PAST OBSESSION

CHAPTER 5

The birds outside warble their morning ensemble, and the dispassion air of the new day skimmed against their skin. It was their second day in Kansas, yet had already settled in like long-term dwellers. Relocating to Kansas for the first time was pretty exciting and overwhelming for them. They were fascinated by its miles of vibrant wide life with numerous cultures to explore.

"Wake up! You're gonna be late for your interview. I'm dropping you off. Hurry, I don't wanna be late too,” Carlos Rossi, Jack's friend, screamed outside his room.

"I'll be there in a bit,” Jack responded as he yawned and did a full-body stretch. Rossi had already fixed the date for the interview before they arrived in Kansas. If everything falls into place, their friendship will be metamorphosed into colleagues working in the same organization.

*************

“I'm ready, buddy. Let's do this,” Jack stormed the living looking a lot dapper and fashionable, unlike the previous interview where he was dressed up like a Halloween.

"Is Jane awake? I haven't seen her this morning.”

"Nope, she's still in bed. Ever since we got here, she's been spending more time sleeping lately. I suspect she's got a fever. I'd stop by the clinic and get her some drugs on my way back.,” Jack replied as they stepped out and drove to the company's premises in Rossi's 2021 model Ford van.

"Here we are. Step out of the car. My boss awaits your presence. I already told him about you,” he urged Jack, who was plagued with anxiety, not after what happened the previous time he went job hunting.

"I understand the anxiety, but we are here now. There's no going back. My boss isn't violent, so you got nothing to worry about.” He assured Jack and allayed his fears. With a bit of optimism, Jack descended from the car as they both strolled inside the company's premises.

Pointing to an office, Rossi disclosed. “That's the office. Go there and do your thing.”

"Thanks a lot. I can't wait to start working in this organization. Damn, this place looks cool.” Jack sighed, breathing heavily as he gestured to the office entrance and knocked.

“Come in, the door is opened,” a male voice spoke from inside and permitted Jack to come inside.

"Good day, sir. I'm Jack Andre. Rossi recommended this interview for me.”

"Oh, I remember. Please seat. Can I have your credentials, please?” Mr. Kane Brown ordered, stretching his hand. After going through his files, he couldn't help but praise Jack.

“Exactly what we needed. This is brilliant,” Despite the praises, Jack wasn't fascinated and didn't let the words get to him. It all seems like a Déjà vu after a similar incident occurred during his last interview. A terrific experience he wished to forget.

"Does that mean I got the job?” he asked, to avoid a Déjà vu.

"Most definitely! You can come over tomorrow to start working. You'd be paid $7,000 monthly, with an official car, an apartment, and other benefits,” Kane further disclosed and left Jack speechless. He couldn't wait to go and disclose to Jane. Finally, they got the dream job they always wanted.

"This is breathtaking. I can't wait to resume tomorrow,” Jack shook hands with him in excitement and vacated the office. He immediately called Rossi over the phone to break the good news. Jack figured it was only fair he told Rossi before anyone.

Jack whistled and danced for joy. He couldn't wait to hug Jane so passionately and whisper in her ear, “Baby, We got the job,”

"Honey, I'm home. Guess what just happened?” He screamed, but no one responded. He called out again, but still no response from anywhere, as stillness enclosed the atmospheric condition. The living room was still unkept, the exact way Jack saw it this morning.

“Where could she have gone to? No one is answering.” Jack was worried. He decided to go check the room, only to find Jane sleeping and shivering. Leaning forward, he placed his back palm on her neck.

“Oh, my goodness. Your temperature is high. Let's take you to the hospital immediately,”

Jack shouted as he assisted Jane to stand on her feet again. Wrapping his hands around her waist, he managed to help her walk outside as they found a cab heading to the hospital. “She needs urgent medical attention. She's been feeling very feverish lately. However, it got worse this morning,” speaking to a nurse, Jack explained.

"Come up with me. I'd take you to the doctor's office,” the nurse responded and led them to the doctor's office. Arriving at the office, Jack introduced himself to the doctor and stated the state of Jane's health. Without hesitation, she was placed in the sick bay.

“What's your relationship with the patient? Asked, the Doctor.

“She's my girlfriend.

What's wrong with that?”

“We require her blood samples to carry out a test before we commence the treatment. Are you okay with that?”

“Sure! You've got my full support,” Jack consented.

"Awesome! You just have to wait while the test result is out,” the doctor urged, as he took Jane's blood samples to the laboratory.

"You'd be fine, okay? I'm here with you,” holding Jane's hand, Jack assured.

"How was the interview? Did you secure the job?” In a quiet tone, Jane asked.

"Yes, I did. But that's not essential now. I wanna see you get better.” Jack responded and bent his head. Moments later, the Doctor returned and gave Jack a brown envelope that contained the test result. He opened the envelope, read its contents, and narrowed his gaze at the doctor. “Is this a joke,”

"I wish it was. Your girlfriend is a few weeks pregnant. However, some pregnancy symptoms might generate general weakness of the immune system.” The doctor further highlighted.

"Can you excuse us, please? I wanna have a word with her,” Jack pleaded as the Doctor obeyed.

Turning to face Jane fully, he asked. “I'm sure we are not ready for this pregnancy, right? I mean, everything is happy so fast. We need to slow down until it gets better. We are just getting started,”

"Are you suggesting we terminate the pregnancy?”

Bewildered, Jane asked.

"Exactly! We can have as many kids as we want. But for now, we need to focus on becoming financially buoyant. Get married, improve our finances before having a baby,” Jack hinted as Jane looked away with tears dripping from her eyes. “I'm scared. What if I die in the process?”

"Don't wish yourself bad. You know how much I love you. I would never do anything to hurt you. I want the best for us. Think about it,” assuring Jane of a successful abortion, Jack kissed her forehead. Eventually, he succeeded in cajoling her into accepting to abort the baby.

"Thanks for your understanding,” he dashed outside to call the doctor.

"We wanna terminate the pregnancy. We already decided in your absence,” Jack revealed.

"Are you sure about this?” Perhaps, you need some time to ponder over,” The Doctor suggested.

"We already concluded. You can proceed,” With full confidence, Jack consented.

"Okay, fine. Just go wait at the reception while the nurses take her to the ward,” the doctor ordered.

While seated at the Ward, Jack dozed off and suffered a horrible nightmare where Jane died from abortion complications. “No!” He screamed in a loud voice and disturbed other patients.

"I bet you just had a nightmare? Well, that's normal,” a masculine voice spoke in front of him. Jack looked at the person and discovered it was the Doctor. With a move too fast, he stood up and gripped his shirt, “Please tell me, Doctor, did she make it alive?”

"Take it easy, Mr. Andre. Yes, she's alive,” struggling to speak, the doctor affirmed.

"Yes! Can I go see her now?” Jack asked in excitement.

“I'm afraid no.” Wearing a frown, the doctor uttered. He paused and continued. “You see, she suffered some uterus complication while we were trying to take out the baby. I'm sorry, Mr. Andre. As it stands now, her chances of having a child are slim. Her womb was badly affected,” stammering, the Doctor divulged. Jack was shocked and dumbfounded by the news. He couldn't handle the pressure and collapsed to the ground but was immediately rushed to Jane's Ward for urgent medical attention!