Serenity | Fragile Hearts

chapter 10-mama bear

Aila

Still no luck finding a nursing job. I got a few calls back from people, but they wanted someone who had experience. Not a new grad.

I was loosing hope slowly. Being jobless wasn't ideal when you were a single parent. I give credit to all the parents doing it on their own out there.

With no motivation, I sat down on the sofa and began to think. At this point I was completely out of ideas.

Ms. Rosie soon opened the door with Sofie and came in. "Mommy, Ms. Rosie took me to the park, and then we went to feed the ducks!" She said excitedly.

"That's amazing, love. Why don't you go get cleaned up for dinner?"

"Otay." she said and she ran off to the bathroom.

My sad appearance didn't go unknown by Rosie. "What's wrong dear? Any luck?" She asked with a solemn face.

I shook my head and placed it on my knees. "Unfortunately not. I don't know what I'm going to do." I told her, stressed.

"I'm sorry hun, I don't know anyone to hook you up with. I wish I did." she told me as she sat down next to me on the couch and pulled me into a hug.

"Don't worry, have hope. What's meant for you will be for you."

...

I decided to take the day off and just spend it with Sofie. I needed a break from the constant disappointment and anxiety.

I packed a little picnic for us and took Sofie back to the park.

She could spend hours here and would only leave when I had to drag her home. It was the coolest thing as a parent to see her imagination run free without a care in the world.

I wanted that for her.

I sat on a bench nearby and kept a close eye on Sofie. She was playing in the sandbox with a few other children.

"Well, well well. Look who it is." a gruff voice mentioned behind me.

My eyes grew wide and my heart began to beat fast. I knew this voice all too well.  I turned around and looked who the culprit was.

Blake.

My ex.

The man who almost beat me to death. Who controlled me for years. Degraded me consistently.

And my daughter's sperm doner.

I had a restraining order against him. I don't know why or how he's here right now.

There's some things in life that you move on from. Over time, the fear lessens and you make peace with your demons.

But the trauma stays. The mind can heal and move on in some cases. But physically, your body stores that trauma. It's difficult to get over.

I turned around and faced him, chin up and ready. I wasn't gonna let him scare me.

He hadn't changed at all. Still 6 feet, medium build and looked decent.

"Fancy seeing you here." he sneered.

"Get away from me." I seethed to him. I turned around and made sure I had a close eye on Sofie incase he tried to start anything.

"I want to see my daughter".

I scoffed. "Please, like I'd ever let you touch her." I told him- all the fear leaving my body. Focusing on me is one thing. On my daughter?

Mama bear will fuck you up.

"Don't you ever fucking talk to me like that." he growled out as he grabbed my arm and pulled me closer to him. He was squeezing so tight, I knew it would bruise.

But I wasn't going to give him that satisfaction.

"Get your hand off of me." I told him as I tried to rip it away. Unfortunately my 110 pound self had nothing on him.

Soon, Sofie saw the commotion and made her way over. She pushed in between us and started to pound her fists at Blake.

"Take. Your. Hands. Off. My. Mommy." she screamed as she punched her tiny fists into his pants. Her face was red and sweaty, and I could tell she was getting tired.

He looked shocked for a second before he let go and started to walk away.

I picked up Sofie in my arms and let out a deep breath. My heart wouldn't stop racing. It was as if I needed to know she was safe.

That was close.

"Ok Sof how about we get out of here and head to the coffee shop?" I told her, needed to leave.

"Ok but are you sure you're okay mommy?" She asked in her small voice.

"Yes baby, don't worry."

I picked her up and made our way to the shop.

...

I opened the door and made my way to the counter to order a chocolate croissant for Sofie and a small coffee for me.

As I was waiting, I heard the door open again. Whoever walked in, went straight to the pickup line and grabbed their coffee. As the person turned around, I saw two familiar eyes meet mine.

Grey.

He gave me a curt nod as he made his way over to me.

"Hi."

"How are you feeling?" he asked cutting to the chase.

"G-good." I responded, my voice a bit wobbly. I was still shaken up from my encounter with Blake.

His eyebrows furrowed. "You good?" he asked in his usually broody voice.

"Yeah."

He didn't seem convinced because if so, he'd walk out. But he didn't.

"You're acting sus"

I tried to play it off cool. "I'm fine, thanks"

He still didn't seem convinced and he rolled his eyes and stepped to the side, about to walk out. Before he could do so, he stopped abruptly.

I followed his eyesight and it focused straight to my arm.

"What the fuck happened?"

"It's from when I fell the other day. Remember? You cleaned it." I told him, hoping he'd buy it.

He looked at me for a couple seconds. "Do you think I'm completely stupid?" he asked me, a bit of anger present in his voice.

"I cleaned it. It was your left arm." He grabbed my
arm. And pointed to it. "This is your right arm. This isn't a cut. It's a bruise that was done recently looking at it's color."

"I-." I started to speak but he cut me off.

"And don't give me some bullshit and say that you fell because a fall doesn't leave a big ass handprint."