Sophia arrived home thinking of the fruitful evening. After having lunch at the Lancaster house and letting Mrs. Lancaster know, or guess, her pregnancy, she felt a weight being lifted off her shoulders. They hadn't thought of making an announcement, they were satisfied with keeping it to themselves but now that someone else in the family knew, it makes her giddy with excitement. Gilda greeted her with a basketful of baby clothes. They sat on the baby's room's floor admiring the small clothes and spoke for hours about Sophia's childhood. How Sophia admired Gilda for being able to use the stove, or how Lucia used to pretend she was a doll so Sophia could play with her doll like hair. Keeping the conversation light and cheerful, nothing could bring her down.
Gilda left to the market and Sophia lays on the floor looking up at the ceiling, her mind free from trouble, from any pain. She takes a deep breath and allows herself descend in this happiness.
But there is a knock on the door.
Lily can't answer, she's outside doing her chores. Sophia answers the door with a broad smile on her face.
"Oh," Sophia's smile fades. "Daniel?"
Daniel stands before her, hair disheveled, clothes crumpled, eyes glazed, hands trembling. "Forgive me, I just really needed to see you."
"I don't think that's a good idea," Sophia says slightly pushing the door closed.
"I know, I know, but I saw you walking through town, and seeing you with him, made me so angry."
"Daniel, you've been drinking."
"That doesn't matter!" he exclaims. "I saw you with that man and it killed me. Do you know what it's like to die a little inside?"
Sophia nods pretending to be sympathetic. "You should leave, you are not well and I think you should go home to your wife and son, and..." Daniel steps forward firmly making her jump.
"We can't talk about it? I feel like we have to talk about it," he says miserably.
"We have talked about it, and we agreed to move on, move on with our marriages, and I..." but she's interrupted when he pushes through the door and she's forced to step back.
"I don't understand," he says. "No one can love you as much as I love you."
Sophia takes a look at her surroundings looking for some kind of weapon, for Daniel's state scares her and his unpredictability makes her shiver. "Leave this house this instant," she orders trying her best to sound firm but at the sight of Daniel closing and locking the door behind him, she realizes that there's nothing she can say to make him leave.
"Mrs. Lancaster?"
Sophia turns around and finds a fearful Lily standing timidly by the kitchen door. "Go get help," Sophia replies rapidly. "Go!"
Lily nods and rushes out, Daniel attempts towards Lily but Sophia grabs and chucks at him, the nearest thing she could find, but he ducks just in time, making the candleholder crash against the door.
"I'm not going to hurt you," he says taking slow steps towards her. "You belong to me, don't you understand? I was the first to kiss those lips," his eyes water and his voice breaks making her almost feel sorry for him, until he reaches out for her arms and attempts to kiss her.
Sophia pulls away rapidly and tries to run towards the book shelves which conceal Adam's rarely used gun, but Daniel's surprisingly fast and grabs her by the waist and pushes her against the wall strongly, he slams her hands against the wall and immobilizes her.
"You are mine," he whispers in her ear. Sophia pulls and pushes trying to free herself but Daniel's too strong, he turns her around roughly which gives her a chance to kick him on the chins and push him away. Again she tries for the gun but Daniel turns and holds on to her dress making her trip on the floor. She crawls as fast as she can but she feels his weight on her taking her breath away. He turns her and holds down her arms with his knees. "Why are you fighting this? Why?" he says almost crying. Her rejection frustrating him. "I haven't been with another woman, not even my own wife because I want you!"
Sophia moves and shrugs trying to get free. "Daniel please don't do anything you will regret, please," she begs.
"Why would I regret this?" he replies running a hand down her cheek tenderly. He starts undoing his pants letting her hands free for a moment, which she takes advantage off and starts hitting his chest, trying to push him off of her, but a strong fist leaves her dizzy, almost fainting. "Oh God," she hears him say desperately. "See what you made me do? See?"
Sophia could feel his hands pulling her dress up, his rough hands caressing her legs. Still a bit dazed she tries again. "Daniel stop please!" but he doesn't hear her, he's too busy ripping her dress down her shoulders. "No!" she screams and with what's left of her strength, she fights his wondering hands.
Suddenly, he's taken off of her. He's pulled away almost taking her with him, she recoils against the wall looking for refuge. Though her head is spinning, she gets glimpses of two men scuffling, she hears the knocking down of tables, glass shattering and then silence.
"Sophia?" she hears and feels a touch on her bare shoulder, she flinches and is ready to fight back. "Hey, hey, it's okay, it's me."
"Adam!" she exclaims in relief and she wraps her arms around his neck, tears start flowing and she can't stop them. All that fright that gave her strength to attempt to fight back, now leaves her weak and susceptible.
"I'm here, I'm here," he whispers embracing her strongly making her feel safe. She pulls away and he studies her face. "Are you alright? Did he hurt you?"
She shakes her head. "I'm fine," she replies wiping the tears off her eyes but she winces as he runs his fingers down her tender cheek, she was now tasting blood. She brings a fingertip to her lips and sees that's she's bleeding. "Oh my God," she cries, the event replaying in her head. The realization dawning down on her. "Oh my God," she repeats.
Adam pulls her in his arms once again. "It's all over," he promises. "It's all over."
Ò Ò Ò
Sophia wakes up in their bedroom, the room dark with a single candle on the nightstand. She sits up not remembering the date or the hour. She sees her dress across the room hanging from a chair. She stands weakly and studies it. Her dress was destroyed. The skirt had a long tear down the middle, the sleeves held on to the dress by a single string, she drops it on the floor and retreats to her bed. She places her hand on her stomach praying for her child to be unharmed.
A knock on the door and Adam appears, eyes red, dark circles under his eyes. "Hey, how are you feeling?"
"Better," she replies. Adam makes his way beside her and lifts her face gently studying her lips. "What happened to Daniel?"
"He was taken to the police station," he replies pulling her night gown down her shoulder studying her bruises. Sophia follows his gaze and sees the big round red and purple wound, they looked like bite marks. "I should've come sooner," he whispers as he pulls her sleeve up.
"I say you got here just in time," Sophia replies taking his hands in hers.
"Look how he left you..." he trails off as they lock eyes.
Another knock on the door and Dr. Harris appears from behind. "Ah Mrs. Lancaster, you feeling better?"
Sophia blinks unable to remember his arrival. Adam sees her confusion. "Mr. Harris tended to your wounds," he explains. "Gilda sent for him." Sophia nods understandingly, she must've fainted.
"Now, I would like to check on your pregnancy, if that's alright with you," Mr. Harris says.
Adam nods. "I'll be right outside if you need me."
Sophia nods not wanting him to leave her side. Mr. Harris walks beside her and starts studying her face, just as Adam had.
"What happened?" Sophia asks, the memories mixing up in her head.
"You were attacked," he replies. "You had a minor concussion, a small gash on the lips and bruises throughout your body. Nothing too serious thankfully." He pauses, then motions her to lay down on the bed. "I must ask you though. Did the man penetrate you? You may refuse to answer if you like."
Sophia shakes her head. "No, no he did not."
Mr. Harris nods and places his hands on her stomach. "Have you had any spasms?"
She shakes her head.
"Any bleeding?"
She shakes her head again. "Is he alright?" she asks unable to wait much longer.
"You have suffered quite a trauma, I must insist you take a bedrest for a week. The child's stability has been compromised, we must let the fetus rest."
Sophia nods thankfully.
"I will be back tomorrow morning," he says as he gathers his equipment. "The baby is probably fine, but we won't take any chances."
She nods again. "Thank you Doctor."
He smiles and opens the door, he whispers a few things to Adam letting him know of her condition; Sophia could see his face change. He thanks him, and he walks back inside and takes a place beside her, he wraps his arms around her. Neither of them saying a word, both breathing easily, they both know they'll make it through. And no matter what happens now, they'll have each other.
Ò Ò Ò
Two days since the incident and Sophia feels hopeful. She has been in bedrest and drank the herbal tea Gilda made her to calm her nerves. Though the future of her child was still uncertain, she feels confident that he will make it, for he had a mother who took care of him and a father who took care of him and his mother. Adam has stayed home with her tending to her every need.
But on the third day, something went wrong.
Sophia wakes up in the middle of the night feeling very thirsty. She stands slowly and walks towards her dressing table where a jug of water awaited. She feels drained and weak. She pours herself a cup but a painful cramp makes her bend, the glass shatters on the floor. Adam's awake and on his feet in seconds.
"Sophia?" he says worriedly.
Sophia cringes in pain. "The baby," she manages to say through clenched teeth.
"Gilda! Gilda!" Adam yells as he picks Sophia up in his arms and brings her back to bed, Sophia curls up in a ball groaning painfully.
"What's wrong?" comes a flushed Gilda to her side, the light from her lamp revealing the nightmare. "Blood," she whispers terrified as Adam turns to the bedsheets and sees the dark stains. Adam's face goes pale. Gilda says something about getting Dr. Harris, but Sophia can't hear her. The pain too strong to let her think of anything else.