I Will Wait – Episode 24

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I have had sleepless nights before but this one was the worst because I didn’t know what to expect, everything that I was being told fell on deaf ears because the only thing that I wanted was to get to Lusaka and check on dad. I would never be okay with myself if something happened to him; I would never be the same again if anything was to happen to him.

Cornelius had decided to stay up with me in the living room; Mrs. Kazadi had suggested I get some rest but I had looked at her and closed my eyes right there on the couch. She knew I wasn’t sleeping but I did not want to hear another word from her or anyone else.

My father was the kindest man I had ever known, the best father that any child could have asked for. He sacrificed so much for me and my siblings.

‘Can I use your phone?’ I asked looking at Cornelius who had locked his fingers with mine.

‘Sure.’ He responded handing it to me

Somehow I must have dropped my phone in the pond and now I had to make a phone call, it was 4am and I just hoped that mum would pick up.

‘Mum.’ I said when she finally picked up

‘Yoyo?’ She asked surprised

‘Yes mum.’

‘Whose number is this?’

‘It doesn’t matter, how is dad?’

‘We didn’t mean for you to find out like that, trust me we were only doing what’s best for you.’

‘That is not the time for all that, tell me how dad is doing.’

‘He is still in coma and the doctors are suggesting that they do a scan on him or might have to remove him from life support.’

I kept quiet, holding the phone really close to my ear.

‘And your mother has been here.’

‘You are the only mother I know.’ I said before cutting the phone

The anger that was burning in me was too much, I no longer had the strength to cry. My family had kept dad’s illness from me for over two years and now the woman that gave birth to me had the guts to show up after so many years of neglecting me.

‘Do you want to talk about it?’ Cornelius asked

I just looked at him, the silence probably communicating better.

QUONNIE’S POV

Twenty five years ago I had abandoned the only man I ever loved, I left him with a baby that was just a day old. For some reason I had chosen the good life over everything that could have given me complete happiness, I was a wreck and somehow Michael saw way past all that. He loved me with my flaws and imperfections, it was just so hard to understand why a man as perfect as him could fall for someone like me.

I cheated on him countless times and I wasn’t even remorseful about it, when I fell pregnant for him I could have easily terminated it but I felt like I owed him that much – giving him something that he could call his own. So immediately after giving birth I left and never looked back.

The struggle out there was real but I vowed that I would have a different life compared to the one that I once had, I would not be under anyone or beg for food to eat. I worked in every way possible and I made the best of my life, after some years I fell in love with a man I considered to be perfect but I guess it is true Karma forgets no one’s address.

I and my husband got married and after four blissful years he started cheating on me, he did to me exactly what I did to Michael except this time around he showed it. Somehow fate also dealt with me by causing fibroids in my womb which prevented me from having any children, every day I had regretted that fateful day when I abandoned my child but I could never forgive myself hence I never bothered to look for Michael and Yolanta.

My doctor confirmed that I had Cancer of the cervix, it didn’t have to take a medical practitioner to tell me how I got it because I knew exactly how it came about. I filed for divorce and the last three hundred and sixty five days have been the hardest. I have had to forgive myself for everything I did wrong and now I was bold enough to look for my child. It wasn’t hard to find her, Yolanta was a writer and social media provided me with most of the information about her, just a little stalking and I was able to find her whereabouts.

When I walked into Michael’s yard, a boy of about fifteen of age who had his eyes and manly features welcomed me. He led me to the lounge where a lovely looking lady welcomed me. She introduced herself as Michael’s wife and I told her I was an old friend, she was really nice that at some point I felt like leaving but it was too late because Michael had shown up with two other men.

He took time to look at me, in his eyes I saw the same look I had seen each time I had returned to him like a prodigal child. It was a look of pity except this time it was cold and there was no assurance that things would be fine.

‘You have five minutes to say whatever you want.’ He had said much to everyone’s surprise

‘I want to see my daughter.’

Everyone turned to look at me and that is when it dawned on them who I really was, the environment was no longer conducive but there was no turning back. ‘You don’t have a daughter in this house.’ He had said

I removed my clinic tests and showed them to him, I don’t know why but he said something that really broke me.

‘I guess we are both dying soon.’

Those were the only words he said before falling into a coma, I had watched how his wife had reacted. She was a good woman and didn’t deserve the drama that I came with but Yolanta had the right to know me before I finally kicked the bucket. Now I am here in the hospital chapel praying that Michael wakes up from his coma because the doctors are saying that if this persists they might have to remove him from life support because he isn’t showing any progress.More interesting stories available on Topster Stories App

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Tbc

I WILL WAIT