But not today. Today, her mind was on other matters; namely her growing stomach. She rubbed it softly, sighing. "Oh, Allah," she whispered. "Why have you forsaken me? I follow you devoutly, I obey my parents, I'm a good person! Why this?" Tears glistened in her eyes, and she pulled her knees into her chest, tightly wrapping her arms around them. The tears ran from her face, and all she could do was watch the sun. And there she stayed, for a long time.
Leah opened the door, and closed it behind her, wincing as it squeaked. Darkness reigned. Leah held her breath in the darkness, listening for any movement. Then, the light snapped on and Leah cried out, raising an arm to shield her dazzled eyes. As the glare gradually faded, she saw her mother on the other side of the room.
The disapproval was plain on her face as she spoke. "What time do you call this? It is dark out. And what are you wearing?"
For the first time, Leah felt a chill on her legs, and her mini skirt couldn't cover the goosebumps spreading up her body. She glanced at her watch. "It only just went nine. And every girl I know wears skirts!"
"Then they are shameless, every one of them. You should carry yourself with pride, Leah. Do you not carry Allah's child within you?"
Leah looked to the floor. She couldn't stand the victorious look on her mothers face when she spoke of 'Allah's baby.' "I have told you what happened. This baby is not of Allah."
"Nonsense," her mother spread, her expression warming. "You have been chosen for a higher destiny, one beyond this realm. You should feel honoured, and not deny it."
The woman crossed the room, and held her arms wide so Leah could embrace her. A strong smell of lavender drifted from the her.
Leah folded her arms and shivered. "I - I want an abortion." She stepped back slightly, knowing that her reaction could be dangerous.
The smile abruptly vanished from her mother's face, and her hands dropped to her side. "If your father were here, he would be disappointed in you. To have such an opportunity, and to reject it would be a sacrilege of the highest order. Please, go to your room. I obviously cannot talk with you on the matter."
Leah looked up at her mother, noticing the wrinkles surrounding her mouth and eyes. She's getting old, Leah thought. Maybe if I have the baby, she can be happy. Then she remembered that dark night, and fought the urge to vomit.
"But my father isn't here, is he?" she said. The woman only stared at her and eventually Leah, unable to bear it, walked to her room. She lay on her bed, and for a long time sleep wouldn't come. But eventually it claimed her, and she drifted away.
Leah awoke with a gasp, knowing that there was someone in the room. She looked around, and saw him sitting on a seat in the corner. He was obscured by shadows, but she knew exactly who it was. Him. "What," she croaked. "What do you want?"
He picked up the chair and moved it to the side of her bed, and as he moved towards her, she looked down at her stomach. It was completely flat. She almost cried out in joy. "I couldn't stay away," he whispered into her ear, running his hands down her arm. As he touched her, she felt terror strike her heart, and she slid further into the bed, trying to pull away.
"No, Mike, no." she whispered back, pulling away from him. Sweat rolled from her forehead and into her eyes, making them water.
Mike stood and knelt beside the bed.
"Yes." He gripped her jaw in one hand and pulled it towards himself. She could feel the raw strength in that hand. The boy that could fulfill her could also break her, if he so desired. Leah's breath became to come faster, and she snatched one last breath of air before he kissed her. Then; darkness filled the room.
A woman sat in the seat beside her bed, a woman Leah knew well. It was her first year primary school teacher, Miss Winters. She could only catch a glimpse of her face, a face that was both familiar and alien. The brilliance of the woman made it seem as though the sun shone from her. Leah could only make one guess as to who she was. "Allah?" She looked to the corner where Mike had been, and he was still there, discussing something with her mother. Every few seconds, the woman's steely gaze flickered back to Leah.
The woman smiled. "Hello, Leah." The voice too was familiar to her, but it seemed clouded, as if she couldn't hear the extent of it. "I hear you've been stressing about - certain issues."
Leah looked down at herself, and a sob escaped her. Her stomach was swollen once more.
"I thought I was free," she whispered. "But I know what Allah says about abortion."
Allah took her hand. "I saw your reaction. I don't think I've ever seen anyone so depressed about the pregnancy. Usually it's a cause for joy. But you can't let anything hold you back from your life."
"But my mother! She'll-"
"She may do what she wants, but you are nearly an adult. Her grasp on you weakens, and she hopes a child will rein you in. Even in her manipulative state, look after her. She misses your father, maybe even more than you do. You know I would never lead you wrong. I was like a mother to you when you needed me."
The woman faded along with Mike and her mother, and Leah was left to ponder what Miss Winters had said. She was alone, all but for the permeating stench of Allah.
Leah woke, and lay staring at the ceiling, drenched and lying in a puddle of her own sweat. It plastered her hair to her head, and her clothes to her body. She dwelled on the memory of the dream, not allowing it to slip away. When she sat up, the first thing she done was to glance around the room. There was no-one in the corner. Just a dream, Leah thought. Or was it? She knew had seen Allah in her dream, but had it only been wishful thinking on her part? Or had she really contacted the God she followed?
That's the question, Leah thought. Do I really believe that I contacted Allah? Because if I follow what he told me and it was just a dream, then I'll be travelling down a road that I can never come back from.
Leah lay on her bed, paralyzed by internal debate. She had to make up her mind, or she would be stuck with an infant that she had never wanted. And with my mother around, adoption will never be an option. I would stay with her, and she would control us both.
That left only one option to her. The thought of what her mother could do galavanised her like nothing else. She sat up, wiping the hair from her face. If she didn't do it now, she would never be happy. She moved to the window, and opened it.
Tears fell from her eyes, and Leah could hardly bear to think of her mother. "I'm sorry," she whispered, tears falling from her eyes. She pulled on a pair of jeans. And before she could falter, she slipped out the window.
Even fully clothed, the chill of the air bit into her, and she shivered. No wonder, she thought. It's past one in the morning! She looked around for a moment, finding her direction, and began to walk.
She knew where the clinic was from earlier visits, when she had first discovered her pregnancy. It was six blocks away, and she only once encountered any people; several drunks, laughing loudly. Leah waited until they passed, and then began to walk again.
It took her twenty minutes to reach the clinic, as she was beginning to struggle with her new weight. She felt a moment of panic when the door wouldn't open, but she turned it the other way and stepped inside, rolling her eyes.
"Leah!" the woman at the counter said. "We haven't seen you for a while. Aren't you out a little late? What do you need?"
Leah smiled back at Tracey. She remembered the woman; she had comforted her when the pregnancy had been confirmed. "I want to see the doctor about an abortion."
"Of course. I'll tell the doctor you're here. For now, just take a seat over there." She gestured to a couch and Leah sunk into it, her breathing still shallow. She rubbed the swell of her stomach; soon everything would be better.
Okay, so this was mainly inspired by a movie I watched in English about a mother who says that her son is Jesus re-incarnated, but the Fool's Duel picture also took a place. Unfortunately, it went as far from fantasy as it could go, but I still hope you enjoy.
I'm not actually sure what to rate this, it has some religious reference and some slight allusions to... other things. So if you could advise me on that after you read it lol, it'd be appreciated.
We're interested in what happens to the girl. Don't leave us on a cliffhanger! Resolving it with inner dialogue is not enough. Have the main character do something about her conflict, not just leaving the house. That's cheating. I want to see her face her problem head-on.
YOu had to have a cliffhanger.
