Runaway mother.

Regina Reynolds hadn't been to Italy before, she took in the fresh, cool breeze as she alighted from the plane.

The unfamiliar atmosphere made her more excited rather than tensed. She enjoyed visiting new places and Italy was definitely one of the many countries she dreamed of visiting. It was well known for its architecture, culture, Opera, literature, film, fashion, luxury brands, unique scenery and of course food!.

Her phone buzzed in her coat's pocket and she stuffed her hand in to get it.

"Damian!" She gasped out excitedly on seeing the caller's ID.

"Hey babe", she called out, placing the phone on her ear.

"What's up? You there yet?" The caller asked from the other end.

"Yeah, I just got to Italy, I'm on my way to the hotel".

"Okay babe, I miss you already".

She chuckled, "I just arrived yunno? Don't miss me too much".

"How will I live without you for the rest of the days you'll be there?"

"C'mon babe, I'll be back before you know it, let's just say my proposal gets approved soon".

"Alright, I'll text you okay? Be safe out there, love you!".

"Love you too, bye!". She said and the call ended.

"Alright Italy, what do you have for me?". She asked, sighing deeply as she rolled her box along.

After departing the airport, she arrived at the pedestrian crossing and walked across, towards a long bench where she sighted a lady holding a baby, it seemed like they were either waiting for someone or a ride.

She soon joined the lady on the bench, exchanging pleasantries. The lady looked up to her with a smile, adjusting for her to sit.

"Thanks". Regina said and sat down, taking out her phone to order a ride.

From the corner of her eye, she noticed the other lady's eyes on her and turned to face her, the latter looked away quickly as soon as she was caught. Regina tried not to make things awkward between them as she forced a smile and landed her gaze on the baby.

"Such a beautiful baby you've got". 

"Thank you". The lady replied and looked away again.

Regina noticed her restlessness and tried to ignore.....afterall she was a total stranger.

"Uh...a boy or a girl?". She asked.

"A girl". The lady replied again and it became quiet between both of them...

The silence was very uncomfortable for Regina, making her tap her feet continuously, waiting for her ride.

"Sorry...c- - can you hold her for me?". The lady finally interrupted the silence as she held out her baby to Regina.

"Well...as long as you don't mind". She replied, contemplating on the issue. She didn't think it was right for a mother to hand over her baby to a stranger.

"I - - uh - - I gotta make a quick call over there, I'll be back". The lady pointed to a phone booth just a few steps away.

"Okay...?" Regina responded, unsure as she glanced at her wristwatch. Her ride would arrive any moment from now.

She diverted her eyes from her watch and stared down at the baby in her arms who in turn looked up at her with those big, innocent eyes of hers and tried to smile. 

Her eyes were as beautiful as the ocean.

Regina chuckled at her attempt to smile and poked her cheek playfully, the baby finally smiled, revealing two milk teeth.

"Aren't you such a cutie huh?". She said to the baby and caressed her face with her index finger.

A cab pulled up in front of her and honked. She looked up from the baby and her attention was diverted to the cab... Her phone rang, then she saw it was the driver who dialled her number.

"A minute please". She said to him and turned to face the phone booth.

No one was there, she also looked around to see if she could find the lady but there was no sign of her.

Where could she be? She thought to herself and stood up to look for her close by. There was really no sign of her anywhere and many thoughts began to run through her mind.

"Are you leaving or not miss?". The driver called out to her.

"A moment please, don't be mad at me". 

She walked around the pavement, scanning the area with her eyes.

"Where is she?". She asked out loud, losing patience.

She walked up to an elderly woman...

"Excuse me, have you seen a woman with dark brown hair and ash colored coat pass by?". 

"Non capisco la tua lingua, parlo solo italiano". The woman replied, almost leaving.

"You don't understand English? Uh... Scusa, hai visto passare una donna con i capelli castaño scuro e il cappotto color cenere?". She asked in Italian.

The elderly woman shook her head negatively and she moved to another person, describing the baby's mother... No success and she moved to the next, like that until she was fed up. 

She rushed back to the bench, the cab driver was still waiting but already fuming.

"If you're not going, I'll leave now". He said, angrily.

"I'm so sorry, there's a situation I'm in right now...uh, you can go, I'm really sorry for wasting your time". She apologized, still holding the baby to her bosom.

The driver zoomed off, cursing her in his language.

"Oh my God! What's happening? Where is she?". She began to panic.

Suddenly, the baby began to cry and she felt helpless.

"Shh...shh, it's okay, mommy is coming". She rocked her trying to stop her from crying.

She sat down back on the bench, rocking the baby and looking around simultaneously.

It was getting late as the place was getting dark, still no sign of the child's mother but Regina didn't want to accept the fact that she had been played dirty.

She glanced at her wrist watch and saw that it was few minutes to 7:00pm.

"Oh no, what mess have you gotten yourself into Regina?". She asked out loud, biting the insides of her mouth as she panicked.

The baby began to cry again, this time, uncontrollably.

"What do I do now?". She pondered.

*

Regina rocked the child until she slept, she watched the infant suck her little thumb peacefully.

A sigh of relief escaped her lips as she was saved the trouble of the shrill cries.

Just when she thought she had taken care of a major problem, she felt drops of water on her and looked up to the sky.... It was rain drops.

"No....no". She panicked again as the drops increased, then it drizzled.

She held the baby with her left arm, resting her chubby face on her shoulder while she used her right hand to roll her box to a shelter she found nearby.

People were running helter skelter to shield themselves from the rain as it got darker. It was way past 7:00pm now and she was still contemplating on what to do.

A stranger's child was left with her, more like abandoned....or did something happen to the child's mother? Even if something did happen, it would've come to her notice as the phone booth was close to where she was at the time.

The only answer she came up with was that the child's mother slipped away when she had the chance and left her baby with a complete stranger. But why?!

Stupid isn't it? What kinda mother leaves her child to a stranger and flee?

It was getting chilly because of the rain and the child was only dressed in casual baby clothes, nothing warmer to cover her up.

If only she could get to the nearest police station to file a complaint and hand over the child....but then again, the baby would have to stay overnight at the station, plus she doesn't even know her way around yet, how in the rainy sh*t was she gonna find a station?

She was left with one option and solution which was to order a ride and take the baby along. She was gonna figure out something to do about it in the morning.

A frustrated, exhausted, now pissed looking Regina stared at the screen of her phone and clicked on 'Order ride'. 

"So much for asking what you have for me, Italy". She sighed.

🖤🧤