Melody for a Memory | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: Melody for a Memory | Previous Challenge Entry
By Corinne Smelker
04/09/20
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After peace descended in the room, I looked down at this new human being, who just two hours before had never seen the light of day.
“Well, little one. It is just me and you. What do you think of that?”
She stretched out an arm, and immediately I was reminded of how my abdomen would distort in tandem to her movements. “So that’s what you were doing in there? Didn’t have much room at the end, did you?”

After the whirlwind of activity of the preceding 18 hours, this time of quiet was heavenly. In the background I heard the tinkle of the bell signaling the arrival of a new life, and the sound of delighted laughter.

Today heralded a new beginning. After he had come home drunk, again, and beat me up, again, I fled. I couldn’t rely on family and friends, they’d shop me to him quicker than Clark Kent could change into Superman. So I took a Greyhound and traveled as far as my money could take me. It was then I discovered that I had fled with more than my belongings that night. I was pregnant.

Now my desire to succeed, away from him, went into overdrive. I started working at the local McDonalds because they offered employees a free meal on their shift. I found a cheap motel and made a little home for myself. I went to the library and used their computers to sign up for computer coding classes – anything to get some skills.

I had excelled in computers in high school and even started studying coding at my community college when I met him and he swept me off my feet. It was the same old story, I was no different to thousands of women who think they’ve met Mr. Perfect, when instead he is Mr. Perfidious. And he had my family and friends hoodwinked too.

Just before I came into the hospital to give birth I was offered a job as a developer. They didn’t mind that I was single, pregnant and getting my life together. They were impressed with my abilities and were willing to work with me. My heart sang with joy when I got the offer! It meant that soon I’d have enough money to move into an apartment, get a car, create a fresh start…

The baby stirred in my arms, bringing me out of my reverie. I stared down, still incredulous that she was mine. She was so perfect. Her rosebud mouth puckered and her almost invisible eyebrows drew down in a frown. I gently touched her cheek, and kissed her head. Suddenly I realized I was humming ‘Unchained Melody’ by The Righteous Brothers.

“Melody. Your name is Melody because you are the music to my life.”

Melody squirmed in my arms and I swore I saw a fleeting smile cross her lips.

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