My Mystery Man

Painful Discoveries

Thankfully, Im lucky not to have experienced any more nauseous feeling through out our flight.. Freeda made me eat a ton of cracker biscuits.. I don’t know the connection but it helped greatly.

We get off the aircraft, retrieved our bags and headed towards the taxis parked outside the airport vicinity. it hit me suddenly that I didn’t have TEDs definite home address.. Although I have a vivid memory of the route Nick drove past.. and I also recall the Estate name.. Since TED sent Nick over to pick me up the last time and bring me straight to his house.. I didn’t get the address.. I call out to a cab, doing my best to explain the estate to him and asking if he knows the place.. He We get into the ride once he confirms that he knows the estate.. 

Riding through familiar roads, we finally arrive at the estate indeed but we are stopped at the gate entrance.. 

“Sorry ma’am but cabs aren’t allowed inside” A Uniformed security man with a stern face says as he approached our cab and ducks his head slightly through the rare window scanning Freeda and I. 

“Oh” I respond realizing that while I was walking out the other time, I noticed only private cars going in and out.. I pay the driver his fare as we both alight and tug our suitcases out of the trunk. 

Walking through the estate gate and all the way in .. I remember vividly the road to his house so I take Freeda’s hands in mine suddenly needing some support as we get closer to TEDs home.. 

Reaching the gate, I take a deep breath, swallowing hard and with Freeda squeezing my hands and give me a supportive nod; I ring the door bell and wait as my heart pumped hard.. I ring the bell a second time waiting a response.. 

We hear the door bolt opening slightly from inside and TED’s security personnel hanging his head out.. 

“Hi.. I’m Lilian..” I say in a shaky voice.. “I was here weeks ago.. if you can recall? I’m  here to see TED please”. 

He looks us both critically and nods as he opens the gate for us to come in.. 

The moment we step foot inside the huge compound, he goes.. 

“Welcome ma’am.. yes I remember you.. but Mr TED hasn’t been around for a while now..”he says politely.. 

I exchange a panicked look with Freeda and back at him.. 

“Okay.. but did he say where he was going? I ask pleadingly.. I have been trying to contact him with no luck”.. I manage to muster.. 

“Yes! He has been very sick and has been at the hospital.. probably why you can’t reach him” he finishes.. 

“Oh my God” i exclaim as I feel a pang of pain in my chest.. 

“What happened to him? Do you know what hospital he was taken to?” I ask. “Is there anyone with him?”

“Yes ma’am”the security man answers..  I hear his family are all with him.. and no.. I do not know what hospital he was taken to; although, he continues; Nick came in not too long ago to get some of MR TEDs things.. he is heading back to the hospital maybe you can ask him.. He gestures toward the entrance door so I thank him profusely as tears stream my eyes running towards the entrance door with Freeda hastily following behind.. Nick storms out the front door just as I approached stopped  to stare at me in disbelief as we come face to face with each other..  

“Hi Nick.. I stammer..i travelled all the way to see TED but I just found out that he has been hospitalized for weeks now.. Do you know where he was taken? Can you pls bring me to him?” I plead.. Nick looks at me and then his eyes drifts to Freeda.. 

“This is Freeda my friend.. we travelled down together I say.. feeling the need to give him some sort of explanation.. Nick shakes  his head.. running his hands along his temple and looking back at me with obvious stress and strain in his eyes. 

“Please! I say again.. I just want to see him” more tears running down my cheek.. 

Nick glares at me, sighs heavily and nods.. 

“Okay” he says “but he is not in good shape to entertain any visitors presently” I nod impatiently; just wanting to see him already.. He proceeded to open  the car door for me and Freeda after taking our boxes from us  and loading them into the trunk.. 

I practically jump into the sit and dry my eyes as we drive out and straight to the hospital.