Confessions Of An Escort – Episode 25

_25_

For Winny and Quonnie _ I will love you, cherish you, look out for you, hold you tight and insult you whenever I can.

I can almost swear I am developing a running tummy, my stomach has been growling from the time we left Francis’ place. He insists that we have to pick up Sean and when I am ready, I tell him what exactly I do with my life in the night before it leaks to the media.

‘You know this is not as bad as you are looking at it.’ He says not even facing me

I cuss inwardly, my name is about to go on the tabloids about how I have been sleeping around for years and he has the audacity to tell me that it isn’t as bad as I perceive it to be.

I sigh

‘What people think about you shouldn’t give you sleepless nights, besides for as long as we know the truth then that is it.’

‘The truth that I am a whore?’

‘Don’t do that to yourself.’

‘Francis it hurts less when I bring it out, besides I have never been ashamed of doing what I do. My only worry is what my seen will go through after this.’

‘Whatever the case I will be here Katie, I am not letting you go.’ He says

We have arrived at Mark’s place but the surprising thing is to hear voices loudly

‘Something is wrong.’ I say rushing out of the car even before it stops

I rush into the house and meet Chisenga who is holding Sean by the shoulders standing in one corner.

She shakes her head when I look at her.

‘Get out of my house.’ Mark screams angrily pushing Urah out

‘Babe please.’ She cries

I haven’t seen Urah like this in years and I know whatever it is must be bad.

‘Don’t you dare babe me, what justification do you have?’ he asks pushing her again, this time she hits her body on the tiles

‘Mark don’t do this to us.’ She cries on her knees

‘Urah I have been nothing but good to you, I have loved you like my life depends on it. I left Germany and decided to settle here for good hoping that I being close would make you change your mind about settling down.’

He looks away as a stray tear falls

‘I was willing to do anything and everything within my powers just for you, you let me down and you were not even remorseful about it.’

‘Baby please listen to me.’

‘Listen to you?’

‘Honestly I am sorry, I really am.’

He shakes his head vigorously.

‘You are only sorry because I have discovered, do you know how disgusting it is? Knowing that I am not the only man in your life? That they are many others who touch you.’

‘Mark please.’

‘The last thing I want to hear are more lies from you, if you valued what we had you could have opened up. You could have told me.’ He yells

I look at Mark, he looks back at me and I know he is mad. But I won’t stand still and watch as Urah cries her heart out. She is wrong, the fact that he is in her life and she still continued to be an escort but I won’t allow her to break her back.

‘Babe let’s go.’ I say holding her by the hand

‘No, I want to be here and talk to him.’

‘Urah he is not ready to talk to you, let us go.’ I say this time kneeling beside her

‘Babe I don’t want to lose him, I don’t want. My face is everywhere for being a whore and I don’t care but what he thinks about me matters. if I walk out of this place today he will leave me.’

‘Katurah.’

‘My job Katie, everything I have tirelessly built. Everything I don’t care about, I love him and I don’t want to lose him.’ She says as tears continue to fall and mucus streams down

‘Katurah I am not allowing any of those things to come to you, but right now you need to calm down. He needs to as well.’ I say my own tears betraying me, we are the strongest women I know and seeing her like this just breaks me

‘Babe my life is finished.’

‘It has just began babe, it has just began.’ I say looking into Mark’s direction

‘How will I overcome this?’ She asks more tears falling

‘Babe I have no idea, I know it will be hard but I want you to know that I won’t leave you. I am not leaving you, we are going to overcome this together and no matter how long it takes I can assure you that it will be okay.’

‘What makes you so sure?’

‘Katurah I have known you for years, I know you are a strong woman. Katurah you are both my peace and chaos.’ I begin and a lump forms on my throat as I remember each and everything we have been through; the tears, the heart aches, the betrayal, the escort nights, the pregnancy scares, the HIV tests, the cervical cancer screening.

‘You are my muse and tyranny. But above all, you are my choice. My choice to stay. My choice to love. I don’t see more than just forever with you, I see right now. For once, I see more than just tomorrow. I see right now, every moment comes alive with you, every moment comes alive in you. Katurah I love you beyond the grave and I will never allow anyone to treat you like crap, we have made the most grave mistakes but any day I would choose you over. I choose you and no I wont allow anyone to make you feel any less.’

‘Now let us go.’ I say wiping the tears off my face

She stands up and picks her bag which Mark has thrown in the living room