Hi There 😊

I know it is Wednesday, and we are headed for a new weekend but I am going to have to post @mariannewest's #WeekendFreeWrite from last weekend. If this is new to you, first this is really fun to do, because there are 3 prompts, and they are revealed as you finish the last one. This is what came out of the prompts for me.

Soon, she felt sure of her husband. She knew his dark face and the extent of its passion.

She wrapped her arms around him breathing in his scent. But her niggling feeling kept nudging her; something was not right. She stepped back but he would not let her.

"Hang on!! Relax...Lily's in bed. Let's just hang out here for a bit" he said pulling her closer, as if he could.

She tensed, unsure because it wasn't like him. He was always up for checking on Lily. Why was he acting edgy? He felt and sounded rehearsed. Should she be worried?

"I think I heard Lily. Let me check on her", she hoped he would let her go. But he continued to hold on. They stood there for a few more seconds in an awkward embrace. She was starting to get restless.

And then, for real, she heard Lily as if Lily had heard her prayers. She tried to pull away. But he still wouldn't let her go.

"I'm sure you heard her too... Come on, let me go check on her!! Why are you acting so strange?", she was whispering but surely he could hear her irritation.

He let her go, but he was right behind her as she walked towards Lily's room. Her mind was doing summersaults. Should she go in. They had only last week discussed not entertaining all of Lily's fussing, but right now she needed an out from Ben.

She lingered at the door. She listened but couldn't hear anything. Lily probably went back to sleep. Ben put his arm on her shoulder and turned her around to face him.

He nodded towards the stairs, and tugged at her to follow him. Now he wants to go downstairs? What's up with this man!! He was just not himself.

Let your house do the dirty work.

"What's going on Ben? Stop playing... You know I don't like surprises!! I want to go to bed!" she said, under her breath.

He sighed!! "They are downstairs waiting.. Come..."

They? Who's they? The house was in a mess as Lily had kept her very busy all day. "You know I don't like anyone coming without letting me know first. The house is in a mess!!"

Now she was really annoyed. She could tell he was exasperated but she didn't care. She could tell he was losing his patience. Well tough luck.

"Let your house do the dirty work?" he said with a half smile. Like he was in on a secret.

"Ben, you are really driving me crazy. What's that even supposed to mean? Let your house do the dirty work!! You think that wouldn't be a dream come true?", she started laughing hysterically. She couldn't control it even though she was worried it would wake Lily.

"Shhhh... they'll hear you. Calm down. Let's just go downstairs"

She had so many things she wanted to say to him right now. But there were people downstairs! Who? She was clueless. All she knew was that this better be good.

"But first, let me just check on Lily", and before he could stop her she had dashed for the door and opened it. She stepped in and looked at the bed in surprise. The bed was empty. The room was empty.

helping Charlene to prepare some of the meal

"She's not here!! Ben, do you know where Lily is Ben? SHE's NOT HERE!." Her worse nightmares were coming true. Her baby was missing. Her husband was acting strange. And there were people downstairs. This felt like a page from a horror movie.

"She's downstaris helping Charlene to prepare some of the meal."

She's only 5, why would she be up at this time to help Charlene
What is Charlene dong back here.
Charlene left hours ago... in fact, she told her she was going back to her parents for the weekend.
So many questions crashing into each other. Her head was going to explode.

"Ben, you are driving me mad. Move!!!" She pushed. him and started running downstairs. Ben was right behind her.

"Hey, calm down" he said, as he tried to slow her down.

Calm down? Maybe she wasn't the crazy one.. he was!! Is this the man she married? The father of her kid? The only thing she knew for a fact was Lily was her child. But everything else was a blur. Like it belonged to someone else. She could feel the hysterics rising as she flew down the stairs ready to explode.

"SURPRISE!!" the lights went on. She saw a sea of faces. Charlene stepped up with a big grin that was already slowly fading away. Lily was in her arms. She was giggling.

"Surprise Mummy!! Happy Birthday!!"

What? What?!!

It's not her birthday. "Ben? What's going on? It's not my birthday!!. My birthday was...."

She couldn't remember when her birthday was. Ever since coming out of the coma, she had many missing pieces, and right now she couldn't for the life of her remember when her birthday was.

She wanted everyone to leave but instead she walked up to Charlene and took Lily from her. Maybe hugging her baby would calm her beating heart, her racing thoughts.

She then looked around, at the people who looked at her with... pity.... yes! that's what it is mixed with love and compassion. They were her family and friends or she had been told many, many times over the last 6 months. All wearing party hats, holding balloons and favours. Definitely a scene from a horror movie. They looked at her waiting for her next move.

In her head she imagined screaming "GET OUT!!!". She forced a smile and as she held Lily closer.

"Hi guys!! I can't believe I forgot my own birthday"

Hope you liked that! Wonder what your story would have turned out like? Well you can do your own by visiting @mariannewest either for the #dailyfreewrites or the #weekendfreewrites.

’Til we meet again over text, pics, videos, maybe even coffee -Steem On!!