Wonderland

❄B54❄ Her Story

Chapter Forty-Four

Brayden's POV

Her Story

December 11

I had my first final today. Math. Yes, math finals take place on the first Saturday of exam week. I'm pretty sure I fucked it up, because I spent half of the time thinking about Heather, and half of the other time spacing out, but I didn't give a shit. Fail me. Grades can only mean so much.

I felt like I was stuck inside Kane Hall, where I was taking my math exam, for an eternity. After the exam ended and I turned in my exam with two unfinished problems, I ran back to my dorm.

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Mr. Forde's been crying.

I don't know for how long, but when Isabelle asked me to grab a jacket for her while she phoned the police, I found him sitting outside of her and Heather's room. As much as I hated him, I couldn't help but feel sorry for him.

When he saw me, he quickly got up and wiped his eyes dry with the backs of his hands. "Have you found my daughter?" he croaked.

"Isabelle's phoning the police," I said, looking anywhere but at him. I unlocked the door and walked inside. Mr. Forde awkwardly followed after me.

"This is her side of the room?" he whispered. He was looking at her made bed. I could see the panda I had given her sitting there beside her pillow.

I didn't answer him, and walked over to Isabelle's closet to grab her jacket.

From behind me, I heard Mr. Forde opening and closing drawers. Then, "Her mom was seventeen when Heather was born."

I froze mid-step and turned around to look at him. "What?" I said, taken aback.

"I met her mother at a party my fraternity held. She was the sister of my friend at the time. We were both high and drunk, and we hooked up that night." He hung his head in shame. "I didn't know she was pregnant until she was four months along. I didn't believe the child she was carrying was mine. She was known for sleeping around, but she was absolutely certain it was mine, and I believed her. Her parents kicked her out of the house when she revealed to them her pregnancy, and she started living with me. Her brother hated me to my guts, and I couldn't blame him. My parents weren't pleased about the prospect of me being a father at so young an age, and they didn't want Heather's mom to room with me, but they knew they had no choice because she and I were expecting a child together. We were a family now.

"I didn't love her at the time, but my feelings gradually shifted the more we spent time together. I fell in love with her, and I thought she did, too, but I was wrong." I could see Mr. Forde fighting back tears before continuing, "Her mother cheated on me with a homeless man who lived in the ally where her apartment was. I was devastated and heartbroken. I kicked her out of my house and refused to take responsibility for our child. As far as I knew, the baby and her were dead to me.

"She left without another look back. She didn't even argue. She just packed her belongings and left. I never heard from her again. She didn't even call me once. I was heartbroken. Heartbroken, yet relieved, because now I could continue pursuing my dream of becoming a lawyer."

My throat felt dry. So that's what happened to Heather's mother. I can't believe he's never told her before.

"But then she showed up a month later at my front door. I thought she was going to beg me to take her back, but she didn't. Instead, she gave me our daughter. I can remember that day so clearly, the first time I saw her. She was wrapped in a pink blanket, her body small and red. She looked so weak and frail, unhealthy. It was then that I got a closer look at her mother.