I can’t even dare to keep this child, Silvia. I can’t do this. I will opt for an adoption plan. I need parents who will take care of us while this baby is growing in me. I can’t do this, Silvia. I’m bankrupt and depressed. I can’t grow a child this way.”
“Wendy, be still. You’re moving too fast. How did this happen? Think, Wendy, think. Are you sure this is what you want?”