Brianna

Brianna POV

The smile, dimple, and brown skin keeps reminding me of the one person I never want to set my eyes on nor remember his name, I've got no choice when my daughter is the exact carbon copy of her father.

The park was one of my favorite places as a kid and I could remember bringing Jayden here while we were dating because he insisted on knowing about my childhood memories.

My palm is slapping my forehead yet again as I realize I just mentioned his name. Over the years I have avoided going to places I have been with him just so I could let go of the past.

Mom! Mom!! Mommy!!!'' she touches my face looking worried, Mummy are you okay?

"Yes Mia, sorry darling I was lost in thought; Hope you had fun playing?" I said as I gave her a peck. "Yes Mom, I would love to come hear next time with Caleb, mommy can I get an ice cream?" She asked

"Sure you can Mia, as long as you don't trouble or disturb Grandma you can come as many times as you want along with your friend. You know you are not supposed to take more than a cup of ice cream daily right, It's gonna affect your teeth and you complained about your tooth last week so let's take it slow okay?" I explained trying to make her see reasons with me.

"Yes Mommy but, can I just get one plssssss; I promise I won't ask for ice cream for the whole of this week," she said while pouting and playing with my hands, she looks cute when she does this and that looks always get to me. I guess I have to succumb to her demand this time.

"Okay Mia you can, just for today though" she ran off happily, "Thanks Mommy," she said while shouting.

Life of a single mum and a career woman, weekdays am at work the morning shift sometimes the night shift while my daughter stays at my mom's. I get to spend time with my daughter only during the weekend which I tend to maximize by spending the whole day with her either by going to the playground, shopping, or spa sessions. It's Sunday already, and I have to take her back to my mom by the end of the day.

"Mia, are you done eating?" I shouted from the bedroom while packing her toys and bag. I didn't get any response so I went to check the dining room only to find Mia crying profusely with her head on her knees.

"Hey darling what's wrong, why the hell are you crying? what happened are you injured or something, is anything wrong?" I asked worriedly.

"No mummy I don't want to leave you alone here," she said in-between tears.

"Why Mia, mommy is fine, and am sure you enjoy staying with grandma, or don't you?"

"Yes I do enjoy staying with grandma but I always find you crying in the middle of the night, you keep having nightmares Mom and you are all alone here without daddy.

I was shocked beyond words because I had no idea that Mia saw me crying, I can't believe Mia knew about this all along. I have always had nightmares ever since Jayden left me and it affected my mental health drastically, thankfully Mia's presence brought contentment and joy to my life, but the nightmare keeps reoccurring.

"Mia did you just say "daddy" and you also saw me crying? You know what, first of all, I wasn't crying I had something in my eyes which resulted in tears" I lied, secondly what do you mean by daddy?

"Mommy, all of my friends have a daddy and they all live together in one house but you and I stay apart and you stay alone," She said still crying. "Mia, stand up let's go sit in the living room."

I cleaned her tears and made her sit, trying to figure out what I could say to convince my smart daughter.

"Mia guess what? you are the best thing that could ever happen to Mommy and I love you so so much, you are my life, my strength, and your presence is what makes my life worth living. As for your daddy, he loves you just as much but he isn't in the country right now, he left while you were two and will be back very soon and Mommy won't be alone anymore understood" I explained knowing fully well this was all fabricated.

"Yes Mom, I understand and I love you more than the whole world even more than my favorite strawberry-flavored ice cream," she said smiling while placing a peck on my cheeks. I laughed continuously till my stomach hurt and that statement made my day because I know how much my daughter loves strawberry flavored ice cream.

"Okay, so can we go meet Grandma? she must be worried sick, It's late already."

"Yes we can, oh Mommy can we get Grandma some milk on our way, it was almost finished when I left on Friday" she remembered. That is my daughter she never cease to amaze me.

"Of course, I will, and thanks for taking care of my mum when am not around, Big baby Mia" I teased her while smiling.

"You are welcome momma, what are friends for", she said with a salute.

We left the house by 8 pm as it was late the closest ride to my house is an hour and 45min which is enough to get to my mom's place with my car, I haven't used my car for two consecutive months since I got into an accident which almost took my life, I was called by the clinic for an emergency case in the night and my brake light stopped working unfortunately and I bumped my car to a three, thanks to my car insurance it was repaired so I parked and left it at home and right now I have no option but to go with the car.

Mia looks happy and relaxed watching cartoons on my phone as she sits on the couch outside my flat with her legs crossed like a lady on a date trying to give the classy girl impression. I wonder where she gets her maturity from, she outsmarts her peers which I am sure she got from me, If I wasn't her mom I would have thought she was already six or seven when she is just turning four in a few weeks, I birthed Mia on the 24th of march four years ago, she can be very inquisitive, you can't be bored when you are with her.

"Mia get into the car it's late and I have to come back home to prepare against tomorrow," I said trying to turn on the car making sure the battery is not dead, thankfully the car is still working.

"Mom, I thought we were booking a ride?

are you not spending the night with me?" She asked with teary eyes.

"No Mia, the closest ride would take about an hour to get here and yes am not spending the night with you, I have a morning shift tomorrow Grandma's house is far from the clinic, okay?" I explained not giving her a chance to question my decision.

"Okay", she said. The ride was quiet and fast as there was less traffic.

Just got back after dropping Mia, mum insisted I spend the night so I had to leave when she went into the kitchen to get me water, the scene was hilarious, all thanks to Mia otherwise I would have been caught. It was 12:26 pm, the night was quiet except for the ruffling sounds of my books, I was going through some dissertations when I heard my phone ringing from the study room, I left it on the dining table as I got home. I thought it was my mom at first so I ignored the call, not until the third ring then I stood up to go pick up the phone since it was disturbing my study session

"Hello, who is on the line?", I enquired as the contact seemed strange but oddly familiar.

There was a sigh from the other end and I heard a faint voice, I could recognize who it belonged to, my hands began shivering and the bad memories? Felt like it just happened yesterday. I had to confirm my suspicions so I summoned all the courage I could to ask.

"Jayden; is this Jayden Ryan ?".