Chapter 15

I felt myself. Extreme pain in my head as well as my whole body. I wanted to open my eyes, but he did not want to be with me. I'm very tired.

I felt around. Even with my eyes closed, I could hear Mom's weak sobs. I know she was.

I wanted to tell her that I was fine, and that she would not cry, I could not. Even my voice I could not find. I just let it happen and I went back to sleep.

I woke up again and somehow, I felt fine. I slowly opened my eyes. I was immediately dazzled by the light, so I closed my eyes again. I was in the hospital and the strong smell of it bit into my nose.

When I woke up, I immediately saw Mom's worried face.

"M-Mommy" I forced my mouth open.

My voice was so hoarse that I could barely hear myself.

Mom looked at me in shock. She also struggles with what to do. As the caretaker sheds his tears again. I wanted to reprimand her, but I knew I couldn't stop her either.

"Water please." I told her.

Mommy Belen was in a hurry to give me water. It was obvious to mom that she didn't get much sleep. I helped myself get up from lying down.

There was something inside me that was hollow. It was as if I had lost something. There was a good chance that I would ignore the idea.

Mom handed me some water and I immediately drank it. While my back was leaning on the headboard of the hospital bed to get support.

"Mom, I'm fine. Don't cry anymore." I told her with a smile. I even took her hand and patted it. She wiped away her tears before looking at me.

"Are you okay? Is something wrong with you?" It was a series of questions. I was confused by what she said. Aside from the pain in my whole body, that part also hurts. What was once forgotten in the mind was back.

There I finally woke up to the realization.

'My child'

I rubbed my stomach. That was how my tears flowed when I realized that the little lump was gone. Small lump was a sign that something was living inside me, but it was gone now.

"No! No! Mom, is my…my son!"

I cried out in utter anguish. I wanted to get lost. I wanted to shout. I wanted to pay for the work of all my miserable life.

I gripped the blanket tightly. It was as if I had poured all my anger into it. It was very wrinkled when I released it.

We both cried as Zeus entered with a doctor and nurse. They approached me while Zeus was just watching me.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Vergara but we did everything. Too much stress, and the child is weak, so he fell" he said while looking at my condition. When he finished what he was doing, the doctor left immediately.

Zeus' whole face was worried. Even her eyes were obviously swollen with crying. He looked at me again. He stared at me from my head down to my stomach.

Maybe he thought I was pathetic. Maybe he now knew what was really happening to me. Perhaps he already knew what suffering I had suffered at the hands of his demon father.

Yes, Fausto was a demon. He killed my son. I have no one else to blame but him. Because he was selfish. He did not even give me any right to be happy.

Zeus walked over to us and talked to mom for a moment. The old man nodded as if what they were talking about was important. Before leaving, Mom looked at me full of concern.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Zeus immediately asked.

"For what else? What else do you know?" I asked back to him. "We are not the same as before, Zeus."

He shook his head. "You're always stubborn. You're always deciding on yourself!"

"Why? Didn't you decide for yourself when you left me?" I shouted. I did not want to increase my resentment in the world, but he provoked me. It was just like this over and over again.

He stood up and took a walk. He looked confused now too. He did not know what to do.

Who would have thought that we would end up like this? Who would have thought that our former dream for each other would be just a dream? Who would have thought that his belief in my perfect life with his father was not true?

"You should have told me! You should have left him. Why are you still enduring my father? Damn!" he shouted and punched the wall. He did this over and over again until his hand bled.

I couldn't stop him. I didn't stop him. Aside from the fact that I am still struggling because I am not well, yet I feel for myself, Zeus needed to be able to express whatever he hated.

"I endure because I have no choice!" I told him. When I saw that his hand was bleeding, I was shocked. "That's enough. Please, Zeus..." I begged him.

He looked at me. He calmed himself down and slowly approached me. Extreme sadness in his eyes. And when he just reached out to me, he hugged me tightly.

A hug that would have erased all the pain we are experiencing now.

"I'm sorry, if I leave you," he said to me while still hugging me. I knew he was hurting. I am also in great pain. But I have to settle down. My kids were expecting me. Icarus and Athena were waiting for me.

Zeus on the other hand was crying silently. It was as if he was sorry for everything that had happened to me.

I patted his back. I ended the hug and looked at him intently.

The ruthless and arrogant Zeus was gone. This Zeus in front of me was the same boy I love, six years ago. His crying also made me sick. Maybe, he knew that he lost a kid. Maybe he knew what life I have been when he left me.

"Take me away from here. Please..." I said to him pleading.

With everything that happened to me. With all the suffering and pain, now I just want to get away. I want to be free from all my manipulations, but I know that is impossible now, so I want to first, even just now; to leave and get away.

He stared back at me. Her eyes ask. He probably could not believe what he heard from me. And when he saw in my eyes the seriousness of what I had said he slowly nodded. He grabbed my hands and held me tightly.

"Okay, I'll come with you. Let's elope together. This time, I'm gonna take care of you," he agreed.

He stared at me as he said those words. I was surprised by his statement but agreed as well. I couldn't do anything. I asked him for help.

***

I spent a few days in the hospital. I healed my wound before they told me I could get out.

In the few weeks I was inside, no Fausto visited me. That was okay with me. Because in case I see him, maybe what else can I do with him.

Gradually, my brain began to accept the fact that my son was gone. Maybe he was just given to me to heal my wound that Zeus created then. Maybe he was just given to me to break free from the punishment situation in me every day.

But whatever the reason for his coming I know in my heart I love my son. He is an angel of God's grace.

I looked at the bill Zeus had given me. It has a small hourglass pendant. Inside it was my son's little ash.

I held it tightly. Today is the day of my departure. No one knows this, except Zeus. Fausto also did not know that I was going to leave him. And if he knows, I don't care. I trust Zeus. And I know he won't let me down now.

Hopefully in the new phase of my life I will find myself. Hopefully with my departure this will be the new one if it starts.

But I will not last long. My children still need me. I'll take them and we'll be together.

I will be back.

I will be back. I will take my children.