At Midnight
I awoke to the sound of subdued voices, my parents I thought. I wanted to know what was going on so I shakily got up, and walked to the doorway and instead of seeing my parents talking I saw Mother flirting to a man. When I moved to see if I knew him, I stopped dead in my tracks.
The man my Mother made love to.
My heart raced, I tried to turn around, but my eyes couldn't get off them. I jumped; the clock bell rang, midnight.
All of the sudden the man started to kiss Mother on the neck, and then I just couldn't take it.
"No! She's pregnant!" I screamed.
My mother's frantic fiery eyes looked at me, with as much hatred as there should have been love for me in them.
The man laughed, and I realized he was drunk.
"Charlotte, you are supposed to be lying down." Mother said.
"Mother, you know how dangerous that is—"
"Shush! I don't want Chris, I mean Mr. Daniels hearing you." She smiled back at 'Mr. Daniels.'
"I will not 'shush!' What you were going to do is very dangerous for the baby!" I said deliberately raising my voice.
"What was I going to do? Nothing! Now go to bed!" Mother bellowed back, and added "Remember, Charlotte, you have to keep this between you and me!"
I walked down the hall, pretending I didn't hear. Not wanting to hear. Not caring.
"You can kill the baby if you want! See if I care, Momma!" I yelled.
But the only reply was another laugh, a shriek, and the distinct sound of a door being slammed.
"I hope you do, I hope you go mad! I hope you die too! Hear that Momma? Hear me!"
I slammed my own door afraid to think of what hateful crimes Mother was committing.
Afraid to think of what hateful crimes I was committing by keeping hers a secret.
To be continued … by your
Diva (literally!) Melody D. O'C (thinking of changing my name again!)