It’s been three hours and I watch as the clock strikes the opening hour of the storm. The lightening, wind and rain have all started to pick up and I’m almost elated to see my plan fall into place. One power outage and I’d be free. I wait in anticipation of my new freedom as the lights begin to flicker. I then see my mother appear vaguely for a second - she was in the corner and just as she materializes, she disappears. The medication had helped with her departure, I’m sure. Although, I couldn’t care less about her right now. I continue waiting until I hear the electricity surge and I’m left in complete darkness. “It’s time.” I smile as I rush out of bed, pull my door open and head two doors over to the designated triage room before kicking in the vent and climbing inside quietly while putting the vent back into place. The funny thing is that I didn’t know if the doors would even open for me to escape because they lock automatically behind them - luckily for me, they were indeed e
I watch as Jasmine checks the pantry once again. For a woman with such a healthy and slim appearance, it was impossible to miss just how much she ate. My mother will be one proud woman once she’s met Jasmine’s appetite.“The food isn’t going to disappear, Jas. Relax.” I could hear Nathan say from just across the kitchen. He wasn’t wrong but that wasn’t going to stop Jasmine from checking and second-guessing anyways.“I just don’t know if this is enough for the three of us if anything happens.” She saws through furrowed brows.“I’m sure we’ll be just fine. I’m going to step into the living room for a second. I got to call Leo and confirm our arrangement.” I had offered that Claire be kept safe by an officer; pending the current severe weather forecast. I pull out my phone and wait for Leo to answer.“Mason, is everything alright?” His immediate concern was evident.“Hey man, yeah. Everything is just fine. I just wanted to see when I should send Officer Paul over for surveillance.” “Le
I watch the news report as I breastfeed the boys and lay them back in their bassinets. “Ms. Claire, there is no need to worry. Mr. Leo already has generator hooked up to house and I have supplies.” Elena interjects as she hands me an array of healthy snacks to replenish my milk supply.“Something about this storm just makes me feel uneasy.”“You check on your family and friends? Maybe they can come spend the storm here too?” She offers.“Yes, Jas, Mason and Nathan are staying at Jas’ house down the street. Julia is home safe. Matthew, Starla and Scarlett took a trip to her mother’s house just east of here and my mother-in-law has flown to Paris for the weekend.” I couldn’t rest until I checked on everyone first.“It will be alright, Ms. Claire. Mr. Leo and I will be here with you and the babies.”“Thank you, Elena.” I try to reassure her with an uneasy smile. Elena takes it as a good sign and leaves. I’m about to sigh when Leo walks through the bedroom door. I freeze, oxygen pooling
After seeing the full extent of the sociopathic therapist I’ve intertwined myself with, I felt disgusted with him. More so, I felt disgusted by the idea of his collusion and found myself showering and scrubbing myself vigorously to absolve myself of any trace of him both on and inside my body. This only fueled my strong urge to escape and ensure I wouldn’t become trapped by a human seed ever again. Leo would never accept me if I was pregnant with another man’s child. I look in the mirror as I brush my hair when I feel the faint presence of my mother. What littler alone time I’ve had since my admission here has been mostly if not always disturbed by her unwanted presence.“You’ll never be clean.” She speaks softly from just outside the bathroom door. Her presence was noticeably weak and I’m almost certain that it was due to her fighting to break through with my medication still at bay. I turn to say something snappy but I’m taken aback when I see her. Held of her body was covered in b
After the nurse brings my second dose of medication, I feel a wave of drowsiness that leads me straight to my bed. Although I’m almost instantly interrupted by the nurse knocking on the other side of my door. How foolish of me to insinuate privacy and peace in a mental facility.“Come in.” I instruct as I sit on the corner of my bed and wait to see the nurse.“Charlotte, the therapist would like a last-minute session. Is that alright?” She seemed mousy. “Sure.” At least I’d have some excitement today. The day was mainly mundane aside from seeing those who wished judgment on me at the courthouse. I look at the clock as I pass it on my way to the door. It was just five minutes from nine o’clock at night. I follow the nurse with my two male nurse escorts to my therapists office. Although the only therapy I’d received as of lately was sex therapy - I couldn’t complain.I watch as the nurse knocks and instructs me to enter and sit down. She then takes her leave along with the male nurses.
I hear Claire come in and immediately feel a sense of relief. Arthur had told me that she had made it to the courthouse and at what time he picked her up but any other details were beyond me. I check on the boys as they sleep and then head downstairs quietly to greet my wife.“How did everything go?” I ask softly as I lean to kiss her. I watch as she drops her bag softly on the table and hangs up her coat. Either she has good news or she was shell shocked in a permanent horror.“Charlotte will be staying at the mental facility until she is tried in court. Matthew thinks they’re going to go for an insanity plea.” She leans her body against mine, silently asking for a hug.“She’ll still be locked away. That’s a good sign.”“Oh. I should mention that I saw Francisco.” I tense at the words that come out of her mouth.“Francisco? The thug who hired the guy who did this to you?” I grab her shoulders and force her to look directly at me as she explains.“It’s not what you think, Leo. He didn