Into Your Arms

ABIGAIL...

TRIBECA, MANHATTAN..

Jordan hit me again. Hard this time. Even that it leaves an after iron taste of blood but nothing compares to the irritating feeling of film his name leaves in my tongue.

"You fucking twat !" He venomously spat. My hazel eyes sting with tears as I hold my face, his breath fanning hot against my face. I've lost count of the times he slaps me, punches me, or kicks me. A misplaced word, a misunderstood glance, and he unleashes his fury upon me. I hate him. Jordan Fletcher. My abusive husband.

Sold into an arranged marriage as my parent's debt settlement to a man who claims to love me but only knows how to hurt me, Jordan's eyes always bore into my soul with much hatred. His touch leaves bruises and scars.

"Whose baby is that?" His sneer was wild and I couldn't understand why.

"Yours..." My trembling lips escape a whimper. It wasn't a lie. The baby was Jordan's and as much as I thought he would be extremely happy, I never wanted him to find out this way. I was going to show him the pregnancy test which I'd taken from the hospital. But he was already two steps ahead of me when he read Eden's chat heading ..

Have you told Jordan about the baby yet? You won't keep it forever you know ...

Part of me could see that he misunderstood the message and this was the consequences. A toxic correction.

"You're lying!" His eyes darkened. "Whose baby is that, Abigail?"

" Jordan, it's yours." I broke down again.

" You pussy ! You goddamn cheat !" He scowls before me grimaced, pulling closest to me.

"Jordan..." I was trailing yet again when his long fingers cupped my face.

"You would abort the baby, Abby." His voice was dark and intense again.

My heart ached at his words before I took a retreating step away from him.

He frowned, "No?"

"Jordan, this...this is our baby. We can't ...I can't ..."

"You would , Abigail and that is final. Or else you wanna payback the $500,000 your old man owes me." He lit a cigar and puffs the smoke into the air. When my silence greeted him, he shrugged..

"No? I thought so too. Get rid of the baby and all this is over." He starts to walk away, climbing the stairs.

But I was reluctant. I was going to stand my ground. I hate the way he controls me, manipulates me, and makes me feel worthless. I hate the way he denies his own cruelty, telling me I'm overreacting or that I deserved it. I hate the way he makes me feel trapped, like there's no escape from this toxic cycle. But most of all, I hate the way he's making me doubt myself.

I'm starting to believe I'm the problem, that I'm the one who's crazy. But deep down, I know the truth. I know I deserve better. I deserve love, kindness, and respect so I followed behind.

"We are not aborting my baby, Jordan."

If only 'cat's got your tongue' existed.

" What did you say !" He gritted in between teeth.

"Jordan...I ...I can't ..." My heart pounded. I've never disagreed with him so this was new to me. I was nearly done with my statement when he flung the back of his hand against my face, sending me spiraling down the stairs.

My sight became blurry, dimming the natural light around me. Cold wetness trickled down my thighs, pooling around me. Tears seeped out of the corner of my eyes while the last thing my gaze was fixed on was the pregnancy test in my right hand...

********

My weak body stirs and my lashes flutter hazel eyes open. Bright daylight hit my eyes and I winced a bit. The room was white, and the faint sound of the EPG machine beeping close by made me aware of my surrounding. I tried to get up but my head throbbed and my body, stucked. Heavy at least.

I looked to my left and I saw the drip hanging next to me before my eyes caught a woman who was sitting close by. Her black braids were in neat buns and She was asleep.

" Eden?" I called out weakly and she stirred. Exactly the 'not a deep sleeper' that I'd known for four years.

"Hey..." She coos, now sitting closer to me. "You alright?" Heavy was that British accent I know and I nod positive.

"What happened?"

"You were out for two days. You can't remember?"

My lashes flutter a bit. " How did you get me here ?"

Eden pulled away and let out a sigh. "You let that fucking dick beat you up again?"

"Jordan's not a dick, E" For one, I don't why I was defending Jordan.

"Oh, right. I forgot." Eden let out sarcastically. " Did you see what the jackass did to you?"

"Jordan isn't a bad person. He's just stressed and worked up. The pregnancy news was just too sudden and ..."

Gasp.

I found my voice lost suddenly, my thoughts were now sprawling around caculatively. I was beginning to remember. I moved my free hand to my thighs but nothing was there. I forced myself to sit up yet again but there was a stabbing pain hitting me hard.

" Easy, easy .. " Eden coos softly, placing my body at rest.

"What happened to me ?"

Silence..

"Eden!" I was now tense.

"You weren't picking your calls so I decided to come to you. I found you sprawled out on the floor. Jordan was nowhere in sight. You were blood soaked, Abby. And the pregnancy test in your hand explained everything so I had you rushed to the hospital."

I opened my mouth but no words came out ...

Finally, "And the baby?" .

"Eden..." I was gritting my teeth this time to keep me from yelling out. Her expression made me assume the worst even when I didn't want to. Her black eyes were saying what her lips couldn't but I waited for her to tell me it was all a joke. A lame prank.

"Abby, I'm so sorry ..." Her voice was trailing as well and she was squeezing my hands tightly to keep me from springing up.

"No...n...no...no E, I can't ...it can't be ..." My sight was blurry again. Tears drowned my vision and then I broke down. Eden pulled me in chest tight and consoled me.

I was empty. My baby was gone. Just like that. Just like Jordan wanted...