A Twisted Romance

Chapter 6

Thanx for reading :D

Chapter 6

Martha stood in her room preparing for the day ahead. She found it hard to make it across the room without stumbling. Her breath felt heavy in her chest, her hands trembled by her side and her head felt congested.

Today was the day- she was finally going to see her daughter again. The shy daughter she had chosen over her whole family.  

     The smile on Martha’s face immediately dropped when she thought about Sara’s current position. Was she even going to allow to be seen today? She had said no before… she could say it again.

“No.” she said to herself with a tough nod to her head. She would not let that negativity ruin her hope. “I’ll see her today.” She said placing the last button into its waiting home. Her hands left her sides and went over the work she had done. First they fell atop her head and pressed at the neat bun then went down to her blouse making their way to the neat knee length skirt she had decided to wear.

      When all was done, she made her way to the front door without grabbing a bite to eat. She wasn’t hungry after all because all she could think about was the different scenarios that would play before her later that day. Martha was nervous to say the least and when she placed her hand onto the door handle it shook fiercely. She pulled it back and pressed it against her hip before she proceeded to open the door

She hadn’t left her house in a couple of months because of the gossip that lurked around her neighbourhood. Right then, she couldn’t care less but she worried about what the good air would do to her. What if she couldn’t handle it? …

“Mrs Walker.” A deep voice called. Martha turned with surprise unable to believe her ears. She had been the town’s outcast since Sara’s conviction and hearing her name escape someone’s mouth without a curse following was almost music to her ears.

“Yes.”

She turned with her head held high. She was expecting an insult or an egg flying towards her but she was met with dead eyes and a small smile.... Alex. She remembered him. He had been so bitter at Sara’s trial and didn’t hesitate to spit his nasty thoughts at every journalist surrounding Sara’s case.

“I was wondering if I could come with you to see Sara.” He said- bluntly, scratching the back of his head. He looked uneasy- swinging back and forth, avoiding her gaze… Martha was taken aback by his question letting out a chuckle to show him how preposterous he sounded. He had wanted her daughter dead and yet he asked to see her? But what bothered her most was how he had found out about her meeting.

“Why?” she questioned, gently tapping her head. She clutched her bag to her side and leaned against the door- cursing under her breath for locking the door too quickly. She watched as Alex squinted at her actions. He didn’t look well and seemed to be dwelling on what had happened more than a year ago.

 “I want to thank her.” He said simply- raising his eyebrows with a loud sigh… Martha didn’t buy it.

Moving forward with a new found confidence, she said. “You cannot kill her Alex... she is protected by heavy thick walls that your boys put her in.”

Alex looked angry but didn’t move to do anything- He clenched his jaw as if to contain his anger before he composed himself to speak. “I’m not trying to kill her.”

“What do you want Alex?” Martha questioned- getting unbelievably impatient. She could remember his name to the last detail because his thoughts about Sara had run widely through the neighbourhood. He hadn’t been coy about vandalising her home.

“My feelings towards Sara have changed.” He said. “She took a bullet for me and I want to thank her for it.”

                                                       *********************

I had been sitting in the corner of my room trying to feel warm when Michael came in. He had a smile on his face and looked at ease… I had never seen him that way before and it made me eager to know why he was in such a bright mood. His steps were longer- unhesitant even- which made me feel trouble-free.

“How are you feeling today Sara?” he asked.

“I’m g-good.” I shivered- glad for the first time to have my hands in such a position. I was able to hug some of the cold out of my system but it seemed- the straightjacket I was wearing was designed to make me feel as cold as possible.

“Cold?”

“A little.”

Michael dashed out for a moment and returned with a blanket. He wrapped it around me then sat besides me... making the room around me feel smaller.

“I have some news for you.” He stated, placing both his hands forward. He drew in a deep breath before he spoke again and when he did, I felt the walls around me collapse. “Your mother is here.”

Anger came out of thin air as I ran his words through my head repeatedly trying to figure out why he would present me with such a sick joke. There was no way she’d even bother coming to see me.

I was rotten and a killer.

If she had indeed come to see me, then she was out of her mind. I couldn’t let myself think about a happy reunion- somehow I wanted her to be there so- she’d disown me.  

As I sat quietly by Michael’s side, trying to get my anger to fade away, I started to remember life in the Walker household. All I could remember was the nightmare of having to compete for mum’s affection. She had always chosen Suzie’s side.        

           The thought of Suzie tormented me- she always called me fat, ugly and pushed our younger siblings to do the same.  

I had wanted to remember my life before but as the flashes of torture came back, I wasn’t sure I wanted to remember.

“What does she want?” I asked Michael- breaking away from my thoughts.... my painful thoughts. I shifted uncomfortably and looked up at him trying to keep a gentle look.

“She wants to see you... you’ve been saying no and she keeps coming back.”

“I have?”

It seemed like I had missed half of my life. She had come to see me and yet I didn’t remember.

“Just see her today... or you’ll regret it.” Was his reply with a shrug. He stood from where he sat and started for the door.

“Wait.” I called. I had to see what she wanted- maybe she could even explain to me how I got to such a place.