The Open Road

Chapter 3

Bob

Ever played another version of your life? A different realm that embraces all your dreams and puts them into the most fulfilling reality ever? You see the other version of myself would be married to the woman of my dreams, Susan Karanja, and she would have borne me a beautiful miniature daughter who would have been the apple of my eye. Our perfect family would have resided somewhere in the Coast, inside a beach house made of nothing but glass so that every morning I would get to see my wife's face through rays of the sun and take my daughter scuba diving in the ocean. The only thing that would cause worry creases to appear on my face would be which gift to get my family on special occasions.

I felt my heart clench as the true version of my reality set course in my brain. I was an escaped convict watching the woman of my dreams from a distance trying to convince my little brother to buy cake for my daughter. I gulped back my tears, I wasn't going to cry in the streets, it would draw attention. I would hold on to my freedom until I couldn't anymore. Besides, there were many dark corners I could hide out in and cry like a wuss. I lifted my eyes to meet the scene before me. Tipping my cap further, I tried to speculate them while darting my eyes here and there afraid that someone somewhere had recognised me from the social media platforms. As I did my analysis, I remembered the pang of hurt that had hit me when I had seen an article on the news paper talking about the engagement of the country's most ravishing bachelor. The photo of Susan smiling meekly alongside my younger brother Darren had created a knot inside my stomach. A wave of emotions had swept over me at once like a tsunami over a village. I felt anguished, enraged but most of all saddened by the fact that I wasn't going to be the one to marry her, she wasn't going to wait for me. Out of all the men in Kenya she had gone for my brother. Sure, he was rich and handsome but didn't the woman have a conscious? How could she do this to me?

I noticed that just like on the photo in the news paper, her dark hair covered most of her face. She had also lost weight which was peculiar considering she loathed petite figures. Perhaps she had changed, perhaps she was only a gold digger and after I was given time in prison; she rushed to the nearest mine she could find. Maybe I was being a tad selfish, I mean they could have easily bonded over my prison sentence and fallen in love. After all I was given a life sentence. Who in their right mind waits for a man taken away for that long? But Susan was supposed to be different. She was supposed to wait for me to prove my innocence so that we could get married and be together. Did she hear about my escape? Would she be willing to take me back? Would this change the status of her relationship with Darren? Would I get to raise my flesh and blood?

Questions remained questions if no one would answer them and mine were infinite without definite answers. They looked...perfect. If I looped myself in their lives I would ruin their harmony. Darren was my brother and though we never saw eye to eye, he had the resources to take care of my family, after all he was the sole heir to my late father's multi billion company. I had stood there long enough, if I kept slacking off like that, I would get caught. I took one last look and turned to follow an unknown dusty road to whatever destination it would take me to.

"Get in the car, get in the car now Sue!"

"Be reasonable, she is only child, are we really going to deny her a mere piece of-"

It all happened so fast. Darren grabbed Susan by her arm aggressively and moved as if he wanted to hit her. The little girl's eyes widened as she began whimpering. My protective instincts kicked in not caring whether I was jeopardizing my only chance of freedom. I was three steps away from reaching Darren and punching him hard in the gut.