I returned to my work and my mind wandered to all that had happened recently. In the past two months, I had dyed my hair from black to blonde and I had started dressing Jaime like a girl, and telling people that her name was Mia. Our names were now Mina and Mia, which seemed fitting.
All of this disguise was necessary because I didn't want to be found. I didn't want to be connected to Jasamina McCully and my baby to Jaimie McCully.
Sometimes I wondered how the drunk was doing after giving us his house. Where would he stay or would he continue wandering the streets? I guessed it was the latter.
He was a blessing in disguise for both me and baby Jaime. If he hadn't helped me, I don't know where we would be now. Probably back in the hands of my abusive husband, Dale.
If it wasn't for him, we would have starved to death. "I hope you're well, wherever you are," I whispered.
I looked at my baby sleeping peacefully in his bassinet and smiled calmly. We will keep on surviving, I vowed, before returning to my task of organizing the books.
An hour later, I'm giving Jaimie his evening bath, smiling at how he's growing so quickly. He was giggling and playing with the soap.
He looked up at me and flashed his gums without teeth in them. "Yaiii!"
"Yaii!" I shot back, as I ran my hand all over his little body. I splashed some water on him and he laughed out loud.
"You love playing with water, don't you?" I said, splashing more water on him.
I've never seen a child who loves water more than him. Not that I've seen many children, of course. I'm an only child of my parents and I'm just twenty years old.
I brought my mind back to the present and stared at my child affectionately. "Will you want me to put you back in the tub if I take you out again?"
"Yaii!" He beat his hand in the water, splashing it.
I laughed a little and carried him out of the water. The smile cleared from his face, and he made cooing sounds as if in complaint.
"You'll be in the water again soon enough, young man," I promised him as we entered the bedroom that was starting to feel like home.
In our two months of being here, I found out that this house previously belonged to a woman, or two women. When I was cleaning, I came across two photographs of beautiful young women, one older than the other. Sisters. The photograph made me wonder what happened to them and how it all connects to the drunk.
Jaimie babbled, bringing my attention back to him. "You can't eat your socks, young man," I said, taking the little socks away from his grasp.
We've settled into a routine these days, always going to work in the mornings, stacking up files and rearranging books. Then, taking breaks to breastfeed Jaimie and play with him.
I'm getting used to being called Mina. It sounds normal to me now. I can't believe I'll ever get a chance to live freely like this. I started making friends just to fit into society and not draw attention to myself.
I don't get too close to them to avoid being asked personal questions because I know that the same people who put on friendly facades will be the ones that'll sell my identity for money if they ever find out who I am, or whose wife I am.
The next day, I prepared Jaimie and myself for work, then took time studying myself in the mirror. I noticed I've gained a little weight and my skin's color is getting better.
The bruises on my body have faded too, only a few scars and dull marks remained. At least they were all hidden.
Dale takes great care not to beat me anywhere it'll show because he doesn't want the world to know the man he really is behind that gentleman and caring facade of his.
I stared at my hair through the mirror. The dye I put on my hair is fading off, I'll have to redo it when I get back in the evening.
I carried my baby and headed to work, happy and coping. I wish I could remain this way with my past behind me, but I know it's not possible. Dale and my parents would never give up on the search.
They'll keep increasing the money to attract more people so they could look for me. I sighed, pushing the memories aside. Thinking about them alone has turned is enough to turn my mood sour and I don't want that
No one can ruin this day for me. Not even them.
The library was unexpectedly crowded today, likely due to a popular bestseller in town. Throughout the morning, I was busy attending to the needs of the visitors, but by the afternoon, the number of people had decreased, allowing me to take a break. I sat down and prepared for some personal time.
A blonde woman approached me and said, "Excuse me, ma'am. Can you please get me this book?"