Love by Contract

Run Away Bride

Sudden uproar and a loud scream brought me back to reality from my daydreaming, and I realised I was still in the church.

Still in my beautiful and expensive wedding gown. With my supposed husband lying still on the floor, and my wedding guest still stampeding to run for their life.

There was real pandemonium in the church.

I looked from left to right, and saw that none of Roni's men, nor Roni was looking in my direction.

I saw that as my own opportunity.

And quickly, I gathered my large wedding gown together, and lifting it up, I held it together with my hands, and quickly ran out of the church as fast as I could.

I had overheard Roni and his men mentioned the name of the hospital where my grandfather was in one of their conversations. I must go there and see my grandfather.

Outside, I halted down a taxi, and as soon as it stopped, I quickly opened the back door and hopped in.

"St Louis hospital! Fast!". I said to the driver, and he nodded and sped off immediately.

I turned backwards to see if anyone had noticed me escape, and is following me.

The empty street that graced my stare made me a bit relaxed, and I smiled inwardly.

I had to see my grandfather first, then I'll think of my next plan.

Roni's action today had made me doubt his words, and I shouldn't trust my life to him anymore.

I noticed the taxi driver stealing a glance at me every now and then through the rear mirror of the car, and the thought of how I was going to pay for his services came into my mind.

But I quickly waved it behind me.

All I want, and need at that point is to get to that hospital, and see my grandfather. I wasn't going to let anything or anybody stop me.

Even if it means giving out any of the expensive jewelries Roni had adorned me with for the wedding, I will gladly give it out for an opportunity to see my grandfather again.

As soon as I sighted the hospital building in sight, I began removing the set of necklace and earrings I was wearing.

I could see the driver gasp when he saw me removing my jewelries, through the mirror.

And when I handed him the jewelries as his payment, the shock on his face made his eyes grow wide.

He was still thanking me when I opened the car door while it was still in motion, and jumped out, and rushed into the hospital building.

Inside the hospital, I became confused. I didn't know how to locate the ward where my grandfather is, or who to ask.

The hospital was very large, and there were many people in there, both doctors, nurses and some patients and their relatives who had come for checkups.

Directly opposite the entrance door, is the reception. And a middle aged stout woman was sitting behind the counter, operating a computer before her.

I dashed to her, and quickly enquired.

"Excuse me ma'am, please where can I locate the recovery ward?". I asked her.

Without removing her eyes from the monitor, she said.

"Go upstairs, and take your right".

I thanked her, and hurriedly moved towards the elevator, ignoring all the prying eyes of the patients and their relatives who might be wondering what a bride could be doing in the hospital in her wedding gown.

Upstairs, I began the search for where my grandfather could possibly be. Looking through all the transparent glassy doors and windows on a row along the hallway, I searched for my grandfather.

And then I saw him.

Lying motionless on the hospital bed, with the room fully illuminated. Beeping sound from the various machines in the room gave the only sound in the room, and the different tubes crisscrossed around my grandfather's body from the heart monitor and the oxygen machine beside his bed made it look like he was tied to the bed

"Grandpa". I said, almost in a whisper to myself.

I pushed open the glass door of the hospital room and went inside.

As I arrived my grandfather's bed, I made to touch him, to feel him, when I heard a voice behind me.

"Who are you? And what are you doing there?".

I turned my head in the direction of the voice quickly, and I saw a male nurse coming into the room with a medicine chest in hand.

"I am Keisha, and this is my grandfather. How is he please?!. I replied the nurse, with a question about my grandfather's condition.

The nurse looked me up and down, probably wondering why I choose to dress in a wedding gown just to come and check on my grandfather.

"You are not supposed to be in here all by this time, there is a waiting room downstairs where all visitors wait for the visiting period". The nurse replied to me.

"I am sorry for coming in like this, it was very urgent for me that I see him. Please, how is he fairing now?!". I apologized to the nurse.

Anything for my grandfather.

"Keisha?!". I heard my grandfather call me.

I turned to him, and saw that he was awake.

"Grandpa? Oh grandpa, I am sorry you have to go through all these. Please forgive me". O said to my grandpa, as I held his hand

"You don't have to be sorry Keisha, it is not your fault. I should have protected you from Roni but I couldn't. I am sorry keisha". My grandfather apologized to me, tears running down his cheeks.

"No grandpa you shouldn't blame yourself. We are both victims of an unfortunate circumstance". I began to sob too.

The nurse became confused as he stood staring at my grandfather and I, not knowing what was going on.

"Keisha, I promise you, I will make sure I save you from their hands. No matter what it will cost me, I must save you". Grandpa was still apologising.

"You don't have to worry about me grandpa, I will take care of myself. I am not returning to that house again, but I will always come to see you... ". I was saying when the nurse suddenly remembered that he had come to administer medications to my grandfather.

"Miss, I'm afraid you have to leave now. This is not visiting period, and I must take care of the patient". He said to me.

"Grandpa, don't worry. I will come and visit you as often as I can. Just make sure you take all your medicines, and respect the doctors instructions. Alright?".

My grandfather nodded, with tears still in his eyes.

"Take care if yourself Keisha, I will always love you". Grandpa said to me.

"I love you too grandpa, always". I replied him. And left the room.

I. Had decided never to go back to Roni's mansion again, nor marry his son.

I decided to go to Jake, he must have been worried about me since yesterday. Especially when he didn't see me in school that day.

I went downstairs through the same elevator, and still met the prying eyes of the people at the reception.

Stepping outside, I met the greatest shock of my life ever.

I saw Roni and his men standing beside their fleet of cars, waiting for me.

"I knew this is where you would be" Roni.said to me, with a grin on his face.

My whole body stood still, and my guard fell.

At that point, I knew I had to do something as fast as I can to get away from this people.

Then I heard a voice in my head say,

RUN!

And without wasting anymore second, I took to my heels, and ran as fast as my legs could carry me.

And as my flowing wedding gown could let me.