Page 15 of Senescence (Inferno World)

With a laugh in her general direction, I unlocked the back door and headed inside back to the office. Seeing Luke Greene had ignited something deep inside of me, and even though I hated the very ground he stood on, I couldn’t help but internally thank him for giving me the in I needed to finally treat Lucy the way I had always wanted to.

End of September

Five months pregnant

Dear Baby Pater,

Congratulations little one. You are indeed a boy. I knew you were even before the nice ultrasound tech spilled the beans. You’ve been kicking and punching me for the past several weeks now and I am loving every single second of it. I love you with all of my heart, and I want you to know that now, and every day.

I wish I could say there was more good news for you baby boy, but unfortunately there isn’t. At our doctor's appointment last week they told me something bad. You have a partial Ectopia Cordis little man. That means your heart is growing outside of your ribcage just below the skin. The doctor said it’s really rare, and you’ll have to have surgery as soon as you’re born.

Mommy is scared for you, but I know you’re going to be okay. Mommy also discovered your Daddy’s last name and is searching for him. His name is Luke Greene but that’s all I know. He hasn’t been easy to track down, but I’m not going to give up. I owe it to you to provide you with a happy and healthy home and that includes having both me and your Daddy.

I wish I had gotten to tell him about you when we last saw each other, but your Daddy really wanted alone time without mommy talking. Daddy seems to need a lot of pleasure in his life, and Mommy is ready and willing to give it to him whenever he wants it. I bet when you’re born that’s going to be the absolute height of pleasure for him!

I want you to know though, little man, that your Mommy loves your Daddy so very much and she is going to do whatever it takes to bring this family together. She will find him for you and you’ll never know what it’s like to be without either of us.

Even though you have this little heart quirk, you’re growing so quickly. Mommy’s shirts are starting to get a little tight, and soon the bad man we live with is going to notice. I know you probably hear Mommy scream almost every night when the scary Bob monster comes into Mommy’s room, but I won’t ever let him hurt you. I will always be your human shield whether you’re inside of mommy, or out.

You are so special Baby Pater, and I thank God every day that I get to carry you inside of my belly. Only a few more months until I get to hold you in my arms and we can finally be a family.

Mommy and Daddy love you forever,

Your Mommy, Lucy Marie Greene (<-- Hopefully soon)

End of October

Six Months Pregnant

Looking around the room I had grown up in, the only home I had ever known, I took a deep breath. It was getting too hard to conceal the baby bump growing underneath my shirt, and at minimum, I knew Tanya was getting suspicious. The last thing I needed was for Bob to find out I was pregnant. Who knows what he would do to me or my precious little man. It was bad enough he was coming into my room almost every other day to fuck my ass. Thankfully, he always left the lights off, but if he ever decided to turn them on, I would no longer be able to conceal the growth in my body. On top of that, he had stopped giving me paychecks and I was back to having almost no money to my name.

It hadn’t been an easy decision, but I knew life on the streets would be far easier for me and the welfare of my unborn child than Bob discovering my secret. I had spent the last several weeks scoping out places to hide and sleep and I was fairly certain I was going to be okay until I could find Luke. I had stolen little bits of food here and there from the store as I could and I had enough to tide me over for at least a month. I only hoped that critters didn’t find my stash.

I had every intention of sitting outside of the grocery store every day until I saw Luke again. He wasn’t going to be able to deny me as soon as he saw me swollen with his child, and then finally, he would embrace us and take us home with him.

With one last longing glance, I grabbed my suitcase and closed the door on my childhood. I was now an adult, a pregnant woman about to bring her first child into this world, and I refused to let my baby's first introduction to life be anywhere near where Bob was.

I knew the man in question was at the store, but it didn’t stop me from tiptoeing through the house to his bedroom. I knew where my mom had kept her jewelry, and if Bob hadn’t already pawned it, I planned on stealing it. If I could avoid selling it, I would, but if it meant me and Baby Pater didn’t have to sleep on the streets after he was born, I would cross that bridge when I got there.

Just as I suspected, mom's jewelry was hidden in a box on her side of the bed. To my shock, there was also several hundred dollars at the bottom of the jewelry box. I assumed Bob had no idea it was there or it would have already been used to feed his alcohol addiction. It was a wonder he wasn’t six feet under already.

“Thanks mom,” I whispered, shoving the entire box into my bag before shutting the door quietly. Who knew how often Bob checked the contents of his dead wife's nightstand, but I was not going to risk him finding out and having a reason to come after me.

With no resistance, qualms, or second thoughts, I marched out of my childhood home for the last time. This was it. I was going to be a free woman, no longer subjected to my evil father and his self-righteous, bible thumping ways. I was going to be a mom soon, and hopefully Luke’s wife, if he’d have me, and there was nothing in the world that was going to stop me.

End of November

Seven months pregnant

Dear Baby Pater,

It’s cold. I hope you’re warm inside Mommy's tummy. It’s only going to get colder and she may have to use some of the money she has to get a motel room for a few nights. You don’t have to worry about this though baby boy. This is for Mommy to handle. You just keep nestling in your warm room, and let me do what’s best for us.

I had a check up at the doctors the other day, and you still have this heart condition. I was hoping by some miracle it had gone away, but unfortunately it didn’t. I’m so sorry I failed you little man. You shouldn’t have to worry about this. I know that it’s my fault you have this condition, and I will spend our entire lives making it up to you somehow.

I think the doctor and the nurse knew I was homeless because they let me shower in their office. It was a nice gesture, and the hot water felt so good on Mommy’s swollen belly. Other than that, they told me that you’re growing right on schedule, and we have to schedule a cesarean section for the last week in January. It’s so crazy to me that I’m going to get to hold you in my arms in two short months.

I’m guessing you want to know about your Daddy huh? I saw him a few weeks ago, Baby Pater. He was looking just as fit and handsome as ever. I bet you’re going to be the spitting image of him and all of the ladies are going to fawn over you, just as Mommy does with Daddy.

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