HELENA

CHAPTER Two ( The Accident)

" How are you feeling now Mom?" I asked with sniffing as I was weak seeing my mom like this.

"I'm fine and the doctor said that I would be discharged today Helena or didn't he say that?" My Mom asked me smiling.

" He said so, I just wanted to be sure that you're really okay and capable of going home." I said one thing I can't joke with is losing my mom because I lost my father this same way.

A car hit her on her way home that particular day around the time I was returning home from school. She was coming from the market as she went to buy some things that we would use to sustain ourselves when a car hit her when she wanted to walk to the other side of the road.

One of the neighbours went home to bring his car that was why she was still on the floor when I got there and off we went to the hospital after he arrived with the car.

She was attended to luckily as fast as possible immediately we got to the hospital and was admitted. Unfortunately,we had to spend our savings which I was to use to pay my school fees on her treatment and I don't even regret doing that as I didn't even attend school since that day it happened. More reason why I must participate in the competition without no doubt about that.

" Don't worry Helena, nothing will happen to me you know I still have to take care of my grandchildren." She said I don't know how she does that even in emergency situations,she still always utter statements just to ease the tension that sometimes I wonder if she's truly a lady or there's a man hiding in her.

" You know she's a crying baby Mom, leave her alone," the annoying little boy said obviously to annoy me as usual.

"You better keep quiet!! Says the person who was crying two days ago when he got to the hospital." I said taunting him as well.

" I was not crying because of Mom but because of other patients who were sick." He said trying to defend himself as he does not give up easily.

"As if I would believe that. Mom, let me go and meet the doctor to know of the necessary things to do before you're discharged today." I said and stood up immediately to do so.

" Okay,that is good.You can wake me up when you return as I'm feeling sleepy right now," she said closing her eyes. I nodded and left the room to meet the doctor as said.

......

" Mom take it easy and sit down while I go to the kitchen to get you water to drink," the caring Helena said to her mom and went in to bring water while her mother rested her back on the couch at their parlour.

She was discharged that evening around 7 PM after the doctor approved of her discharge and instructed Helena on how her mother was to use her drugs and things she should stay away from for a while.

" I don't know maybe I should discuss it with you as I have something to say." Helena said after handling over the water to her mother to drink when they got home.

" Hope it's not about money? The way you've been caring for her as if you're her only child is fishy." Klow said jealously, someone that could not lift his finger to do anything but only to talk in fallacy.

" Klow keep quiet and let me listen to your sister!! I don't want to hear anything from you till she's done with what she want to say." My mom ordered while I pull out my tongue to taunt him which I know is already paining him just as I wanted.

" It was on the day of the tragic event I was suppose to inform you, but I had to swallow it up till now. The principal invited me to his office and informed about a science competition that is to hold next week Saturday. The winner would be given a full scholarship to KAIS High school till the person is done with high school. He told me he had registered me while I concluded that I would discuss it with you and I would abide by any decision you make Mom."

"Why will I stop you from not participating? I'm even delighted and grateful that my daughter is recognised by her principal as having the capability to represent the school. I know you Will make us proud and at least you would be able to attend a great school as that if you win." She said smiling. The kind of smile I use to see on her face when my dad was alive.

" How did you know it's a big school?" I could not but ask as I would not have known if not for my crazy friend Jasmine.

" It's obvious for them to be offering scholarship it means the fee is not just for ordinary people. Also you know I do tell you that my mom worked for your dad's family as a maid."

" Yes Ma, you usually tell us the story but what does it have to do with this?" I and my brother could not wonder but ask as we cooperates easily when it comes to listening to tales like this.

" It has something to do with it. Since I had always been smart and brilliant then, your grandfather a very generous man then offered to sponsor my schooling and then enrolled me at KAIS High school." She said with tears coming out of her eyes of course, I know she was remembering my dad once again.

" You don't mean it mom?" I asked as I was surprised that it was this same school that she's talking about. The love for the school I have never seen pumped in me and I know it was because my parents attended it.

"Though he didn't actually know me before,we met in that school,fell in love and later got married.

" Won't you tell us about your romantic moments with dad when you were in school? We're dying to know about it Mom." I asked being someone who loves listening to romantic stories like this.

It might be due to the fact that I have read a lot of romantic stories, fantasize a lot on romantic moments with my crush that I'm always excited when it comes to listening to love stories. If it's reading I get tired easily but when it comes to romantic tales, I Helena will dedicate my soul to it.

" Our love story is a long tale and twisted but I will just summarize it. You might not sleep till the next morning when I start." She said laughing and drilling in the memories of the past.

" We're ready for that even if it takes a year we won't stand up from this seat but listen to you," I said jokingly.

" If you say so, but get me water to drink while I take you through the love story of I and your father and particularly about my story."

" Where should I start from..........?" She said after gulping down the water she instructed me to bring down her throat.

.........

Growing up was not as easy as I envisioned for myself. I was the only child my parents gave birth to but that didn't mean that things would be as colourful as only children enjoy.

I was just Ten years of age when my father died from tuberculosis and since then my mother of blessed memory picked up the baton to raise me and she promised herself that I must be educated no matter what she was going to go through as that was the only way she believed we can say goodbye to poverty.

She worked as a cleaner for a lot of houses and return home in the evening after having cleaned up their houses and take care of their children.

When I was fifteen years of age, my mother secured a job as a maid at the" White Villa" as a full house maid and was only granted weekends to come home which means she sleeps at the mansion during the week and only have the weekend to come home and stay with her daughter.She could not decline as the salary was enticing and so consented to the offer.

I started living alone then and going to school independently at the age of Fifteen and only have the time to relate with my mom during the weekend. I didn't allow this to discourage me as I knew the reason why my mom was going through all this and I made sure I go home with the best results to compensate her for a job well done.

This was how things were going on until my mom returned home one weekend and told me of her rich boss plan to sponsor my education since she had mention my grade beside him before and also because she helped him find his missing bag which contained important documents as reward for that. That was how I was able to school at KAIS without being from a rich family.

I was admitted to the school and it was not up to a month before my brilliancy attribute was noticed by people with some crushing on me. You know I am a very beautiful lady even up till now and some students could not but fall in love with my intelligence and beauty.

All this while, I had not known your father well apart from the fact that he was the unserious fellow,bully and a playboy then. The day we started talking was when I saw him bullying someone his mate for that matter at the school cafeteria. I walked up to him as I was infuriated by this act and rebuked him a lot.

He didn't say anything but I was surprised he apologized to the guy he was harassing and left the scene. He later came to meet me saying he likes brave women and would wish to be my friend.

We became friends with I helping him with his studies, which went a long way in helping him academically. After a while,we dated and even after high school we didn't cut the relationship but even the love continued growing.

We attended different universities but we still kept our relationship alive and when we graduated,he proposed to me. I accepted and he took me to his father as his mother was long dead.

It was then I found out about him and he also found out about what happened. It was a surprise with his father refusing our marriage but after constant confrontation and letting him know that I was the one that influenced his son's life positively,he accepted and we got married. The marriage then produced two greatest gifts for me that I could not trade for anything in the world.

" Wow,mom I didn't know you also had it tough but mom don't worry everything will be fine." I said with a tone of assurance to her as I had come to realise after listening to her story that she also went through a lot growing up without a father just like what is happening to them presently.

" Yes Mom, I will make sure you enjoy a lot when I become successful," Klow also said lovingly to her.

" Thank you my babies!!" I know you people care a lot about me. Now let's go and sleep to wake up early tomorrow. Are both of you going to school tomorrow being Friday?" She asked.

" No we're not going we will resume back on Monday. Let's just use this period to take care of you and look after your health." I said to her knowing the kind of mom I have.

She and my younger brother went to their room as they sleep together in the room while I make use of the second room.

It was a two bedroom apartment built by my mother before my father died when we were really okay. Of course not knowing it would later serve as our abode which saved us from having to battle with house rent issue.

When I mounted my bed to sleep, I thought about the story as I prepared to sleep, proud of my Mom while thinking about my future. I won't want history to repeat itself again (Helena thought), she was still thinking about this when the angel of sleep took her away on a sleep journey.