CHAPTER.FIVE
1075 Words
A VISIT FROM THE PAST.
ROSELYN’S POV
My head tilted forward, knocking into the hard wall. The pain forced my eyelids open and I blinked groggily, trying and failing to clear the sleep from my eyes.
“Rose, you need to go home,” Ian said softly but firmly. “Look at you, you can barely stand.”
“I know but I want to be here in case Rayan wakes up.” I sat up straight.
Ian's smile turned sad. “He won't, not any time soon. Besides, you heard the doctors.”
“But-” I start to protest but he cuts me off.
“Go home and rest.” He insists. “If anything happens, you'll be the first person I call.”
I paused, despite knowing that he's right. I needed to be active and lucid in case Rayan needed me and right now, I could barely keep my head up.
”Fine,” I breathed, rolling my eyes. “I’ll go,… but you have to call me if anything comes up!”
“You’ll be the first person I call, I promise,” Ian says, smiling.
I could still feel my heart pounding, as several thoughts rumbled through my head, making me sick to the belly, while I reluctantly walked out of the hospital and headed straight for home.
Despair followed me like a cloud but I tried not to think of Rayan too much so I don't break down.
As I hung my head in the shower, letting the hot water massage my tired muscles, I whispered under my breath. “I'm so, so tired.” My voice was thick with tears I refused to shed. “I just need a break…or a damn miracle, please…’
The dam inside of me breaks loose and a sob catches in my throat, tears falling silently down my cheeks.
I stayed in there, crying and hoping until the hot water ran out and then I dragged myself out.
A tired sigh slipped from my lips as I hung my head in despair, staring sightlessly into space.
In that moment, I couldn't help but mull over the past couple of years of my life.
I was about to marry the man of my dreams before that dream was rudely taken away from me.
How I struggled being a single mother with two jobs in a new city, and just when things were starting to kick off for me, this had to happen.
While those murky thoughts filled my head, a notification popped up on the screen.
Exhausted, I clicked on the icon but to my surprise, it was an email from my company.
Sorry, former company and more specifically, my former boss, Adrian Tate.
My heart beating wildly in my chest, I opened the email and quickly scanned its contents, my eyes and heart filling with hope.
It turns out that the new company that's taking over from Mr Tate wants to hire me after I was recommended by Mr Tate for being an exemplary secretary.
That brought a smile to my face.
The first time I met Mr Tate, I was hungry overworked, and underpaid at a waitressing job that wasn't enough to pay the bills much less take care of a child.
One thing led to another and I opened up to him telling him about my current state of living.
At the time, I was frustrated and needed someone to vent to but he took pity on me and offered me a job.
And while it may have seemed like a nice gesture to him, this job gave me hope and determination to do better.
For that, I'll forever be grateful.
Steering my attention back to the laptop, I kept on reading, relief bubbling up in my chest.
The new job comes with higher pay, more benefits, and luckily, medical insurance.
Even though the medical bill was astronomical, with the insurance, it would take some things off my plate.
I eagerly wrote back, saying that I would be grateful to work with them, and less than five minutes later, a short message came through.
‘Congratulations, please come in tomorrow for an interview as you've been selected to participate.’
Giddiness erupts in my chest and I jump up. Feeling better than I have since Rayan's incident, I rushed over to the hospital to share the good news, and Rayan, who remained comatose.
He didn't respond, of course, which only saddened my heart but I channeled that into my resolve to win over my new boss the next day at the interview.
If I had to bend over backwards for him to hire me, then so be it.
I arrived at the familiar building just in time for the interview. Nostalgia flooded my emotions. I worked here for three whole years, yet I couldn't help but be thrown off by the chaos.
Construction men moved about, loud chatter bouncing off the walls, and the sound of heavy machinery added to the chaos.
Thankfully, a tall blond woman saw me and directed me to Mr Tate's former office….which was currently unrecognisable as the layout and decor were being changed.
“The CEO will be with you in a moment, ma'am.” The lady informs me, walking away almost immediately.
“Thank you-” I start to say but she had already left.
Feeling nervous, I smoothed the front of my blouse, wiping away invisible creases when the door opened.
I bolt to my feet, attaching a wide smile to my face. “Hello sir, my name is…”
The words were held up in my throat, and i felt each one die a slow death.
“It can't be,” I thought to myself. Standing in front of me was a man I never thought I'd see again.
The Devil himself…William Hammond.
His appearance robbed me of my thoughts, my heart beating wildly as I looked up at his face.
A face that I didn't realize I had missed until now.
My emotions ran wild inside of me, but only one thought was prominent.
“Please don't let him remember me…” I prayed silently. I had changed my appearance over the years. Aside from changing my hair colour and dressing, I also wore glasses and used contacts from time to time but that didn't stop the fear gripping my chest.
It wasn't fear for me though, but for my unconscious child…Rayan.
- Writer
