SCENE 1 — THE PHONE CALL THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING

ISAIAH

Mariah, I need to be there with you. I don’t want to miss the birth of our baby. I want to stand beside you and watch our child come into this world.

MARIAH

Then come here, Isaiah. I want you here too. I don’t want to go through this experience without you.

ISAIAH

I promise I’ll come. I just need a little help getting there.

MARIAH

What do you mean by help?

ISAIAH

I don’t have enough money right now. I don’t have a job. Can you please send me some money so I can travel to you?

SCENE 2 — MARIAH REFUSES TO HELP

MARIAH

Isaiah, I understand that you want to come, but I can’t keep giving you money. You’re a grown man. You need to find a way to earn money yourself.

ISAIAH

I’m not asking because I want to waste it. I’m asking because I want to be with you and our baby.

MARIAH

I can’t pay for everything. You need to take responsibility for your own life.

ISAIAH

So you’re telling me that you won’t help me come to you?

MARIAH

I’m telling you that you need to figure this out yourself.

SCENE 3 — ISAIAH MAKES A DANGEROUS DECISION

Hours passed, but Isaiah couldn’t stop thinking about Mariah’s words.

He wanted to travel to her immediately. Suddenly, his eyes moved toward the house where he was staying with his uncle.

ISAIAH

I can’t keep sitting here doing nothing. If nobody is going to help me, I’ll have to find another way.

ISAIAH

If I sell this house, I’ll have enough money to go to Mariah. We can start over and build our future together.

But there was one enormous problem. His family knew nothing about his plans.

SCENE 4 — THE SECRET MEETING WITH THE HOA PRESIDENT

Isaiah contacted the HOA president and arranged a private meeting.

HOA PRESIDENT

Isaiah, why did you ask me to meet you privately? Is something wrong?

ISAIAH

I need to talk to you about the house. I’m looking to sell it, and I want to know if you’re interested.

HOA PRESIDENT

Sell the house? What about your uncle? Does he know?

ISAIAH

I don’t want to discuss my family situation right now. I just need to get this matter settled quickly.

HOA PRESIDENT

Don’t make a decision you’ll regret later. Your family could be deeply affected.

SCENE 5 — THE HOUSE IS SOLD

Isaiah continued with his secret plans. He eventually arranged a property deal without telling his uncle.

ISAIAH

Please don’t tell my family that I’ve been making arrangements concerning this house. I don’t want anyone trying to stop me.

HOA PRESIDENT

Isaiah, you’re asking me to keep a very serious matter quiet. What happens when your uncle discovers what’s happened?

ISAIAH

I’ll deal with that later. Right now, I need to focus on Mariah.

Isaiah collected his belongings and walked away without saying goodbye to his uncle.

SCENE 6 — ISAIAH ARRIVES AT MARIAH’S SIDE

After completing his journey, Isaiah finally arrived where Mariah was staying.

MARIAH

Isaiah? You actually made it!

ISAIAH

I told you I would come. I wasn’t going to let anything stop me from being here.

MARIAH

I can’t believe you’re finally here. I’ve been waiting for this moment.

ISAIAH

I’ve made a big decision. I’m leaving everything behind so we can build our own future.

SCENE 7 — A NEW LIFE BEGINS

Over the following days, Isaiah and Mariah began discussing their future.

MARIAH

I want our child to grow up in a peaceful home. I don’t want constant arguments or financial problems.

ISAIAH

That’s exactly what I want too. I’m going to work hard and make sure we have everything we need.

MARIAH

You know that being a father is a huge responsibility, right?

ISAIAH

I know. And I’m ready for it.

SCENE 8 — THE FIRST WARNING SIGN

Meanwhile, back at the house, the HOA president received questions about the property and Isaiah’s sudden departure.

HOA PRESIDENT

I told him this was a serious decision. He thought he could simply leave and start over without anyone finding out.

He picked up his phone, knowing that the truth could no longer remain hidden forever.

SCENE 9 — MARIAH STARTS ASKING QUESTIONS

MARIAH

Isaiah, you told me you had no money and no job. Then suddenly, you arrived with enough money to make plans for a new home. Where did it come from?

ISAIAH

I already told you. I handled the situation.

MARIAH

I don’t want secrets between us. We’re going to have a child together. We need honesty.

ISAIAH

I did what I had to do. Nobody was helping me, and I couldn’t keep waiting.

SCENE 10 — THE SECRET THAT COULD DESTROY THEIR FUTURE

Isaiah woke up to several missed calls. One message immediately caught his attention.

MESSAGE

Isaiah, we need to talk. Something has happened with the house, and your uncle is asking questions. Call me immediately.

MARIAH

Who is calling you so early?

ISAIAH

Nobody important. Just something from back home.

MARIAH

Then why do you look so worried?

ISAIAH

It’s nothing. I’ll take care of it.

FINAL SCENE — THE PHONE CALL THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING

Just when Isaiah thought he had escaped his old life, another call came through.

UNCLE

Isaiah, where are you? Do you have any idea what you’ve done?

ISAIAH

Uncle, please let me explain.

UNCLE

I don’t want excuses! I want to know what happened to my house. And there’s something else you need to know. Someone has been looking for you.

ISAIAH

Who is looking for me?

UNCLE

It’s someone who knows exactly what you did before you left.

The call suddenly ended.

Isaiah stood motionless, holding his phone.

Mariah looked at him, realizing that the man who had promised her a fresh start might have brought an enormous problem into their lives.

Suddenly, someone knocked at the door.

Isaiah slowly turned toward the entrance. Mariah stepped back, wondering who could possibly be standing outside.

Neither of them knew that the next visitor would change everything.