Unbroken by Anai Gomez (the little red hen read aloud TXT) 📕

I waited a few hours till he got back from the bar. I didn’t even hide in fear that he’ll go look for me in my room. It wasn’t the first day he laid a hand on me but I ended up pretty bad. Even when I lost conscience he still kept on hitting me. When I woke up, I found out he had gotten to my mother and she lost the baby. Son of a bitch wasn’t even sorry. Said it wasn’t his anyways.

So here you have me in a drug store buying six pregnancy test. When I got to the cashier she just looked at me with judgment look. I leaned on the counter waiting for her words. The old lady that saw me mugged me and called me a slut under her breath. She probably thought I couldn’t hear her but I have sensitive ears.

“Aren’t you a little young to be pregnant?” Ladies and gentlemen there it is. People are so easy to come to conclusions.

“Yes… yes I am,” I said to her in a sarcastic tone.

“What would your mother say if she saw you buying this?” She held up one of the boxes like if I was too stupid to know what I was being.

“My mother would probably thank me for buying these for her. You see she’s in denial because we both know she is but somehow she just keeps lying to herself. So here I am buying a pregnancy test because my mother is hiding behind uncertainty, and begging for all of these to be negative.” You didn’t have to tell her. I know but I wanted her to feel like an idiot for even thinking I was pregnant. Plus, i don't like that smirk on her face.

She didn’t speak until she finished scanning all the boxes.” Okay your total is $49.59.” I handed her a fifty and took the bag. I placed my hand out, telling her I was waiting for my receipt and change. “Hey, are you and your mom the ones who moved to the top floor?” She said giving me my receipt and change, which I put in the bag.  Do we know her? I don’t, do you? Nope. I gave her questionable look the she probably got. “I live next to Anthony.”  Anthony is the only friend that I’ve had so far.

“Yeah. My name is April by the way.” I extended my hand to her and she took it.

“I’m Rose. I guess I’ll be seeing you around.”

“Sure,” I said walking a few feet then stopped and pivot my foot to face her. “By the way I haven’t even bloomed yet.” Her whole face turned cherry red and with that and I left. Yes you have. Yeah, but she doesn't know.

When I got to the apartment my mother was sitting at the kitchen eating the pasta and bread I left in the microwave for her. Her back was towards me so she still couldn’t see the bag filled with pregnancy test.

“Where have you been?” She asked without turning around. I spilled all the test in front of her and went to the fridge for two waters. She gasp and said, “You’re pregnant?” I couldn’t help but laugh because her actions were so fake.

“Nice try, here,” I said placing a box and a water right in front of her.

“Fine but I’m only taking one.”

We waited for a few minutes to find out it was positive. She completely flipped out and ended up taking them all praying that at least one would come out negative. None did so I scheduled an appointment for her next week.

………………

In the hospital my mother had blood drawn and her first ultrasound.  You could hardly make out Tommy’s bodies outline. His arms were very little and when I heard his heartbeat, my whole world stop. I was going to protect them both no matter what.

That same day we got a call that they barely found any weight blood cells in her system. Several test were taken till we found a tumor in her left lung.  The normal thing would be to go straight into surgery but giving her condition that would only put her and Tommy at risk. The plan was to wait until my mother gave birth and then do the surgery. Unfortunately when that happened the tumor had grown too big that all the doctors were afraid to perform the surgery. She died January seventeenth, three months, one week and two days from Tommy’s birthday.

Anthony was the one to find her. She died in her sleep. Dr. Switcher, her doctor who attended her at our house, said that she couldn't breathe and she probably struggled to get air. It would feel like drowning under water and having something press on her chest. I knew this was gonna happen but when I saw her there, cold, with no soul I couldn't breathe myself. I felt someone inside of me squeeze my heart and the sensation wouldn't leave but I didn't allow myself to crumple. I had to be strong since Anthony was a nervous wreck and Tommy couldn’t walk.

My mother’s funeral wasn't filled with loved ones or flowers. It was done in secret. You can say Mia really thought about everything. She paid up ahead to have her body incinerated without having any records of it. We got one of these wooden boxes where you place your loved ones ashes. Her box was light brown with words that said, ‘Not even death can kill since I live inside of you.’

At home we took out the shoe box that she instructed us to open when she past. There was a two letters, one addressed to me, the other to Anthony, and a key. I handed Anthony’s his letter and slowly ripped the edges. My pals were sweating and trembling a little. They were a few of pages written in her small, cursive handwriting.

‘My little warrior, if you’re reading this then you must be strong. You’re Tommy’s new mom and you’ll keep this family going. Remember that you are will always have me in your heart and will protect my most prized possession, you and Tommy. I’ve already placed everything in your name. The key is for the cabin in the woods I once took you too. I bought most of the land surrounding that and had an architect build a home fit for my angels. I hope you’ll love it.

You must leave soon before anyone figures you and Tommy are alone and puts you in the system, or worse, takes you back to your father. You must avoid at all cost to be separated. I know this is a lot to take in but I know you can do it.

I also leave you my necklace. It’s a family jewel and worth a lot. Also my wedding ring, it was your grandmothers and I think we both wanted you to have it.

I already have everything planned out.

Someone will come later today to pick all you up. He'll take you to the airport. Don't worry, everything is already payed for. Anthony will attend my old high school and you will continue to take independent studies till Tommy can go to school. Be careful who you let in your life and don’t let anyone know you’re alone. At least until you turn eighteen and can officially be Tommy’s guardian. There’s enough money for several years but don’t just live off of that. Invest in companies and stocks.

Good luck, follow your dreams and never forget that I love you.'

(Anthony's POV)

I woke up to the smell of pancakes and bacon. I knew April was already up cooking. I went to Mia’s room to go weak her up. If I don’t go then she won’t get up till one. I get up and head to her room at the far end of the corner.

I go into her room to find her on the floor with all the pills thrown everywhere. I frozen in place for seconds but it feels much longer. When my brain finally snaps out of it I run to her side. At first I shake her and call her name. Then I lift her up from the floor onto the bed where I’m still holding her. I rocked her back and forth, begging for her to wake up.  I felt tears come down my cheeks and my breath was uneven.

Mia can’t be gone. She’s the closest thing to a mother and a family that I’ve ever had.

………………

I use to leave with my father. He’s been a drunk since I can remember. Whenever he was mad he would take it out on me. When April figured it out she told me I can live with her and her mom. It was the first day they moved into the apartment building. It was also the first time I’ve ever seen her. I asked her how she knew and she said that she heard my screams and pleas for him to stop. That time he broke several bones. I didn’t even open the door, she picked the lock. I asked her why she cared then she told me her whole story.

How her father would beat her ever since she was five. That he caused her mom a miscarriage. The day he was so drunk he almost took her innocence if her mother hadn’t thrown a vase to his head. How he would starve her for days on end. That they couldn’t take a step outside without him knowing it. I always thought I had it tough till I meet her.

The first few days Mia was quiet. Her daughter seemed like the one who was calling the shouts until she found out she was pregnant. When she found out she was dying she tried so hard to be strong in front of us. We moved to a nice suburbs home with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. We’ve been here ever since.

……………….

The squeak at the door brought me back. April came walking in the room slowly. I was still holding on to Mia and rocking her. April took her mom’s hand to check for a post. I waited for a while and when she finally looked at my eyes, she nodded no. April walked to the desk and grabbed her mom’s phone. She dialed someone but I couldn’t hear anything above my sobs.

When April appeared back in my vision again she was slowly taking my hands off her mom. That was my quew to whip my tears and get of the bed. April gently got the blanket on her mom. Then motioned me out the door with her. She went down stairs and just sat on the couch. This whole time she kept this cold serious face. I sat right across from her. She was looking right at me but at the same time it’s like she couldn’t even see me.

We sat there for half an hour until the doorbell rang. April answered the door than moved to let the doctor pass. They both probably went up to Mia’s room. I honestly didn’t want to be there. I went to go check on Tommy. He was still in his crib