Encounter

Aleia was holding her tears back when she saw Matthew. Mixed emotions invaded her and the heartbreaking scenario she witnessed at her dad’s house kept on playing in her mind, like a movie trailer.

She could not even dare look at him. Her heart ached the moment he tried to hold her hand but she pulled away. Her heart says otherwise and wanted to hold her tight but then she could not set aside everything that happened.

She loved him so much but the thought of him with another woman is killing her inside. The tension was getting heavier and her heart started to pound louder when the doctor told her that she needs to know something.

‘Like what? Are all these sufferings not enough?’ she thought.

She was fine for sure but why did she feel pain in her feminine and abdomen parts? She just thought it was an impact of the accident.

Her instinct was telling her something more. She could not wait any longer.” Doc, what is it?” she asked. Her dad and Matthew could not look at her except the doctor.

“Were you aware before the accident that you were -” The doctor paused and took a deep breath.” Hugh! This is a tough one. Ma’am, before the accident, did you know that you were pregnant?” The doctor continued.

Aleia felt a cold air that passed by her. It seems that she was being transported to the day before she caught Nathalie and Matthew on that scene. She remembered she was feeling dizzy, tired, and nauseous. She just thought it was normal that she forgot to consult a doctor.

Realization hit her, her monthly period skipped last month. Unaware that the baby is gone, she touched her belly. A different kind of joy surrounds her. The joy of becoming a mother.

“I’m pregnant,” she said and chuckled.”I have a baby. Dad, I’m going to become a mom.” She even cried, laughed, and smiled. She thought that it was the best moment in her life. She would never be alone from now because of her baby. She does not need to beg for love and attention.

Meanwhile, her father burst out crying. And even Matthew but unlike her, it was because for different reasons. All of a sudden, she recalled that she went through an accident.

“Doc, is my baby okay?” she asked.

The doctor gasped for some air to breathe.” We are very sorry you lost the baby because of the accident.”

Aleia started to be uneasy.” What? No! Dad!” She cried for help.”That’s not true.” She started sobbing. They even panicked because they could not calm her down.” Dad, tell me that this is just a dream.”

“Reign, my baby, I wish it is,” her dad said.

Aleia screamed and punched the bed. Matthew came to the rescue to calm her but she kept on pushing her away.

They just let her cry and weep. It is her right as a mother. Until she calmed down on her own to the point that she was just staring at the ceiling blankly. No more voice, just tears kept on flowing. She lost her precious child before she gets to know his existence.

Matthew came closer to hold her hand but she avoided it. “I’m so sorry, Ale. Please forgive me.”

Aleia turned to the other side. “I don’t want to talk or to see you. I had enough. I want to rest,” she whispered.

She did not know if Matthew left or stayed after that. All she knew was that she closed her doors to anyone. She refused to see any of them – even her close friends. She did not want them to see her vulnerability as a woman. All she wanted was to grieve for her child.

She went home directly to her dad’s house when she was released from the hospital. Natalie and her stepmother were being kicked out of, there after all the trouble that they caused. Though, her father gave them enough money to start a new life after wrecking her own. Her sister, Morraine was left under her dad’s custody as she is his legal daughter.

Matthew kept on coming back to see her. But she always refused to see anyone. The grieving period was not yet over for her. Matthew’s routine kept on going for days.

He would parke his car outside and wait for Aleia to come out. He would stay for a while. Then, he would drive home at around ten in the evening. Just when she would turn off the lights in her room. Without him knowing, she’d turn it on after he left.

It lasted for almost a month. But that day, she had finally woken up from a dream and sorted things out. She decided to talk to him. Maybe, they need it to have peace of mind.

It was a starry and fine yet cold night. She put on her coat. She hugged herself after closing the main door of the house. She walked slowly and her shoulder-length hair was being blown by the wind.

Her heart skipped a bit when she saw her husband, yes, it is still her husband, got out of the car. He met her halfway. That was the first time that she saw him after a month of grieving in her room.

She could not even deny how much she missed him. She just loved him so dearly and that love made her decide to leave. Love was not enough to cover and ease the pain that was eating her alive. She wanted to heal herself so that she could give him a chance. There’s no way she would give up on him.

Aleia almost cried when saw him closely. He looked so miserable and gone was the man who looked like a Greek god. He looked thinner, his beards unshaven, and his hair uncut. She even wonders if he still eats on time.

“How are you now? I wish you are fine.” His voice cracked. He gripped his hand and smiled sadly.

Aleia did not answer but gestured for him to follow her inside. It’s not proper to talk outside since the weather is cold and it’s also late. She brought her to the dining room and asked the maid to prepare a meal.

“I know you haven’t eaten yet. Please eat something before we talk,” she said.

Matthew looked at the food in front of him. It has been a while since the last time he eats a decent and home-cooked meal. After dinner, they went to the living room. They were silent at first but it was Matthew who initiated the conversation.

“I don’t know where to start, Ale. I’m sorry for everything. Please come home with me,” he said while looking at her. Aleia was watching the stars.

“Hush! Our baby is watching us from heaven.” She pointed out the stars and looked at him. “They said that when we die we become stars to watch our loved ones who were left behind.” She was smiling and crying at the same time.

“It was all my fault that we lost him, sweetie.” He cried in his palm. Aleia patted his back and comforted him.

“Don’t blame yourself. I never blamed you cause I know that our baby wouldn’t like it. I want him to be happy wherever he is now. That’s the least we can do for him as parents. But I hope you understand that it’s not easy to pretend as if nothing happened-” She paused and wife his tears.” A part of me was gone. This is not me anymore. I feel so lost and I want to find myself.”

“What do you mean?” Matthew asked.

She held his hand. “I’m leaving….. for a while.”

Matthew blinked a couple of times. He knelt and started crying like a baby who is about to lose her mom.” No. Don’t leave me please.” He even hugged her thighs.

“I won’t leave you. I just need to find and heal myself.” She helped him stand. Matthew found the chance to hug her. They cried in each other’s arms.

“I love you so much, Ale. It is hard to let you go but always remember that I will wait for you. Huh.” He placed his forehead on hers.

“Maybe, we started it the wrong way and maybe we can correct it from the very beginning,” she said.

Matthew nodded.” And I promised to be a better man that time,” he answered as his lips drew closer to her. He claimed her lips when he saw no signs of resistance.

They shared a very passionate kiss like there was no tomorrow. But after that, they parted ways.