Father, Pleaaseee!

CHAPTER 5 - CAR ACCIDENT; PERFECT TIMING

AURORA

I don’t remember much but I know I’m not a coward. There is something about darkness though that unsettles me. Whenever the lights are off or I can’t see due to utter darkness my nerves do a tango. I wonder if it has something to do with my past but then again maybe I’m just a scared little mouse and I just don’t want to admit my weakness.

Today though is different. Outside might be dark but not the kind that swallows a person as a whole. In its stead, the sky is bathed with a watery white- silver glow from the moonlight; not too bright as to dull the stars that speckle like fire flies only they burn brighter. I couldn’t help but tilt my head gazing upwards, staring at the beautiful serene before me focused on a star yet somehow seeing them all. My whole being voluntarily drowned into the oblivion.

‘Aurora, hurry up will you?’ Aden called out. Today is a special day for him. His dreams are finally materializing. Do you know of late that all he ever talked about. He even fantasized wearing the long sleeved black dress with black buttons while addressing the masses. Come to think of it. He will definitely make a good priest. Other than the academic guidance he already had the right temperament, a dynamic thinker, humble and respective. A little rough on the edges but nothing that can’t be corrected. Being a devout to his faith I’m sure he will do an impeccable job setting a good example to his flock. I hope his nightmares stop for good and he gets the peace he deserves.

‘Coming,’ I responded smiling to myself. I don’t know why but I like making him mad sometimes. To be honest he has never lost it with me. I know it’s a good thing but the cheekiness in me makes me want to push his buttons. I sincerely want to see how deep his resilience goes. My bad but good for him as practice I mean. Makes me feel like I’m the devil’s advocate tempting the almighty’s humble servant. Though unlike the Almighty’s son, I won’t use bread as a threat. I love food but bread is my Achilles heel.

‘Took you long enough,’

‘Really, I didn’t notice,’ I responded feigning innocence. Problem is I’m an open book. He always manages to see right through me. I’ve even tried to use the ones that are close to the truth thinking that they can pass under the radar but it’s of no use. The rosy cheeks and mischievous green always sold me out. They were so automatic. No matter how hard I tried to put on a blank face it’s of no use.

‘Yeh….Yeh. We’ll be late lets go.’ We both got out of the house and into the car. In all honesty I will miss him. I’ve gotten used to having him around. He’s my buddy and the only one I’m comfortable around. It might be because he was the first face I saw after I woke up or maybe it that warm voice of his that always soothed me when everything felt rocky.

‘So tell me. What are your plans?’

‘Eat, help out in the hospital, sleep.’

A vibrated laughter sprung from him loud and hilarious. I know most people from high societies for laugh out of courtesy but his was different. You could tell it always came from deep within. It was in his eyes and his unrestrained joyful face. His is as real as it will ever get and most of all contagious. Soon enough, before I could stop myself my straight mouth twitched upwards and I couldn’t help but join.

‘Of course, eating is always your first option.’

‘At least I’m honest,’

‘Yep. The one thing we can agree on,’

‘Argumentative much?’

‘No just a farewell gift,’

‘Ahhh I see,’

‘See what? See what? The trees? True I see them too. They are not invisible’

‘Really?’

‘Come on let me just have this moment. I won’t see you for a long long time. I bet I’ll be old and wrinkly when you finally complete your studies. What do you think?’

‘Do you want me to be honest or is it a trick question?’

‘Do I have an option?’

‘You mean now that you asked. Not really,’

‘Spit it out then,’

‘You forgot the aching joints and if you continue frowning like you have been for the last couple of minutes, your face will be crumpled like an old paper bag,’

‘I have done no such thing,’ I responded as adamantly as I could master. It took only one look of his eyes and words came flowing down my mouth like a hurricane. Speaking of hurricanes the weather has changes rapidly and not so comforting for anyone who is travelling like us.

‘You can come with, you know,’

‘No thanks,’ I responded too quickly.

‘That repulsed?’

‘Repulsed No. Impossible more like it. I want kids a dozen if possible,’

‘Not that I don’t love kids but that many? Will you be able to take care of all of them?’

‘Don’t worry I promise to bring you some at the seminary to raise.’

An Untamed thunder reverberated across the monovalent sky. It was as if the gods were fighting splitting the heavens apart in return. Then the downpour hammered as if it meant to wash us away. It was Noah’s time all over again. Merciless, angry, vengeful rain. Normally there is nothing I love more than the conjuring a sweet pattern on my skin. To feel its chill stir my senses. But this time I was scared. Really scared. It was as if someone was chocking me. No matter how hard I tried I just couldn’t breathe. Is it possible for a body organ to forget its function primarily? It sure seemed like my nose is in deep slumber.

A sharp pain crossed my head and I couldn’t help but cling to it while screaming in pain. I’ve been in pain before but there was something about this that felt strangely familiar. The helplessness. It’s like some sort of invisible flame was held against me burning without mercy and I couldn’t free myself from it no matter how hard I tried. Flashes; vague Image of someone running, panting for air, drowning in fear crossed my mind. I felt the world slowly fading away right before my eyes. With it my hopes and dreams.

As if on cue the hiss of the tires across the tarmac was lost and in its place was the watery ground controlling the car movements. I could vaguely hear a car horn from a far but the blinding light confused my thoughts even more. It was another car which swerved out of control heading straight for us. I didn’t even have enough time to get my thoughts back together before my head hit the airbag. I’ve never been so grateful in my life. Were it not for the seat belt tugging on my skin with every lurch, things would have been way worse. I sincerely couldn’t imagine the horrific state I would be in if I got a double dose of memory loss.

I had a slight bruise on my head and so did Aden. We were like two peas in a pod. We both got out of the car to assist the people in the other car. The flood had buried the wheels of the car and the road looked like a river. From the lights I could tell quite a few cars had parked on the road and to be honest it was safer that way. People were on foot – running all trying to look for shelter. The trees offered none. As a matter of fact they themselves were scrambling for survival. The weaker ones already uprooted.

The thick droplets fell faster having no mercy rendering us sightless, unable to see even a few meters ahead of us. I could feel its icy teeth bite down my ankles and was tempted just for a second to back to the car to seek warmth though drenched. I struggled just to move my feet. I looked at Aden to see how he was faring. Funny you would never guess he was going through any hurdle at all. He seemed as strong as ever holding on to a woman who was on the co- driver’s seat. Blood was gushing out of her as if called by the heavens to contribute to the already flooded region. She must have flown out of the car while they were trying to avoid the coalition. Apart from the driver, the other two passengers were also unconscious. He was hurt badly yes but his care for the others seemed to keep him steady enough to help.

I thought I didn’t have it in me but even I was surprised by the emotion that suddenly erupted in me. On the hands of one of the victims was a child screaming no doubt from the lack of warmth. Carefully I climbed in the car, undressed her and put her inside me t-shirt for the skin to skin contact. Then with all the clothing items I could find wrapped around her.

‘Let’s meet at the hospital, ‘I yelled over at Aden as loud as I could. I might not have studied medicine but the blue color of the child sent nothing but warning bells to me. The hospital was a bit of a distance from where we were but the cars weren’t an option. With the newly found energy, I started running as fast as I could yet careful enough not to drop the young one. Behind me was Aden with one of the ladies on his back and some good Samaritans also helping out.  I truly pray they make it.