Heart's Betrayal (14 page)

“Jenesis, are you sleeping?” I heard Michael’s voice. He walked into the room. His face was pale, and he looked sick, but nothing said more than his eyes. He seemed ill and his blue-green eyes were surrounded by tiny red blood vessels.

“Michael, are you okay? I was trying to nap, but I really didn’t get to go through much of her stuff. I hope Dave understands.” I got up from the bed and walked over to him. He took a step back then placed his hand on his forehead shaking his head, then he slid both hands through his hair.

“Dave is so distraught. I’ve never seen him so down. I thought maybe we could stay with him tonight?”

“You stay. I can’t. Margaret’s things are all around here, and it hurts me too much.” I extended my hands out to him so he could give me a hug me. He held reached for me and grabbed me by the waist. He stared at me for a moment, his eyes solemn. Then, he lowered his head and looked at my stomach.

“How’s my baby doing?” He held me tightly around my waist, placing his lips on my neck, inhaling my scent, as he pressed his cheek against mine. “Jenesis, I love you. I’m sorry about what I said earlier. I know I’m always apologizing and you’re sick of hearing my bullshit, but, I love you so much that just the thought of you being with anyone else before makes me jealous…even if…I didn’t know you. I wish we didn’t have a past; I wish we were born at the very same time, at the same moment; the day when we first laid eyes on each other. Where I haven’t touch anyone else and neither have you. It drives me insane to know you were in someone else’s arms, on someone else’s lips. You and the baby…are my life now. You’re all I have. Do you understand me?
You. Are. All. I. have
.” He placed his forehead against mine as tears brimmed in his eyes. He closed them tightly as the tears squeezed through his eyelids skimming down his cheeks.

“Michael, what’s wrong?” I kissed his forehead gently.

“This is too much for me. I never thought I could feel this upset…but Margaret…she was like a mother to you. I felt so sorry for her, seeing her there…cold, pale…dead. I…I’m so sorry, Jen.” He leaned against the wall placing his head back and sliding his hands into his front pockets. The sight of his beautiful eyes shedding tears for the woman I called my mother made my heart bleed. I would have never thought Margaret’s death would affect Michael like that. He was taking her death so personal; it almost seemed as if something else was bothering him.

“I’ll call you a cab. Are you sure you want to go home?”

“Yeah, I’m tired, but if you want me to stay…I will.” I placed my hands around his waist and he shook his head. Dave walked out of the bathroom into his bedroom.

“Dave, how are you?”

“Are you leaving, Jen? Were you able to pack any of Margaret’s things?”

“I took a nap like you said to.” I felt nervous and didn’t know what to say after finding the bag with the blood stained clothing.

“I was hoping you would help me out.” He frowned and he seemed a little annoyed.

“I promise I’ll come tomorrow morning, I just need to rest.” I gave him a quick kiss goodbye on his cheek. He cheek was ice-cold and on the way out I felt uneasy. Dave stood there at the door entrance staring at me without batting an eyelash. He was devastated, yet emotionless at the same time. I couldn’t read him at all, and that made me feel even worse.

CHAPTER 7

    Michael called me a cab, but seemed hesitant to let me go. He held me tightly around my shoulders for a moment, and then walked me downstairs to wait for the cab.

“Jen, I know you loved Margaret to death. We’ll get through this, I promise. I love you, call me when you get home.” He opened the door to the cab and I stepped in. He held my hand tightly and kissed me on the lips.

“I will, Michael, I love you, see you later?” He nodded. I sat in the back seat of the cab and looked up at him. I was worried, but I didn’t know why.

    I watched as Michael walked back into the building to Dave’s apartment. I couldn’t help but think about Margaret, how sorry I felt for her, what she was thinking about when she was about to crash her car. I also couldn’t help thinking about the blouse and jeans that were stained with blood.
I was jumping to conclusions…this wasn’t over yet.

     The cab driver drove quickly and I was at the loft in no time. As I walked up the stairs, I noticed the light in the hallway was out. I stepped on what seemed like broken glass on the floor. I stopped and lifted my foot to remove the chard of glass stuck in the rubber sole of my shoe. I took my keys out, opened the door to the loft quickly, and locked the door behind me. I was worried about the glass being broken in the hallway, so I called Michael on his cell phone.

“Michael, the light in the hallway is out. I think someone broke it, can you call Victor to replace it?” I was jumpy and rambling on like a crazy person.

“Hey, slow down, are you okay? You sound worried? It’s just a light bulb Jenesis.” He chuckled over the phone.

“No, I’m fine. I know. I’m going to take a shower and go to sleep.” I giggled nervously.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked.

“I’m fine.”

“I’ll call him, good night. Call me if anything.”

“Night.”

     Michael and I hung up. I turned on the hot water in the shower letting the bathroom steam up like a sauna. As I undressed, I took a moment to admire my tiny growing baby bump, rubbing it gently with a smile on my face.
I can’t wait to have this baby, I thought to myself.
The water trickled down my body slowly, and the warm mist slid across my face. I rubbed the back of my neck trying to remove the built up tension. I sat on the edge of the tub as the water hit my feet. I suddenly gasped for air as I thought about Margaret. I stood up quickly and turned off the shower water. I stepped out of the tub grabbing the towel and walking into the bedroom. I closed the shades, dried up and placed my pajamas on. I propped up two pillows, one underneath my head and one between my legs. I wrapped the towel around my head. Margaret’s face appeared to me again, screaming, and crying. I began to panic. I needed to get up and walk around. As I walked back and forth in the bedroom, I heard a banging on the front door. I removed the towel from my head. I was startled to say the least and my heart was racing a little. I walked over to the door.

“Who is it?” I asked.

“Who is it?” I repeated.

“Victor, is that you?” I asked sternly.

“Yeah.” the voice behind the door answered.

    I opened the door and was immediately knocked down by a power blow to my face with a fist of steel. I fell so hard I hit the back of my head on the hardwood floor. I held my face and turned over on my belly to avoid whoever was hit me, not to hit me in my stomach. All I heard was, “Come here you bitch! This will teach you!” He grabbed me by my hair and hit me in the face again, this time in the nose. I held my nose as the blood poured out of it into my mouth and I yelled,

“Oh my God! Stop! Please!” I yelled. I lied in a fetal position trying to protect my stomach from the constant blows that shocked my body. I looked away as I felt a blow to my back, and then another, then another.

     I was on the floor and the man who was viciously attacking me began to stomp on my back. As I held my belly, I turned and tried to crawl away. He grabbed me by the legs and dragged me near him where he kicked me again. I turned to my side covering my stomach with my hands. I looked up and saw his piercing dark black eyes staring at me through his black ski mask. I tried to kick him as hard as I could with my feet, hovering over my stomach to protect my baby. The front door was kicked in, someone lunged at my attacker, and he fell back towards the couch. I heard him yell,

“Jenesis! Run! Run! To the room!”

     I tried to crawl to the room as quickly as I could, using my elbows to drag my body across the cold hardwood floor. My back felt as if it were broken. I hauled my legs and used my elbows as crutches to get me to the room as quickly as possible. I cried and shook as I wiped my bloody nose with my sleeve. I lifted my head, saw the phone near the bed on the night table, and I crawled over to grab it. I stopped for a moment to catch my breath. My body was shuddering, and my hands were trembling. I was so nervous my fingers couldn’t even dial 911. I wiped my eyes and then my nose with the blanket on the bed, then crawled back to lock the bedroom door. My heart was beating so hard that I lost my breath. All I could here was the furniture being thrown around and muffled voices. I laid down on my side near the door, the pain in my back was excruciating. I dialed 911. “911, how may I direct your call?”

“Help me…there’s a man in my apartment.” I whispered as I began hyperventilating, “he’s in my house… and…he… tried to…to… kill me. I’m… pregnant! Hurry! I’m hurt! Hurry!” I broke down hysterically as I felt the warm liquid between my legs spurting out of me.

“Ma’am, are you hurt? Are you bleeding? We are sending the ambulance and a police car right now, is he armed?” I placed my hand between my legs, and I was bleeding.

“Oh my God! I’m bleeding! I’m bleeding! Just hurry! Please, hurry!” I yelled as I dropped the phone. I must have fainted.

    I woke up to a massive headache and agonizing pain all over my body. I could barely open my eyes. They were so swollen from the punches I endured.

“Jenesis, are you all right? Jenesis, talk to me!” Someone asked frantically.

“Michael?” I whispered opening one eye and seeing a blurred vision of Steve, my neighbor.

“Ma’am we are going to put this neck brace on you, don’t move.” The EMS worker said.

“Michael?” I grabbed the EMS worker by his arm with my hand and began to cry.

“You’re okay, Ma’am. You’re okay…who’s Michael?” He took my hand and held it gently.

“My husband.” I tried to open my eyes as my tears slid down my face, but they were swelling by the second.

“Ok, we’ll call him, Michael, right?” he whispered softly.

“Yes…my cell phone.” I looked over at Steve.

“I’ll call him.”

“Ok, I’m going to put him on speaker phone so you can hear his voice, ok?” The phone rang. “Is this Michael?” The EMS worker asked.

“No, who’s this?” I heard Dave say.

“My name is Christian, I’m an EMS worker, and I’m looking for Michael. His wife’s been assaulted. She responding right now to us, but she’s beat up pretty badly and she’s bleeding. We are taking her to New York hospital.”

“What! Oh my God! Michael, it’s Jenesis, she’s hurt!” he shouted. My head was spinning and I held my stomach.

“We have to take her to the hospital right away, she’s pregnant and she’s bleeding, are you aware of that?”

“Yes, of course, she’s my wife.” he said as his voice trembled.

“Why was she alone?” Christian asked.

“What? Why are you asking me that? Can I please speak to my wife please? Put my wife on the phone!” he yelled. My heart began to beat faster. I was so nervous hearing him yell on the phone that I began to cry hysterically.

“You’re upsetting your wife sir, we are on speaker phone right now, and sir, you’re not helping. We’re leaving now. Meet your wife at the hospital.” Christian hung up the phone on him as he shook his head.

    They lifted my head to put on a neck brace and I felt every bone in my body crack. I didn’t feel the baby fluttering around and I panicked. My cries turned into loud sobs and I grabbed Christian’s arm.

“You’re okay…I promise you’re going to be okay.” Christian held my hand tightly and smiled.

    Steve tried to console me the whole ride to the hospital. As they placed an IV in my arm, I closed my eyes and gripped Steve’s hand. They placed pieces of gauze between my legs to soak up the blood. I could still feel the warmth between my legs.
I was so scared…scared to lose my baby…again
. Christian’s facial expression changed as he placed the gauze between my legs. The look of panic. The look of fear. He seemed more frightened than I was. I squeezed his hand tightly and he didn’t let go.

“Miss, this belt around your stomach is to listen to the baby’s heartbeat. Do you hear it? Everything is okay. The baby is okay.” Christian reassured me.

    The ride to the hospital seemed like the endless drive from hell. Steve smiled at me, and with his hand he began to wipe my bloody nose with a tissue.

“Thank you.” I said sobbing as every part of my body was tensing up and I still couldn’t feel my baby. I was falling to pieces, and I was so afraid I would lose him.

“Shhh, it’s okay. You’re going to be okay.” he said with tears in his eyes.

We arrived at the hospital and I could see through my swollen eyes Michael and Dave standing at the entrance. Michael ran to me.

“Jenesis! Jenesis! Jesus Christ! What happened?” Michael yelled hysterically.

“Sir, let us get her in the emergency room.” Christian said seriously.

“Jenesis! I’ll be right here!” he yelled.

“Michael, she’s going to be okay.” I heard Dave say to Michael.

    They wheeled me into the emergency room and I could see the white fluorescent lights above my head. They blinded my engorged eyes as they pushed me down the hallway on the stretcher. Everything seemed to be happening so quickly, and I had so many doctors talking to me all at once. I didn’t have the strength to answer them. I was just worried about the baby and looking for Michael. The nurse was cleaning up my nose, sticking in gauze in places it didn’t seem to fit. Doctor’s were spreading my legs to stop the bleeding. The pain was unbearable in every direction. I could hear another doctor requesting x-rays of my back, then another one for my nose. I didn’t give a damn about myself. I wanted to know if my baby was okay. Michael finally walked into the room.

“Jenesis!” Michael yelled as he pushed the nurse out of the way. Security ran in to stop him.

“Michael, calm down!” Dave shouted as he grabbed him from behind. Michael pushed Dave away and ran to me and grabbed my hand.

“Jenesis, please, please tell me you’re okay, please…the baby?” he said as he kissed my hand and started to cry. I looked over at Dave and saw him trying to calm the security guard down. Steve was talking to the doctors then the police came and he walked out. The pain medication started to kick in slowly through the IV. My eyes were so enflamed I could hardly see Michael or anyone else. I was worried about the baby and the drugs.

“Mrs. Hunter, this pain medication is going to make you and the baby groggy, the baby may not move for a while. Don’t worry, it won’t harm the baby.”

“But the baby’s not moving now, please I need to feel my baby move, please!” I cried.

“You’re early in your pregnancy. You’ll only feel a flutter or so.”

“Don’t tell me what I feel! I know he’s in there! I know it!” I yelled. “I don’t feel him…I don’t feel him, please. Please help me!” I was borderline hysterical at that point. Michael grabbed me by the shoulders. I started feeling light headed and dizzy. My vision was blurry, and I began to feel really sleepy. Soon everything that happened started to flash before my eyes. All I saw was that bastard punching me in the face and kicking me on my back. I started to panic. I wanted to get up and walk around and the nurses asked me to sit down and relax.

“Mrs. Hunter, we know you’re upset, but you have to lie down or you’ll get dizzy from the medication and fall.” The nurse said to me.

“Can I speak to you outside?” Michael asked the nurse, and from the look on his face, he seemed worried and didn’t want to speak in front of me.

“Mrs. Hunter, we have to do an internal sonogram to check if the baby is okay. Please lay back and relax, spread your legs apart and try to relax. Nurse, please come in, shut the door and close the curtains.”

“Hello, I’m Dr. Cook, we’re going to check the baby. The heartbeat was very weak in the ambulance. We’ve noticed tissue in the blood that you lost. We need to make sure you did not have a miscarriage. Take a deep breath and relax.” I instantly tightened up
. My baby…my baby…please God…don’t punish me like
this.
They placed the probe inside of me after they did the external sonogram. By the look on the doctor’s face…I knew…
I lost my baby
.

“Where is your husband?” Dr. Cook asked. My heart sank into my stomach.

“Please don’t tell him, please. I think he would die.” I whispered.

“I’m sorry. We have to tell him.” She said compassionately. The nurse walked out and Michael walked in and sat next to me.

“Mr. and Mrs. Hunter, I’m very sorry. You did have a miscarriage. I’m so very sorry. We’ll have to do a procedure though. You’ll be asleep. Please try to relax.”
Those words shocked me…not again…not again.
I felt nauseated and turned to the side of the bed and threw up. Michael stood up and stormed out of the room. The doctor called in the nurse. They started to speak and I couldn’t hear what anyone was saying. I was in my own world remembering when my father beat my mother so badly when she told him that she was pregnant. She stood on the bathroom floor bleeding.

“You think I want another kid!” He yelled kicking her in her stomach. I was thirteen years old and had walked in from school to find her on the bathroom floor bleeding from her mouth and in between her legs. He kicked her hard, and I remember running to her and dropping to my knees on the floor beside her. Her skirt was drenched with blood and the red streaks were running down her thighs.

“Bobby…please…no more.” she begged him as she started to lose consciousness. I looked up at my father, my insides shaking. I didn’t know if he was going to hit me. He stood there, staring at me with those eyes, cold and empty.

“Call an ambulance…don’t forget to say she fell down the stairs…go…by the way…why would I have another one like you?” I glanced up at my father as those words cut into me like a knife in my heart. He stared at me deeply…and in that moment, just for that moment, his eyes told a different story…HE WAS SORRY. His eyes welled up, then he walked away from me. I dialed 911 from my cell phone and kissed my mother tenderly on her forehead.

“My mother is hurt, please hurry…5 Bryant lane…hurry!” I said as I grabbed a towel and placed it under the faucet. She began to cry as I wiped her face with the wet towel, and placed another towel between her legs.

“We have to leave mom, please, we have to leave…One day he’s going to kill you…on purpose or by accident…either way, you’re going to die…then I’ll die with you.” I whispered as she closed her eyes.

“Mrs. Hunter, I’m so sorry. Let me call someone to clean this up. I’ll get you a toothbrush so you can brush your teeth and some water to rinse your mouth. They might call someone to speak with you to help you get through this ordeal. Your husband really needs to calm down or they’re going ask him to him to leave.” I gaped at her as my body trembled. I’ve been punished and I paid the price for even having a thought of killing my baby. Now we’re even. One soul for another. Now…
I want to die.
Please take me God…
take me.

     They rolled the stretcher into another room and gave me another sedative. I was groggy and thinking only the worst. The procedure was painless but seemed like it took a lifetime. I just didn’t want to wake up anymore. I just wanted to close my eyes…
and die.

                                                    
***

    
I woke up from the procedure feeling confused, nervous and sobbing into my hands. I didn’t know what to do. I heard Michael yelling.

“Are you going to help her? She’s a wreck!” he shouted.

“Sir, we are. We’re going to call the psychiatrist on call. She’ll be down here soon, please calm down. Go to the cafeteria and get a bite to eat and relax. Let us deal with your wife. You can come back in hour or so.” someone said politely to him.