For You

chapter 21

Ruel guides me through the hotel as I push Maggie in her stroller. We have to use the elevator, due to the fact that Amy's room is on the 10th floor of this massive building. When we get on, a couple around their fifties joins us. I get a little nervous as they hop on, mainly because I'm alone with Ruel and Maggie. I push closer to Ruel and he wraps his arm around my waist.

Smiling at us, the old women asks, "What's her name?"

I let out a sigh that I didn't even know I was holding in. I'm glad the couple was smiling at Maggie and not at anything else.

"Maggie." I respond back. 

"Well she's very cute. How old is she?"

"Uh I think she's 6 months old."

The women looks panicked and I can feel Ruel's grip on me tighten. "You don't know how old you're daughter is? Such a shame."

"This is the problem with teens getting pregnant at a young age. They think it's all fun and games and then when you actually have the baby, they get distracted." The woman's husband adds.

I feel my body burning up. Does this couple actually think this baby is ours? I look up at Ruel who's face is also red.

I want to fire back at them but the words just don't seem to come out. "But...but-"

"The baby isn't ours." Ruel mutters.

"Oh honey, you don't have to lie because we've called you out. Just try and pay attention more to your baby instead of your phone. I don't know why your generation is so obsessed with those damn things anyway, they're-"

And just like that the elevator dings to tell us we've reached floor ten. The doors open and we quickly rush out of there. Both of us are speechless as we follow the signs to lead us to our room.