THE DYING HEIR

TWO FRIENDS FOR LIFE

"Natalia Taylor, I don't understand...what the hell is the meaning of this?" Dad asked flashing the results on my face...

"Dad ..." I tried to respond but he interrupted me immediately...

"What is this?" He asked me again.

I could feel his blood boiling. I couldn't respond. Tears choked my throat...I couldn't find the right answer to his question...

"Pregnant???" His voice barked at me "pregnant? Natalia. After all I've done for you?? This is what i get in return?"

"Dad...dad...please, calm down. I can explain..."

"Explain what? Tell me. Explain what?? That you were crossing the road and all of a sudden pregnancy came and hit you???"

"I'm sorry, dad. I tried ...I tried to tell you weeks before... I was raped, I swear." I stuttered falling on my knees...

"Raped? You're lying to my face right now?? Tell me, who's responsible."

"I don't know dad...I don't know ...a client...uhmh, I mean, a man..."

Before I could utter another word, my cheeks turned hot. I've just been slapped. More tears trickled down my cheeks...

"Dad, please...I'm sorry...I know I've f****d up...I should have told you earlier...I should have reported to the police...dad, I swear I didn't want to get you worried... I took the pills to avoid this whole situation..."

"Natalia, you took pills?? You tried to abort?? Is this the woman I trained you to be? I wish your mother was alive to see what you've become..."

"Dad, please don't say that about mom. I'm sorry..."

"You know what?" He took a pause before he uttered his next statement. "Get out of my house!"

My sister, who had been at the corner of the room saying nothing and staring at the movie in front of her, intervened. She also knelt down, crying and begging my dad. Asking him to pardon me. Both our pleas fell on deaf ears as my dad was determined that I should leave the house. Hours passed, my dad was still adamant. He left us crying in the sitting room and left the house. I knew that there was nothing I could do to change his mind. I stood up, dried my tears, went inside my room, took a few clothes and I left the house.

***

In a two bedroom apartment in the city, late evening. Rain dropped softly on the window. The doorbell rings. Kiara walks over, drying her hands on a towel. She opens the door and she sees her best friend, Talia soaked, shivering slightly. Her eyes are red. Her duffel bag sags from her shoulder. Kiara Is shocked

"Oh my God. Talia....? What happened"

"He told me not to come back to his house." She replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "He said he regrets that I am his child and he wishes mama was alive to see the disgrace I have become." She broke down in tears...

"Come in...come in...You’re freezing." Kiara said, opening the door wider. she sat her friend down and asked her to spill what happened. Talia looked terrible. Her face, pale. Her eyes, swollen. Her hands were trembling. Kiara’s own eyes began to swell ...

"I'm... I'm pregnant, Kiara."

Kiara gasps. "How did that happen...?"

"I was raped. it ..it happend a few weeks earlier... I couldn't tell anyone...I'm sorry I didn't tell you...I got pills...I didn't know it would result to this...I'm sorry, Kiara ...please forgive me..." Voice breaking " I had nowhere else to go… I didn’t know where else to go..."

"Sssshhh...its okay... I'm here for you...you're welcome anytime... you can stay anytime you like.." Kiara pulls her friend into a tight hug. Talia lets out loud sob against Kiara's shoulder...

"You should never have to look for a place. You already have one right here..."

They stayed there for a while just breathing. Kiara held her like she’s afraid she might disappear.

"My life is over..." Talia murmured...

Kiara pulls back slightly, cupping her friend's face... "Don't ever say that. You're not ruined. You’re not ruined. You’re real. You’re brave And you’re not alone anymore. You both are not alone." Gently, Kiara wipes Talia's tears with her sleeve, then her own.

"Let me get you a blanket and make something for you to eat then you can cry, scream, or sleep...whatever you need. You’re home now."

Talia nodded, biting her lip to stop fresh tears. Kiara walks to the kitchen...

***

In Kiara's apartment, Talia is sitting on the couch folding baby clothes from a thrift store bag. Kiara is in the kitchen, chopping vegetables and occasionally staring at her friend. Talia's belly is becoming visible. Kiara hesitates mid-chop, then speaks without turning around...

"Uhmn...Talia??"

"Yes?"

"I need to ask you something... promise me you won't be angry?" Kiara said gently ...

"I promise...I'll try not to..."

"What about the father? Your baby daddy... Do you ever think about him? do you even know anything about him?"

The room suddenly turned silent. Talia stopped folding the clothes. Her hands rested on her tiny baby bump. She stares at it for a long time before she responded...

"I don't know Kia. I don't even know anything about him either. Sometimes I wonder if he knows about me...about this..."

Kiara turns, leaning on the counter, watching her best friend..."what about your boss? Does she know about the incident?"

"I don't know. I haven't stepped my feet at the club since then."

"You should go see her...she might have information about him..."

"Yeah, I will go see her tomorrow. Thank you, Kia."

After a long pause. Kia walks over and sits beside Talia, placing her hand over her shoulders...

"I'm so proud of you, T. You're a fighter. I love you so so much..."

With a teary eyes, Tiara smiled and hugged her best friend. "Thank you so much, Kia. I love you so much too."

***

THE NEXT DAY

"Good afternoon, ma'am Quinne."

"Natalia, How may I help you?"

"Ma...I need to speak with you about something..."

"Hope you're not about to ask me not to penalize you for being absent from work for weeks without any excuse??" She cuts in sharply.

"Ma'am uhmn...it's not that...I... I need to tell you... That ... I... I..." She breaks down in tears ...

"Have you suddenly lost your speech? What is wrong with you?? Why are you crying???"

"I'm... I'm pregnant, ma..."

"So how's that got to do with me? I don't have any money to give out!!!"

"No, ma'am...I'm not asking for any money ..."

"Then what do you want? You're wasting my time, Natalia."

"I got raped here ...the client you asked me to supply drinks for the last time I was on duty raped me...I tried coming to tell you earlier but you weren't around...." She broke down totally crying

"Natalia, you have the guts to come here and lie to me. To tarnish my reputation I have used years to build."

"No...that's not my intention...I came here hoping you might give me information about him...I'm carrying his child..."

"Do you know what you're doing, right now? You're accusing my customer of rape. You liar..."

"I'm not lying...I'm being truthful, ma. Please help me...all I need is a way to get to him ...I cannot go through this alone..."

"You got raped over a few weeks ago and you couldn't come to me immediately? Now you're here trying to convince me that you were raped. How am I supposed to believe that?" Madame Quinne replied fuming "You know what? Get out of my office."

"All I need is a way to reach him ma, please help..."

"Get out!! You're fired and I don't ever want to hear of this issue again if not, I'll get you arrested and I'll make sure you spend the rest of your miserable life in jail. Leave now!"

***