Chapter 64

Charlotte could not take it anymore. Seeing her like this broke her heart. She called Amir to help her get Samanta out of that state. She would not leave her room all day and she seemed like a newborn lion cub. Defenseless, fragile and idle, lying in bed.

Samanta cried all night and most of the day. She cried for long whiles, she fell asleep, woke up just to cry some more. Each one of Dominik's words stabbed her heart every time she remembered his message.

How could the man once helped her regain her will to love be acting that way?

It was almost as though he had become an utterly different person from the Dominik she knew. Or maybe that was it. She never knew him.

“Sam?” Amir tested the situation. “Can you hear me?”

“She's not responding. She's been like that all day. Crying” said Charlotte.

“Has she eaten anything?” He asked.

“I tried bringing her some food, but she won't eat.”

“We must do something. If she keeps missing school unjustified, they will notice. She could be suspended.”

“We have to do something. Urgently.”

“I'll call one of my dad's friends. He's a psychiatrist. I can get her a one-week sick leave. But we need to get her to eat. In her condition, she has to do it, whether she likes it or not” Amir approached Sam's bed and sat at the edge. “Sam? I brought you a cinnamon bun. Your favorite” She did not respond to Amir's offer. “Samanta?” He insisted. “Please, look at me” she looked at him blankly. Her eyes were bloodshot and her lids were swelling from crying. “Oh God!” Amir's heart shrank. Seeing Sam in this state, disturbed him. He looked right into her eyes and he could see some tears watering her eyes. He gulped, forcing himself to keep it together. “Come here!” Sam looked away and declined with her head. “Please, come” he insisted and waited for Samanta to sit up. Once sitting, Amir held her hand and looked into her eyes, again. “This is not worth it. He's a tool and he doesn't deserve your tears” Sam sobbed and tried to stop crying. “You have me here, I love you and it breaks my heart to see you like this. Charlie and Maher are worried, too. You can't just lay there to die for that idiot who does not realize how valuable you are” he came closer to her and put his hand behind her back, pulling her closer. Samanta laid her head on Amir's shoulder and she hesitated for a couple seconds. However, she could not help it and started crying. Amir held her and they stayed there in silence.

*****

One whole week went by and Samanta found refuge in her friends. Little by little, with all their help, she recovered from her deep sadness and disappointment. To her, Dominik became the most despicable being on the planet and every day that went by, her hatred and rancor towards him grew even more. She kept asking herself how could she hate him and love him so much at the same time?

As days went by, Samanta came to terms with being a single mother, she even started planning to leave the dorms as soon as her belly popped. Luckily, the pregnancy test she took only got her an appointment with an obstetrics gynecologist on campus. Which she missed, out of fear for making it obvious she was pregnant, but it was starting to show. She could not block the sun with one finger.

Her sister Teresa found out because of Carlos, whom she told one night as they talked on Skype, right after she showed him the nasty message from Dominik. Samanta begged him  not to tell anyone, especially her sister. She wanted to tell her herself when she was ready to do so. Regardless, Carlos could not stand the pressure and while he was having dinner with Teresa, which they did keeping each other company, she noticed the kid's strange behavior every time she mentioned something relating Samanta. His nervousness was so obvious Teresa knew something was going on. Ten minutes later, after several questions, Carlos told her everything.

Teresa almost had a stroke when she heard such news, and she got furious when she read what the “heroic dad” answered to her little sister. She thanked the gods Dominik lived so far away from them, otherwise she would have killed him. Teresa was about to come get her little sister, but Samanta asked for a vow of confidence. She asked to be allowed to figure things out alone, because if she did not get that, she would never learn all the valuable life lessons she had to learn on her own. Samanta's parents found out a few days after and, unlike Teresa, they were very excited.

On the other hand, some of Samanta's class mates and professors started looking inquisitively. People whispered in the corridors. In a couple more days, she would not be able to hide it anymore. She had to tell the only person who could help her. Mrs. Tahirah Halabee was very kind and willing to help ever since she first came from America.

Once outside the Student's Affairs door, she knocked.

“Come in” Mrs. Tahirah's voice welcomed her. “Oh! Sam! Come on in, have a seat. What brings you here?”

“I need to talk to you. About… something very important.”

“Go ahead. I listen” Tahirah looked at her with her typical smile.

“Where do I even start?” Samanta's quivering voice made Tahirah frown.

“What is going on, Samanta?”

“It's just… I… Ehmm…” she paused and looked at Tahirah with embarrassment. “I have a bit of a problem.”

“Oh! Something I can help with?”

“I don't know.”

“Come on, Samanta, talk to me, you can trust me. I will try to help you with whatever I can.”

“I'm pregnant” said Sam flat out. Tahirah's face got flushed in surprise.

“Wow!” The lady opened her eyes in awe.

“I swear I didn't know. I didn't even plan it. I didn't know I was pregnant when I got on that plane. I wouldn't even be here if I knew” Sam stumbled upon her own words.

“What? Are you saying the father is American?” Sam nodded. “Oh God!” Tahirah was very surprised.

“I don't know what to do! I don't want to drop out. They'll take my scholarship away!”

“And ask you to evict the dorm rooms” added Tahirah. “No kids allowed there.”

“Exactly. That's my number one fear. I have nowhere to go” Sam's eyes fogged up.

“Calm. You can move in to my house while we think of something.”

“What? Would you do that for me?”

“Darling, I would do that for you and any other girl in your situations. I know how dedicated you are. A child should be no obstacle keeping you from achieving your dreams. On the contrary, they should be a motivation. I have been pushing the start of a programme for single mothers for years.”

“I dunno, miss Tahirah. I don't want to be a burden.”

“Don't worry. I live alone. It's been 2 years since my divorce and separation. I can help you while you find something better.”

“Do you think that's a good idea?”

“Of course. I've grown fond of you. You're a brilliant student and I will not allow you to drop out. We will make a home for this baby, together.”

Sam felt peace return to her. Things were starting to progress, she would no longer have to worry about dropping out and return to America in defeat. She was starting to feel strong enough to carry on, regardless of anything or anyone. Especially Dominik.