Mariah (Catherine)
Me and Leonnie were sitting on the park bench in the shadows watching our boys play. The three of them are thick as thieves and most times everything goes smoothly. That is until Nick decided that he wants to be in charge instead of William. William is the oldest at six years old and his brother Harold is four like Nick. They all attend the same daycare and that’s how Leonnie and I met and became friends.
Leonnie, short for Leonore, is my only friend. I don't dare to have too many relationships, It would be too painful for both me and them if I ever need to pack up and leave. Not that I have had to do that for over three years now. The chance of Alessio finding me will forever be there. I know that Alessio didn’t die in that car crash. I read the news articles that followed. How he was critical
Mariah (Catherine)“Mariah!” Mr. Gong’s whiney voice calls from the end of the aisle. I sigh and clench my jaw. Today has been a real Mariah day. Mr. Gong seems to never get enough of calling my name. I scold my face into a pleasant smile and turn towards him.“Yes, Mr. Gong?” He is looking at me with a frown on his wrinkly face.“I thought I told you to move the Mr. Clean to the corner shelf so more customers will see it. It is on sale!” As if I don’t already know this.“Yes you did. But before that you told me to arrange the toilet paper after a customer knocked the shelf down, then to mop up a broken jar in aisle three and then to clean up this shelf.” I keep my smile polite and sweet as I tell him of all the extra chores he has given me today. His frown deepens.“Then why haven’t you done all that?” I close my eyes and count backwards from ten.“I have arranged the toilet paper and cleaned up in aisle three. Right now I’m cleaning up on the shelf to make it look presentable, as I’
Mariah (Catherine) My head hurts. My back hurts. My feet hurt. Everything hurts and I am tired as hell. And because of this Nick has cried, nagged, refused to walk and thrown three tantrums, THREE, on the way home from the daycare. The walk is barely twenty minutes and still he managed to squeeze in three. Nothing I do is right. I collected his backpack after asking him to do it two times but no, he wanted to get it himself! I said that we would eat pasta carbonara, but the only thing he eats today is pizza. And then the rock he was kicking flew out on the street and I forbade him to get it. Sometimes I just wished I had someone to share the load with. Someone who could get him from daycare, play with him, get him ready for bed and all that. The door slams shut behind me and I sigh. At least I got us home in one piece. N
Mariah (Catherine)It’s been a few hectic days. Mr. Gong keeps bothering me at work. Michel tries to help me out but he always get sent away when Mr. Gong notices. I have no idea why he has it out for me. I can’t remember that I have ever done anything to offend him. Except that time I rejected him when he asked me out to dinner. But honestly, I reject all dinner dates. Except this one. Okay, it’s not really a dinner date. It is a playdate with Michel and his kids.Sally is six years old and Tom is ten. Nick has been very hyped up all morning because he’s going to play with a big boy like Tom. He’s practically bouncing on the walk to the park. To be honest I’m a little giddy myself. This is my first date since I ran away and before Alessio, I never had that many dates either.
Mariah (Catherine)I’m so tired, again. Mr. Gong worked me like a slave, again. Do this, Mariah. Do that, Mariah. Fucking bastard. No wonder his wife is cheating on him. Who would ever want to be with a pathetic excuse of a man like Mr. Gong. I sigh as I kick off my shoes.“Wash your hands, Nick!” I call after my son as he runs into his room to play with his superman. So tired but the day still has several hours to pass before I get to sleep. First I need to cook. Then bathe Nick. Then put him to bed. Then the bathroom is in a big need of cleaning. Urgh! I’m too tired!I make my way to the kitchen while listen
Mariah (Catherine)When the alarm rings on my phone I shut it off with a tired groan. It feels like I didn’t sleep at all tonight. Everything felt wrong and scary and stressful. First the roses on my kitchen table and knowing that an unknown person has been in my apartment without aid or violence to my door. I thought about calling a locksmith to have the lock replaced, but the truth is, I can’t afford it.Then when I took my shower I couldn’t find my night t-shirt. It was not under my pillow where I always put it. It is always there except when I wash it. And my pillow had an unfamiliar but still familiar smell to it. It smelled like Alessio. I am sure of it. I will never forget his smell. But it was so faint and I can’t decide if it was my imagination or not. Still I c
Mariah (Catherine)I’m jerked awake in the middle of the night by my phone ringing. I fumble with it before I manage to grab it to look at the caller ID. Michel?“Hello? Michel? Why are you calling in the middle of the night?” At first there is silence on the other end of the phone. Then a deep voice speaks. A voice that doesn’t sound like Michel and the blood in my veins freeze to ice.“You will not meet Michel again.” Then the call hangs up. I stare at my phone for a full minute. Then I call him back. The call picks up but I hear some fumbling, a thump and a curse before Michel’s voice comes through.“Yeah?” He sounds groggy and tired.“Michel? Are you okay? You just called me.” I bite the nail on my thumb as I wait for his answer.“Eh. What?”“You called me.” He’s silent for a while before speaking again.“No. I don’t think so at least. I was sound asleep until you called me.” I take a deep breath and release it slowly. I give him a shaky chuckle.“I must have dreamt a very realist
Mariah (Catherine)When we came home from Leonnie there was a large vase of roses on the kitchen table again. This time Nick saw them and he fell in love, so I can’t throw them out.“They are so beautiful, mommy! Who gave them to you?” His small fingers carefully touch the soft petals.“Maybe it was Michel.” I say with a strained smile. I know for sure that it isn’t Michel. These are too expensive for him to have bought.“I like Michel. I like Tom and Sally. They are nice. Tom has a playstation.” Nick jumps down from the chair. “Can I have a playstation?” I laugh and usher him to the bathroom to wash his hands.
CatherineI carry Nick until we are a few blocks away from the daycare center before putting him down.“Where are we going, mommy?” He looks so small and innocent as he looks up at me with his brilliant blue eyes. I give him a shaky smile and caress his cheek.“We are going to the police station. There are men and women there that will help us. We have to move to another city.” I take his hand and start to lead him towards the closest station. It is a small station and we will surely not be able to get the help we need from there, but they can drive us to a larger station.“Why do we have to move? Will Harry and Will move with us?” I chuckle