Far away

"Darcy come down for dinner", my mom said.

"Okay mom, I'll be down in a minute" ,I said. As I ascended the stair my heart started to race. Geez I fucked up big time, I said inwardly. I have been avoiding the talk for a while now, but I knew it was bound to happen eventually. I got to the dining room where my parents and my brother,Jake was already seated.

During the course of dinner , my dad cleared his throat. "Your mom told me you are pregnant, is that true"? He asked.

"Yes dad" , I replied. "Dad I know I messed......" 

"Darcy will you just shut up. I don't want to see you doing any explanation. All you are going to do is head to the hospital tomorrow with your mom and get that this removed", my dad said as pitch of of his voice increased.

"I felt tears threatening to burst out of my eyes. No noo I can't abort this baby. I just can't do it. I'm sure dad will change his mind", I said convincing myself.

"No dad i can't do that" , I said with shaking breathe.

"You are going to listen to dad and get that thing out of your system. You can't just ruin your life because of some guy", Jake shouted.

"Jake stop it", my mom said. "Honey please think about this again, this is our daughter we are talking about here not some stranger", she said to my dad. She averted her gaze from my dad and turned to me. "Does Charles know"? She asked which a glint of worry in her eyes.

"Yes mom", I replied." He said he will take responsibility" .

"Darcy nobody is taking responsibility for anything". Tell me what about your life , your scholarship, college? My dad asked.

I hadn't really thought about that. All I knew was that I was keeping my baby and I would protect it.

"Dad my life can wait" ." I can go to college after I have my baby". Dad please, I begged.

"You ain't gonna do that". Do you hear me?" You are heading to the hospital tomorrow", he said with an air of finality as he stormed out of the room.

"I don't know what that foolish boyfriend of yours is putting into your head. I can't believe you want to give up what you have for that useless guy", Jake said as he left the room as well.

I buried my head into my hands and cried.

"Honey please don't cry. I will talk to your dad. I'm sure he'll change his mind", my mum said as she pulled me in for a hug.

"Mom I don't know what to do" , I said as I stifled my cry." Dad has already made up his mind and I have made mine up".

"Honey what do you mean"?my mom asked.

"Mom I am going to stay at Charles house till I deliver this baby", I said 

"Darcy ...", My mom said as she took my face in her palm.

"Mom please let me do this. All I need is your support, okay", I said.

"Okay dear, you have my support", she said pulling me in for a hug.

We stood in that position for a while before my mom left and retired to her room. I could hear her stifling her tear just to be strong for me.

I got up from the couch and went to my room grabbed my phone and headed for the door.

I called Charles to tell him that I would be coming over to his place tomorrow.

(After two rings)

"Darcy", his voice almost sounded like a whisper over the phone.

Babe i talked to my parents and my dad wants me to go for an abortion",I said.

"Maybe we should listen to him. I don't know but this is really messed up and am confused", he said.

"Charles no we can't do that. We will take it one step at a time. Please think about our baby", I said feeling bad that even Charles think we should abort the baby.

"Okay, should I come pick you up tomorrow"? He asked 

"Babe "... I heard someone say over the phone.

"Charles who is that" ? I asked out of curiosity.

" it's no one , just my little sister", he replied almost immediately.

"That calls you babe"?, I said raising my brow before I realized that I was on the phone

"Yeah it's just a little joke" , he said with a little tension in his voice.

"I wish I and Jake were like that" ,I said.

"Yeah , he said chuckling on the other side of the phone." Babe I gotta go" . "We'll talk later", he said.

"Okay bye" , I replied and then ended the call.

I walked to the park and sat on the bench. The cold air felt so soothing on my skin.The sky felt serene. Soon my mind started to roam and I started thinking about what my dad said.

Beep*beep*beep* my phone rang.

I look at the caller. It was Shawnte , my best friend. I picked up the call and the placed the phone close to my ear.

"Lou how are you" ?he asked softly.

"Shawn my life is a mess right now", I replied. During dinner my parents talked about, you know"? I said.

"How did they take it"? He asked.

"Very Bad, my dad said I should go for an abortion. He was really mad at me". I replied after awhile.

"I'm so sorry", he said.

Thanks Shawnte, I said.

" Where are you now"? He asked.

"I'm at the park. I just wanted to clear my head" I said exhaling the fresh air.

"Okay I'm coming there right now. You need to cheer up" he said a little too loud.

"Okay" I said.

After a while I saw Shawnte drop from a taxi. Then he ran all the way to where I am seated. 

"What is in the bag" I asked. Hope it's not your dirty clothes", I teased.

" Yes it is. I know you are the best friend I could ever ask for. Now be so nice and do my laundry out here in the park, dumbass",he said while bursting into laughter.

I feigned anger. But soon I joined him in laughing.  "I brought you lunch since I know you haven't eaten after that feud you had with your dad. Am I right"? He said thoughtfully.

" Yes you are" I replied

He brought out a blanket from the bag and laid it on the grass. Then he brought out four nylon bags of lasagna and placed them on the plates. He handed me a plate. 

" Wow just what I was thinking of.... Lasagna. How did you know that I was craving that?", I said in amazement.

"Aren't I your godfather anymore"?

"Yes ,you are", I said as I took a bite out of the lasagna and I savoured to the taste in my mouth.

"Hmmm this is amazing, you have to tell your mom to give me her recipe", I said with my mouth full. 

 " My mom didn't make that", he said winking at me.

" Shawn I can't believe this, your sister, Marcella is this good in the kitchen", I said as I helped myself to the food.

"Dumbass I was the one who cooked it for my niece", he said as he fell on the floor laughing.                                    

" Which niece?", I asked.

" The one in your stomach", he said as he winked at me.

" How are are you so sure that it's a girl?" I asked 

" I can feel it" he said. "Now continue eating I don't want her to be all bones like you", he said whilst laughing. I hit him on the head with my hands.

" Ouch why did you do that?", He said as he burst into laughter again and I joined him.

    *     *    *     *    *     *       

" Darcy come help me serve breakfast", my mom said from the kitchen. 

" Okay I will be down in a sec", I said. I quickly pulled on a black tanktop and a denim skirt. I noticed that my bump is already beginning to show. I quickly rushed downstairs. I got to the kitchen and picked up four plates and cutlery and arranged them on the dining table. Jake walked into the dining room and looked at me and then averted his gaze when our eyes met. My dad followed behind him. 

"Morning dad", I greeted him. He looked at me then turned sharply away and sat down on the chair.

My mom dished the food and we started eating. I ate as much as I could, when I looked up I noticed that my mom was picking on her food.

"Darcy after breakfast you and your mom will head to the hospital for the abortion", dad said breaking the silence. I knew this was coming but I did not expect it anytime soon.

"Dad I already said I am not going for an abortion", I said.

"Darcy are you listening to yourself? You'll have gotta go for that abortion..." He said.

"Or what?", I asked interrupting him.

"Or don't think you have a family here", he said fiercely and left the dining table.

His words lingered in my head for a while and my heart felt heavy as I repeated his words over and over again. I didn't think dad while actually disown me if I didn't go for an abortion. I stoop up and went to my room. I closed the door and lied on the bed burying my head in my pillow. I picked up my phone and called Shawnte.

"Darcy I was just about to head to your house. I just received my admission letter to Cal U", Shawnte said with excitement in his voice. 

"My dad just said that he will disown me if I don't an abortion today", I said as I cried over the phone.

" Darcy please don't cry. I am coming to your house now" Shawnte said.

" Okay". I said tossing the phone on the bed. I got off from the bed and began to pack my bags then I heard a knock on the door.

"Darcy please open up, it's me", the person at the other side of he doesn't said. Immediately I recognized the voice and opened the door. I went back to to my bags and began to zip them up. 

"Darcy don't leave", Shawnte said holding my hands." I know things are not fine now but they will be soon". He said nudging me to sit down.

" Shawnte things can't be normal again. My dad has already made his decision and I have made mine. I am going to stay at Charles house.", I told him.

Shawnte gritted his teeth at the mention of Charles name. Since I started dating Charles, Shawnte never like his. He always said Charles is not trustworthy. But just tolerate him because I loved Charles.

"I know you don't want me to go there but I can't stay here", I said.

" Okay", Shawnte said." Just take care of yourself", he said. He got up to leave but I held his hand and pulled him for a hug.

"Thank you, Shawn", I said." And congratulations on getting your scholarship. I have been too soaked up in my problems that I didn't listen to you".

" Don't worry it's fine. You are dealing with a lot right now", he said. "Should I drop you off at Charles house"? He asked.

"Don't bother. He is already coming to pick me up", I told him.

" Text me when you get there, okay"? He said.

" I will", I said.

 I walked Shawnte to the driveway.

"Bye", he said. He got into his car and drove off. 

I walked back to the house and hesitated before opening the door. I shut the door quietly and walked into the sitting room.

"Darcy go upstairs and get ready to go to the hospital", my dad said almost startling me.

" Dad I already said I already said I am keeping this baby", I said heading for the stairs.

" Darcy don't you dare walk out on me", he said holding my wrist and pulling me back. I tried to pull my wrist out of his hands but his grip was too firm on my hand.

"Dad let go of me, you are hurting me, I said still struggling to free myself. He let go of my hand while pushing me and I fell on the stairs bruising my legs. 

" Get the hell out of my house", dad shouted as he stormed out of the room. My mom came immediately he was living and when she saw me on the stairs, she quickly rushed forward to help me up. But before she could get to me, I struggled to get up and walked upstairs while wincing in pain.

When I got to my room, I locked the door and sank on the floor. I sat there crying for sometimes then I got up and went to the bathroom to wash my face. I had already made up my mind to leave this house. I wore a jacket and took my bags downstairs and got out of the house. I boarded a taxi to Charles house. Inside the taxi , I kept thinking. At that instance, my mind became a turmoil. 

"Ma'am , we are here", the taxi driver said.

" Okay", I said as I fished out five dollars from my purse and handed it to him. I got out of the taxi dragging my luggage behind me. I looked at the building. I walked to the doorstep and rang the doorbell. Nobody answered the door. I rang it again but no one came. As I was about to fetch my phone from my purse I noticed that the door was slightly opened.

I pushed the door opened and walked into the house. I could hear some noise from the room so I walked towards where the noise was coming from. When I got to the room, I could not believe what my eyes saw. A brunette girl sat on my boyfriend lap and they were kissing. Tears rolled down my cheeks . I was about to leave the room when one of my bags fell from my hand a loud thud. I hurriedly pick up my babgs and walked towards the sitting room. Charles ran behind me and held my hands.

"Darcy please don't leave, I can explain", he said.

" Explain what"?, I asked turning sharply. I should have know Charles was cheating on me. That day when someone called him babe on the other side of the phone.

" Is it because of her you wanted me to abort the baby"?, I said angrily.

" Darcy no no no, please listen to me", he begged as I left the house. I kept walking and my tears kept raining. I didn't care about anything at that time. All I knew was that I was going somewhere far away, I told myself as I crossed the road. My mind was too clouded that I did not see a car coming and I was hit. I whimpered in pain and I suddenly started to slip into darkness.