His Luna

Twenty years ago

“Fatima! Come here!” I stood up, from my chair the moment I heard my father-in-law calling my name. They must be back from hunting.

I went straight to my in-law’s room, there, they are sitting and looking at something, “Dad, mom, what’s that?” I asked out of curiosity and stepped to them, “What?! Who’s child is that?!”

“A very good friend of ours asked us to take care of their daughter, she will be with us for the meantime, we will take good care of her,” Mom said, her face showing so much adoration towards the child.

“What’s her name?” I asked, as I look at the child, I was mesmerized, there is something to the child’s eyes that makes me want to hug her, “She’s lovely,”

“Her name is Vera, indeed, she is lovely, like her parents,” Dad said.

“But where are her parents? Why did they leave her here alone? I mean, she looks like a newborn baby, they could have at least wait before she can fully comprehend,”

Dad looked at me, “We owe them our lives, Fatima, we weren’t alive today if weren’t for them, they are in great danger, and the couple wanted to make sure that she will be safe,”

“With their work?” I asked again, “Are they lawyers? Police?” I was taken aback when Vera held my finger with her small hand, her hazelnut eyes locked into mine, and my lips instantly curled up, forming a smile, “You’re so lovely,”

“Isn’t she?” I nodded, for the past two years, me and George-their son, was trying to conceive, but for some reason we can’t, we were both healthy and with no signs of infertility, “Do you want to hold her?”

“Uh, I don’t know how. I don’t want to hurt her, Mom,” I mumbled, I heard them chuckle.

“Don’t worry, she will be fine, come and hold her,” I never had a child to hold, I’m a little nervous yet excited, I hesitantly lift her up from mom, careful not to hurt her in any possible way, the moment that I held her, and see her face to face this near, there is a sudden connection, “She’s lovely, isn’t she?”

“Yes, Mom,” I answered dreamily, so this was the feeling of holding a child-majestic and beautiful, “She’s so beautiful,”

“Remember this Fatima, she is special, way more special than you ever imagine, she is a diamond in the pile of bronze, she is the star in the middle of darkness,” I turn up my gaze when I felt her hand, “Vera, is set apart, you should know that,”

Fifteen years ago

“Vera, my dear!” I gasp when I saw her come down wearing the dress I gave her last week, I couldn’t help but smile, she’s so cute! “Where’s granny? Hmm?”

“Good morning, Aunt Fatima! mamita is out in the garden, and Grandpa came out early to hunt,” she halt, and lift her tiny arm into my face, “What happened to your face? Does someone hurt you?”

I put my hand on her little hand, “No sweetheart, I just got into a common accident, uh, slipped on the floor while cleaning,”

Vera’s hazel eyes met mine, and there, I felt the feeling again, her glance wasn’t a simple glance, it was like she is reading not my mind but my soul-penetrating like magic.

“You should take care of yourself, Aunt, don’t let Uncle George hurt you, don’t worry when I grow up, he wouldn’t be able to hurt you anymore, okay?”

My eyes moist, for a kid of her age, it was a promise I kept, sounds pathetic, but I hold unto it-for years.

Twelve years ago

“Where the fuck are you going, huh?! Going out with your man again?! Is that why you won’t want me to fuck you?! Because another dick is pleasuring you, huh? You slut! A whore!” George shouted, followed by a slap on my face.

My cheek was already numb after a couple of slaps from him, I tasted the steel-like liquid, it must be my blood, it wasn’t the first time this happen, I just get used to it. I am tasting my own medicine, I had all the possible chance to leave him but I can’t for a reason-

“Uncle, don’t hurt her!” I heard Vera’s voice, she is full of sweat, and her uniform was already torn, my brows immediately frown, “Why would you hurt her?! She’s pregnant!” she shouted, tears streaming down her reddish face.

“Don’t you dare step one more step, this is a marital discipline, your Aunt is cheating on me, and I am disciplining her, you don’t know anything about this, since your parents-”

“George! What the hell! Stop that!” I abruptly pushed him to stop him from talking, but he didn’t like that, he grabbed a handful of my hair and slapped me again!

“You are not going out of this house, not until I said so! I won’t tolerate your cheating! I can’t! mom and Dad must know about this, I will beat the shit out of them!”

“George, are you freaking kidding me?! Why would I cheat on you?! Are you out of your mind!?!” I run to Vera, who is about to bawl, I feel her body stiffen, she is trying to hold her tears.

“I will never let you be happy, Fatima! You pushed yourself on me! I won’t ever let you be happy, not a second! You will share the hell I am right now, remember that!” he shouted before exiting the room, he even spit in front of the door.

Ten years ago.

“Aunt, where are you going? You’re leaving me in this hell?” Vera’s crying face left me dumbfounded, with bags on my hands, “Aunt, please, mamita and Grandpa left me, and you’re even leaving me? Why would you all do that to me, why are you abandoning me? You’re technically killing me! Uncle George will kill me!”

I dropped my bags and put both of my hands to her face, “Listen, baby.” She shook her head, refusing to listen to me, and I completely understand it, “I have to get out of here, I promise, I will come back as soon as I can, and get you out of here, do you understand?!”

“No, no, please, don’t leave me here, I’m a good girl, wasn’t I? I always follow your words, I always do what you asked me to do, I always do, please Aunt Fatima,”

My tears start to roll down my face, and with full heart, I deeply sigh, “I’m so sorry, Vera, I have to save myself for now, I promise to come back and get you out of here, for the meantime, take care of yourself, promise me,”

“Aunt..” she sounded like she lost her hope when our eyes met, I remember the first time that I held her in my arms, the same eyes that sent me to heaven for being able to raise a child like her, “Promise me, Vera!”

She nodded, and look down, “I promise, please,” she held tight on my hand, “Get me out of here as soon as you can,”

I quickly nodded, “I will hold onto that,”