Saving Maribella

Chapter 1 : Maribella

She gasped and jerked her body backwards as she opened her eyes. She heard a loud breaking sound, but all she could think of now was Bella. As she looked in her surroundings, she gradually felt herself relaxed after seeing her daughter Maribella standing near her bed, smiling. 

She looked at the floor, there she saw her bedside lamp, broken. And she already knew who did it.

“Maribella,” she called her.

“Sowi, Mama,” the little girl apologized looking down and feeling sorry for what she did. 

Serene smiled, and patted her side. "Come here," she said to her, so the little girl approached her. "What did you do my love?"

“Bella, don’t know why the lamp fell, Bella just wanted to give you a mowning kiss. I’m so sowi, Mama.”

“It’s okay, Love.  Just be careful next time, okay?” Serene said before hugging Maribella. 

“Otay, Mama.”

"Now, where's my morning kiss?" Serene asked so Bella's smile widened and kissed her.

“Mo-morning Mama Wakey-wakey!”

Smiles and giggles filled the room. Bella laughed because Serene's also kissing her, giving raspberries on her belly, tickling her. 

“Mama! Stop!”

“Good morning my baby girl, my sweet Maribella,”

When she had Maribella, she could see things with a different perspective. Motherhood has made her a more compassionate person. She can notice small things more—the simple, beautiful everyday moments of life. 

As she watched Maribella, she noticed the rapid changes of time. She can still remember that she was pregnant with Bella. The first time she wore maternity clothes, the time she watched her body change and grow to accommodate her, when she experienced the crazy ride of pregnancy hormones alone. The first time she nursed, the first time she puréed food for someone, the first time she planned a first birthday party. Her heart was the first heart she created. And her heart's beat is the first that Bella ever heard. 

He caressed Bella's face and stared at it the most.

When she looks into her eyes, she sees such hope for humanity, and for the type of world they have. A world that should be filled with kindness for everything and everyone, whether it is a smile, a simple gesture or simply being there. This is what you bring to the world. A world filled with compassion for the vulnerable and weak. 

Bella, she was so young, so small but yet she taught her so much about being a person but most of all being a mom. 

Maribella changed her. In the best possible way. She’s fairly confident, she was a pretty good person before having her...but she knows that she is a better person now because of her.

She saved her, saved her from the pain and suffering that comes too easily in this cold and bitter world. With just one smile from her, it can ease the anger that has filled her heart for so many years. For all the times that she felt worthless, and had no purpose in life, just one kiss from Bella, she realized that her life is beautiful. And everything will be okay because she has her. 

“Mama, Bella said… morning already.”

“I know, but Mama is still sleepy.” 

“Mama, let’s go… Bella, h-hungry,” Bella answered, touching her belly and pouting her lips.

Serene opened her eyes again and turned to see the time. The digital alarm’s brilliant dial read 8:33 a.m. 

“Oh my God! I’m sorry, Baby.” 

She overstepped. She was looking for a job last night. Since their expenses are growing and she needs to earn enough for Bella’s future.

“It’s otay, Mama, Let’s go downstairs. Bella want’s pancakes,” Bella answered, now she’s holding Serene’s hand as they went downstairs to get some breakfast.

She makes Bella sit in her high chair then she prepares the ingredients to be used in making pancakes. As the pan was on the stove, she looked out the window. It was unavoidable to observe the beautiful sunshine and view in the apartment building where they live.

We’re okay, no one knows we’re here. 

She said to herself while looking at the busy streets of Acropolis. A bustling city outside with skyscrapers and never-ending traffic. Inside her apartment is a place that is pleasant and cheerful. The place that she called home for the past 4 years.

Staying in Acropolis was the start of a new life for her, A chance to get away from her past. 4 years ago, her parents were brutally murdered right in front of her eyes. So she fled before those men could kill her and the baby she was carrying that time. She fled without knowing what life she’ll have, alone with a child. 

This is the place where she raised Bella by herself. 

Being a single mother to Bella is not that easy, She honestly doesn't know how she did it, how she found the strength, how she endured both physically and emotionally, how she survived. It takes a lot of work, dedication, and love, but most of all, it requires a strong sense of determination and confidence raising Bella alone. 

But the moments of sheer joy, the accomplishments, the tender moments, watching her sleeping curled up, content little body at night, knowing that you provide everything that she needed, looking at her and you can say that she is happy, we are happy even if it’s just the two of us is worth it and a hard-earned victory.

After cooking the pancakes, she immediately placed it on Maribella’s plate.

“You want milk, my darling?” she asked.

Bella, nodded. “Yes, milk pwease and we’ll pray.”

Serene chuckled as she saw the excitement on Bella’s face, ready to eat her pancakes. 

She poured some milk on Bella’s zippy cup and placed it beside Bella. 

“Pour some on yours, Mama. Milk is good for Mama too.”

She poured some milk on her cup and then they held hands and both recited the prayer.  

“God is great, and God is good, and we thank God for our food. With God's hand we must be fed, give us Lord, our daily Bread, Amen.”

"Let's eat, Mom!" Maribella said, and began to eat her pancakes.

While they were having breakfast, the door of their apartment suddenly opened. Ace immediately went in and greeted them.

"Hi, Good Morning, everyone!" Ace greeted them with a smile.

Bella immediately stood up in her chair and approached Ace for a hug.

“Hi, Aunt Ace! Bella misses you! Let’s go eat b-breakfast. Mama cooked some yummy pancakes for us, ” Bella said, then took Ace's hand and brought her to the kitchen.

"Hi, Ace, Thank you for coming." Serene said, giving her a plate.

“You know that just one call from me and I will come here right away. It's so fun to see this cute baby of yours. So even every day I am with her? I won't get tired, ” Ace said while smiling at her. “So what's up? What will you tell me? ”

They both looked at Maribella who was just quiet and busy with her food.

“Baby,  just eat there, okay? I'll just talk to Aunt Ace.”

"Okay, Mama."

They moved far from Bella, enough that she couldn't hear them. 

Serene sighed before looking straight at Ace, seriously. "Ace, I found a job," she said.

Ace frowned, “Wait, where? Are you sure about that? ”

Serene nodded. “I’m sure about this Ace, I don't need any requirements or clearance for me to start because I will only sell vegetables in the market. The income is not big enough but at least profitable.”

Ace shook his head and held Serene's hand. “Serene, you know I don't mind helping you when it comes to finances. I’m happy to help you and Bella, The important thing is that you and Bella are safe,"

Ace helped her get out of her old life. And since then Ace hasn’t really let her down. She covers all their expenses. Paying for the apartment where Bella and her living. She is also Bella's doctor so they have no problem spending money for Bella's treatment.

”But, Ace. It's really too much, and I'm ashamed of myself. 4 years, you didn't leave me and Maribella. I owe you 4 years of helping me, I don't even know how I can repay you for what you did to us,” Serene said with tears in her eyes.

“Serene, it’s nothing. I don’t care even if you don’t pay me. Besides, you worked on it too,”

"In what way? With the occasional laundry and cleaning your house? Ace, look at this. Is there a laundress or maid living in such a nice apartment? No, it's just me because you helped Bella and me so much, ”

Ace hugged Serene, he even caressed her cheek. “Serene, I am doing this because you are like a sister to me, or like a child. And Bella? She's like my granddaughter. You are my family Serene. And I will do anything just to help you.”

Serene's tears flowed again at what Ace said. Yet Ace still understood her.

“But I understand you, if that's what you want I'll let you do it. Just be careful, okay?. Don't worry about Bella, I'll take care of her when you leave for work. ”

Serene's smile widened “Really? Thank you very much, Ace. ”

“You are welcome, Serene."