BLOWN AWAY

Today's early evening was the time everyone expected to see the supposed partial solar eclipse. It was announced a week before, and today, I and Eric went to sit at our favorite location -- just in front of the Berelin River with our sun shades.

We stayed there until it was time. We watched how the moon blotted out half the sun's golden glare -- a grey, mild hue saturating the entire atmosphere. It was really beautiful and relieving. Quite the perfect moment for two love birds to sit and get loved up.

I had my head on his shoulder, throwing stones and having lovey dovey discussions for some time, while I prepared my mind to let out what I had discovered earlier. The rhythm finally changed when the heavy words left my mouth.

"I'm pregnant."

I felt a worm-like rush within his body when l said that. I took a peek at his face. His eyes bulged out, and his body grew hot.

"What's the matter, Eric?" I asked.

"I -- I just never expected this," he said.

"Sure you didn't," I said. "I purposely kept it, though."

"Why?"

"I just felt, this could strike an assurance that we wouldn't leave each other," I said.

"That was a daft move, Theresa." He forcibly threw a stone into the river and got up. "You know we aren't prepared for this, we both know." He walked towards the river.

"Listen." I got up. "We could work things out. We could make a family, even if we don't have so much. I want to be stuck with you."

"You don't get the point, Theresa." He turned to me. "That baby you carry needs a comfortable life, which we are not yet ready to afford. I'm just a canteen boy that spends his whole day washing dishes, come on."

I felt his last words, but I was still stuck in my optimism. "So, what do you suggest we do about this?"

"I really don't know," he said, going ever nearer to the river bank. "I know you --"

We suddenly heard a deafening clap of thunder. It sounded like a large rock falling on a zinc sheet. Then the moon blotted the sun a bit more, dowsing the surrounding in partial darkness. I began to panic, my legs trembling.

"Hey," Eric called me from the river. "It's just an atmospheric reaction to the eclipse okay?"

I swallowed hard, still scared, but I forced calm upon myself.

"I think we should go home now," I said.

"When we aren't done here?" He said.

"We could finish up the discussion back home," I said.

"Chill, Theresa." He picked up a stone and threw into the river.

At that moment, things became quite serious. We saw a trail of lightning traveling within the darkening clouds, accompanied by a monstrous clap of thunder. It was getting ever darker, and we were loosing sight of each other. What was left was his apparition still stubbornly standing before the river. Rain began to fall.

"Let's go, now," I yelled.

"Okay, okay." He picked one last stone and threw it into the river.

It was as though the stones were what aggravated the rage of the elements. A gust of wind blew against us, almost blowing me naked. The clouds got ever darker and heavier. Then the sounds of the thunder deepened into a growling sound. We saw the clouds drooping down and spiralling, lightning trailing. We couldn't see each other anymore.

"Eric -- Eric," I called.

"Theresa, where are you?" He yelled.

Then we began to hear a heavy whoosh sound coming from afar, but approaching us with an enormous speed.

"Theresa, run. I'm coming after you."

Though I couldn't see him, but I hoped he was running too. I looked at what was coming, a swirling dark monster. I took to my heels, running into the woods that separated our residential area from the river. The tornado kept coming, like it was in search of me particularly.

"Theresa, run, run!" I heard his voice, until it got muffled by the sweeping sounds of the tornado, and I sensed something bad had happened.

I couldn't run too far, cause it was extremely fast. I hid behind one of the trees in the woods, hoping it would just pass by without hurting me. The tornado bent and uprooted trees, as well as other items, swirling them in it's pool of darkness. I shut my eyes with my hands, expecting the worst.

Miraculously, I got home when everything had calmed. I got home without Eric. After that day, I always visited the river, calling his name and hoping he'd answer. I still had you in me while I visited the river, for months, until I finally birthed you, Kylie.

Olivia looked down at Kylie to see if she was sleeping. Kylie laid her head on her mom's laps, in bed.

"Reason why you've refused to see another man?" Kylie said. "You keep waiting for dad. What makes you think he'd come back?"

"I know he will baby. I know he's not dead," Theresa said.

"I hope so too," Kylie said. "But I really need a father though."

Theresa paused for a few seconds. "Its late already. You have to sleep now, so you can meet up with time tomorrow. Mr. Yamato is very Stern with this, you know."

Kylie yawned. "That bookshop is beginning to be a pain in my ass."

Theresa chuckled. "Good night baby." She got up and left.

Kylie yawned. "Good night mom." She turned off the lamp and shut her eyes.

Kylie worked as a salesclerk at the Soft View Bookstore, along Huxely Street, Boston. The bookstore was well known, not because it was a large establishment, but due to the style of book display ordered by Mr. Yamato -- nearly half of the books were displayed outside in a heavy show glass. This could be the most reason why each morning of a working day wore Kylie out. She just hated everything about the book store.

She arrived a bit late at the bookstore. From the glass door, she could see Mr. Yamato handing a bundle of books to someone. She swallowed hard and got in.

"There she is," Mr. Yamato said. "Hope you slept well."

She heard a snigger and saw it was from the boy buying the books. He was quite good-looking, but she gave him a hard stare for his interference and sighed.

"Come package this properly," Mr. Yamato said.

"No, no, don't bother," the boy said, taking his backpack off his shoulders to put in the books. "I don't need more favours. Having these favourites is a bunch."

"And you're welcome," Mr. Yamato smiled at him. "See you some other time."

"Sure." He walked to where Kylie stood. "Sorry for that," he whispered.

Kylie still had her face straight. He smiled and walked out.