ENOUGH PLAYING AROUND
1174 Words
Chapter 15
LATIFA’S POV
My car was parked at Zacks gate. His room windows were wide open.
Our room…
Memories of when I used to stand there waiting for his arrival from work elude my mind.
The sweet feelings I once had. The butterflies I felt whenever he brings home flowers and fruits.
I miss him so much…
My hand shook along the picture l had snuck out from Engr. Dona's table.
Miriam's picture.
She sat with her late husband, Dr Dutchman, with Lady Joan and Engr Dona standing behind them.
It was their wedding photograph.
How sad.
Engr. Dona had been Dr Dutchman's best friend while Joan was Miriam's half-sister.
They had collided in bringing down the happy couple.
My tears glistened in my eyes. Miriam had suffered the same fate as I
But why…
Why did Miriam hide it from me?... Doesn't she remember who she was?
No, I doubt that.
My darling Zack…
How would he feel when he finds out the woman he has loved and protected all his life is not actually his mother? And that she's responsible for his failed marriage and his parents too.
The flood of hidden truth stings my heart.
How is he even holding up to the death of his beloved wife?
Me
That urge set in again. Hitting my emotions hard, breaking the thick walls of my heart
The heart I had locked against love from any man
The urge I had fought against in that office room.
The urge to storm in and embrace him, lying on his bare chest like I used to.
I had seen him fighting with himself too.
Fighting to ask who I was. Fighting to pull me into his arms. His hard veins had given him away.
My heart ached so much at how much he was suffering. Even now.
Those years of sweet affairs, his proposal, the steamy nights and our shortened marriage linger at the back of my mind.
My wary hand clutches my heavy heart.
I can't do this…
I can't live like this… without Zack.
My body shivering at the longing building up in me.
God, I need to tell him
“I must tell him I am Joyce… His wife”, my hands shaking and sweating as my thumb punched the digits of my phone.
He needs to know
“Hello…” his voice came after the second ring.
My lips pushed without words. My heart beat thudding behind the walls of my ears.
“Hello… Who is this?”
Mouth shaking. Fear. Longing.
“Bab… baby…” the words came. The words I had tied at the back of my throat.
“Baby!..” my voice is stronger now…
I can imagine his face right now. Shocked. Confused. His forehead frowning like it used to whenever he's confused..
“I… I… I missed you.. Baby”
“Jo… Joyce!...” His voice came. Heavy. Breaking.
“Where are you?”
I looked up to the window. The room lit up. I saw his shadow pushing through hanged clothes.
“Baby, please tell me. Where did they keep you? Don't hang the call. I am com…”
I hanged up hastily. Giving my driver a nod as he drives off.
I know Zack too well. He will find me if I stay a little longer.
Face dried. My gaze back at the window, he was there, his eyes searching the empty road. His phone in his ear.
My phone lit up. It was him calling back.
I declined, removing the phone's battery as I threw the sim out of the car window.
Sank back into the car. I let out my pain. My caged desires. My tears
I let it all out
Every night I longed to be with him. In his arms. To be carried around. Cuddled. Loved. Cherished.
To feel love again.
Joan
The woman who dared to bite from every plate.
You must pay. I will munch from your garden. I will unplug all your seeds and feed them to dogs.
I will dry your blood, I swear.
It's a promise
It's time to strike.
“Get every single file ready… We strike tomorrow”, I spoke on the phone, adjusting to the car.
Enough playing around.
But now, I face Miriam
~~
My bare feet match the warm marbles of the floor.
Worn out. Lost
Miriam stood, rushing to catch me.
I slumped in her arms as she hold me in her embrace.
The way she had always hold me over the years. Our years of pain and torture.
Early months of pregnancy.
“What happened child?” She asked. Rubbing my cold back.
“I called him Miriam… I called Zack. I wanted to tell him everything. To tell him I am his Joyce; His wife cos… I miss him”
“Oh dear…”
“He is suffering… He is in pain and I don't like that… I want to ease his pains”
Miriam led me to the coach. Wiping my face with the ham of her gown.
Then her eyes caught it
The picture. Her wedding picture
“Where did you get this?”
She snatched the paper, sitting beside me.
Frozen. Mouth open.
“Stole it from Dona's… Why didn't you tell me… You're my mother in-law?”
“It's not confirmed yet” her wary voice cut in. It's clear she's hiding her pains
“I am yet to conduct a DNA test. I need Zacks hair or blood or…. or whatever” tiny tears now streaking down her eyes.
She had told me years back that Joan destroyed her family and life. Never really got into details.
“What happened… Tell me everything Miriam. I want to help you too… just as you've been helping me”
Grabbing the photo to her chest, Miriam went into sob. Louder cry.
“All I did was love her… I only invited her for our fifth wedding anniversary and to celebrate my new baby with me… but I caught her in bed with my husband and she locked me up…”
“What happened to your baby Miriam?”
“I… I lost consciousness when Joan came back claiming to be pregnant; and then I saw my self at the hospital. I was diagnosed with down syndrome. I didn't see my son again”
“Mom”
Shocked. It was my son this time. His eyes drowsy.
“Why are you crying… and Miriam too”
I wiped my face as Miriam took him into her arms. Her hands running through his red hair.
“The hair… It feels the same” she sobbed silently as she buried her wet face on his head.
“I have that feeling… the feeling that Zack is my son”
“I will help you. I will do everything in my power to” I whispered.
I swear
Zack deserves a good mother. Even if Miriam is not his mother. I will make her that…
- Writer
