Runaway Husband

8: The City

As soon as I stepped off the train the breezy air hit me. I step around the station so the other passengers can get off and I hold on tight to my suitcase, staring around. It's much crowded here and there is palm trees! Huh, just like the movies! I go to sit down at a bench, pulling out my new phone from Mia and search for motels nearby. I've never been here and it's already 4, I need to find somewhere to sleep before it starts to get too dark.

The closest one to me is a Motel 6 so I make a reservation online with the debit card Mia gave me and start walking that way. I rather not use any money towards travel even though my ankles are screaming at me right now to sit down and order a cab. I look around as I walk and so far it seems peaceful. It's kind of on a run down side of town but I don't mind. I'm just scared someone will mug me or something. It's 3 miles away from where I'm at so I start to become nervous rather easily. I want my bed back. I want my life back! I want the husband that loved me. But I guess he never did...did he?

My stomach starts to growl as I pass by a little diner. Ugh I may be only 14 weeks but this baby is already making demands. I'll check that place out tomorrow and appease the fetus. I chuckle to myself. I can only imagine what this baby will be like. I'm hoping it's a girl but I'll love it regardless. I guess I should start coming up with names and figure all that out soon. I'll have to call Mia and ask her. Wow, there really are palm trees everywhere. I notice there is a help wanted sign in the window and I tell myself to stop by another day.

By the time I get there my ankles want to give out and my back is full of sweat. I feel so fucking nasty! Maybe I should have called an Uber. Fuck ughhhhh. I knew this wasn't going to be easy but I already want to give up.

My room is small but just what I needed. It has a tiny fridge included and a coffee maker so I'm sure I'll make do with that. After throwing my suitcase on a desk I take a long hot shower, getting all the grease from my hair and my body actually feels kind of alive again. Living in the closet for I don't know how many days really fucked myself up. I don't think I'll ever be able to handle a dark room again.

I wrap a towel around my waist and one in my hair, looking at myself in the bathroom mirror. There are purple bruises on my neck and my eyes have small blotches of blood on them. I look like a fucking zombie!  There is a large yellow and green bruise on my side stretching out to my stomach and I don't even know how that got there. But what really gets my attention is the small bump poking out by my belly button. Am I really already showing? I turn to the side and holy shit, I'm actually showing! There's a baby bump! My little jellybean! Tears start to pool in my eyes as I quickly dial Mia to facetime her.

She picks up the phone quickly and I can tell she's laying in bed.

"Remi!!! Oh thank god baby I was scared I hadn't heard from you!"

My eyes tear up and I sniffle a bit. "Mia, oh my god Mia."

"What's going on babe, did you find a place to stay?"

"Yeah, yeah everything is fine. I'm at a motel for now. But look!"

I change the camera view and show her my bump in the mirror, standing facing my side so she can see it better.

"Oh Remi!" She squeals. "That's your baby!"

"I know," I wipe some tears from my face and rub my swollen tummy. "Like, it's real now. I mean I know it was before but now I see it!"

"Oh god I can't wait to see you again. I promise I'll visit and make sure you are okay! Oh Remi this is so beautiful!"

I walk over to my bed and talk to her for an hour, updating on what I've seen. She laughs at me being surprised about the palm trees and tells me they really are everywhere. We talk for almost two hours until I fall asleep, even forgetting to eat.