Episode 23
Now, Lara could see something that goes way beyond the problem she had been having. Nothing is worse than being paranoid, not knowing what is going on. Bola and Teresa had outdone themselves, trying to keep calm but nothing could work. Why on earth wouldnât the doctors just come out to give her any news? She had heard the saying, âno news is good newsâ, but as she paced the length of the discreet room she was in with her friends, this âno newsâ was making her head hurt with each passing second.
âLara, you are going to kill yourself with worry if you donât relaxâ Teresa said nervously as she too started pacing. It seemed her tension was rubbing off on her friends too.
âYes! Your constant pacing is making me dizzyâ Bola seconded. âJust relax! No news is good newsâ
Lara could not count how many times she had heard that phrase in the last one and half hours, wait, it seemed like she had spent a whole lifetime, waiting for the doctor to come out, or better still, walk out with her mother. She sighed and wiped her forehead, knowing that the later would never happen.
âThe more I wait, no news seems more like bad newsâ she muttered as she walked to the closed transparent window in the room to look out, maybe she could get something substantial to divert her thoughts; anything at all⊠But it was dark outside, reminding her that it was so late at night. Her father still hadnât showed up and with each passing second, her hatred towards him mounted. How could he be so wicked? Sewa had given him more than 26 years of her life and this is how he could repay her? Lara released a shaky breath as pain tore at her heart. Bola walked up to her and placed her hand around Laraâs shoulder, squeezing gently.
âIt would be fine honeyâ
Lara shook her head and wiped the lone tear that seeped out of the confines of her eyelashes. âYou donât understand Bâ Lara countered. âI have this dull ache in my chestâ she turned towards Bola nervously as her eyes swam with tears. âI have this feeling BolaâŠâ
âDonât say that!â Bola said sternly. âStop saying and thinking negative things. It is just fear. Fear is making you think negatively but this is the time you need to stay positiveâ
Lara shook her head and turned back to the window. No one understood her. She was having a bad feeling about it all and it was scaring the hell out of her.
Teresa cleared her throat. âErm⊠Lara⊠I think you have a guestâ
Lara sighed. She was not in the mood to entertain guests, especially not in the hospital where she was waiting for the doctor to arrive. She turned reluctantly and stared at the person at the door. For some seconds, it seemed her brain just went blank. âWhat⊠what are you doing here?â she asked.
That was the exact question that Jack needed. What exactly was he doing in the hospital, with the aim of calming or effectively distracting Lara? Emotional displays were not his high points, in fact, he had no point in that department at all but Laraâs conniving friend had called him up, and try as he may, he had to comply. Asides being there to provide fausse moral support for his alleged soon-to-be wife, he needed to be there to know what was happening with the governorâs wife. She had a connection with his past and he couldnât watch her slip off without knowing just how she was connected to him. But then, what could his presence change? His presence had nothing to do with whether the woman would live or die but then, he would rather be there.
But as Jack stood at the entrance of the room, staring mutely back at Lara, he was struck for the second time in one day. Lara was having so many problems in her life, and though the truth was indeed bitter, he was the cause of a large portion of it. It was unfair that she was the pawn in his revenge schemes. The tears in her eyes tore at his heartless soul. There was pain and fear clearly evident in her wide eyes. She looked like a kid, a vulnerable kid. How could he deal with a situation such as this?
Jack walked further into the room without answering the question posed at him.
âHow did you know Iâm hereâ Lara rephrased when no answer was forthcoming.
What could he say? He didnât want to put Teresa in trouble, no matter what her motives were. Being on the black list of Laraâs friends wasnât what he needed now.
But then, thank Heavens, Teresa bailed him out.
âI called himâ she said carefully.
Bola glared at Teresa like she could pick up a knife and stab her without blinking an eyelid. âHow can you be so insensitive?â she grated out furiously.
Teresa placed her slim hands akimbo. âInsensitive? Lara has been walking on nails and needles for over an hour and we havenât been able to do anything about it; I called Jack here to see if he can stop her from developing high blood pressure and you call that insensitive?â Teresa glared back at Bola.
Bola had her mouth open to give a decent retort when Lara hastily cut in. âItâs okay Bolaâ she murmured. Lara looked drained, totally unable to listen to their bouts of argument.
âI could leave if my presence makes you more pensiveâ Jack quickly put in, speaking for the first time.
âNo!â Lara said hastily. âI mean⊠you donât have to go⊠I am glad you could set aside your sleep to be here, it is really lateâ she sounded as though she hadnât noticed it before.
He definitely was! Jack admitted to himself. The only thing was that he had so many workers carrying out various duties on his behalf. He had enough money to throw around and money would always pull men to do his bidding. Lara stared at the door behind him nervously, playing with her fingernails in a shakily.
Teresa interrupted the serenity again by sighing dramatically. âI think the waiting is beginning to impact on my nervesâ she whined in a sheepish ladylike manner. âIt is suffocating! Bolly, why donât you take a walk with me? We could get Lara something to eat in the processâ she added.
Bolaâs anger was still high. âWhy? Do you need me to be your walking stick?â
Teresa smiled softly. âNo. but you can be a good bodyguard with your brimming anger. Youâll admit I need a very good bodyguard to get past those jobless journalists out thereâ
Jack smiled and admitted within him that he liked Teresa. She was a conniving badass and her free spirit was something he admired. He knew her tactic was to get him to be alone with Lara and he seemed to like that idea. Her tactic seemed to be working also because Lara smiled a bit, giving Bola a gentle push. âGo! You ladies need a break from my paranoid self, but no, I am not hungryâ
âYes you areâ Jack countered and dipped his hand into his pocket, extracting his wallet.
âWe donât need your money sir, please donât insult usâ Bola murmured, frowning at Jack.
Jack extracted some notes without counting it. âI would never insult you Miss, I am just performing my duties as Laraâs fiancĂ©â he said, stunning them. âI know my responsibilities and I take them seriousâ he gave the money to Teresa, not wanting to have any more of Bolaâs tantrums. âThis is for whatever you might needâ he said to them. Though upsetting, Bolaâs strict protectiveness impressed him because it spoke of how good a friend she was. Jack had to admit that Lara had great friends. Teresa on the other hand, took the money without blinking an eye. âWell, I would have held it against you if you didnât see it as your responsibilityâ she smiled slightly at him and winked at Lara.
Lara, who had been observing the exchanged, sighed. Her friends knew how to form a perfect distraction; leave it to Teresa to change the atmosphere. She couldnât believe that for a moment there, she had forgotten that she was waiting for the doctor to bring news, but she had and the distraction was good for her. She Teresa kissed Laraâs cheek softly and her eyes brought on a sober look. âI just want you relax honey, your mother would be fine, but we donât want her coming out to find you dead with worryâ
Lara smiled and nodded, thanking God again for her friends. If she didnât have them by her side now, she was pretty sure she would have killed herself with worry.
Bola kissed her cheek also, looking her straight in the eye with worry written all over her face. âI would be longâ she said simply, with deep meaning, almost making Lara laugh. Bola just didnât trust Jack despite it all.
Lara nodded and watched them as they both walked out, Bola â rather grudgingly.
Finally alone, the room seemed to shrink, making it look too small. Jackâs large intimidating form was having distracting effects on her brain, making her feel Teresa was right after all. Maybe Jack could distract her. For some prolonged seconds, silence reigned, amplifying the sound of the air conditioner in the room. âAny news about your mum?â Jack asked quietly, moving a bit closer to her.
Lara blinked and looked at the door expecting it to open as part of her paranoia returned. âNo. nothingâ
Jack swallowed, wishing he could close his eyes against the pain he felt in her. He noted the absence of her father and he hated the man the more. How could he leave his daughter alone to face this rigor herself? âWhat actually happened?â he asked gently as he brushed off a strand of hair off her face.
Lara blinked and swallowed. âShe⊠had an argument with my dad this morning and since then, she had retreated to her room. She wouldnât let me in when I went to her, so I gave her some privacy. When I didnât hear from her, I went to her room to check on her andâŠâ she shook slightly, probably from the intensity of what she felt when it had happened. âShe wouldnât open the door so I got the guards to force the door open, and thenâŠâ she looked away as tears brimmed her eyes again, causing Jackâs chest to sqÂŁÂŁze slightly. â⊠she was lying lifeless on the bed⊠lookingâŠâ she shook her head vigorously, trying to ward off the scary memory.
Something flashed through Jackâs mind as he tried to picture what Lara had described. He didnât needed to forge a memory.
The memory of the event years back flashed through his head, when he had stared at his motherâs lifeless form on the floor. It was and still is the most horrific thing he had ever seen.
Shocking Lara, he pulled her into his arms, holding her to his body firmly. At first she was rigid, then, she softened in his arms, accepting the comfort he was giving. âLet me hold youâ he whispered into her hair gently. And he did hold her. He might try to convince himself that he was just trying to play the role of a doting fiancĂ© but right there, he knew he was not camouflaging. He held Lara for several seconds, or was it minutes? But then, he wanted to give her the comfort no one had given him when he had seen his motherâs lifeless body, and that in itself was strange.
The door opened gently but they were not aware until someone cleared his throat. They pulled apart slightly and he felt Lara stiffen as she pulled away completely. Fear was clearly evident in her eyes now as she stared at the doctor who stood pensively.
Lara had been waiting for the doctor for what seemed like ages and now that he was here, she wished he never showed up. What news could she expect? The man was looking so sober, too sober for her peace of mind. Jack sqÂŁÂŁzed her hand and she held on to his like a lifeline. âDoctor Ben?â she called. He was their family doctor, so she knew him well enough to know that his sober look was a bad omen. The doctor just stood there, staring wordlessly. âPlease talk to meâ her voice broke as she spoke.
Doctor Ben shook his head. âI donât have good news my dearâ
âWell, just give us the news you have sirâ Jack said angrily as Laraâs nervousness started rubbing off on him. Why was the man prolonging things, making Lara more pensive? âIs she alive?â Jack asked directly and Lara stiffened the more. For the first time in years, he felt protective towards someone who wasnât in his motherâs category.
He put his arm around Laraâs shoulder, pulling her against him protectively as they awaited the doctorâs reply.
âYes, she isâ he finally said.
Jack felt Lara go limp with relief and even though he tried to ignore it, he felt the relief deeply also.
âShe is alive but barelyâ the doctor added.
Lara stiffened as she tried to extract herself from Jackâs grip. âWhat do you mean doctor?â her eyes were ablaze again and Jack was becoming increasingly irritated by the doctor, but somehow, he was able to keep his mouth shut. He could see that the doctor was close to the family, so maybe, he was also having a moment.
âThe drugs she took are very potent. I am actually surprised that she had themâ
Lara frowned. âShe took drugs?â
The doctor nodded as a bitter look crossed his face. âA large dozeâ
Lara stared like she had just been dealt a heavy blow. Her mother had attempted suicide! Of all the things that she had imagined, Lara hadnât envisaged this! Jack was also stunned out of reason.
âThe drug is not in circulation because of its effects, but because of her status, it wouldnât be impossible for her to acquire them. They have eaten deep into her intestines. If she had been found earlier, we would have been able to get them out of her system but now, coupled with her medical history, the damage it has done to her organs is irreversible.â The doctor swallowed as he walked towards Lara and placed his hand on her cheek compassionately. âI am sorry my dearâŠâ
âSorry what?â Lara grated out as tears rolled out of her eyes uncontrollably. âWhat are you saying doctor?â
âShe might not be able to live beyond a few hoursâ the doctor dropped.
Lara had cried her eyes out until there were no more tears left in her, but still the tears seeped out of her eyes as she walked with the doctor. The doctor stopped as he got to a door and turned to her. âI still think you should go in aloneâ he murmured, glancing at Jackâs towering form.
âNo!â she said firmly. âI donât think I would be able to stand it if I am alone in there. I want him to come with meâ she pleaded. âPleaseâ
Doctor Ben nodded. âDonât make her talk too much. She needs her strength nowâ
Lara nodded and closed her eyes, wiping away tears. She needed faith. She couldnât accept the word of the doctor. Her mother couldnât die now, please no! Jack linked his fingers with hers letting the heat of his palm give her more reassurance. She had never been more grateful for the moral support. What would she have done without Jack and her friends? Thankfully, they were still out, sparing them the pain she was feeling.
The doctor opened the door for them and Lara took a huge step inside. This is nothing but a bad joke! She told herself, hoping that the person she would meet in there would be anyone but her mother. But it wasnât a joke. Shivers ran down her spine and her shoulders started heaving with unshed tears as she tried with all her might to control herself.
Jack put his arms around her and hissed her hair gently but it was of no effect as she stared at her motherâs form on the bed.
She started crying for real now, not knowing if she would ever stop.
âShhhhhâ Jack whispered gently but then, Sewa opened her eyes.
It is wonder how fragile the physical body is. Just hours back, Sewa had been her perfect self but now, she was a shadow of herself. Lara cried harder, removing herself from Jackâs hand to kneel beside her motherâs hospital bed. âMum⊠oh muuumâ she sobbed as Sewa slowly turned her head. Jack stood helplessly. The situation before him scared the hell out of him; there is nothing more frustrating than being unable to do anything when someone was in pain.
Sewaâs eyes were blank and almost ghostly. âOâŠOmoâŠlaraâ she forced out painfully.
Lara shook her head vigorously. âNo. No mum, donât say anything. You⊠you need your strength so you can get better mum, pleaseâ
Sewaâs face flashed with a brief pale smile. âI⊠I donât thinkâŠâ she closed her eyes briefly and opened them back. â⊠I can be betterâ she finished.
Laraâs tears increased. âDonât say that mumâ she sobbed. âPleeeeaaseâ
A lone tear sipped out of Sewaâs eye, disappearing into the pillow beneath her head. âI am⊠sorry Laraâ
Lara cried harder, her shoulders heaving uncontrollably as she held her motherâs hand tightly. âWhy did you do this mum? WhyâŠâ She cried. âWhy do you want to leave me?â
Another tear slipped out of Sewaâs eye again. âI⊠I have seen you look at me with hatred onceâŠâ Her mouth shook. âI canât see that look againâ
âWhy do you think I would hate you mum? I can never hate you, you are my mother and I love you. I love you very much mumâ she sobbed.
She closed her eyes briefly as pain seemed to flash through her features. âI know you do.
But you wouldnât after seeing what your father plans on broadcasting tomorrowâ she gasped out.
âI think you should rest maâamâ Jack murmured, intruding in their mother to daughter talk. But he had to. He had seen this scenario many times and it always never ended well.
âWhat does he want to broadcast?â Lara muttered. Jack was also curious about that part but the ultimate now was keeping Mrs Banks alive.
Sewa smiled softly, reopened her eyes and stared at Jack for the first time. She seemed to be fighting hard to keep her eyes open. âJackâ she whispered, ignoring Laraâs question, he almost couldnât hear her. âYou look so much like PascalâŠâ She murmured. âHe was my rock during the early years of my marriageâ
Jack swallowed. He could not understand a thing, maybe because the emotional displays had totally sent his brain on overdrive.
âPlease take care of my⊠daughterâ she pleaded.
âStop it mumâ Lara cut in sharply.
âNever let her experience painâ Sewa continued, talking forcefully.
Laraâs tears had wet the front of her blouse and her nose was runny but she couldnât stop her tears. âDonât talk like this mum⊠PleeeeaaassseeâŠâ She cried and looked back at Jack. âPlease tell her to stopâ
âPro⊠Protect her⊠Pleaseâ she gasped, running out of breath.
Fear gripped Jack as he glanced nervously at the beeping monitor and started towards the door. âIâll call the doctorâ he said, but he didnât want to leave Lara. Sewa was gasping and her chest was heaving. âDoctorâ he yelled from the entrance, keeping an eye on Lara who was running wild, trying to calm her mother. âDoctorâ Laraâs shrill voice screamed from inside.
âMum⊠Mum, please donât do thisâ she cried as she hopped on her feet, trying to stabilize her motherâs shoulders with her hands. âMumâ he screamed.
The doctor rushed in with nurses and Jack hastened towards Lara, pulling her. She struggled vigorously. âMumâŠâ She raised her eyes to the doctor. âDoctor⊠What⊠What is happening⊠Do somethingâ she snapped, crying profusely, but just like in the movies, the doctors were helpless. Sewaâs body sagged and went limp as she breathed her last.
Choose Episodes Below;
Note: episodes already read are highlighted in red!
Episode 1 Episode 2 Episode 3 Episode 4 Episode 5 Episode 6 Episode 7 Episode 8 Episode 9 Episode 10 Episode 11 Episode 12 Episode 13 Episode 14 Episode 15 Episode 16 Episode 17 Episode 18 Episode 19 Episode 20 Episode 21 Episode 22 Episode 23 Episode 24 Episode 25 Episode 26 Episode 27 Episode 28 Episode 29 Episode 30 Episode 31 Episode 32 Episode 33
Leave a Reply