Free The Birth (The Black Wing Book 1) by Miriam Yvette Page B

seat of my battered truck. Since I started working, I have saved portions of my check for a rainy day. Now that things fell apart with my husband, I have every reason to, but not like this. Living in the big city is anything but cheap. Just seeing a good obstetrician costs a fortune. I also have to eat, and my old truck needs to eat as well. Sometimes I have to skip lunch for fuel.
    On days that I didn’t check into a hotels. I spent my nights inside my truck on the vacant areas of the city. On the first few days I had nothing but back pains, and when Ms. Clarisse noticed my constant back rub, I told her I slept on the wrong side of the bed. The last thing I wanted to do was worry her, she shouldn’t suffer over my decisions. I will not burden her like her children.
    One night, I bought some groceries, and parked my truck on the corner of an abandoned lot. A few pedestrians passed by every now and then, but none of them took notice of me. My plans for tomorrow is to check into a cheap motel, the day after I will spend the night in my truck. So far, this cycle has saved me money, especially when there are deals in certain hotels.
    I nestled my face under my cotton blanket, and tried to pretend I was comfortable. I listened to the passing vehicles and watched my newly caught kitten snooze in the passenger seat. Right when I began to recognize my brave efforts, I snapped out of my rest, a hand slammed on my windshield.
    There he stood, with his breath fogging up the glass. At first glance, I thought it was a stranger, until I heard a familiar command.
    “Open the door.”
    It’s my husband, I reached for the door, but then I stopped. I left my hand stretching for the handle, without my permission, my body listened to him. He never tried approaching me at the parking lot at Gilia. This whole time, he wanted to confront me when I’m alone. But I no longer have no reason to listen to him, I have a choice!
    He noticed my trembling hands, and he laughed.
    “Open the door.” he repeated.
    When I looked around, I found his vehicle parked behind me. It seems that my husband is not alone, three men huddled around my truck—standing frozen like.
    “L-leave.” I stammered.
    “Open the door Lola.” he repeated. “It’s time to stop playing games and come back home—where you belong.”
    “I don’t belong there.” I said, unable to look at him.
    “So is this how you’ve been avoiding me? Sleeping in your truck like all of the other failures of the city? You must feel really brave.” he tormented. “Did you forget? I offered you a home when your own mother kicked you out!”
    “I haven’t forgotten.” I said gazing at Kinoki who woke up from her sleep.
    Her tiny body examined the scary beast—my husband.
    “Just look at you squeezing on to that steering wheel. Clinging and leeching on to it like it can save you. No one would take a bullet for someone like you. I’m the only person in this world who will ever give a damn about you. Now…open the door.”
    My palms feel like they’re baking in an oven, my grip on the steering wheel began to slide. My heart tightening in my chest.
    “If you really care about that brat in your belly, you would do the smart thing and go home.”
    The men crept closer, this is just like last time. Just what makes me think I can leave my husband? How can I endanger on my own child, without a house to live in, without food to provide? I can’t! I’m just a dreaming fool.
    My hands released the steering wheel and fell on my thighs.
    “I’m going to walk to the passenger side, you will unlock the door, and we will drive home. Does your little mind understand that much?”
    “Yes.” I reply.
    I watched him slowly walk around my truck. His partners nodded to him and went inside their vehicle behind me.
    The worse is yet to come, at home, he will drink and shout at me. It will be back just like it was, tears, fights, cheap women, and the smell of booze. I guess I can cope with it, I