LOVE ON THE EDGE

THE RESIGNATION

A shrill shock went through Tom's body, waking him from la la land. He opened his eyes and saw that he was being tased by Mr Sharps boys, he was knocked out again.

After what seemed like eternity, a slap across his face brought him back to life. "Where is the boss's money?' an angry looking thug reeking of alcohol shouted in his face. "I am still working on it," he said, "I promised I will get it to the boss before the deadline." Tom concluded.

Laughter broke among the thugs, "how do you intend to get it dumbass?" they questioned him. You can barely survive, you have no source of income and you have 4 days left. Well, we are going to have fun tearing each of your limbs from you, then we will take out your ears and feed them to your wife and son, after which we will kill them both, poor people do not deserve to live." With that they threw Tom out of the abandoned building they had taken him to and spat on him. "Four days, motherfucker," they bellowed.

Tom got up and ran as fast as his legs could carry him, he was so frightened, he could not go to the hospital now because he did not want his wife to see him like this. He could not go to his parent's place either since that was where Blaise was kept and he did not want to bring danger to their doorstep. He had no choice but to go back home. He slammed the door behind him and locked it twice, then he proceeded to the bedroom, fell on the bed and wept. He cried for hours unending and eventually fell asleep. in his dreams, he saw himself running while a hooded horse rider chased him with an axe, he ran till he tripped over a stone and fell in a ditch, then he woke up, panting, sweating, eyes wide open.

He ran into the bathroom, put on the shower and stood under it, supporting himself with arms stretched to the wall. It was obvious he had come to the end of his road, he had no choice but to accept it.

After a while, he turned off the shower and got out of the bathroom. He put on some warm clothes and sat at his desk, then he took out a pen and paper and began to write. "My darling Marilyn, what a journey it has been with you. You brought so much light to my life and made me such a better man. I am sorry for the role I played in putting you in the hospital, the many times I have failed you by believing others over you my beloved wife. I am sorry for the numerous times I permitted people to call you names at your back. Oh, how stupid I was not to see how much of a blessing you are to me. I love you so much Marilyn and I will do anything for you. The money owed to Mr Sharp is due and I have no way to pay it back, in four days, he will have my head. I just want you to know that I have made peace with this and I will go happily knowing that you and Blaise are fine and safe. Please do not try to stop him, just take Blaise from my parent's house and keep him safe. I will be watching down on you two from Heaven, smile whenever you think of me. I have no doubt that you will break out of these financial difficulties because you have always had the most brilliant ideas, I have been the one standing in your way. Go global baby, I am rooting for you. Your beloved husband, Tommy."

Then he took another paper and began writing, "My dear son Blaise, my champion, the fruit of my loins, I am so proud to be your father. Sorry we could not give you a better life even though we tried very hard to. Please, love your mother and take care of her, be good to her and support her in any way you can. Grow to be a better man than me. I wish you all the best things of life and I'll be cheering you on. When you are old enough, mummy will tell you where I have gone to. Be strong my boy, my man, my legacy. Your beloved father, Tom.

He neatly folded both letters, put them in a brown envelope and kept them in the topmost drawer. Then he heaved a sigh of relief and smiled, he was content that he will go in peace. He was ready to welcome the pain and all it came with, knowing that he had settled his family.