Saving Laila

Chapter 2

(Lailas POV)

I hesitate to dial my mom's number knowing she will have so many questions I can't answer over the phone. We have been on the road for an hour now and Jazzy has gone to sleep and will likely be asleep for a while.

Once I muster up enough courage I call her and it rings twice till she picks up. "Hello my dear daughter who never calls me, '' she says and I can hear the smile in her voice. I try to smile also but with the time being it's very hard.

"Momma I need help, can jazzy and I come see you?" I ask while trying not to cry. I love my mom and I haven't been able to really see her due to Jay taking us and moving to Portland,Oregon against my wishes. He never let me go see her unless he came with and of course his plans come first over mine or my feelings. The line goes silent and a million thoughts go through my mind as I wait for her response.

"Oh..My baby.. Of course. Are you already on your way? Where are you?I'll have the guest room ready for you when you get here." I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding in hearing her words.

"Thank you momma, We've been on the road for about an hour. So we have about an hour and a half to two hours left before we will get there. Im so sorry to spring this on you but I need to leave him an this is the safest way I can." I tell her while keeping my eyes on the road. We talk a little longer just catching up a little before she has to go to the store.

I'm worried for when he gets back to the house, it's not a home for me anymore. He will be so angry but I know he won't do anything rash because he wants everyone to think we have the perfect life and marriage.

I know he will try to track me down because he is a detective and has so many connections. Maybe by then I will have a plan more thought out then what is going on right now.

Two hours later, I reached my mom's apartment. She waits by the door and jogs down the stairs when she sees me get out of the car. The next thing I know she is hugging me like I might disappear any minute. I hug her back trying to contain the tears threatening to spill out. I have to be strong for my daughter. I have to make sure she is okay above anything else. She is my main priority and always will be. 

"Hey mom. Long time no see huh?" I say while trying to hide the bruise on my cheek with my hair and grabbing the bags out of the car.

"Sweety what happened?" she asked, grabbing my arm to stop me and moving the hair behind my ear and looking worried.

"I will talk about it when I feel ready. Can we just get inside? It's starting to get a little chilly out here."I say while grabbing jazzy from her car seat in one arm and her bags in the other arm. My mom grabs my bag and turns towards the stairs. I start to follow my mom. If anyone would have told me that I would be running from the man I married 4 years ago I would have not believed them. He used to be so sweet and charming but then everything started to change.

Once we got in the house Jazzy started to stir so I put her down and asked my mom to watch her while I took the bags to the other side of the apartment towards the guest rooms. Once in there I felt my phone vibrate and knew who it was. Terror ran though my veins. I hadn't thought this far out. I hadn't thought of what I was going to say to him. For now I'm just not going to answer him till I talk with my mom though. I need someone I can talk this through with. I didn't have anyone back in Portland and he made sure of that.

I throw my phone on the bed and walk to the living room area and put a smile on my face when I see my baby girl showing my mom the tooth she just lost the other day and the one that's starting to wiggle. I clap my hands and ask about dinner as I had not made anything before we left.

My mom leads us to the kitchen and shows the spaghetti waiting to be plated. I always loved the food she made growing up. After my dad died she really turned to cooking as a way to escape the feeling of pressure for raising a child as a single mother. He died in a car accident on the way home from work one day trying to surprise her on their 15 year wedding anniversary when I was 12. I was at school when it happened and my mom came to the school to check me out because she didn't know what to do and she had no one else but me.

I help make Jazzy's plate and mine then head to the table while she carries our drinks. After we all sit down the moon seems to lighten as we all laugh at how Jazzy slurps her noodles. Things feel good and I'm happy about being with my mom again.

Chapter 3
(Laila's POV)

After dinner I helped my mom clean off the table and clean the kitchen up. After we were done I helped Jazzy in the bath. While I was drying her off she asked me how long we would be here and if her dad was coming.

"I don't know how long we will be here but your dad isn't coming baby " I said while rinsing the last of the conditioner out of her hair. I knew that right now she wouldn't understand but I hope she won't hate me and eventually realize I did this for her, for us.

I put jazzy to bed and went back to the kitchen ready to tell my mom about what's going on. "Hey mom" I say, coming around the corner.

"Yes Laila?" She says while walking towards me.

"You know that I love you and staying away from you wasn't my idea. It was Jay's Idea. It was his way of hurting me because he knew you are the only family I have left. He also was unfaithful and he started to call me names. I stayed because of Jasmine. Not long after he began hitting me. Again I stayed for Jasmine and he even threatened to have her taken from me if I went to the police but it's not like they would help me. He is a cop so no matter what I did nothing would help me besides myself. I just couldn't stand it anymore and I finally just left him today. He is about to get back to the house and he's going to start calling me. I'm so scared. He doesn't know you just moved to this place so we should be safe for a little while." I said to her barely taking a breath in between sentences.

She just stood there staring at me trying to process what I told her. I'm worried about what she's going to say but no matter what I know that to me it all felt right. What I did is to protect my child.

"I'm sorry baby I wish your dad was still here to help us. He would know what to do and how to help us. He was a very smart man" she says while getting teary eyed. "Well if you are going to stay here we need to get you a job and get you a new identity if you are going to stay hidden" she says after taking a minute to think.

As if he knew we were talking about him my phone starts to ring. "I shouldn't answer this right now" I said while seeing Jay's name pop up on my phone. "I know he is mad and if he starts to try and have me come back I know it will happen and I will pack up. God I hate the hold he has on my heart but right now I have to have my mind. over heart to survive this." I tell my mom and turn off my phone so it doesn't ring anymore.

"Well we should be getting ready for bed. We're going to get you hidden as good as possible. Good night my dear" She says while getting up and kissing the top of my head.

"Goodnight mom" I say while heading to the room.