The Broken Tale

Walk the Walk

Days passed, weeks became nothing more than a small hum that went completely unnoticed. But what is there to notice when everyday is the same darkness? With no change, no light, everything looks the same that time becomes one fabric that can't be told apart. Five months passed by uneventfully. Everyday was the same. Layla tolerated Ali for as much as she could but it seemed that he too had lost interest in her as well. She too became something he had to tolerate since divorce was completely out of question because of his Islamic image. He would spend the whole day, seomtimes many days at a time, out and the one times he would be home, he would either not talk to her or get her in his bed. With or without consent. Not seeing Ali though did make her life much easier. Without him around to beat her, her baby was safer.
         Layla stared at herself in the mirror. Her belly had swollen visibly and so had her breasts. She rubbed her stretched belly. She looked into herself. Many people would say that they were insecure they were pregnant, that they thought they looked ugly when they gained weight and their baby bump grew but not Layla. She had never seen herself look better. Through the eye bags, pimples and tired eyes, she loved her baby bump and adored how carrying her child made her look.
She had gotten big. But Ali had not been home in more than three and a half. The last time she saw him she was just three months pregnant but she still wore very oversized clothing just to stay safe. When he forced her into bed, she tried to face away from him as much as she could but even when he did see her, he just insulted her for getting 'fat and ugly'.
She sighed and picked up the clothes she had laid out for herself and started to dress herself. She marveled at the quietness and peace in the house as she walked over to her dressing table. She tied her hair into a messy bun, she picked up her backpack, car keys and phone. She ran out of the bedroom, jumping down two steps of stairs at a time. She was excited to meet up with Brian and Talya to go shopping for baby supplies.
          She was too scared to go shopping or even get anywhere near a baby store at all. She knew Brian had bought some things on his own but it was not enough.
         She hopped down the stairs excitedly, her eyes didn't see much except her own jumping feet. She was just about to hop down on the floor, she bumped into something hard. She fell back on the steps, her vision was just as hazy and blurry as her thoughts. It took her a few moments to finally look up. Ali's indifferent and rather annoyed face was staring back at her with his hands in his pockets. She instinctively jumped back to her feet.
"I am so sorry!" She said, dusting his plain black shirt, "I didn't s-"
"It's fine." He interrupted in strange calmness, "Don't worry about it."
His complexion had changed a lot in those past two months. His facial hair had grown and he looked much...happier? He was glowing and though he was frowning, she could see how radiant he was.
"You're going somewhere?" He asked absentmindedly.
She nodded, "No, I'm sorry, I didn't know you'd be coming home. I-I can cancel if-"
He shook his head quickly, "No, no, it's fine. I just got back, I need a nap. You can go."
           Layla was left wide eyed and dumbfounded. He did not notice though, just going up the stairs and ignoring her completely. She was still unsure that he was serious. She was not foreign to Ali's mood swings and forced misinterpretation only to be hit out of consciousness, she would not give up so easily this time.
          She followed him up the stairs, pulling at the oversized sweatshirt she was wearing to make sure her baby bump was less noticeable. She followed him back to the bedroom.
"Are you okay?" She asked as he took off his jacket and tossed it on the bed, "Do you want me to make you some food?"
He didn't even look at her.
"No, Layla, you can go out." He replied.
"Is everything okay?"
He let out a sign and turned to her. It seemed to be the first time he actually saw her well. His eyes widened with shock.                 Layla tried to hold her hands by her belly in desperate hopes to make her newly gained weight less noticeable. He stared at her for a few moments with dropped jaws. But finally, he cleared his throat.
"You've gained a lot of weight." He commented calmly, "I can't say you look too good."
"I've been having a...hard time, I guess. I haven't had a lot of time to look after myself."
He nodded slowly, taking in the situation.
"Anyway. You can go if you want so, I want some peace."
"Are you sure?"
He groaned, "Just get the fuck out for heaven's sake!"
            Layla walked across the cold, windy prairie while clutching her backpack's strap in her hands. Her mind raced with what had just happened with Ali. He was not stupid nor blind. He had definitely noticed her baby bump but then why did he react so calmly? Could he have suspected the baby was not his? Was he secretly planning to hurt her? The cold rain that poured on her did little to calm her burning thoughts. Why would he react like this? Or maybe... maybe he just no longer cared? Maybe he too got tired of the same old abuse and beatings himself?
           She hoped and prayed that was the case. That he was just tired of her and would hopefully let her go
           As she was lost in her thoughts, she finally spotted Brian's car parked by the side of the road. She quickly jogged through the rain towards him, the sight of his figure already made her feel cozy and warm despite the cold wind that blew by her. She could see his face also light up in the grey and rainy prairie.
            She quickly jumped in the car, still gasping for air as the cold weather caught up with her frozen sweat.
"How do you run when you're pregnant and I can't even get my ass up to get to the bathroom?" Brian asked jokingly.
"Because...I'm not...an ass." She replied breathlessly.
Brian chuckled to himself quietly. He pecked a quick kiss on her cheek and bent down to press his head against her belly.
"How are you doing today, little one?" He asked, rubbing her belly.
"She's kicking my ass from the inside."
Brian had been hoping for a girl the entire time. So much so that using the female pronouns had become subconscious.
"How come?"
"She's moving a lot."
"Our baby is smart then." He sniggered.
"East for you to say. You're not the one who has to carry this football player."
Brian shook his head.
I'm kinda jealous though."
Layla laughed in mocking disbelief, "Yeah right. Of what?"
"That you get to be with our baby all the time."
Layla's laughter fell away. Her face fell and she looked away from his smiling gaze.
"Are you alright?" Brian asked when he finally noticed her uncomfortable heartbeat, "You're so cold."
Layla sighed, "No, no, I'm not."
Brian sat up.
"What happened?"
"I'll tell you." She answered, "But let's get out of here first."
Brian grabbed onto the steering wheel without hesitation. He immediately got back on the highway and drove away from the mansion.
          Though Ali had been gone for months and Brian knew this but they still met down the road from the isolated mansion just to be safe in case the security guards informed Ali.
"What's going on?" Brian asked when they were a well distance away.
"You have to promise you'll take it well if I tell you."
"It's something serious, isn't it?"
"Ain't it always?"
"If it's so serious then why are you wasting time? Just tell me already."
"Not unless if you promise you'll stay calm."
He rolled his eyes, "For heaven's sake, and then when I can't keep a promise, you have the audacity to ask me why."
"Brian, seriously. We need to stay smart now if anyone has half a shot at surviving anymore."
"Fine. Fine, you're right. I'll try to stay calm. Now can you please tell me?"
Layla let out a deep sigh.
"Ali's back." She answered quietly.
Brian pressed on the brakes right in the middle of the road so hard that she almost slammed into the windshield.
"What?" He shrieked.
"This is why I wanted you to promise!"
"Ali's back?"
Layla nodded.
He grabbed onto her hands, already checking her wrists, neck and cheeks frantically.
"What happened? Did he hurt you?" He asked in a panic.
"No, Brian, I'm okay." She reassured.
"Shit, shit, shit." He said to himself, running a hand through his hair, "God, for fuck's sake."
Layla rubbed his shoulders comfortingly. She laughed at herself a little, it amused her how she was now someone who comforted someone else when she had always believed it should have been the other way around.
"Did he notice your bump?" He asked.
"I think he did."
Brian's eyes bolted to her.
"What?"
"It's complicated." She continued sheepishly rubbing her neck, "He brushed me off completely. Once he did notice, he only told me I got fat but come on, you know Ali. He isn't that stupid."
"Why the fuck would you follow him if he brushed you off? Are you stupid? You could've just left instead of following him and practically flaunting your bump?"
"Stop blaming me! What was I supposed to do?" Layla yelled back, "You're acting as if you've never met Ali before! What do you think he's done before? Pretend to let me go but the second I step out the door, he pulls me back in and beats me to death just for the damn fun of it. I was scared, I didn't want to take the chances of the baby getting hurt."
Brian bit his lip, he looked away from her eyes as shame visibly overflowed over him. Silence overtook them for a while, both were getting uncomfortable in their own seats slowly. Finally he let out a sigh and looked back at her, taking her hands back in his.
"I'm sorry. You're right, I'm sorry I freaked out."
"It doesn't matter, Brian, I get it." She mumbled slowly.
He shook his head. He placed several warm kiss on her cheek.
"No, seriously, babe, I'm sorry. I just...I'm just really worried about you and the baby."
Layla sighed, "It's okay, Brian. But now it's not safe at all to be home alone with him for a second."
"You won't be."
"What?"