Chapter 7

Daniel kept wondering what had pushed him to offer to take Macy home. He was supposed to be very mad at her. The truth was,he had been furious. He had been so mad he would have forgotten his fist in her jaw if she'd been a man like him and not a frightened little woman.

But sitting down there at the hospital, staring down at her. He'd been overwhelmed with pity for her. She had been trying so hard to maintain a tough exterior,forgetting that her helplessness blasted like a siren.

He studied her from the front mirror of his car. Her eyes had become puffy and she was sniffing quietly.

He wondered why,during the long hours at the hospital, no member of her family had shown up.

'What are you going to do about your stuff back at Betty's?'

'Huh?'. She looked confused. She obviously hadn't heard him.

'Your stuff at Betty's. Bag, phone, clothes. I could go get them for you'. He offered.

'Oh,that. Don't worry. I don't have any stuff back there. I go to work just like this'. She answered.

'No bags,no change of clothes,no phone?' He was surprised.

'None'. She answered, shifting uncomfortably.

'So,what do you do when emergencies like this arise?'

'I've never had any emergency. I'll try to carry a phone in the future though'.

'That's fair enough'. He muttered.

He knew his questions were embarrassing her but he kind of wanted to keep her talking. Her silence was becoming unnerving.

'My house is the second to your right after you enter that street'. She said,motioning to her left.

'I thought we'd never arrive. You live,like at the end of the world'. He chuckled.

They've been driving for more than twenty eight minutes.

He drove in and parked in the only available parking space in the small compound.

Killing the engine of his car,he stepped out and tried not to frown at state of the environment.

The compound was only big enough to contain a car. The house was an old one that may have been built in the sixties. He didn't realize there were houses as old as these that has not yet been renovated, in LA. 

The place looked very quiet and there was nobody in sight.

He came around to the passenger's seat to help Macy out. She had already unlocked the door and was struggling to stand on her feet. She halted her movement immediately she saw him.

'You didn't have to try. I'll carry you,as usual'. He told her,trying not to laugh at the way her face flushed at his statement.

They got to her door entrance and she slowly pushed it open,revealing a small space.

'Anyone home?' He announced and she giggled.

'Is that what you say when you visit people?' She asked.

'It's a reflex action for me. I always feel the need to announce my presence when I visit people'.

'There's no one home anyways'.

'It's already evening. People should be home by now or you stay alone?'

'Yes,I do'.

'And you still leave your door open?'

'I usually lock from the inside when I'm home. The outside lock got spoilt. I haven't had time to see what is actually wrong with it'.

'You work twenty four hours a day?. Which way leads to your bedroom?'

'No. I work only twelve hours. The door you're looking at'.

'Only twelve hours hmmm?'

He quietly unlocked the door and stepped inside.

The place looked nothing like a bedroom. For one,there was no bed.

The only conspicuous things were a handbag,a mattress that was spread on the ground,a diary with a pen lying atop it just beside the mattress,a paper bag lying at the corner and three dresses hanging on a rope loosely tied to the window.

How is it possible that a human lived here. A vulnerable woman, alone. How did she survive here? How did her unborn child survive here?

How was she supposed to stay here like this,with a sprained ankle and no one to care for her?

'Don't tell me this is where you stay?'. He was afraid to even consider that.

'Can you put me down please?' She ignored his statement.

'You're pregnant, if my memory is still intact'. He said,gently placing her on a sitting position on the mattress.

'Yes,I am. I've been aware for eight weeks and half'. She replied, placing the nylon she was holding on top of the diary.

'Thank you for everything sir. And about your document, I'm really really sorry'.

She was dismissing him, Daniel noted painfully and that pulled a string on his ego.

'No wonder you look very sick. I mean,who stays in a house like this. More so, a pregnant woman?'

'I'll let that pass. Thanks for your concern'. She said, something flashing in her eyes.

'You think I would be able to sleep a wink tonight if I let you stay here like this,alone?'.

'I've been here for close to five weeks and I'm still alive'.

'You're alive. Just alive. If you had heard what the doctor said,you wouldn't want to stay here anymore'.

'I'm just stressed. I'll be fine. You don't have to worry about me. You have your damaged document to take care of'.

Daniel knew she'd said that to anger him and she'd achieved just that.

'Very well,then . I'll leave you in your hole'.

He began to match out of the room. He didn't even understand why he was being concerned about her. He was wasting his time trying to state the completely obvious to her.

'Could you please pass me that paper bag on your way out?' Her voice stopped him on his tracks. He picked up the bag and examined it's content. It was a leftover bag of chips.

He turned around,trying not to go mad with rage.

How can she be so stubborn and stupid?. She was incapacitated but didn't want to admit it. What would happen if she needed help while he was gone? Who would rescue her if something went wrong in the middle of the night? What if she gets sick and faints again?

He closed his eyes to block out the image of her sprawled on the ground,bruised and lifeless. He would not let her stay here. His conscience couldn't afford that.

'You know what? You're going home with me'.