Laura

School

I didn't get home until around 4:23am, which was quite late for me, but it was what I needed to do. When I got home, I made Haven's lunch for that day and I packed her bag for school, just so we didn't have a hassle getting her ready. I then went over to my sofa bed and I passed out almost immediately. I dreamt of nothing in particular, my dreams going from becoming a horse/fairy hybrid to watching Haven get married and having her own kids. I woke up with tears streaming down my cheeks after that dream. I was at her wedding, holding my rosy-cheeked grandson in my arms as she said her vows to the love of her life. Meanwhile, I was still alone. I was wearing my wedding ring on my right hand now, still unable to let go of him. He haunted my thoughts and dreams, the only good thing from my past. The worst night of my life was also the best, so I was constantly conflicted. I remember that he loved odd numbers. He always had an odd number of shirts, pages in his stories, glasses of water a day. He was so crazy and weird but I loved that about him. It made him even more mine in a way. I didn't get back to sleep, so I decided to start painting the walls in the kitchen/living room/ my bedroom. I decided to paint them iris purple, just to bring some life to the dreary place we called 'home'. By the time Haven woke up, I had already finished and was simply waiting for it to dry. I quickly made her some breakfast, giving her some vanilla yoghurt and strawberries, which she loved. I dressed her in a baby blue pinafore and a white top and I brushed her beautiful chocolate curls into a simple braid down her back. She wore white trainers and white socks and she looked adorable. I picked up her pink bunny bag and we started walking to her nursery. I locked the apartment behind us and we left, we waved goodbye to Mrs Woods, who made only a low grunting noise.

Once we arrived at the brightly painted nursery, I noticed a lot of mothers who looked so much more 'motherly' than I did. While they wore bright coloured jumpers and white trousers, I was wearing a short, tight royal blue dress which was slightly low-cut and it showed off some of my tattoos. Mainly the butterfly on my left collarbone and the words on my left arm. "Don't take life too seriously, because it's not like you're getting out alive" were the words on my arm and one of my closest friends in high school said that to me while we were discussing our exams. I noticed a group of mothers watching me, disdain in their cold eyes. I looked away, embarrassed and ashamed of myself. I crouched down and kissed Haven on the forehead as she waddled away, talking to some of the other girls. I sighed gently and folded my arms over my chest, my heart pounding and my mind racing.
"Hi, you must be Mrs Day. I'm Mr Richards, one of the teacher here at the school," a man said from behind me. His voice was low and slightly gruff, and it made me feel kind of strange hearing it. I turned around and forced a smile, not in the mood to make small talk with primary school teachers. He was my height and had a thick, dark beard and slicked back dark hair. He had thick-framed black glasses and he wore a white shirt, dark trousers and brown shoes. He was your textbook teacher and he wasn't that appealing to me.
"Nice to meet you. And, it's Ms Laura Day, not Mrs," I replied, keeping my forced smile plastered on my lips. There was some kind of shine in his eyes when I told him I wasn't married.
"Well then, Ms Day, would it be terribly awkward if I asked you out to dinner this weekend? Let's say six at that new restaurant? What was it called? Oh, Virtue," he asked, his eyebrows raised and his tone like I had already agreed. I chuckled and shook my head gently, my curls bouncing.
"I'm sorry Mr Richards, but I'm gonna have to say no. I'm not interested, thanks," I said gently, taking a step back from him as I noticed he had gotten a lot closer than I was comfortable with. His smile faltered slightly, but he merely chuckled in response.
"I promise you Ms Day, you will say yes to me eventually. It's just what happens," he said shrugging, before he walked away. I shuddered as he left and I heard someone chuckle.
"Carmine bothering you?" the voice asked. I turned to see a tall man with bright blue hair and dark eyes approaching me. He wore a white shirt, a pair of tight, light blue jeans and spotless white trainers. I looked him up and down and noticed the slight gold glow on his cheekbones and I smiled. I nodded and let the man approach me.
"He asked me out and said it was only a matter of time before I said yes to him," I explained, rolling my eyes as the man chuckled.
"Yeah. He does that with every new mother at this stupid school. Hey, is that precious princess with the braid your girl? Because sweetie, she is gorgeous. Definitely takes after her mother," he said, gesturing towards Haven and a small group of children.
"Yes. Her name is Haven and I'm Laura," I replied, smiling brightly at the man. He smiled and extended a hand, his nails perfectly trimmed and polished.
"I'm Oliver. The two little girls over there are mine and my husbands. His sister was the surrogate but she sadly passed away due to heart failure a few months after their birth. The one with the ponytail is Lydia and the one with the Dutch braids is Alice. They were named after our grandmothers, who both passed away a few weeks before the birth. They both supported us till the end, bless their souls," Oliver explained, his smile showing off his perfect pearly whites. I shook his hand and he looked down at my wedding ring, and then he gasped gently.
"I am so sorry girl. That Mr Richards has no respect or regard for the women he fancies, I swear to the Lord above," he said, crossing himself as he said it. I smiled and nodded, jumping slightly when the bell rang for school to start. Alice, Lydia and Haven all walked into the school together, which warmed our hearts. Oliver and I exchanged numbers and then I rushed home to surprise Haven.