Tangled Alliance

Roses are red.

"Rose!! "

He shouted again, and she shrieked in fear, accidentally pricking her finger with a knitting needle. Blood dripped to the floor as she sprang up from the couch, just as he entered the room, seething with anger.

"What did I ever tell you about picking up my calls? "

She kept mute, with a sad countenance, eyes facing the floor...

"Answer me!!" Did I not warn you about laying those hands on my stuff? You got nervous. "

He pauses, watching her quake fearfully as he raises his eyebrow.

"you know I'm tired of the same stunts you pull up. So today, you and Shanon would not sleep here. I have guests tonight."

She slightly clears her throat, eyes still focused on the floor, and mutters in her soft, warm, voice...

"What did I tell you about picking up my calls?"

She stayed silent, her gaze fixed on the floor, sadness etched on her face.

"Answer me! Didn't I warn you about touching my stuff?" He watched her tremble, raising an eyebrow.

"I'm tired of your same old tricks. You and Shanon aren't staying here tonight. I have guests."

Clearing her throat, she asked quietly, "What kind of guests?"

Tom glared at her, cold and unyielding. "None of your business. Just make sure you clean up and don't come back until morning. You know what will happen if you don't."

He grabbed his hat, adjusted his tie, and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

Rose sat on the couch, tears streaming down her cheeks as she looked at her bleeding finger. She thought about how her relationship with Tom had turned into a nightmare. She had once dreamed of marrying a loving man, having children, and living happily. If only she had known this future, she would have left him long ago.

He was her first love and romance, the most handsome man she had ever seen. Tall, white, and bronze-eyed man, with a long pointed nose, dark hair, and deep bedroom voice. She was also a beautiful lady with so many suitors but none caught her attention like Tom. She was so in love with him that she would make wishes to the moon at night to be his wife one day, even if he didn't love her back. She wanted so badly to have his baby.

But Tom never had his eyes on her. He had a girlfriend even more beautiful than she was and they had been together for years even if their relationship was full of breakups and mend-ups. She wished and waited patiently for the day they would permanently break.

She lived just a few minutes along the street where Tom and his girlfriend lived and they went to the same university, Cornell University, New York. She wanted to be close to Tom so badly that she befriended his girlfriend, Mia, just so she could come around to see him. Mia was a slender, brown girl with red short hair, bronze cat eyes, plump lips, and a curved, slender body. Rose and Mia became inseparable best friends because Rose was more at her beck and call. She helped Mia wash her wears, treat her hair, and bathe their pet dog Willy. She would join them for dinner and stop by at their place in the morning just so Tom could drive them all together to school.

Tom and Mia were a cute and kind couple and they took Rose like their kid sister. It got to a point where Mia talked to Tom about letting her crash at their house sometimes but he objected and they argued over it. Later on, just to make Mia happy, he agreed but began spending most of his time outside.

One night, Rose was passing by their bedroom but decided to stop to eavesdrop on their conversations as she always did. She would either eavesdrop or peep from the keyholes, admiring them and wishing it was her instead of Mia. She never wished that out of a place of hate, but out of admiration for Tom. Because she felt she would love and treat him better than the way Mia did. He was every woman's dream.

That night, while she watched, Tom backed against Mia while she pleaded to talk to him. he seemed to be displeased.

"darling talk to me. Why don't you stay home with me anymore? You stopped having my time"

Tom turned to face her in a surprised, jealous, and sad countenance.

"you forgot you replaced me. Ever since she came into this house you've never had time for me anymore. You talk about her all the time. The other day, you slept in her room leaving me here cold. Ever since she came here, it’s like I lost you..."

"Tom....baby you know it's not the way you think. I didn't fall out of love for you and I will always love you. Come on... Rose is not a guy, she's just a sweet girl who needs love too."

"Baby she has a family and she should have a boyfriend or something...tell her to leave tomorrow morning"

He said calmly and soberly in his deep voice, staring into Mia's bronze eyes with his.

"Tom!!… I can't do that! She has done nothing wrong and she's never a problem to us. baby.."

"can't you see the way she looks at me? There's something about her that disturbs my comfort zone. I'm telling you this because I want nobody to come between us. You're mine forever."

"aww...baby..."

She held him closely and kissed him. He kissed her skin and forehead. They cuddled up in their thick duvet so engrossed with each other while Rose stared and listened from the keyhole with tears in her eyes. She left the door to her room sobbing, as she could not bear all she felt that night.

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The next morning, she opened her eyes to Mia sitting beside her bed smiling beautifully,

"I made you breakfast. Sit up so you eat. I hope you slept well"

Rose sat up smiling. Mia wore a short silk gown which gratified her unclad cleavages.

"yes, I did. What about you Mia? Your hair's all messed up"

"haha....Tom wouldn't let me breathe. He was all over me last night. I've got news for you Rose"

Her eyes dilated. Rose's heart skipped a bit.

"ride on..." Rose replied as she sipped tea from her cup.

"Tom and I are having a baby...it's three months now..."

She was interrupted by Rose spitting all the tea from her mouth all over and apologizing almost immediately as she had bathed Mia in the outpour.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry Mia I didn't mean to....."

"oh, it's okay Rose.. haha...I know you're surprised right? It's a bit unexpected"

She replied lively taking a piece of disposable paper on the bedstand and cleaning up her skin.

"Is he aware?" Rose asked curiously.

Mia smiled while she spoke.

"I told him just this morning and he cried. He was so happy and he was off already to get me some things from the store. I've never seen him this happy since our four years of relationship. He wants us to get married. I hope you'll be with me all through. "

"I mean I would never wish not to be by your side Mia, but I don't think Tom may like the idea..."

Mia held her hand smiling.

"he is okay with whatever makes me happy and you make me happy. He has his insecurities too but I trust and love the both of you. Now go get yourself bathed and assist me in the kitchen, please...Tom wouldn't like to hear I'm working alone"

Rose hugged Mia. A part of her had accepted her fate and she wasn't ready to trade their relationship for her feelings. Mia was a sweet girl and deserved to be happy too. One day, she would find her love too.

Tom entered almost immediately looking all stressed and breathing heavily. He looked more handsome and energized. Dressed in fitted short jeans and a baggy top. His perfume filled the room. He had some bags in his hand and dropped some on the stool beside Rose's bed.

"Those are yours," he said calmly to Rose as she faked a smile.

"ooh baby you also got something for her, that's so sweet of you"

Mia teased getting up from Rose's bed and kissing him. Rose unwrapped the gifts and found a few pieces of jewelry and a nice dress. She smiled waiting for the couple who were still in their world. She cleared her throat and they turned to face her abruptly. Mia giggled.

"thank you, Tom"

Rose said smiling and he nodded, pulling Mia away while she stared at her gifts.

"let's go unbox what I got for you and our child"

He lifted her and she held him tightly. While they giggled in the living room.

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Everything was still evergreen in Rose's head as she continued to knit with the tears in her eyes and blood-stained fingers. She went back in time again, fast forward from when she had to witness their wedding in court, to when it was time for Mia to put to bed. Tom had become a full-fledged man. Running around to make sure the love of his life lacked nothing. She sat with him outside while Mia was in the labor room as the doctors didn't permit his entry into the labor room with Mia amidst the fits he threw.

Rose kept reassuring him everything would turn out okay and Mia would come out fine. He would stand almost immediately whenever he heard her groan in pain. He kept crying and telling Rose how guilty he felt to put her in that situation but she reassured him everything would be alright.

He would pace about, say short prayers, and call out her name softly begging her to be fine for him. Rose couldn't help but stare at the kind of man she wanted for herself. Tears fell from her eyes as she had never seen the kind of love Tom had for Mia. She was his soul mate. Almost immediately, one of the nurses came out saying Mia was short of blood and they needed a pint at once. Without hesitation, Tom offered they took his blood as he was certain, they had the same blood group. An emergency confirmatory test was run and his blood was taken. Rose held him as he was already too weak from stress and lack of food since he had refused to eat all through that day Mia went into labor pain.

A few minutes later, the noises and roam about came down with the doctor and nurses coming out of the labor room towards them. Tom sprang up approaching him.

"Doctor, how is my wife and child? Can I go and see them now?"

The doctor placed his hands on Tom's shoulders with a teary eye.

"We did all we could to save them but we lost them. She had lost a lot of blood and her child was dead. Sadly, we found out in the dying minute because I can remember her scan was okay. She kept calling your name all along Mr Tom. I fought so hard to save your wife and child for you, but I guess fate had different plans. I'm sorry"

"Doctor, what the hell am I supposed to do with sorry? You let her go and you say sorry?"

He began to shake the doctor aggressively in pain, sweat, and tears crying passionately.

"Mia meant the world to me. That was my baby right there!! What the hell am I supposed to do with sorry!!"

He pushed the doctor away and everyone in the hospital stared at him with pity. The security wanted to take him away but the doctor signalled them not to. He went into the labor room and unwrapped the white blood-stained cloth to see his heartthrob in her cold face, still so beautiful even in death. He felt the sweat on her skin that had gone pale with his fingers, as he cried so hard in pain.

"Baby we fought so hard for this. What did I ever do to deserve this....is this what we planned? Mia!!…Mia!! Baby wake up!!!!…..you wronged me Mia!!!....what did I ever do...…baby please!!!!!"

He lay on her cold body crying with blood-red eyes in pain. Rose stood a few inches apart with tears in her eyes, speechless. She wished she had died instead of Mia and her baby just so Tom and Mia would be happy again. She went to him when she felt Tom had cried enough and sat beside him where he sat on the floor in weakness below the bed where Mia and his baby lay. For ten minutes, they were silent and Rose broke it. That was the first time she was going to have a real conversation with Tom.

"you know I wish death took me instead. You and Mia were a mystery. Two bronze-eyed beautiful lovers, always in their world, and for the first time they made the most beautiful child I'd ever seen, death with its sting came. She was the sweetest and most beautiful I'd ever seen...."

Tom was too weak to talk as he stared helplessly at the floor. He said weakly,

"I could give up my life for Mia, I could kill for her. She made me a man. I had no eyes for any other woman that's why fate decided to punish me. I couldn't live a day without the love of my life. She was my bloodstream and she had my baby...…..she left me all alone....who would call me baby, cuddle me up when I'm cold....wake up early to cook great meals.....she was the purest heart, my answered prayer.."

"I'm sorry Tom. She fought so hard to make you happy too. But I believe right now, she wouldn't want you to weep any farther. Be strong for her, be good, and never change from the man she used to know."

"I'm afraid I have lost my soul mate and myself. I may never be the same again"

"let's go, Tom, it will be fine"

"NO....go home, Rose. Thank you so much. But I want to stay a while with my wife and child. An alone time with them."

Rose tried to object but he signaled her politely with his hands and she left. She got to their home that day and it felt cold and sad especially as she stared at Mia's portraits and drawings which Tom had made. She went to her room, picked up all her belongings and she went to their room again, sniffing the bed sheets as tears fell from her eyes. She wanted that one last smell that reminded her of her favorite couple, she sniffed her favorite silk gown and more tears fell from her eyes. She could swear that fragrance would never leave her memory even until old age. She went to Willy the cute puppy, it was Mia's favorite too, and she patted it.

"take care of your owner too. He's all you've got now"

Willy seemed to have understood her too as it was unusually calm.

Meanwhile, Tom still stayed mourning and sulking beside Mia.

"If I had known this kind of day would come, I wouldn't have gotten you pregnant. Regardless you're still the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, never got to tell you how much of a hero you are to me and I will love you forever. How I wish you stayed a bit longer to make more beautiful babies for me and come out strong...now I wish I loved you harder. Goodbye, baby. Rest my darling. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you this time. It was all my fault this happened."

He left back to the house the next morning but Rose was also gone, not entirely gone because she always watched from a distance. He called Mia's family to break the news to them and they also came to check on him.

Forward to the burial a month later, Rose came clad in black too. She was amongst the congregation and spotted Tom with his friends and family beside him. He looked like he had struggled to heal. When it was time for him to speak, exuding a great masculine aura. He looked so handsome in black and his hair neatly done. His bronze eyes tried so hard to restrain the tears but his deep calm voice couldn't deny the pain.

After the service, during the exchange of pleasantries which she could see how he faked smiling, she approached him to say hi. She stood behind him, tapping his broad shoulders, he turned to meet her.

"rose!! I never knew you came. Mia would be delighted if she was here."

He smiled innocently as she also fought to restrain her tears, she felt pity for him.

"how have you been and where have you been?"

She managed to say,

"Ohh, I moved out of the house, I couldn't stay. Everything reminded me of her. Sold Willy off too.

"sounds fair...I figured because I never saw you again. Be fine okay"

He smiled and replied,

"you too Rose and always remember, Mia loved you like her sister she never had. She's the reason I still talk to you. You should thank Mia for seeing the good in you when no one else did"

Rose nodded and smiled,

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"Mum!!! For crying out loud you scared me. You got your fingernail bleeding and here you are! Lost in the space of your thoughts. You didn't even notice me cleaning you up!"

Love is pain

"Mum!!! For crying out loud you scared me. You got your fingernail bleeding and here you are! Lost in the space of your thoughts and smiling sheepishly. You didn't even notice me cleaning you up!"

Shanon interrupted her mother's thoughts.

"Oh baby, thank you so much I just got trapped in oblivion. Your dad was a really good and sweet ma..."

"not to you!"

Shanon cut her short to her surprise and she also immediately countered Shanon.

"what do you mean? Your dad is a bad man?"

"I don't mean that mama, but that man treats you like a dustbin. He isn't your soulmate. Whatever reason you married him got to be a dumb one..."

"Hey, kid! Watch your mouth. You know nothing about love.."

"yeah?? But I sure know my boyfriend won't treat me like that. "

Rose kept calm as she could see the rage in her daughter's eyes. She called unto Shanon to sit on her legs.