Nails Out

This is when the black leather suitcase and the backpack Ishtar was carrying on her back made a clear meaning to Pixie, catching her attention.

She sensed something wrong somewhere.

"Is everything alright?" Pixie asked with deep concern. "You can talk to me!"

Talking to a stranger like Pixie about her deep sorrows, Ishtar couldn't even dare to start. She faced away from her, and paid attention to breastfeeding her baby.

"Feel free to talk to me, please!" Pixie humbly requested in an earnest manner. "I can be the friend in need."

Seconds in silence, Ishtar lifted her sad eyes and gazed sorrily at Pixie. "Please, let's not talk about this." She begged, stuck in a heap of thoughts. Ishtar's downcast gaze made Pixie realize that whatever she had on mind was heavy and embarrassing.

But Pixie wasn't ready to back down, She felt an urge to know.

"Please!" Politely, with deep humbleness, Pixie requested again.

Since Ishtar had no single friend to confide wholly in, she had to think twice.

Hesitantly, "are you sure you can be a friend in need like you've said?" She asked.

Touched at heart, Pixie noded her head yes, "consider me as heaven sent."

After the reply, Ishtar took a deep breathe, "my world is finished." She said and broke down in tears again.

Quickly, Pixie leaned in and held Ishtar in a warm embrace with comfort, caressing gently at her back. She felt the weight of a burden Ishtar was carrying on her shoulders deep within.

Sniffing and whining on Pixie's shoulder, she released part of the pain that was drowning her soul in silence.

"You need it, go on and cry," Pixie could really understand even before she was told more of what she was expecting to hear.

Ishtar's mother was watching, down in a wheelchair. But she couldn't fully understand what was going on.

"..."

"The baby." Said Ishtar.

"Oh, sorry." Pixie had to lean out and create a more conducive space in between.

After almost a minute of tears, after she had released some of the pain, Ishtar stabilized. "We nearly suffocated him," Ishtar emited a humble smile.

In the next couple of minutes, Ishtar and Pixie took enough time sitting down in a sensitive chat, getting to know from eachother. And from this moment on, when they stood up to leave, they had already grown their bond to a good extent of becoming best of friends.

Pixie assisting with the baby and Ishtar with the two bags, the backpack on her back and the leaher suitcase pulled on its rollers, as they walked easily with a conversation to get to parking lot.

"We have more than enough guests rooms. Why don't you come and stay with us at my parents' house?" Pixie gladly gave Ishtar an offer.

"Thank you, but I don't think it's necessary." Ishtar rejected the proposal.

"Don't be stubborn Ishtar, you need this."

"Like I've told you, my co-wife is more than willing to put blood on her hands. Me staying in this city is putting, not only my life in danger, but my baby's life too! And am not in position to risk carelessly when I can protect us," Ishtar speaks nervously.

Pixie had to try her level best to make Ishtar understand her side of view.

"This city is big Ishtar! Your co-wife won't find you anywhere.... Look, remember you still have a fresh wound of cesarean section. You can't nurse it by yourself. Besides, your cute baby boy is gonna need care too. That's a lot of work especially when you don't have a loving family around you."

With her face twisting, marked with an insane concern, Pixie tried hard to convince Ishtar.

...

Silent for a few seconds, Ishtar, beating her chest, sighed thereafter, "I think you're right." In a small voice she accepted, "okay let's do it."

Not only it did make Pixie happy, but as a lady whose interest was much more into charity, it was heart relieving to be able to give a hand of support to someone like Ishtar, who on the other hand had a very positive impact, stuffed with a blessing, on the performance of one of her family businesses, the jewelry store.

However, just like one lucky individual, Pixie had a big secret as to why she wanted Ishtar so badly to come and stay at her parents' house with her, a secret so personal that she never wanted her parents to know about.

And as Ishtar loaded her bags in Pixie's jeep, behind her back Pixie gazed at her with eyes fond of hidden self-interest, which Ishtar did not notice.

"Mom, guess who is coming home with me right now," Pixie, immediately sat in the jeep, she happily rang home to inform her parents.

With Pixie in the driver's seat on the stirring, and Ishtar in the rear seat with her new born and bags, the white jeep ran on the highway not far away from the city, upto a modern luxury glass home where Pixie lived with her parents.

Under a brightly shining morning sun, Pixie's parents gladly waited on the compound to warmly welcome the special guest who was on the way coming.

Suddenly, they set their eyes on an arriving white jeep and their faces began to shine brightly with smiles, preparing to receive the guest. They held eachother's hand, glanced and shared a simple kiss, a proof that their love was unwavering, deep and captivating like an aroma of a hot cake.

So impatient, excitedly Pixie's mom and dad walked to the jeep as it parked. And as soon as Ishtar stepped out, "gosh Pixie, indeed it's a big surprise!" Her mother's voice rang out in a blurt, filled with warmth and joy.

"Darling! You're finally here!"

With arms wide open, Pixie's mother rushed forward to Ishtar, enveloping her in a tight embrace. She then collected the baby from her arms. Pixie's father as well came forward to share a welcoming hug with Ishtar.

Of course Pixie was busy offloading bags.

The sound of talks and laughter filled the air as the four walked on the compound towards the main house entrance, their faces beamed with love and excitement.

"Come in, come in! We've been waiting for you; the family is all here now!" Pixie's father continued ushering Ishtar inside, "allow me to take one bag from you," he collected the black leather suitcase from Pixie, "you must be starving after that long drive.

Ishtar could feel her sorrow and worries melting away in the warmth of this new family that has given her such a lovely welcome.

Back, at the mansion were Ishtar had come from, her mother-in-law pushed the door to her matrimonial bedroom and stepped in, to check on her daughter-in-law and the baby that morning.

Immediately, according to what she saw, she grabbed her phone and rang her son Bob Lee straight away, so anxious and nervous.

"Ishtar is missing with my grandson! Are you aware of it?" She shouted anxiously.