100 Days With Mr Romero

Emma adjusted her black facing cap as she dragged her luggage behind. She never thought the casual outfit she was wearing could be this comfortable. After having Ryan three years ago, her body size increased and she often felt wide. She almost hated her body but later appreciated it as one of the gifts that come with motherhood. She hasn’t gone back to her former shape since then. Her fitting clothes became uncomfortable and her tummy would bulge out of a dress. The brown sport trousers and large black sweater she now wore made her feel light. Her body felt relaxed and all she had to do was carry it along. She doesn’t have to struggle to feel comfortable after all she thought.

The last time she was in an airport was about a year ago when she, Gideon and little Ryan went to Brazil for a family vocation. The vocation was quite eventful as they had fun and enjoyed it as a one big happy family. She had loved Brazil since then. Even though Gideon had promised to take them on international vocations twice a year, they only had it once since then. Gideon ever since had resolved to work and planning a vocation will alter his schedules. She also had Ryan to take care of then. She was planning for them to go to Hawaii. “There will be no more family vocations now Emma.” She told herself.

She sat on the vacant airport permanent seat awaiting the calling of the flight she had boarded. She rested her back on the luxurious chair and connected her ear pods to her phone. Music had seem to make her feel better lately. Sometimes, she would listen only to the solemn piano tunes playing from her phone. It was better than the tracks that made her feel guilty or miserable. She deleted the love songs for it mocked her;Gideon never really loved her. She thought. The lyrics from songs about heartbreak and death pierced her heart and reminded her so much of Ryan. Hence, she only listened to the piano, no lyrics, just an emotional sound that she somehow found soothing.

Emma checked her wrist watch. Her flight will be boarding in forty five minutes. 45 minutes for her felt like five hours. She was in a hurry to get out of the town, the town that took so much away from her. There was nothing to live for she had thought and after Ryan’s demise, she needed to leave at all cost. She couldn’t stay in the same space with the person who made her lost her only child. She will miss her parents. Her father’s jokes and her mother’s delicacies. She will miss Peter her cousin too. She felt staying back will prevent her from healing. She needed to evolve. She had promised her little Ryan after he died that she would be strong and a new space she thought would grant her the healing and strength she requires.

Emma turned to her left with the ear pods still connected to her phone and her eyes captured a young couple. The man and his wife had a baby of about three years just like her Ryan. The baby was chubby too. He smiled at her and she waved at him. Unlike her Ryan, the baby was alive and was surrounded by his parents. She pondered on her fate and felt she would have been happy at least as a single mother not as the mother of a dead child. As she turned to her right, she saw another family playing with their little girl. There were too many families around her today she thought. Unlike her, they were all happy.This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

She will be happy too. She promised herself. When she gets to Chicago, she will begin on a new slate even though she will be going with few luggages, Ryan’s pictures and some of her savings. She didn’t carry a dime from the millions Gideon had been saving for her in her bank account. She left behind his gifts and documents to the assets he purchased in her name. The clothes she packed were outfits she bought for herself. She ensured she left behind anything that will remind her of Gideon be it the lingeries, perfumes, clothes or shoes among others. They were done after all and he owes her no damn thing she thought. Henceforth, she had vowed to work to cater for herself. She had always wanted to work. It was Gideon who felt she deserves all the luxury in the world so he relegated her to being a housewife but that was then.

She knew her flight would be called any moment from now so she stopped the piano melody from playing so that she wouldn’t miss her flight. Few minutes later, it was time to board. Emma dragged her luggage and after being cleared, she made her way to the plane. She wanted to turn around and gaze at the city that gave her the best and worst moments of her life but she didn’t look behind. She will never shed a tear henceforth she had promised herself. She met Gideon in this town, she will be leaving him there. Once she steps on that plane, there will be no Gideon.

Her luggage was kept on the luggage section of the plane as she was looking for a place to seat. There seemed to be few people on the plane but that was not her problem. Her ticket had the inscription SEAT 12 so she scanned around with her eyes and when she found it, she hurried and sat. She didn’t even look at her seat mate who smiled at her. A young man of about thirty five. Emma didn’t wait for the flight attendants or air hostesses to brief them and dash out safety precautions. She quickly fixed her safety belt and played her piano tune as she felt the plane leaving the ground with her eyes shut.