Step Up

Miranda woke up and looked at the man lying beside her, he was clean shaven and had beautiful facial features, she smiled and touched his face wondering how one could be so beautiful yet critically hot tempered. Ben stirred and put his hand around her waist, she touched his hands and looked at the tell-tale mark of a wedding band on the ring finger. She wondered if she would ever get to put a ring on his finger

She stood up and stretched lazily, and went to prepare a cup of coffee, soon after she woke him up and gave him a cup.

"Can't you just let me sleep?"

He replied gruffly and turned the other way ignoring both her and the romantic gesture. She placed the coffee by the table and wore her clothes. She called a Lyft driver and made the necessary arrangements. She had been feeling sore and headachy for a while and had booked an appointment with the doctor.

She went back to bed and kissed him softly and then walked out the door. She looked at her neighbour’s door and shook her head smiling. The sounds she had heard coming from the room the night before was all too familiar to her. She knew Siri was deliberately avoiding her but she did not have the time yet for them to have a proper conversation as Ben had resumed giving her modelling jobs so she was hardly at home.

She took the stairs one at a time met her Lyft already waiting for her downstairs, the driver was a woman. She got in front and sat with the lady who greeted her and immediately started talking.

Miranda looked out the window at the tall buildings and small shops built side by side, it reminded her of one of her best childhood games: Tetris. Some of the shops were opened while some were not. It was a Sunday morning so it was not unusual.

"So, going to work?"

The woman spoke louder trying to get her customers attention.

"No."

"Okay..."

"What do you do?"

Miranda was not in the mood to talk so she shrugged her shoulder and shook her head with an awkward smile hoping the driver would get the drift. She didn't.

"So you don't work. Must be tough. I'm sure you still live with your parents. I left home when I was..."

The woman droned on and Miranda continued to look outside the window. She wished she lived with her parent. Just her father, who was gone and never coming back. She did not even want to imagine life with her mother and the new husband.

"Alrighty! We're here!"

Miranda plastered a fake smile on her face as she got out of the car.

"Don't forget to leave me a 5-star review!"

She shouted as Miranda walked into the hospital

The hospital was situated in the suburbs, the road to the hospital has been smooth and the area was more residential than commercial. The hospital was small. it looked more like a clinic than a hospital. It was a bungalow with a spacious yard and well-kept garden. There were nurses outside and few cars parked out from. It was Ben who recommended the hospital.

she was right on time to see the doctor. She walked in and gave her name and was directed to see the doctor.

The doctor looked up from the charts on his computer and smiled at her. She smiled back and sat in the chair.

"Hi Ms Miranda"

"Hi!"

"How are you today?"

The doctor noticed another new cut on her temple and forehead and some purple marks around her throat and wrist. She had claimed that she was a wrestler and he had laughed inwardly at the brazen, half-baked lie. He had also been trying to get her to talk to him and or to see a therapist but all to no avail.

"I still have the headache and now my stomach hurts, I hope I don't have a deadly disease or something."

"Being negative is never helpful"

The doctor spoke smiling genuinely at the young woman before him.

"I told you to visit with a friend, colleague, family when you next you came"

"That comment is what's making me paranoid. I immediately thought you have bad news. Frankly speaking, I still think you have bad news to tell."

"Ms Miranda, any kind of news is better shared with family. And just so you know, its actually good news."

"I'll be the judge of that."

The doctor paused theatrically, as if gathering momentum for the news he was about to share. before blurting out

"You're pregnant. Two months pregnant. Congratulations

The doctor smiled broadly and shook her hands, Miranda's face fell, she looked at the floor and at the doctor bewildered at the news, the doctor noticed the look on her face and inquired

Is anything the matter?

"How do I get rid of it?"

She replied dryly, it was the doctor's turn to be bewildered, he looked at her as she waited for a reply.

"Ms Miranda-"

"It’s just Miranda"

She replied curtly looking away, annoyed at herself and the situation.

"I'm sorry Doc."

"No, it's fine. What's the problem?"

"I have been taking the pill regularly and we almost always used protection. I even did a pregnancy test last month with the test kit."

"Those contraceptives are not one hundred fail proof, sometimes the one percent chance comes into play.'

The doctor smiled in an assuring manner. Miranda glared at him.

"Can I come back on another day? Right now, I need to clear my head and figure out what is best.

Sure. Speak to the nurse on your way out and we'll set another day."

"Thank you."

Miranda stood up and walked out the door

"You're welcome, do have a wonderful day."

The doctor called after her. Miranda walked back out and took the bus scared and angry about the news. The ride back home seemed short as different thoughts roamed through her head. Paradoxically, her head was blank. There was nothing and so much going through her mind.

Should she get rid of the baby without telling Ben. How would he take it if he found out? They never spoke about much, so he did not exactly say he did not want kids. But the strict manner with which he adhered to the use of protection spoke volumes. All the thoughts banished as quickly as they came and she alighted from the bus and walked back to her house.

She climbed up the stairs and opened the door to her apartment. Thankfully, Ben had left. The coffee remained on the table as she had left it. But a used cup was in the kitchen sink.

She felt a rush of nausea and retched. She had not eaten anything since morning so there was nothing to throw up. She climbed on the bed and fell into a deep sleep.

Zack awoke with a start staring up at the ceiling, he tried to stand up but fell back when the sound of drums began to play inside his head.

He winced in pain and lay back down, he tried to recollect the night before. He remembered leaving the golf club and going home to change before heading to Eagle news where he was able to get Siri's home address. He had paid a very hefty sum for it.

He looked at the ceiling closely, it seemed very unfamiliar. He tried again to sit up and opened his eyes to survey his area. This was not his house. How did he get there he wondered and whose house was it?

He heard footsteps outside the door. The owner of the room was still around. He closed his eyes and willed his memory of the night before to reappear, but his head was blank. He stood up and decided to apologize to whoever it was.

His guess would have been one of his friends but none of them lived in this kind of modest space. He looked at the shower and toilet and shook his head, he had slept beside the tub, thankfully the floor was clean. He felt a wave of nausea and ran to the toilet to empty the remaining contents of his belly retching sporadically and feeling sick. He had never drunk as much as that. He deeply regretted the drunken state he had unwittingly placed himself in.

He stood up from the toilet bowl and went to the shower. He was very tempted to have a bath, but he simply washed his face with the detachable shower head. There was no wash sink in view. He looked at the mirror and tried to brush his scattered hair with his hands, he looked at his shirt there was vomit at the neck and chest area, he gagged and took up the shower head again. Where was his jacket he wondered? He cleaned up and tried to look as decent as possible unenthusiastic to meet whoever was at the other end of the door.

He cautiously opened the door and stepped out looking around the room. He tiptoed out and did not see anybody. He gratefully ran to the door and turned the handle, a voice from behind startled him.

'And, where do you think you're going?"

He looked back and was met with an intense gaze. How did he get to Siri's house? He suddenly remembered pushing her to the wall and running after her into the room. He backed into the door and rested on it. Some patched up memories came rushing at once. His knees began to weaken.

"Did- did I hurt you yesterday"

He asked stupidly, looking at her deeply dreading the answer, the last thing he wanted to do was hurt her. He remembered nothing else after being kicked on the shin and running after her. He bent his head and gagged. The feeling of nausea was triggered by fear and confusion.

"So, you're going to act like you don't remember? Is that what you plan to tell the police?"

Zack looked up into her face which looked dead serious.

He gagged again and felt his head swirl he staggered from the door and walked to her to hold her hands, she backed away and he stopped in his stride a pace away from her.

"Stay away from me!"

She looked beautiful in the pyjama’s shirt and shorts. He remembered pulling the shorts down.

"Oh God"

He moaned aloud before sinking to his knees, he could not believe what he had done. He remembered her struggling against him as he held hands securely.

"I am sorry. I am so sorry"

He said as he sank on his knees and ran his hands through his hair.

Siri looked at him and looked away another wave of tears building up in her eyes. She did not want to remember the night. She had not slept a wink since for fear of another attack so she held the foldable chair as she sat on the sofa looking at the bathroom unsure of whether he was still alive.

'I'm really, really sorry, I came here to ask you out on a date, I needed a bit of courage so I had a few drinks. I am not like that I promise you."

Siri looked at him as he spoke from the floor and felt like kicking him on the head.

"Get out."

Zack sat up slowly and kneeled in front of her, he looked awkward kneeling, it was his first time.

"I am very sorry. I would not mind being reported because I wronged you. But please accept my apology. I am truly sorry."

"Get. Out. Zack."

"Please just-"

"Get out!"

And with that Siri walked into the room brought out his jacket and wallet and dropped it on the floor at his feet walking into the room and slamming the door hard.

Zack stayed like that for a few minutes before he decided to stand up and go home. His phone rang. It was his dad. He ended the call and saw dozens of calls he had missed. He switched off the phone and placed it back into his pocket.

He went to the door she had slammed moments before and almost knocked but decided against it backing away and walking out of the house shutting the door firmly behind.