BEFORE DAWN

chapter six

We manage to find ourselves where we ought to be...
It's true, no distance can tare us apart.. We are joined for life... **

Chimamanda became a shadow of herself, she refused playing and sometimes eating. It was a school break Dora was sure she couldn't manage it if she were to be in school. Leaving Jaden had not only affected her life but her daughter as well.
The world was surely a cruel place. She was sure Jaden would come looking for her, it's been five days, she was getting scared. She knew she had told him not to come for her, but a part of her wished he came. Tears clouded her eyes, she was used to crying now.

Maureen had been thinking about what Kelsey and her dad had said to her, truthfully she loved chimamanda but why she disliked Dora ,she could not tell. She was so unhappy ,her dad was slowly loosing his mind because of her selfish ways. She made up her mind to beg Dora, just for her dad. If only her mom was here for them all these would never had happened.
Her dad's happiness was all that mattered to her.

Dora stood at the door, her mouth wide open. This was the last person she was expecting to see here. Maureen stood in front of her ,
'may I come in? ' she asked smiling.
'of course ' Dora shook her head , stepping aside for her to enter.
'I know you were expecting dad' ,Maureen said sitting down.
Dora sat in front of her, avoiding the question ,she smiled. 'do you want anything to drink? '
'just water, thank you '.Maureen watched her go to the kitchen. She knew Dora had heard her question.
Dora placed the water in front of her, watching the child closely, she was confused, Maureen was here. Never had it crossed her mind, if there was anyone she was expecting to see, Maureen wasn't the one.

'I know you are wandering what I'm doing here miss Dora. ' she sighed. 'you see dad started drinking when you left us, he has changed a lot and it's my fault. '
Dora stopped her, 'I believe that is not why you are here Maureen. Your dad is a grown up, he could take care of himself '.
Maureen sighed again, 'I want to apologize for everything I did to you, I was scared... Maybe I still am. I thought you would take all daddy's attention and love from me, I couldn't see the love you had for me. I'm so sorry ' she burst into tears.
Dora hugged her smiling, this was all she wanted, she could live happily now.
'I know dear, I know. I would never be a threat to you and your dad's relationship, all I want is for you to give me a chance to show you how much I care about you, how good of a mother I can be to you and to chimamanda too. I hope that's not too much to ask? '.

Maureen wiped her tears, and smiled. She knew accepting Dora was a gradual process, but she could try to like her. Just for her dad.
'thank you, so.. You would be coming back home? '
'not today ' Dora smiled.
'I should go, tell chimamanda I'll see her soon '.

Dora sat in the chair and wept out her heart ,she was so happy and felt almost failed. There was nothing stopping her from loving Jaden now. Her world was complete again. She smiled thinking of him, how she had missed him.

×********×******×********×******

Jaden was in the living room staring at Dora's picture in his hands, he couldn't still believe she was gone, gone out of his life, he shook his head in disbelief. He had thought she was the one for him, he had hoped on it.

'you have to stop staring at that before you rip it off with your eyes ', Dora laughed.
Jaden laughed, was he imagining things?, he was even hearing her voice? He had definitely lost it.

'daddy! ' chimamanda ran to him, hugging his knees. He was taller than her, by a lot.
Okay he wasn't imaging things, Dora was definitely here.

'hey, ' she hugged him, Jaden kissed her ,it was a kiss that had all the emotions in it... Lust, love, pain, and happiness.
'you are here ' he kept touching her face like she was a ghost.
'yes I am, and I'm not leaving you alone again. ' she smiled again.
Jaden hugged her again, he was still in shock. 'I missed you so much '.
'I missed you too'.

'don't do that to me again, I almost died'.

Maureen watched them, it was obvious they were in love and happy too.
'hi SIS ' chimamanda hugged her.
'hey little mouse. I missed you ' Maureen tickled her.
Maureen took her inside.

Jaden turned to Dora, 'why did you leave like that '.
'I'm sorry, can we just pretend it never happened? I'm here that's what matters'
'when you left... I started.. I started drinking Dora. I couldn't help it. '

Dora smiled, it shattered her to know that he had been drinking, but it wasn't his fault. She could care less about what anyone thought. He was all that mattered to her.
'it's OK, you were broken, I understand that. We are past that now '.

Dora kept her distance, she was free with Dora Now but she refused to be attached to her. She became withdrawn from her family and clung to bad friends. It was after all her last year in high school, she had to live her life.

Her phone was ringing, she picked it up. It was late, the most fashionable and popular girl in school.
'hello? ' Maureen was surprised she had her contact.
'yeah it's Kate, Um... there's a party tonight at Dave's place. You want to come? '
Maureen could not speak, she was been asked by the most important person to the most important party of the year! Could her life get anymore interesting?

'so.. You coming or what? ' Kate was getting impatient.
'yes.. Of course I will '.
'okay then, see you '. She hung up.

Maureen was literally jumping up, this was so awesome. She stopped when she realized she couldn't go without telling her dad, and surely he would never approve of it, she was still 14. She could always lie.

Maureen got to the party a little early, she was eager to see Dave, she had a major crush on him since first year ,he was so adorable

'hey ' she heard the familiar voice behind her, slowly she turned to face him, her face red like tomato.
'hi '.
'you are Maureen right? ' he grinned.
He knew her name, he knew her name?

'yes. Dave right? ' she pretended.
'yes, welcome to my party. You don't mind helping me set up the place. I mean since you are early. '

'no it's fine, what should I do? '.
They walked into the house, she helped him arrange the drinks, food and other stuffs, it was fun for her. They were chatting and laughing, she couldn't believe she was talking to her crush.

After the party, she stayed a while to help him clean up,
'thank you for today ' Dave held her hand.
Maureen blushed, 'it's fine. I'm glad I could help. It was fun ,' she smiled.
'so.. Can I see you on Wednesday?, if you want.. '

'yes.. I mean why not. I'm home alone anyways ' she blushed more.

'I'll call you '. He waved.

'not so fast, young lady '.Dora yawned from the chair. She had been waiting for Maureen to come home. She turned to the clock on the wall, 11:30pm.

Maureen stopped tiptoeing and turned around.
'do you know what the time is? ' Dora half yelled.

'I'm fine miss Dora. I just got stuck in traffic ' ,she lied. It was much easier to lie these days, although she knew Dora won't buy it.

'traffic?, where went you in the first place? ' ,Dora was confused.

'it's really none of your business, can I go inside? ' Maureen murmured, walking away.
' I won't even try to exchange words with you, but since am older than you are, I should be able to tell you when you are wrong '.

Maureen scoffed, turning to face Dora, she laughed
'really?, if you were to advice me on good conducts, how come you ended up getting pregnant at a young age, please save it! ' she walked off.

Dora wanted to speak, but no words came out, she couldn't even move from her spot, it was like a bomb had been dropped on her. Maureen had no idea how she ended up with chimamanda and she had no right to talk to her like that. She was opening pages she had long shut out, the stinging pain it brought back to her.

How come you got pregnant at a young age? . They played on in her head.

If only she knew.