Waiting for a life change

Submitted into Contest #49 in response to: Write a story about two strangers chatting while waiting for something.... view prompt

8 comments

General

Mary had just arrived in an unsettled and unkempt state, hair sticking out from the bun she had styledher hair into, her make-up was just weird she was an awkward sight for all beholder her heels weren't spared one had broken off and the shoes looked worn out; She had probably been in rush for her place of work cause she wore a three piece suit and was still straightening out her clothes. All eye's on her she took her seat luckily the last one left, she looked by her side and she got a wry smile she didn't return she was there for her own interests nothing else.

Not too long later a man stormed in heaving heavily headed from the above stairway and you could tell he was there for battle and his victim won't be spared, he went over and grabbed the shirt of a frail lady that had been chatting away with another better dressed lady in the reception and he and everyone was taken aback.

'who's the father?' he questioned and all eye's turned to face the couple


'who did you cheat on me with'


'I can explain but not here...' she whispered trying to coax him away


'we are not going anywhere, tell me who the father is'


'don't disgrace me'


'tel me who, you promised you'd a stein, we could have got you through therapy Sandi please' as the man said this emotionally charged she broke down and began to cry 'it's your father that's why I didn't want to tell you'.


'what?' he said cursing under rapid breath, running his hands through his hair he obviously had calmed down 'Sandi... I'm out of here'


She called back at him as he walked off sobbing she ran after him and immediately he left everyone broke into some murmur.


'she's a shame to all women, isn't she?' the woman beside her said to her obviously trying to make small talk with Mary who nodded just to be polite when really she didn't give a damn. That's when she overheard some gossip between some ladies seating very near to her and couldn't help listening in, a young girl was telling her friends her story.


'Oh my God it's not true' one of her friends had remarked 'tell me it's not true'


'it is I was there' the other replied.


'what am I supposed to do we love each other I mean we already planned our marriage when the results came out and he turned out to be my long lost brother, I had a baby for him when mom heard she fainted and now is in a coma, I came here to talk to him he still wants us to get married but isn't it like awkward marrying my brother.' she breaks down and cries as her friends console her till she regained her composure and continued 'I came to tell him no and return the ring but then we have a child... What do I do' she breaks down again.


Mary thinks about her life, it all related she had been raped by her father and took in for him, her mother heard and fell down dead and now he is serving his term in prison for sexual assault of a minor, rape and other counts. Now she was saddled with a sickle celled child that always gave her worry, she had bills to pay and had to do online college courses because she couldn't trust her child with anyone after that traumatic experience but she put her faith in her God and worked very hard to keep her and her child alive so she considered the young girl beside her even luckier.


'Miss Maplewood number 0541...' a woman who was probably rocking her 40's called out to all in the waiting room and the young girl at Mary's right side with relationship issues stood up dabbing at her tears with a wipe one of her friends had handed her 'he'll have you in his office now'


'thank you maam' she sent her friend's a sweet smile waving a little and they simultaneously waved back 'I'll soon be back'


'go girl' one of her friends cheered 'we trust your decision and we'll understand'


'that means so much to me babes' she replies suppressing her urge to run into the elevator the lady who announced her name had ushered her into. As soon as she had disappeared behind the elevator door her friend's began to giggle.


'what a fool' her blonde friend the same one who had wished her good scoffed to the brunette 'I'm so glad that your cousin could switch the results once they break off the wedding thinking that they're siblings I'll have a chance with him'


Mary couldn't help the gasp that escaped her throat, looking away so it seemed like she hadn't heard anything, it was true that one could never really put their trust in anyone, she felt pity for the young girl and decided to help though it wasn't in her principles to mind the business of others but this time she felt she had to help. The evil friend's cackled like two witches that had a successful broomstick ride or that's how Mary saw them now, if only they knew what was coming.


'life...' the woman beside Mary muttered again in an effort to make small talk again, she had probably overheard what the friend's concocted 'there is always drama in this life'

   

Mary observed that the woman was handcuffed to the chair also noticing for the first time that a police man sat beside her looking so stern serious, he looked suspiciously at the woman constantly, the woman couldn't be older and she was so innocent looking and sorrowful, Mary then decided to hear the story of her seat mate.


'I have to agree' she replied her remark 'do you have a story?'


'you noticed the cuffs huh?' she chuckled I've been dying to talk to someone that's not a cell mate for years now...' she then slowed down and tried not to look so excited not to beckon on the prying eye's of her diligent badged guard' can we talk'


'yes I have some time before I'm called'


'good' she sighed 'I thought you wouldn't want to talk to a criminal'


'I can't be so sure yet besides you don't look it. What's the story'


'I've been in prison for the past 13 years after being accused of killing a wealthy man, I had been his mistress'


'may I ask why you killed him?'


'I didn't kill him, his wife caught us in the act and butchered him in anger leaving me to take the fall, I've tried to prove my innocence but who would listen to the story of a poor, shameless prostitute. I only started sleeping with him to take care of my family and now look at me'


'so sad' Mary remarks 'life is truly cruel'


'yes it is' she chips in 'but I've resigned to my fate'


'hopefully one day you would be proven innocent' Mary says to comfort her new friend though she might never meet her again 'and you would still have a life to get back to'


'hopefully...' she says trying to comfort herself but the look on her face told Mary she wasn't counting on it 'but I'm so glad to be outside the prison walls'


'no offense but I have to ask why?' curious Mary has been wondering about that.


'I was being transferred to another prison when the escort developed some mechanical issues just outside, so here I am' she smiled so cheerfully Mary found herself returning the smile, this was the first smile she had had in years.


'I hope the escort stays broken down for a long time more' Mary jokes and the latter responds with an even broadened smile. 'I see you'd like that'


'it'll be amazing honestly' she affirms 'the beauty of the outside world, other people, new friends like you...' she pauses for a while continuing ', we are friend's right?'


'yes we are, I'm Mary Cade' she introduces.


'Yancy Baynes' the latter replies 'maybe if I get out I'll come visit'


'ya I'll try to look up your case and follow up on the internet so I can hit you up when you do'


'that'll be nice' she admits looking far-off into the distance 'I'm so lucky to have someone who cares about me now I have hope'


'yes you do'


'enough about me do you have a story?'


'actually I do and I too have been wanting to tell someone about it' Mary replies 'but I don't think it's near as intense as what you are going through'


'this is not a bad experience contest' Yancy giggles 'just share your mind with me' 


Mary took a deep breath and began to share her story about how her mom had different men in her life and her sexual encounters with some of the men even her biological father and was so glad how focused Yancy was; her eye's welled up at some points when it became so personal but Yancy saw her through it. Deep down Mary couldn't believe that a stranger would help take such a huge load of her chest and she realized she felt so much better.


'and that's it...' she concluded earning a beautiful cheery smile from Yancy 'was a bore right'


'actually I enjoyed it I mean I'm so honored that you could share it with me'


'no thank you... I never really talked to anyone about it' she confesses.


'Same here' Yancy tells her and they giggle. 'that wasn't so hard was it'


'weirdly no it wasn't'


'good'


'a Miss Cade the pediatrician is ready to receive you' the woman from earlier announced.


'oh that's me... My son was rushed here earlier gotta go see his doctor' Mary explains to Yancy 'I also have a little crush on him, they giggle 'I'll be back'


'sure, I hope I'll be here'


On the elevator Mary came across the young girl who she promised to help, she was reluctant but luckily for her the girl was very gentle and was thankful for the advice, she took up Mary's advice and she immediately sent her fiance a text message saying she wanted the test redone and they were in the hospital so that worked out.


Unfortunately Mary to this day never met Yancy again but she was sure that she'd never forget her cause talking to her was life changing. And all in the waiting room where she'd never imagined anything astronomical could happen.

July 05, 2020 01:42

You must sign up or log in to submit a comment.

8 comments

Nancy Drayce
11:53 Jul 13, 2020

Beautiful! Great story! The only thing I would point out is some technical issues, don't be worried, nothing much - I would suggest you try Grammarly, it is an easy and free way of getting your story perfect! All in all, just keep going! I read your bio, and I believe that if you are persistent, and if you work on your craft you will accomplish what you want! I am also trying my best to get traditionally published, so I understand the struggle... Just write as much as you can! Once again, great story! 💕

Reply

Show 0 replies
P. Jean
22:24 Jul 12, 2020

Many conversations...interesting read!

Reply

Show 0 replies
Corey Melin
04:34 Jul 07, 2020

Liked the story. Entertaining read. To run smoother I would recommend a free grammar check like I do. Storytelling is great.

Reply

Show 0 replies
Batool Hussain
15:13 Jul 05, 2020

Mind checking out my new story? Thanks.

Reply

Show 0 replies
Batool Hussain
15:13 Jul 05, 2020

👏👏👏

Reply

Soji Asaye
15:04 Jul 06, 2020

😘😘

Reply

Batool Hussain
15:05 Jul 06, 2020

Mind checking out my new story 'Zita?'

Reply

Soji Asaye
15:07 Jul 06, 2020

I'll check it out

Reply

Show 0 replies
Show 1 reply
Show 1 reply
Show 1 reply
RBE | Illustrated Short Stories | 2024-06

Bring your short stories to life

Fuse character, story, and conflict with tools in Reedsy Studio. 100% free.