Living Without A Heart

The Year Following Alice's Return

A week ago: Alice had her baby taken away from her, she had to stay in hospital when she got out of the Sisters of Quiet Mercy, and FP went to talk to her parents.

Alice decided that she should go back to school, perhaps some normality would help her get used to her lonely life again.

"Hey Alice, are you holding up okay?" Mary inquired.

"Please don't, don't keep giving me your sympathy- people will ask questions. I can see them staring and laughing."

"You disappeared out of the blue and reappeared just as out of the blue- they'll get over it!"

"I suppose..."

Hal came jogging over to them and went to give Alice a kiss but she did a subtle manouver to stop it.

"Hi," she said without looking at him.

"You okay?"

"mm-hmm, you?"

"Erm yeah-not seen you for a while"

"Been in hospital for a week."

"Why?"

"Oh I don't know, maybe because I walked for a while after giving birth." she said sarcastically.

"Do you want to say it any louder?" he bit.

"Do you want to get off my back?" she said coldly.

"Alice please will you give me a chance."

"I'm trying Hal. Let's not talk about this here okay- I'll speak to you after school."

"Okay, I'm sorry- you're right." he said and walked off.

"Tell me again why you're still together?" Mary asked  whilst Alice just rolled her eyes.

A few hours later Hal and Alice met up at his house.

"I know you thought you were doing what was in the best of both of our interests but do you realise the trauma I felt?"

"Yes Alice, of course I do. I heard you screaming for him but it will get easier and you'll have a second chance. Oh-I'm sorry, I've got to go!" he said and ran inside.

"No worries," she said sarcastically.

The next day Alice was sat in class when she was told to go to the reception. When she went there was just a woman sat there on her own.

"Alice!"

"Mum? What are you doing here? I thought you disowned me..."

"Alice, FP told me you were at the Sisters! I wanted to know why and what they did to you."

After a long consideration Alice whispered "Erm...I was forced to give my son up for adoption..."

"What do you mean?"

"Mum, I had FP's baby and he doesn't know."

"Why didn't you tell me!?" she cried exhasperated.

"Because I was afraid you would hate me and make me get an abortion like Hal tried to do. You would think I was stupid and a disappointment. I tried to tell FP but he blew me off and then we got together 6 weeks later and then we broke up and I tried to tell him again but he cut me off by accident. Mum, I didn't want to lose my baby..."

"I have a grandson? You have a son?"

"I called him Charles mama- my baby Charlie... they ripped him right out of my arms and I'm never gonna see him again and FP won't even know he has a son!"