THREADS OF REDEMPTION

It was another beautiful morning, Claire woke up to see Daniel sitting close to her, the look on his face wasn't a happy one at all.

"I don't have the strength for his many questions and complaint again this morning, I'm already thinking of a hectic day ahead" she mumbled to herself.

"Good morning mom" Daniel said forcing a smile on his face.

"Good morning my darling, hope you slept well? It's past 6am already and I'm late for work, I need to have a bath and leave quickly, i won't be back early, there is food in the freezer, and I'll make you a cup of coffee before leaving"

"Mom you promised to stay back today in order to look after your health, you've been down lately"

"Yeah I did but Mr. Josh called last night that we had deliveries to make this morning and I have to be there"

"Can't you just decline, your health should come first" Daniel wasn't happy with her decision

"Listen my darling...We're able to live this comfortably without having to beg anyone for food because of these works I do, I know I can't provide you with everything you want but I will always make sure to provide your basic needs, Daniel!

life has not been fair to us but things will get better, that is why you must make good grades in school and become successful" those were Claire's words to Daniel

"Why don't you allow me pick up some menial jobs too so I can assist you, I've watched you worked so hard all through these years, I'm 18 now, I should be able to get a part time job and assist you" Daniel said.

"You have to focus on your studies darling, I don't really need your help"

"Of course you do, mom, the stress is really telling on you and I can't stand it anymore, you're all I have and I don't want anything to happen to you, please mummy".

Claire stood there glaring at Daniel for a while, he has grown so fast and into a very handsome young man, he clocked 18 recently.

"Not again this morning young man" Claire said to herself.

She really don't like the fact that Daniel is always persisting on working to support her, she's is a single mom without a helper or anybody to run to but she's ever ready to take the extra miles, especially when it comes to Daniel, the only person she cares for and cherish so much.

(Flashback)

The morning sun cast a soft glow over the small town of Harmony Grove that faithful day as Claire awoke with a sense of unease. The room, adorned with faded floral patterns, felt suffused with a peculiar energy. A glance at the calendar on the wall triggered a realization

-her monthly visitor was conspicuously absent.

Claire's hand trembled as she reached for the pregnancy test tucked away in the bathroom cabinet. The seconds ticked by,

echoing the palpitations in her chest. When she finally dared to look at the result, the tiny plus sign seemed to carry the weight of an entire world.

A whirlwind of emotions swept through Claire-surprise, fear, and a glimmer of joy. She sank onto the edge of the bathtub, cradling the pregnancy test in her hands. A whispered conversation with herself unfolded.

"How can this be happening now?" she questioned, her gaze fixed on the test.

A knock on the bathroom door interrupted her thoughts. It was Rebecca, her long-time friend. "Claire, is everything okay in there?"

Claire's voice wavered as she replied, "I... I need to talk to someone."

Rebecca entered the room, concern etched on her face. The air became charged with a mix of vulnerability and shared history as Claire hesitated before revealing her secret.

"I'm pregnant," Claire finally uttered, the weight of the words hanging in the air.

Rebecca's eyes widened, reflecting a complex interplay of surprise and concern. The room became a cocoon for their unspoken thoughts. Finally, Rebecca broke the silence, "Claire, we'll figure this out together. You're not alone."

(End of flashback)

Do those memories really matter now, that was 18 years ago but it still feels like yesterday, that was the day when Claire's whole dream had come to a fall.

The air in Harmony Grove was heavy with the scent of uncertainty as Claire confronted the reality of her pregnancy. The quaint town, where stories echoed through its cobblestone streets, now held the tale of Claire's resilience. She faced the daunting challenge of single motherhood after David's sudden departure, a man she had truly loved.

"Please Daniel be good and take care of the house, I need to make good money now that you'll be going to the university, our expenses have been skyrocketed so I'll need to double up"

Daniel just sat on the sofa in their small apartment which was very neat with every furniture properly organized to create enough space for easy walking around the room, his mom Claire does not tolerate dirtiness at all so he always make sure to keep the house neat, that has been his duty.

As he watched Claire walked away through the door, his countenance fell, he had always wanted to be of assistance but Claire will never agree to it due to the fact that she sees it as her responsibility to take care of her child.

She has been doing this for as long as he can remember, doing all kinds of job, anyone that comes her way.

She is indeed a strong woman, at times Daniel wonders where she draws her strength from, she works even harder than a man would, growing up without a father could have been hell but he has never felt it, or maybe he doesn't knows what it feels like to have a father, all the same but he admire his mom alot.

Ever since he was a child, he had never lacked, he has never for once been sent home from school because she couldn't afford his fees, she even pays the school before the sessions started, all his textbook were complete likewise all his school materials.

But he is curious to know about her past, is his father really dead as she has always claimed? A lot was going through his young mind already.

As Claire rushed through the streets in order to meet up with the appointment she was having with a food delivery company, she stumbled into something that reminded her of her past, a young couple that were lurking around each other.

David was indeed a coward, if only David was bold enough to take responsibility life wouldn't have been as tough as it is for her now, but maybe it was her fault anyway she had loved and put a lot of hope on David, men are really not to be trusted, Or maybe she had fallen for the wrong person.

(Flashback)

That evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, I had decided it was time to share the life-altering revelation with David.

I had invited him to a quiet spot in the town park, where the sound of rustling leaves and distant laughter provided a gentle backdrop. My hands trembled as i clutched a sonogram picture, a tangible embodiment of our shared past.

"David, there's something important I need to tell you," I began, my eyes searching his face for any sign of his initial reaction.

David, caught off guard, furrowed his brow in curiosity. "What is it, Claire? You seem... different."

A deep breath escaped me as i handed him the sonogram. "I'm pregnant, David. You're going to be a father."

The revelation hung in the air, a delicate thread connecting our past to an unforeseen future. David's initial reaction was a complex interplay of emotions-surprise, disbelief, and a flicker of regret.

"Pregnant?" David stammered, his gaze shifting from me to the sonogram. The weight of responsibility settled on his shoulders, and he struggled to find the right words.

"Claire, I... I didn't expect this," he admitted, a mixture of guilt and uncertainty coloring his tone.

The park, once a serene refuge, now held the echoes of our shared history. My eyes reflecting a blend of vulnerability and determination, responded, "David, we're in this together. The choices we make now will shape our future and the future of our child."

(End of flashback)

But here she is battling alone to take care of their son, where could David have been? Is he still alive? If he is, was he really thinking about her? Why would he treat her like this despite the future they had planned together? A lot of questions were just running through her mind with no answers.

Life has been unfolding against the backdrop of uncertainty.