What is a father? Do you know where to find him? Why is he not with us? Michael ask one question after another as he wondered what the word "father," means. Michael never see or felt the love of his dad. Not even the shadow of his dad that would help recognize who his father was. His mom, can hardly open her mouth before she could answer him. She finds it an easy questions but why is it hard for her to explain? Where will she start to tell her son what a father means, or where can he find him and why he is not with them? But the innocent child is waiting eagerly for her honest reply. "Mom, are you okay?"Then before his mom could speak, he asked again another valid question," Mom, are we not family if I dont have a father? My teacher said, that a family is composed of a father, mother, son or a daughter. So, dont I belong to a family because I have no father, mom! Does my father knew that? I wish my father knows that it is important for the family to have a father."These lines rings a bell on Melissa'sear.She could no longer stand the next question her son would ask again. She felt her throat was being blocked by something that she can't swallow which makes it hard for her to speak the truth for him.
"I think its time for you to go to bed. One day you will know the answer to your questions, son. Remember its your soccer game compitition tomorrow! You need to have more energy, so you better go to sleep early, okay?"was all she could tell her son while trying to control her tears from falling. "Yes mom." and together they said these lines," Early to bed, early to rise, makes Michael healthy and wise! And they both laugh. "Good night son."as she kissed and hugged him tightly. "Good night mom and sweet dreams" But as she closed the door, she can still hear Michael saying," "Mom, I'll pray to God that my father will come back soon!" The words echoes as she slowly closed the door. At the back of the door, Melissa holds her breath and covered her mouth with both her hands before she could cry out loud. How could she tell her son the truth about his father? She felt numbness all over her body, while thinking of what to tell Michael when he will ask again. She remembered what her mom would always tell her," Melissa, sometimes truth hurts, but its better to be hurt to know the truth than be fooled with something nice but all lies." but she wondered if she she will tell him that soon. " I dont want to fool my son. One mistake is enough to make my life miserable again."She thought.
Then she remembered what happened some years ago. As she was trying to get some sleep, her thoughts brings her back to her memory lane- when everything was still right and simple. At seventeen, she is young and pretty lady. She has long, thick, shiny, black hair, a heart shape lips that adds beauty to her lovely and attractive face. Her dream is to become the riches woman in their hometown, one day. But how to become one, she doesnt know yet. Until one day an opporutinty came. She met a wealthy couple in the hospital while visiting a friend who was sick. The couple have the chance to talked to her and invited her to a snack at a nearby canteen. While the talk is in progress, the couple offered her something that could mean, fulfilling her dream. They wanted her to be the surrogate mom for their child. They wanted her to become pregnant until she delivers the baby after nine months. A process where the woman's egg is being inseminated with the man's sperm and transfer to the woman's uterus or carrying it to term. The wife explained to her that she doesn't need to sleep with her husband. Melissa cannot believe what she heard. She was caught between her ambition and being pregnant at a young age without a man or a husband. She cannot imagine how her mom and dad would accept such fact. But she is determined to become rich.
The meeting with her new friends(the couple), became frequent as they discussed the pros and cons of the process. Until, Melissa decided to have the baby in exchange of the huge amount of money. Nobody will know anyway, except for the couple and the lady physician who will look after her during the pregnancy, she thought.
to be continued...
