Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

The entire room felt like a storm has passed. Nurse Daisy wiped her sweat in a towel and properly tucked in Jerlina. "Poor thing," she mumbled fixing the IV drip. "She must have loved that baby... She could feel she has lost it without the need for us to tell her."

"Daisy!" Dr. Kruger admonished her for speaking too much, but the harshness was reeled back with a trace of familiarity and affection. After all, in this little clinic, everyone is considered family.

"I know, Doctor. You're mad she called your son a monster. I wonder why he has nothing to say either when his baby-"

"Daisy!" Dr. Kruger pursed her lips, folding her hands on her chest and Daisy sighed.

"Fine, I'll stop speaking. She reminds me of my daughter, that's all."

"Every girl reminds you of your daughter!" Dr. Kruger shook her head with a smile. "Inform me when she wakes up. If she is hysteric still, we'll have to look for psychiatric consultation."

"Since there are no other patients here, I'll stay with her," Daisy pulled a chair and sat by the side and placed her hand over Jerlina's hand. "For this girl to still suffer... I thought after she left this place, she'd found her escape. It is a pity..." Daisy sighed.

Dr. Kruger, who was about to leave the room stopped. "Do you know her, Daisy?"

"She used to live in Dayton and went to school there. Her step-mother is my neighbor's second cousin's friend. I heard she's not a good person. Last I heard, this girl's father died and this one tried really hard to get out of here... Since I didn't hear much after that, I thought she really got away from this sh*thole. To think she'd be brought back in this state..."

"Step-mother? Isn't this girl the daughter of that guy who owned that glass workshop? He had another daughter too. That woman is not her mother?" Dr. Kruger knitted her brows.

"No! Have you seen her ugly face? She's the step-mother. This one's mother died when she was very young. Her father later married that witch. He accepted that witch and her daughter and in turn his daughter was treated cruelly by that witch. He was too good to do anything and this one was too good to complain about the cruelty she suffered... Even now that witch prances around..." Daisy went on.

Dr. Kruger was confused if Daisy is speaking about someone else but it seems like this is the real story of Jerlina. To think the girl she once talked to and admired as a strong girl to have such a sad story... She was surprised.

"Your precious son didn't bring her home? I know you don't like to gossip, doctor. But shouldn't you have learned a little about your daughter-in-law? At least about her family?" Daisy was not at all pleased.

"Daughter-in-law?" Dr. Kruger almost dropped the pen in her hand.

Daisy saw the doctor was truly stunned.

What did that boy do this time?

"He signed as her husband in the admission form. I thought the baby was-"

"Call me when she wakes up," Dr. Kruger left the room interjecting her and closed the door.

She searched the hallways for her son, but since she couldn't find him, she realized he must have gone home to change.

Or did he go to the wedding reception? That brat!

He is married? Since when? That baby was his? That explains why he was so distressed!

Why didn't he tell me?

Deep in her thoughts, she walked to her room. It scared the life out of her seeing the desolate figure sitting on the floor by her chair. The bloodstains on his clothes had dried out making them stiff and he was staring blankly at the wall in front of him. His hair was messy and she noticed his cheeks were red even with the thick beard covering half his face.

"This is the second time you're bringing her all bloodied. And you signed as her husband? Care to explain?"

She asked and there was no answer from him. It seemed like he didn't even notice her entering the room.

"Jeremy, it will be okay." She petted his hair and he reacted a little.

"Mom," he looked up and held her hand. He then buried his face in her hand and started to weep. "I screwed up badly."

She is a mother and seeing her grown son shaking and in tears, her heart sank. She squatted beside him and rubbed his back. She assumed the child was his.

"It might be hard for now, but it will get better. She is still young and you-"

"I killed her baby, mom. I- me... I killed her baby." He started slapping his cheeks and Dr. Kruger gasped and stood up.

Her baby? Killed? What is he saying?

"What happened?" she stopped him from hitting himself and sat by his side. She knew he is not someone to bring hurt to someone especially this one. Last time he brought that girl to her, he was hurt badly, but he pushed himself and brought her to safety.

Even today, the way he carried her and how desperately he pleaded her to save the baby, she knew he wouldn't have done it.

Or was it guilt?

Silently, she sat beside him to let him compose himself. She has seen him doing a lot of things but she has never seen him this broken.

"Doctor, there is a patient in labor," One of the staff knocked the door.

Dr. Kruger took a glance at TJ who seemed a little better and walked out in larger strides.

The woman who was in labor was already on the verge of giving birth and since it was her second delivery, she gave birth within half an hour after her arrival to the hospital.

"There are some members of the Flying Snakes gang lurking outside. There are a lot and they might cause trouble." Daisy who got out for a walk, informed Dr. Kruger after she returned.

"I saw a tiger tattoo on Mr. Falcon's back," Mr.Kruger shrugged. He was stoned and yet he somehow drove his wife here safely for childbirth. He must be from their rival gang and they could be here for him.

"Well, listen... The cops are here. They won't cause trouble anymore." Daisy sighed in relief hearing the police sirens. "And Jerlina still seems disturbed. I think she'd wake up sooner than we thought."

"Stay with her," Dr. Kruger walked back to her office. She heard loud laughter in the room where Mrs. Falcon was and walked there.

"No shouting! And no drinking either. If you're going to shout, I'm throwing you out! Every. One. Of. You" she pointed her finger at the tall and sturdy men all heavily inked everywhere in their body and some even in their face.

She had no fear facing those people. People who belong in various gangs are very common here.

The Mercy Clinic Dr. Kruger runs a charity clinic and usually those who come here are gang members who cannot afford healthcare in private hospitals. There is no proper public hospital in the area since the last time the government planned to build a hospital, a war between the gangs broke as all the gangs wanted the hospital to be built in their turf.

So the government washed its hands on that project.

Since the Mercy Clinic is the only healthcare provider in the area, there is a tacit understanding between the gangs and this place is a land of peace for all the gangs. No one will start a fight in the clinic or do anything illegal in here.

Plus they won't dare to mess with the mother of the Alpha of the 'Sapphire Wolves' gang. Her son is the owner of the land this clinic is built on.

"Yes, ma'am. We'll celebrate outside," one kid who looked barely eighteen showed his yellowed teeth and they all scuffled out without even looking back.