Oh, God, what am I going to do? Panic lanced through Rayanna Price's chest. Faced with no other option but to find another job, she felt hopeless-potentially making herself break out into a full-blown panic attack. To calm herself, she watched as a tiny daycare attendant wriggle the sandals onto her son's little feet. I won't let us starve or become homeless.
"Annie, you're early today. This little man had a cough this morning." Selma, head of Little Munchkins Daycare said as she exited her office. Huge black curls sprouted around her head like a cloud and big brown intelligent eyes stared at her from a smooth creamy brown face.
"Nothing but cough syrup did the trick." Selma smiled. Huge dimples denting her cheeks.
At the sound of her childhood nickname, tears stung the backs of her eyes. All she'd ever wanted growing up was a family of her own, yet now she couldn't even give her son a normal life.
Dread knotted her stomach. She didn't know how to respond. So she opted for a smile.
"Are you okay?" Selma asked.
"Yes, thank you."
"Are you sure? If you need to talk my office is always free."
Annie hesitated. She needed someone. A shoulder to cry on but she didn't want to burden Selma with her problems. The woman had over a dozen babies to take care of daily.
"He's ready. Hey, little man, your mama's waiting to take you home." The attendant tickled under her son's chin.
Thank God. The girl just saved her from replying to Selma's question.
Sighing, Annie took her one-year-old son, Reon from the attendant's arms and he let out a squeal of delight that drew a smile from her. "You missed me, huh, Buddy?" His little legs bounced about on either side of her hips and she held him a little tighter.
The girl handed her the diaper bag, and she secured it on her shoulder. "Thank you."
"Annie?" Selma called out.
Annie didn't dare look up for she feared the woman might see the vulnerability in her eyes.
"Yes, Selma?"
"I'm always here if you need to talk."
"Thanks," she whispered. "Bye."
"Take care, Precious child."
Annie knew if she didn't leave-fast she would run right into Selma's arms and bawl her eyes out.
Please give me strength. Inhaling a deep breath she walked away.
"It's just the two of us, little man." Annie didn't know what she would do since she'd lost her job only hours ago. The little coffee shop where she'd worked at for a year and a half as a waitress was closing down. Thanks to the owners moving to another country.
'Business was slow'-- according to them. Annie really loved her job. It was comfortable, and she got along with all the other workers.
Cheers, to new beginnings.
Things will get better, it might only take time, she reassured herself. Annie rubbed her cheek against Reon's soft curls. And remembered what her grandma used to say to her: when one door closes, another opens. You always remember that.
"Mama?" Reon's voice echoed in her mind.
"Yes, baby?" Since he'd learned to call her mama, he took every chance there is to call out for her. Hearing him say, mama, always did wonderful things to her already battered heart.
She looked up at the sky; it was already darkening. The sound of her two-inch heeled shoe echoed throughout the alleyway. So lost in her thoughts, Annie didn't realize she'd taken the shortcut, instead of the long way home.
This place always gave her the creeps. Her eyes scanned her surroundings. It was too quiet, she couldn't remember here ever being so silent before.
A whooshing noise sounded behind her. She looked back but saw no one or anything. Her heart thumped against her chest and she quickened her steps. It's nothing.
BANG! The loud sound reverberated throughout the entire alleyway. Fear gripped Annie and her heart hammered out of control. Her body shook like a leaf in the wind. Reon made a small sound. When she looked at him, she saw his eyes closed and his little face screwed up as if in distress. Then Annie realized that she was jostling him with how hard she trembled. Her heart clutched in her chest, aching with sorrow.
"I'm so sorry, baby but mommy has to get both of us to safety," she whispered in his ears. He didn't make another sound. His body seemed to relax as though he'd fallen into a deep sleep.
Annie took the chance and looked behind again. She saw the garbage can she'd passed not so long ago upturned. Garbage scattered everywhere. How? Her mind reeled with many scenarios. It could be a rat. Don't be idiotic, her mind screamed at her.
She saw a shadowy figure peeking out from the corner of a building. What the hell? Annie squinted to get a better look but what or whoever it was, jerked back into the darkness.
She could have sworn it was a person dressed in black. She didn't wait to find out if it was a man, an animal or what. Annie clutched her son closer to her chest and took off with a small jog.
Not a second later, Annie heard the steady beat footsteps behind her. Oh god! Someone was chasing her. She had to do something. She had to make certain whoever was following her didn't catch up. Her heart raced like a thousand racehorse on a track. She couldn't think. The only thing she could do was get the hell away.
Annie was full out running the best way she could with a baby and a heavy diaper bag. The diaper bag kept slipping from her shoulder but that didn't slow her down. Reon let out an angry wail with all the bouncing and jolting he was enduring.
"Please be quiet for mommy," she murmured. She couldn't stop now. She had to get away. Annie could hear the person getting closer. She was about to cross the street when a gunshot rang out. Annie stumbled, but she didn't make that slow her down. Her heart rate tripled. She was more scared now than she'd been when the person was just running behind her.
Maybe if she screamed someone might hear her. So she started to scream and shout. A car stopped and someone got out. Annie ran faster. When she neared, she realized it was a man. The man caught her when she staggered with sudden weakness.
"Help me-Please!" Annie shouted between breaths. "Someone is following-someone's trying to kill me!" she screamed at the man.
"Whoa! Lady, breathe. What's going on?"
She expelled a ragged breath and repeated herself, "Somebody's trying to kill me." Reon was only whimpering now. His little face flushed and his eyes glistened with tears.
The man looked behind her, squinting in the poorly lit place. "I'm not seeing anyone behind you. Are you sure there's someone following you-and trying to kill you?" The man eyed her, his eyebrow arched.
Annie turned to look but before she could, Reon began to scream. Annie flinched and rocked him a little. She blew out a sigh. She was ready to collapse, but she had to stay strong for her son. Sweat beaded her forehead.
"Do you want me to take you to the police station?" the man asked.
Annie considered it. But she didn't think the police would believe her and it seemed like the person was long gone. What exactly would she tell the police?
Someone was following me and I didn't get to see the person?
"No, I just want to go home. You can take me home. I'm living two streets from here."
"Okay. Get in," the man said and opened the door for her.
When the man dropped her off in front of her apartment building, Annie felt relieved.
"Thank you," she said and climbed out of the car.
"No, problem," he replied, not before giving her a look as though she was crazy.
Annie nodded before turning to walk away. Balancing Reon on her hip and holding him with one arm, she searched for her keys in the bag. When she finally got the door opened, she rushed inside and slammed the door closed. Locking the door with the deadbolt. Oblivious to the black, tinted car parked under the broken streetlight.
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