T W O

"Please, lie on the bed over there." Miss Harriet said, pointing to the end of the office and Aspen walked there and laid down. Her mind was filledwith different thoughts. The doctor soon came up to her in the little covered place.

She looked at her with uncertainty. "I thought I was the one who gave you the news of your pregnancy few hours ago. What is happening? You were so happy." She said and Aspen closed her eyes as she forced the tears that were threatening to pour back, swallowing the lump in her throat.

"I..." Aspen choked out and the doctor held unto her palm.

"I can see how hesitant you are. You don't want to do this, do you?" She asked and finally the tears broke free. "It is my work to make sure you are okay with this and you are not being forced. Because it could be dangerous."

"No. I have to." She said immediately, as if forcing herself to believe she wanted this for herself.

Aspen looked at her from the corner of her eye, "I.. I.. Don't have the money to take care of this child. Just get rid of it quick and save me the hassle." She said, sniffing in. The doctor flared her nose and glanced back at Floyd and Loretta who was standing in her office, and looking at the curtains as if she should rip it apart and see how the unborn child was being removed.

"I am really sorry about that." Miss Harriet said regrettably and turned to the drawer close to her. While Loretta was busy pacing around the office in eagerness.

Can she trust this woman to help her? Of course, she does not want to lose this baby.

"You should ask her. Don't let your fear make you lose your child. You should not kill the only symbol of love you have with Floyd all because of money. Won't that make you an horrible person? You should probably leave him. At least, you won't have to leave in the misery of losing your first offspring. First, he cheated on you and asked you to abort your kid without emotion. You should have known that he was a devil. An heartless one for that matter." A voice said in her head. She gulped hard.

"Wait, can you help me? I... I don't want to lose this child." She asked and the doctor's eyes widened. She quickly looked back at Loretta and Floyd then back at Aspen.

"But..."

Aspen pleaded with her with her eyes and she gulped down the hesitation.

"Okay. But this is going to be dangerous." She replied.

"Stay here while I work some things out." She said and went back to meet Floyd and his mother, Loretta who has Nicole perched on her arm.

"I will love to ask you to get some things that will be used for the cleaning." She said and scribbled some things into the paper and handed it over to Loretta.

"Doctor, do we really need to do this? You could ask one of the nurses." Loretta said and Miss Harriet smiled.

"The faster the better."

Nicole collected it and the two females moved out of the office while Floyd stood rooted in the place with his eyes on the curtain. Miss Harriet saw it and cleared her throat noisily.

"If I may ask you, please step out. I want to begin the process." She said with the ounce of politeness she could muster and he nodded his head as he left her office. She was really scared and nervous at this little help she was rendering.

Floyd was about to sit when his phone rang and he pulled it out.

"Hello." He said.

"Okay... Okay... I am on my way." He said and went back into the office.

"Doctor," he called out and Miss Harriet turned to him.

"Please, be careful. I have a very important meeting I need to attend. Please inform my mother.." He said and she nodded her head. He gave her a sharp nod and he left.

Both Aspen and Miss Harriet breathed out in relief.

"Quickly wear this." she handed the ward clothes to her and Aspen quickly wore it.

"Just pass the other way from which you came. You will see a back door and you can also get some cab there. Tell the driver to take you to this place." She said, handing the key and address to her and Aspen nodded her head. She looked at the paper.

"This is.. Your house?" She asked and Harriet nodded her head.

"Oh, thank you so much."

This lady was really kind. To have helped her and also given her a place in her apartment. She is God sent.

"Hurry up, They will be back soon." She said and Aspen packed her hair into a bun.

"Thank you." She said as she looked at the doctor with gracious eyes.

"I really appreciate what you have done for my kid." She said and the doctor nodded her head.

"Just go. Leave the kowtows and all for later." She replied jokingly and Aspen smiled before darting out of the office, looking around for any sign of Floyd or his mother. She finally left the hospital building without difficulty. She looked back at the building and exhaled.

A new world awaits her for sure. A world of striving for her lucky star. Or stars?

*

Loretta and Nicole soon came back from the place they went to and saw Miss Harriet on her seat.

"Where is she?" Loretta asked, looking around not seeing any sign of Aspen at all.

"Who?" Miss Harriet asked, pretending to be confused.

"The patient." Nicole bit out.

The doctor's eyebrows twitched. "I thought she said she was coming to meet you. The abortion was successful and since you were both late. The thing I needed was taken care of already. Isn't she with you?" She asked, pretending to be oblivious.

"What?!" Loretta exclaimed

"What of Floyd?" Nicole asked.

"He left for an important meeting earlier on. He said I should inform you." She replied and a knock came on the door.

"But–"

"Come in." The doctor said and a couple stepped in.

She turned to Loretta and Nicole. "If you guys will excuse me." She said and Loretta glanced around one more time before stepping out with Nicole.

"What do you think we should do? What if Floyd asks for her whereabouts?" Loretta asked Nicole.

"We will just tell him that we gave her the pay already and she left." Nicole replied and Loretta looked at her with a smile.

"That is why I like you." She said and Nicole giggled.

Loretta dialed Floyd's phone number and called him. He picked not long after. "How did it go?" He asked.

"Fine. She already left as we speak. And I also gave her the money." She sighed and to say Floyd was shocked was an understatement.

"So early?" He asked.

"Who knew that that girl already had it in her." Loretta snickered and Floyd grasped his phone in an harsh grip as he disconnected the call and slumped down on his chair. He was dumbfounded. No words could form. He finally lost her. He should be relieved it, right? He knew he could not.

He made the right choice. It's better if she forgets him. It is. For the both of them.

"For as long as she takes the money to start up a good life, I am satisfied. At least she won't suffer." He thought sadly.

"It is for the best." He adds as he pick up files and starts working like his love did not just leave him without a goodbye.

*

Aspen finally got to Miss Harriet's house. She twisted the door knob and went inside. She took a look at the interior design and exhaled deeply. It is better than any other. Harriet really has a taste of hers.

She looked around the house and sat down on the couch. She sighed as today event replayed through her head. Luckily, she was not crying. But she was hurt.

She found a book on the shelf and picked it. She decides that she should use it to get her mind off what happened.

Before she knew, she slept off.

***

Days later, Aspen was busy cutting the grasses outside the apartment as several guilty thoughts circled in her mind. She has been living with Harriet, the doctor, but as the days went by. She kept thinking about how she would take care of herself and the child. The thoughts really consumed her a lot. She was about to take a turn when she heard a voice call her from behind. "Aspen."

Her ears rang for a moment at the familiarity of the voice. She slowly turned around and her eyes narrowed into slits as the familiarity of the face she was seeing circulated in her head. She knew this face, he is... her brother.

Lo and behold, her younger brother stood before her with a bright smile.

"Benedict?" She asked to be sure again and he nodded in head in reply as a grin spread across his face.

"OMG!! What the heck? Where have you been?" She asked as she pulled her long lost brother in a hug. Her younger brother. He has been searching for her ever since he was cured of his diseases and thankfully a friend of his told him about a doctor who had said something about seeing someone that looked like her. He spoke to her and... Well, all thanks to the picture he gave out. He flew to Texas immediately and he was able to get her location.

"I missed you." She said and hugged him tight. He returned the energy.

"How did you find me?" She asked

"Elder sister, how have you been?" He asked as he released her from the hug.

"I'm fine. How did you find me? I thought we will never meet again." She said again.

"An old friend of mine who is acquainted to the owner of this apartment told me he saw you here and since I had told him about the way I was looking for you, he chatted me saying he saw you. I did not believe it until I spoke to Harriet." He explained and she grinned wide.

"Okay, okay, let's go in." She said and they both went in.

"What should I get you?" She asked.

"Tell me about you." He said instead and she sighed.

She went on to tell him about her failed marriage and how she escaped. He was really mad about Floyd but she told him it was not worth his time.

"Anyway, I will be returning to New York next week. You should come with me." He said and she knew that it is not a debating topic, she nodded her head in reply and they both continued talking about what went wrong here and there. She smiled as she looked at her younger brother. At least now she has an arm she can rely on and it won't break.

Harriet came back later in the day. She and Benedict talked about some things.

"I did not know you were coming this early. I was yet to tell Aspen about you." She said as she served them dinner. Benedict had contacted her about his sister. At first she was reluctant but then she knew she had to help Aspen since Aspen would move out sooner or later.

"Oh, Harriet, you don't need to say anything. It was a pleasant surprise." Aspen said and they both shared a smile.

"I am really glad you helped her." Benedict said and Harriet looked as she smiled a bit. When he smiled back, she blushed and looked away. One could notice what was brewing between them but Aspen did not speak.

Days passed and she bid farewell to Harriet, the doctor. Benedict had helped her book a flight and they were both in the airplane. She looked at Texas one last time and uttered a snort.

"Will this be a new start for my kid and I?" She thought.