Gabriella coughed and spluttered as she wandered through the dusty streets of the ancient city. This is where he would be she thought as she leant against the wall of a near by house for support. She nurtured her now almost fully matured stomach. She caressed the skin around her belly button delicately speaking softly to her unborn baby within. “Not long now darling” she whispered “soon you will see your daddy”. She fought doggedly onwards through the crows of oncoming soldiers, families and children who hustled and bustled around the busy market stalls. Gabriella managed to fight her way through to the centre of the market where she sat on the edge of the fountain to catch her breath. Gazing around her she imagined what life would be like after her and Anthony were married. He was somewhat older than her but that wasn’t something she considered a fault, age hadn’t been a problem when they’d first met. He’d been so such a gentleman and such a caring lover, but then that was expected from someone of his standing, an officer in the legion, her husband, the father to her child. Her mother had told her it wasn’t going to work “ludicrous” she’d exclaimed when Gabriella had finally revealed the truth “him and you, it simply isn’t done”.

Gabriella didn’t care about what was done, she loved Anthony and that was the way it would always be. Suddenly the voice of a gentleman calling out “for god’s sake Julius will you slow down” caused her to raise her head and then, she saw him. Standing there, clear as day less than a foot from her was Anthony.

Dressed in a clean white toga, he looked just as she remembered him. Getting to her feet she launched herself towards him, “Anthony” she called out, at which point he turned.

Gabriella fell into his arms clinging onto him for dear life “Oh Anthony” she sobbed “I’ve been looking everywhere for you, I’ve missed you so much. It’s so wonderful, I’ve the most fantastic news for you, I’m having your baby. Isn’t it wonderful? We can be a family now. Together, just like you wanted. The three of us, a family. Oh wont it be marvellous Anthony?” Anthony did not answer her. Gabriella looked up, a happy smile on her face and tears of joy running down her cheeks expecting to see the loving and caring eyes she’d grown to love over the summer. But there was no love in Anthony’s eyes, only cold anger almost hate.

He stared at her for a few moments before saying in a flat emotionless voice “Gabriella I don’t understand, what are you doing here?”.

Gabriella frowned, she was confused this wasn’t the Anthony she loved, there must be a mistake. Before she could open her mouth to explain again why she was here a young man’s voice interrupted from behind her, “father, mother and the girls what to know what’s keeping you I...father? What’s wrong?”

Gabriella turned to look at the boy and saw with horror, that the gentleman the young boy was looking at, the man he was addressing as father was Anthony. “I’ll be along in a moment son” he said calmly. Gabriellla turned back to Anthony, completely gobsmacked, son....son. She couldn’t believe it, at this ‘mother’ the boy had mentioned, could she be...No, Gabriella didn’t believe it, Anthony wouldn’t do that to her. The boy nodded and disappeared back into the crowd. Gabriella remained looking at Anthony waiting for his explanation. Maybe he had children with a previous wife and she was dead. Maybe they were children he’d taken in off the streets and agreed to look after. Any explanation would have been better than what came next.

Anthony looked down at her with a frosty stare. “Gabriella” he said in that flat voice that was entirely void of emotion “you should have come, things between us....it was just for the summer, something to keep us occupied. You understand that?” Gabriella could feel her heart aching as it broke. “I care for you” he said trying to sound sincere “I really do but....I am married Gabriella....I have children, two daughters and a son”. Gabriella could hold it back no longer, tears welled up inside her and flowed down her face. “I’m sorry” he said “I have to go”, and with that he turned and walked away in the direction the young boy had gone.

Turning to look after him Gabriella called desperately “Anthony...Anthony please....”, but he kept walking, he would not hear her. Gabriella took a step forward to go after him but stopped. It was over, she had lost the man she loved, the father to her child. She sat back down on the edge of the fountain and began crying, softly and pitifully into her hands. How could she have been so stupid, how could she have been so blind? He used her and she let him.

Gabriella suddenly felt a hand on her should. Turning, startled she saw a middle aged man with dark hair, he wore a plain toga with eyes similar to Anthony’s. “Pardon me miss” he said politely “I couldn’t help over hearing you, my name is Maximus, I am anthony’s brother” Gabriella wiped he eyes as he continued to listen to the stranger “I would be happy to offer you lodgings at my home until you feel ready to leave” he said kindly.

Gabriella smiled getting to her feet, “I would greatly appreciate that sir” she said.

Maximus nodded and taking her hand he led her out of the market place. He walked with her into a side street off the main market square. After a few moments he stopped. Gabriella stopped also. She stared around confused, she could see no doors or windows that would indicate houses. She glanced up at Maximus as he turned to face her and saw that his eyes had gone cold, his mouth solemn. Gabriella backed away but instantly felt the cold alleyway wall behind her. Then suddenly, without warning Maximus raised his fist and brought it down as hard as he could into Gabriella’s stomach. Gabriella dropped to her knees crying out in pain. Maximus continued his vicious assault kicking at her stomach again and again. Gabriella curled up for protection but it was no use, all she could feel was pain. After what seemed like an eternity Maximus stopped and bending down he grabbed Gabriella’s hair and turned her face to him. “Now...” he snarled “stay away from my brother and his family” and with that he spat into her face before throwing her back into the mud.

Gabriella listened to his footsteps as he walked away. Slowly, Gabriella tried to get up but every move she made was agony. Suddenly she felt a searing pain rip through her stomach. Gabriella dropped to the floor screaming in pain. Looking down at her body she saw, to her horror that there was blood on the lower area of her toga. She went to move forward to see where it was coming from but the pain shot through her. She screamed and screamed as blood poured from her. After what seemed like hours of pain it stopped. Gabriella struggled to sit up. She looked down at now her blood soaked toga as she tried to think what could have happened. The slowly in a painful moment she realised, he’d killed it. Maximus had killed her baby. Gabriella could feel her tears welling up inside her but nothing came. She had nothing left. Maximus had destroyed her soul, slowly she lay back down on the floor clutching her stomach which was now empty.  It was over, everything she cared for, everything she loved, lost.