Title: I believe the child.
~Aubrey's pov~
"Aunt"
"Yes, darling" I turned and smiled at him. "Why is my dad mean to my mom?" Tyler asked. "Oh. Baby. He isn't mean to your mom. They just had issues but i bet they will resolve it okay?" He nodded.
"I'm afraid of that man who always hurt my mummy"
I stopped driving immediately. "Which man?" I asked. "The man who beats mummy at home. " I smiled reassuring Tyler that no one beats his mom. A child at this age isn't suppose to witness any domestic violence at home. And why was Anna beaten in front of her child is another story altogether. I'll have to speak to Anna about this.
I dropped Tyler at school and drove to college.
I walked inside Mr. Houston's office. "Aubrey, finally you're back"
"So much has happened these past months. I'm really sorry"
"You don't have to apologize. You are one of my brilliant students in class, i just felt it was necessary to know if your grades are dropping."
"I'm really thankful to you, Mr. Houston" He smiled and his eyes settled on my ring. "You're married?" I nodded. "That seems to answer my question"
"It's been 7 months now."
"See me before you go home. You have to a lot to do"
~Anna's pov~
I walk into the grocery, and bought food stuffs and beverages, just as Aubrey wanted. I walk through the aisle to the grocer who packed them up. I payed him and made to go, then i felt a sharp pain at my abdomen, and I looked down. "Anna?." I heard my name and looked up.
Zoe was standing before me, a kid by her side and a big bump in front of her. "Zoe." I shamelessly called her. There was silence between us and no one spoke. Zoe was my childhood friend. The only friend I had growing up.
"How have you been?. You've changed alot." I looked down at myself and shrugged. This was not me. I had emaciated so badly at a diseased person. "I have to go now. See you another time." She told me and walked away. Zoe had sworn not to have anything to do with me, i missed her, I missed my only friend.
I felt the pains again and i looked down my thighs, i watched blood running down my legs. I gasped embarrassedly and tried to walk but my legs were too heavy to move. I fell down and screamed in pain, i was oblivious of what was happening around me, i felt dizzy and all i knew before blacking out was feeling strong arms carrying me up.
~Aubrey's pov~
I just submitted the sixth test for today and was my way out of the school building when my phone rang. I checked the caller I.d and found out that it was Rowan who's calling me.
Me: "Missing me already?." I smiled.
He hesitated for awhile.
Rowan: "Please pick Tyler at school, I'm at the hospital now" My heart stopped beating.
Me: "Hospital?. What happened to you?, are you alright?"
Rowan: "Don't panic. I'm fine, it's Anna. She was just rushed to the hospital now. I don't know what happened, I think she'll be fine"
I got into my car and drove to Tyler's school. I rushed inside immediately and found Tyler on a bench with bruises on his face. "Tyler" I ran.
"Jesus Christ. Look at you, who did this to your clothes?" He bent down and didn't say any word.
"Are you his mom?" A female voice says behind. I turned and saw his teacher. "I'm his aunt."
"Please come with me" She said and left. I followed up quickly. We entered into the office and met other couple. "Is she his mother?huh?" The woman among them rose up and rushed me quickly. "How dare your son do this to my daughter?, how dare she?"
"What did he do?. Relax"
"Relax?. You said relax when my daughter is fighting for her life at the hospital, and you said relax."
I was speechless. How could a 2 years and 11months do such?. Her husband suddenly drag her to a seat..
"Sit" The lady said and i sat down.
"Tyler Adams?" She asked. "Yes. I'm Mrs. Aubrey Adams. He's my step son"
"I taught you're his aunt. " His teacher asked. "That's not necessary, madam. What crime did he commit?"
"Tyler had a fight with this girl. He hit her really bad that she was at the verge of death"
"Jesus. Tyler is two years and 11months"
"What?. How could he do such a thing?" I was dumbfounded.
"Children of his age could barely talk. Whatever you're doing in front of this child, should be stopped instantly. This only could be caused by home violence. Is your husband hitting his wife?"
"No. Not at all. " Then a quick flashback came into my memory. 'This man beats mummy up'
"I'm extremely sorry for what ever happened between my child and yours. I'll compensate by paying her hospital bills" I pleaded. The woman looked at me vigorously.
"I don't care how you do it, i want my child out unharmed." She said, got up and left in anger. The husband looked at me and went after her without a word.
"What about abuse?. Is he beaten up?"
"No. " I replies quickly as they suspiciously look at me. Anna loves Tyler very much. She couldn't be beating Tyler. " Look, a lot has happened in my home, i just wanted to make sure there's no problem. I'll send the money later."
I stood up and walk out of the office. I walk to Tyler who i bet has been like this and only raised his face to look at me. "Tyler, darling. What exactly happened?"
"Aunt. She broke my pencil"
"And you beat her up. It is so so bad to beat a woman. Never you raise your hand on a woman"
"But aunt. That man beats my mummy a lot"
"Beats your mummy?, who's this man by the way?" I asked . He didn't give me a reply. I carried him up and we walked together to my car. "Daddy beats mummy too"
I ignored him and put him down inside my car. I squat in front of him. "Your daddy made a mistake. Do you hear?" He nodded. "A man who beats a woman is known as a coward. So now, I'll punish you, because you're not getting chocolates as your father promised."
I dropped Tyler at home and rushed to the hospital. I saw Rowan speaking with the doctor.
"What's the problem?, is it that bad?" The doctor looked at me. "And she is?"
"My wife"
"Come to my office " He said and started walking into his office, we followed behind immediately.
"What happened to Anna?"
"She has vaginal yeast infections" I and Rowan exchanged eye contact.
"Explain doctor. " Rowan says.
"Yeast infections are itchy in your vagina."
"Where the heck did she get that?" I shouted.
"There's something else you must know.."
"And what is it?" I asked. He hesitated for a little while. He looked from i to Rowan. "Anna is emotional troubled. She's in pain" I look at Rowan. "It's not me"
"I know but you have to forgive her. She's really traumatize."
"Aubrey, I'm the one traumatized here"
"Give up, Rowan.Don't argue with me. " I turned to the doctor. "Thank you, doctor. I'll make sure to take care of her from now."
We walked into our car. "Aubrey, what's bothering you?"
"How did you know?" I asked him.
"I can feel that" He replied.
"Rowan. It's Anna"
"Don't start "
"It's not that. Tyler fought with one of her classmates and beats her to a hospital bed"
"What?. Where's he?"
"Not only that, Rowan. The child keeps saying a man beats his mummy."
"A child is a child. They imagine things a lot"
"No. A child says what he sees"
"Not in the case of Tyler. He barely talks properly."
"Tyler who beats his classmates, knows what he's doing. It's best we find out who beats Anna"
He ignited the car and drove off. "Maybe he saw that in the past. Anna was bad to everyone. Who knows who she hurt before?, you can't tell"
"I believe the child. And if you're not gonna help me, I'll do that myself"