Father, Pleaaseee!

THE BLOW

ADEN

As expected Jade ended up offering me the job. Due to the current rains, the job was busy than ever. Dirty vehicles were brought in for a wash and the ones that broke down for a fix. It wasn’t paying much but for now, it’s all I could depend on. Things at home were getting harder with the food supply becoming short and patients not recovering as fast as expected due to insufficient medicine. The government had offered to send some more medicine to us but knowing the protocols and policies to be followed it won’t make it here soon enough. I on the other hand need to make sure they survive till then. It’s not easy but it’s mandatory.

I was busy cleaning the car hood when a call came in. At first, I didn’t feel like interrupting my work but then again being the head of the house I have to be in the know-how. What if something happened? I swear I literally can’t take any more disasters. I literally crave positive news. Although that is like looking for a star among the clouds during the day.

‘Hello,’

‘Aden, get your ass at O’Malley’s now,’ a raspy voice commanded before the line went dead. He is a man of very few words. I would know that voice anytime you see, even in my sleep. It belongs to Jaden. The voice was coarse as if the vocal cords have been ground against heavy sandpaper. Problem is, the only time he sounds like this is when there is trouble. Huge trouble.

Getting rid of the wiping cloth I ran out of the garage like a mad man not caring about my looks. I was still in the work Overall and I’m pretty sure my face was dirty with black oil marks. I didn’t care though. The O’Malley’s are known for their harshness and wickedness. My family might be stern in their wealth prospects but the O’Malley’s only had one code – making more money. It doesn’t matter how many lives they need to step on or who they lose in the process so long as the end goal is achieved. They even didn’t mix up with people in their social class. The mere thought of being called to drop by his house exhausted me. Definitely, it wasn’t for something good, and the intensity of how bad it might be, scares me. Dread completely owned me. My stomach felt empty, my brain was mushy, and my feet were numb. I don’t know why but I was restless. Till I get to know what the call is all about I don’t think I can calm my riled nerves.

I got to the O’Malley’s just about half an hour later. My clothes were slick with perspiration clinging to my skin. My throat was dry, my lungs felt like they would burst at any moment and my heart pounded so fast as if on a ticking time frame bomb. More than my own pain I was slick with worry.

Then I saw it. A scene that ripped me apart. Aurora was on her knees drenched in dirty water. I was furious and wanted nothing more than to have a brawl with him. I don’t care what his reasons were but he had gone too far. However, Aurora didn’t look too good. She looked exhausted not only physically but mentally too. It was like if she had lost the will to live.

A call then came in for her and she barely even put it in her ear. The next thing I know everything went from worse to worst. Her face turned ashen and taut. It was as if her spirit had dislocated from her body temporarily for being too worn out. She dropped the phone, got on her feet, and said, ‘I need to take a walk. Don’t follow me.’ Honestly, she didn’t need to stress the point at all. I have been there before when everything felt like if it was crashing on me. I didn’t want anyone close by then. I wanted to be alone. If there was a place peace was offered for a fee, I would have paid no matter how high the price was. My phone vibrated and a text came in. The child was dead. I knew how much it meant to her. This blow to her was one that would be hard to recover from.