SHADOWS OF KAYLA

THE POSSIBLE JOKER 🃏

Kayla.

All three of us stood eagerly by Tom's bed, watching the doctor do his thing. Dad had one of his hands tapping mum gently on her shoulder as she crossed her hands apprehensively over her breasts.

After scary long hours of looking all over the neighbourhood for Tom, he was found by a neighbour, curled up on a bench in tears. Mum pulled him into the longest and tightest hug I've ever seen her do. Her tears rained on his hair, something I was sure would have pissed the hell out of Tom, had he been in the right mood.

I was so relieved that Tom was back. I had been on edge all the while he was missing. Scared that he might have been kidn*pped. A lot of thoughts raced all around my head, and like mum, I wasn't thinking straight. All my manners and respect for people's privacy went down my throat and I let myself into every house in the street in search of Tom.

The doctor packed up his things in his case and stood to his feet with a brief sigh, which I couldn't tell the kind of news it carried.

I watched mum loosen up as she nudged herself closer to the doctor.

“How is he now? Is he…is he fine?”

“Ah, yes. He's improved a lot since yesterday. He just needs a lot of rest and a couple more injections,” the doctor smiled.

I watched mum sit next to Tom, and dad stood still with a smile I knew he tried hard to put a smile on his face. I was scared. Scared for everyone, Tom, mum and dad. I had a hunch someone was after our family, and I had a bad feeling Van was connected to dad.

Stuck, I felt. Not between a rock and a hard place, but between life and death. There was no way I could try to tell mum something was wrong. No way to tell Dad that whatever murderer he's involved with was very near. Tom was there, lying asleep, suffering too and there was nothing I could to do help.

“But should I be very honest with you guys?” the doctor added quickly, sucking his lips in like it took him a lot of courage to mutter those words.

My parents' questioning eyes were now fixated on the forty-something year old doctor, who looked more confident now that he got the attention of the couple. He moved his gaze from mum to dad, to Tom, then dad again, before dad showed him that him was eager to know.

“Go on…” dad urged, with a ting of fear in his voice. Mum sat there, eyes glued to the doctor. I could almost hear how hard her heart was beating where she sat, and it made me ache.

“This boy shouldn't be here right now. He should be at the hospital,” the doctor announced professionally, waiting for their responses.

Mum took one quick apprehensive at Tom, before she turned to dad with eyes filled with plea. It was as though she was telling him that they had to listen to the doctor no matter what.

Dad sighed and stood upright from the wall he had been leaning against.

“You just said he's fine," dad argued.

“Yes, I sure did. But there might be something I'm not seeing by treating him here in this house. He needs to get some tests done, which I certainly can not do here, you see. I'm sure you know that too, Mrs Jenkins,” the doctor explained, turning to mum.

“You're a doctor,” the doctor added. Mum shifted uncomfortably where she sat and she turned to Tom again, with apprehension oozing from her.

“She's a physiotherapist," dad blurted. I could sense how tense the air had become.

“She's a doctor nonetheless,” the doctor said sharply again. It was soon going to turn into a bicker between the two men if mum had not quickly interfered.

“Tom will be taken to the hospital then.”

“Sandie…”

“I've had enough of your nonsense, Joe. I'm done trying to put up with it. I'm taking Tom to the hospital myself!”

Dad took one quick look at the doctor, who was now very uncomfortable with what was happening in front of him. He understood the message and made to leave.

“We can't take him to the hospital.”

“Why? You want him to die, huh?"

The doctor took a few silent steps back, before he headed for the door, unnoticed by the couple who were now engrossed with their resumed arguments.

“What are you even saying, Sandie? Why would I want our only son to die?”

“Anyone out there who sees what you've been to doing to us will not argue against it. What father stops his sick child's treatment in the hospital?”

Dad took in a huge sigh and closed his eyes before heaving.

“This is not the issue! The point is I'm trying my best to keep Tom safe. A hospital is not safe for him and that's that!”

Mum scoffed.

“You amaze me, Tom. You know what? I don't even know why I'm wasting my time talking with you. I'll take care of my son myself…”

Seeing how dad was insistent on not taking Tom to the hospital, I was more sure that my suspicions were correct. He was hiding from someone.

He was trying his best to keep his family safe from someone. Van? I wasn't sure yet. The fact Rick might be the one Van was after made me itch.

If only I could tell Dad to stay away from Rick.

If only I could alert him that he needed to find a new place to hide.

If only…

The best thing I could do in my power to help struck me like ice in a cold weather.

I knew how I could alert dad.