Page 4 of Seized By Solo

My mummy is the best person in the world. She will stamp on a spider if we get scared and read us a book if we have a nightmare.

My mum makes us laugh, and she makes the best cookies ever.

That is why my mum is my someone.

P.S: Also, Solo is all of our special someone.

I finish reading and swipe away the tears running down my cheeks. My babies are so strong. I will make sure that every day, they get to be themselves. They will never be told that they cannot do anything ever again.

The kids come back into the room. Ruthie looks unsure, until I smile at her and pull her into my arms, then Ricky.

“You both are my people. My special someones. I love you both.”

“Eww, enough of this mushy stuff, Mum. I’m a man now. I’m ten, remember.”

I kiss his hair, chuckling, then ruffle the strands. He dodges my touch and steps away, picking up his backpack.

“I remember. Come on, let’s get you both to school. I have a job to get to.” I lock up the house and we head to my car, and the kids climb into their booster seats. They hate them, but it’s the law right now.

The hairs on the back of my neck come alive, and I snap my gaze around the area in front of my house. I have a feeling I’m being watched. When I don’t see anyone, I close the gap between the house and the car and get in quickly, locking the doors from the inside.

As I pull away from the house, I keep checking to see if anyone is following us. It has been over a year since I have got the feeling of being watched; the feeling that someone is out to get me. Being with Nigel had me on edge twenty-four-seven; it never stopped as I never knew what behaviour he was going to show.

“Mum, don’t forget that I’m going to Odetta’s house after school,” Ruthie calls out to me, pulling me from the past.

“I know. Her mum messaged me last night when you were in bed. I will pick you up around six, okay?”

She nods. “Thanks, Mum.”

“Can I go over Lewis’ house? Can you ask his mum at school?” Ricky asks me.

Smiling, I stop at a red light and look in the rear-view mirror at my babies.

“Some would say that my kids don’t want to spend time with me,” I tease, making them giggle.

That sound does wonders for my broken heart. Hearing them laughing and joking around like ten-year-old kids makes leaving all the more worth it. I just wish I’d had the balls to do it sooner.

After dropping the kids off at school, I talk with Lewis’ mother and she agrees to take Ricky after school. I offer to have Lewis over one day on the weekend, as I don’t work those two days.

Arriving at my job, I park my car then walk into work, waving to some of the girls who work similar shifts to me. Working here at a popular supermarket gives me the opportunity to mingle and find new friends. After being with a controlling husband for so long, I lost all of my friendships.

My shift starts easy. I help out the back with unloading stock then I move on to restocking shelves. Suddenly, the hair on my neck stands on end again. I slowly look around the aisle but see no one I know. No one is paying me any attention, but I still get the creepy feeling that someone is here.

Moving on to the next section, I bend over to collect a box, when my hair is grabbed from behind and lips touch my ear.

“Where the fuck is my brother, you bitch?”

The stale smell of beer fills my senses, making me want to gag. My body is tight with fear and tension.

“He left,” I manage to whimper.

I hate that I am being made to fall back into the behaviours I displayed with my ex-husband. He and his brother liked to spread fear amongst women for their own gain.

In my mind, they are not men.

They do not deserve the title.

“He wouldn’t leave without telling me. Me and my brother are close. I know you had help from that fucking club.”

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