No turning back
1134 Words
“I’m so sorry ma’am, we tried all we could but we lost him.” Harriet nodded slowly as she tried to grasp the doctor’s words.
“He was stable” the doctor continued his report “He responded to treatment, improved gradually till he had a cardiac arrest this evening. We tried to revive him but he gave up, ma'am, I am so sorry for your loss.” His words danced around her ears but didn’t sink in. She was spaced out and the doctor noticed this.
“Ma’am? Ma’am?” the doctor called out “Ma’am, I just said—“
“I heard you,” Harriet said, her voice barely above a whisper. She took in a shaky breath “I know you and your team did your best and I appreciate that.” She said quietly.
The doctor nodded, “We are moving him to the mortuary now. Once again, I am sorry for your loss. Your father was a good man.” He bowed his head in acknowledgement and excused himself.
She stayed in her rigid position, shocked about the happenings around her. First her fiancé broke up with her, called off their wedding and the next day she loses her father, her only hope for living. She was beyond broken at the moment and didn’t know what to do and needed the comfort of a friend.
“Harriet” she heard her name and whipped her head to the direction of the voice. She saw her best friend hurriedly walking to her with a worried look on her face. She reached her and set her bag on the floor beside the chair as she sat beside her friend who looks like she is about to tear up any moment.
“Are you okay? I have been calling you but you didn’t pick up any of my calls.” Janet said and saw the tearful expression on her friend's face. She sighed softly and gave her a sympathetic look. “I’m so sorry, I heard” Harriet burst into tears and Janet hugged her, rubbing soothing circles on her back.
“Oh my, it’s okay. Please don’t cry.” She whispered in her ear but that made her son more. Janet rolled her eyes and pulled away from the hug, replacing the bored look on her face with a sympathetic expression.
“Hari, Hari, look at me, look at me red.” She called her nickname and Harriet raised her tear-filled eyes to meet her friend’s.
Janet noticed how red Harriet’s eye looks, her puffy red eyes, swollen nose from crying and her cheeks were pink as tears rolled down them. She placed her hands on Harriet’s shoulders.
“Listen to me sweetheart, this isn’t over, and it isn’t the end of the world.” She tried to console her but Harriet shrugged her hands off her shoulders.
“What are you saying? First Arthur called off the wedding and doesn’t even care if I am breathing or not and now, I lose the only hope to live on this earth. How is this not over huh? Tell me!” she angrily yelled at her friend knowing deep down that none of this is her friend’s fault but just life circumstances.
“Shh bring your voice down, we’re in the hospital remember?” Janet tried to calm her hysterical friend when she noticed her outburst sent a few glances their way. “Look, I know this is hard but crying isn’t going to solve anything. This is the time to stand strong and take charge of your life. Don’t let life bring you down.” She said in a strong encouraging voice.
Harriet’s sobbing subsided a bit and she wiped the tears on her face and blew her nose with the tissue paper Janet passed to her. She looked at her friend, “He is all I have Jane” her lips trembled with each word.
Janet shook her head “No, he is all that you had. Now it is time for you to take advantage of what life has for you.”
Harriet nodded, pondering on her friend’s words. She cleaned her face and blew her nose again. She closed her eyes and took in a shaky breath. “I am ready Janet” she whispered.
“Good” Janet nodded and bent to pick her bag beside the chair they were sitting on.
“No Janet, like I am really ready.” She looked at her friend and Janet’s eyes met hers. Janet gave her a questioning look and then widened her eyes.
“Are you sure? Things are never going to be the same.”
She thought about it for a while. “I know Jane but what’s the point of hiding when there is no secret to hide anymore. It’s time for the world to know and most especially, it is time for Arthur to know who he thinks he dumped.” Harriet said and a sly smirk made its way to Janet’s lips. The smirk turned to a wicked grin.
“You have an invite to the Royal Miller’s gala. I heard star business persons will be awarded, would you like to attend the program Ms. Fidelis?” Janet asked as she stretched out her hand to Harriet, the grin still plastered on her face.
Harriet looked at her outstretched hand for a few seconds and placed her hand in Janet’s hands. “It will be an honor to Ms. Madison.” She said with a bright smile.
“I’ll go make preparations” Janet softly squeezed her hand and let go as she grabbed her handbag and strapped it over her shoulder and walked towards the elevator.
She waited for the elevator doors to open and they did after a minute. She walked and turned around then noticed her friend watching her. She gave a thumbs up and Harriet did the same. The elevator doors closed and Harriet sighed deeply.
She heard a door open to her right and she turned to the sound. She saw two orderlies wheel out a hospital bed from the room and the patient on the bed was covered from head to toe in plain white sheets.
She watched as they wheeled her father down the hallway and turned to the left when they reached the end of the hallway. ‘They’re taking him to the mortuary’ she said internally.
She thought about the consequences of her future actions. She knew once she disclosed the revelation, the whole world would be in shock and awe but she is willing to take the risks.
She is not backing down. Not now. Not ever.
She took in a deep breath and sighed. “There is no turning back.”
- Writer
