Make it Work

The Confrontation

Tendai comes down after a while examining Vimbai, with a fruitless face. I cannot tell if anything is wrong of not at this point. So, I rush over to her.

“Is she going to be okay?” my face and voice solicitous asking Tendai.

She continues past me, grabs a glass of water drinks it, inhales deep and exhales audibly and come stand in front of me. She slaps me on the right cheek.

“What the hell were you doing? Where did you go? You just came out of a coma and you are already behaving this way? You are not even supposed to be driving or being alone because anything can happen! How can you be so reckless? On top of all that you leave her alone and this happens?” she pauses looking at me defeated of hope, “What happened to you? You used to be a good man?”

The disappointment is weighing on my soul, “I do not know!” lisped to her.

“Whatever it is that is going on with you. Fix it!” sighs, “And yes, it seems like she is going to be alright. Just let her rest I will check up on her tomorrow when I return. To make sure you will not abandon her again, I will wait until your Tanya gets here.” She checks her phone.

“Tanya is coming here?”

“Now you come to life? Yes, I called her! There is no guarantee you will take care of her if I leave you two alone. What were you thinking leaving a pregnant woman alone? What was so important that you had to leave her alone?”

“I had asked her friend to take her in before I left, until I have returned, her refusal was not anticipated.”

“Yes, and guess what Michael? She did! What is wrong with you?

Tanyaradzwa shows up at this instant her face terrified and filled with worry.

“What happened to her? Where is she? Is she okay?” she looks demented by the news and I just stand there and watch her act out, “You i***t, how can you leave her alone? Do you know how much she has been through? On top of that she is with child!”

“Oh! So, you know about that, huh? Did Tendai tell you?” right at this moment I have become so terribly calm.

“No, I did not. I assumed you already told her at the hospital or called to tell her or texted or met somewhere.” Tendai clarifies on that part.

“This is not about you …….” Tanyaradzwa tries to divert the topic and I quickly interject.

“I was really hoping that everything is not true sister!” expressed my disappointment.

“What are you talking about?” Tendai put her question forward confused by what is being said.

“It is nothing Tendai.” Tanyaradzwa tries to side step Tendai.

“No, No, No, since I am to blame for everything, how about you knowingly let me marry Vimbai, who you knew from way back then that she is pregnant and the child is not mine? I remember you pushing so hard for the wedding,” scoff, “All this time I thought I can count on you and then I discover this!”

“Come on, there must be a chance that the child is yours! Maybe we should do a DNA test to be sure!” Tendai suggests.

“There are no possibilities to delve for here!” I counter her suggestion of the DNA test.

“And why is that?” she seeks clarification on the matter.

“Because, he never slept with her not even once even at this point.” Tanyaradzwa gives her the clarification in a low voice.

“So, she told you about that also? You two must be close!” talk in an insolent manner.

“What!?” she screams in disbelief, “Now everything is starting to make sense. Your reaction when I gave you the pregnancy news, why you were ignoring her, why you left her alone! And that accident you were involved in, was it because of this?” she throws another question at me.

“Yes, it was,” admitted to the cause of my comatose.

“Wow, there is a lot going on with you guys and you are newlyweds! I do not know why you not having slept with your wife is not hard to believe but because I know you in and out, it sounds like you.”

Right now, I have no idea if I should blame my sister or myself for having trusted her. All that was good and all that was bad she did for me and to me, I can perceive in my heart and soul. This evil she did however has begun to devour all the good leaving only that she scarred me with.

“All I can do now sister is ask. Why this depravity towards me? Did I ever do anything wrong to you as a brother? Was I that terrible as a brother that you have to leave me feeling derelict?” lamented pouring out questions to her.

“Michael, I ………..”

“You what?” I cut her off, “Can explain? Thought that it would be? Right now, my heart feels as if it has been desiccated by that one person I have always put my trust into without question!” pour out my pain to her and it seems like tears are accumulating in her eyes readying to flow down her cheeks.

“I think you should stop talking before you say things you will regret later in life! This is your sister, and you should refrain from saying bad things to her.”

“Really? But she has the right to play god with my life?”

“I did not say that, Michael, stop trying to blow things out of proportion and make them harder than they already are! Besides you never really told me what happened to her.” She diverts the conversation.

“I found her lifeless being beaten up by a crowd of people on the road!”

“A group of people? With where you live, where did a group of people come from? Unless someone paid them to come here and beat your wife.” she insinuates.

“That is what I am thinking too, but I think I have said enough and I require some sleep!” I move to the stairs, “Right now, I am upset, very upset! In myself, at Tanya here and at the world. And here you are expecting me to dote to this!”

“No one is expecting you to show fondness towards this Michael.” Tendai’s tone now sounds softer than before, “I am just expecting you to be rational about this!”

“Rational? If you were in the same situation, you would not even be speaking about being rational, you can say that because you are not feeling what I am feeling!” demurred at Tendai, “Right now, I am just trying to hold on to my sanity and striving to keep my soul from shattering any further.”

“I am sorry!” Tanyaradzwa stammers.

“Now I understand why you tried so hard to dye everything about me and her perfect, rendering me blind to your deceit and devilry! Congratulations on your success, I am going to sleep now.”

“Mike!”

Tendai stops her, “Tanya, leave him alone for now, let him cool down and afterwards when he is settled you can talk to him.” She gives her advice as I fade from their presence.