6: New life

Dana  

I picked up the bags with my belongings and got up from the floor. Rachel's gaze was still fixed on me.

I wanted to say so many things to her, but I had to swallow my words. If she truly got enraged, Rachel wouldn't hesitate to hit me or harm me. Her crazy look made that clear.

I almost ran to the door with tears in my eyes. I was tired of the injustice that permeated my life. I had to go to the hospital to get checked because I was afraid for my babies. Fortunately, everything was fine, but they wanted to admit me for a day to make sure. I had to refuse, even though I knew it was the right thing to do. If I didn't leave, Rachel would kill me.

I had to buy a suitcase for the trip and went to see my mother. She had no idea what had happened in my life, and I didn't plan to tell her the truth. Mom would have a heart attack and would go to kill Demian if she found out. Mom suffered too much when my father left her for Rachel's mother.

I decided to take the example my mother gave me when she divorced: she didn't need a man to be happy and raise her daughter. Seeing my mother gave me the strength to continue on my path.

"Why do you bring that suitcase, dear?"

"I had to buy one. Mine were broken. Demian and I are going on a little vacation," I lied. I felt like the worst person in the world. My mother deserved the truth.

I wanted to tell her I was pregnant, but I couldn't.

"Really? Where are you going?"

Something stirred within me.

"We don't know yet," I smiled falsely.

"Do you know? A few days ago, I saw Rachel in a baby store. It seems she's pregnant. Did you know that?"

My heart pounded hard.

Yes, of course, I knew. That child was Demian's, my ex-husband.

"I didn't know," I pretended.

"And have you and Demian talked about having children again? Do you still feel like you're not ready?"

Of course, I didn't feel ready after what happened. But the love I had for my children was enormous and unexplainable. I didn't know how we would make it, but I was sure we would get through it together. I promised myself that Demian would never find out about my children. He couldn't be near them because he was a piece of shit. They would be in danger around Rachel. I would be an excellent mother to my children, and they would never feel the lack of a father. I would work hard to be a better person.

"No..." I didn't know what else to say.

"Are you feeling okay, Dana? You look pale."

"I'm fine." I lost count of how many lies I had told since I arrived.

I left my mother's house. My suitcase was already packed and ready to go. My trip would depart soon, and I didn't want to leave. But I had to. I didn't feel safe in California.

The hours approached. While I was in the taxi, I cried without stopping. I felt like I would dehydrate. I didn't even care if the taxi driver saw me.

My flight was about to take off, so I ran to the plane and took my seat.

A new life would begin for me. I left California with a broken heart and a world of secrets. It was my children and me against the world.

Upon landing in California, I didn't know where to find a job. I knew I couldn't live my whole life on the money I had saved, so I had to find some means of support. I had never asked for a job in my life, so I didn't even know how to make an attractive resume, but I did it while the taxi took me to the hotel where I would stay for a few days until I found a permanent place.

The city was so different from California. A knot in my stomach wouldn't let me rest. Sadness and anger still overwhelmed me, as I couldn't get the image of Rachel threatening me on the stairs out of my mind. I knew that incident would linger in my mind for a while because fear had seeped into my veins.

I became prey, a target of hatred for my stepsister. She had taken everything from me.