DEAR
JOCELYN
Episode 37
By: Faith Lucky.
Edith’s Pov:
I was alre-ady sweating profusely. Was I really going to spill out the truth? Was I really going to betray Megan?
“Edith, what test?” He asked again and I shrugged out of my thoughts.
“I…I don’t know about it Mr Rodney; I swear. But after she took the test, she just changed towards Audrey.” I replied fearfully.
“You’re lying to me…”
“No, Rodney; I swear! I don’t know what the test was all about. She wouldn’t tell me. plea-se, Mr Rodney; believe me. If I knew more about it, I’d have told you”.
He looked at me and didn’t feel satiated.
“Which hospital did she conduct the test?” He asked.
Audrey’s Pov:
“How’s school Audrey?” Aunt Tessy asked as I helped her out in the kitchen.
I had gone to visit her and we were ma-king pumpkin pie.
“School is okay aunt” I replied casually as I beat the eggs.
I was there; but my attention was elsewhere. I couldn’t st©p thinking about Leo.
“How’s the music contest going? Are you still in it?” She asked and I nodded.
“it’s about coming to an end. They’re just 20 contestants left” I replied.
We continued silently and she figured there was something wrong with me.
“Um…aunt Tessy, can I ask you a question?” I finally broke the silence.
“Of course” she replied and I sighed.
“If a guy k!sses you, does It necessarily mean he loves you?” I asked but she didn’t reply immediately.
She collected the eggs from me and turned It into the mixed flour and sugar.
“Well, you see Audrey” she said.
“The k!ssis just an action. The most important thing Is the reason behind that action. Don’t forget, a k!sswas used to betray Christ.
“But if a guy really loved you, you should be able to notice it. He spends time with you, does things that makes you happy and the most important p@rt, confesses his love to you”.
I smiled and stared down at the table.
“So, who’s it?” She asked and I smiled bashfully.
“It’s no one aunt. I was just…asking”.
“Well, just a little piece of advice Audrey; be careful when you fall in love because love is a tiny but powerful word. It can create and destroy, wound and heal.
“But one important thing you should know; love doesn’t lie. So when you find the right p@rtner, stick to him. Don’t let go, no matter what. Okay?”
I smiled faintly and nodded.
“Okay” I replied.
*
*
When we were done with the pie, she gave some of it to me and after sometime, I started heading home.
The first cab that pas-sed by was filled up and I had to wait for another.
While waiting, I decided to stroll down a bit and as I did, I got to the place where I had seen Mr Rodney the other night.
I st©pped and stared at it, wistfully. All the memories c@m£ flashing back again and a tear rolled down my cheek.
I looked ahead and saw a car coming and I recognised it to be Rodney’s car.
I quic-kly hid behind a tree as I had a feeling he was coming there.
He drove to the sp©t and just as I had anticipated, he st©pped and c@m£ out of the car.
I watched him as he walked further into the trees and brou-ght out a picture from his pocket. He stared at the picture for a long time and I noticed his countenance had changed. Maybe it was Jocelyn’s picture.
After some time, he sli-pped the picture into his back pocket and headed back into the car. But the picture didn’t enter completely and it fell off on the floor.
I saw it but couldn’t tell him about it because I didn’t want him to know i was there. But I felt like helping him. I knew the picture was dear to him and he might end up looking for it.
He entered into the car and drove off and that was when I c@m£ out of my hiding place. I looked at the road to make sure he was gone.
Then, I ambled to where the picture was. It was lying downwards and at the plain p@rt of it which was facing up, was written:
*Dear Jocelyn*
So, it really was Jocelyn’s picture? I’ve never seen this Jocelyn they’ve been talking about.
I dropped to a crouch beside it and stretched out my hand to pick it from the floor. But somehow, I hesitated and looked around.
Then, I turned back to the picture and slowly, I picked it up and stared at its.
I stood up with my eyes still fixed on the picture and noticed there was something wrong with it.
No,.not something wrong; but something familiar.
Suddenly, I g@sped as the familiarity bec@m£ clear to me.
The girl in the picture – Jocelyn – looked a lot like the childhood picture she had seen at home the other day.
Yes, it was.
But no. How was it possible?
I quic-kly got back on the road and took a cab home and immediately I reached, I went straight to the bag where I had kept the picture and brou-ght it out.
I held the two pictures together and stared at then with confusion.
The two girls were the same.
Exactly the same.
Her childhood picture was the same as Jocelyn’s.
But how was it possible?
How come I was having the same face with Jocelyn?
I shut my eyes and opened them again. It was real.
They were really the same.
But how?
Could it be possible…
No, it can’t be.
But what If it was?
If Jocelyn’s childhood face was the same as hers, then could it mean they were the same person?
Could it mean i was Jocelyn? Mr Rodney’s dear Jocelyn? The one he’s been looking for nineteen years? The one everyb©dy’s been searching for?
Was I Jocelyn?
Rodney’s Pov:
I sat in Dr Jaxon’s office as we stared into each other’s faces.
The doctor was alre-ady hyperventilating after hearing what I had to say.
“Do I nee-d to repeat myself doctor?” I asked as I sat in a relaxed manner
“Miss Megan conducted a test few days ago. All I’m asking is the type of test it was. Is that too much?” I asked.
The doctor coughed nervously and took off his glas-ses.
“Um…Mr Rodney, I’m sorry but what you’re asking for is confidential and it’s against our policy to disclose them to outsiders” he replied with a litre shaking in his voice.
I brou-ght out my cheque book and wrote down on a page. Then I to-re it out and kept it in front of him.
“that’s a cheque of 5 million dollars. All I’m asking is just the name.” I said and watched as sweat filled his forehead.
His mouth began to water and he stared at the cheque unresistably.
“Um…M…Mr Rodney” he called and gulped nervously.
“I um…really appreciate the offer but…”
I took the cheque and to-re it to pieces. I opened the cheque book and wrote a different amount.
“That’s ten million dollars. Just a fv¢king name!” I said rather angrily as I kept the cheque in front of him again.
This time around, he stuttered but couldn’t say anything. He looked at the cheque with his bulgy eyes and couldn’t take his eyes off it.
He looked at the cheque once more and looked back at me.
“It was a DNA test” he finally said and my eyes beamed.
“A DNA?” I asked, startled and he nodded.
I stared down at the table and tried to fix the puzzle. Even the doctor could see how confused I was.
Does it mean Megan had carried out a DNA test on Audrey? But why would she? And who’s DNA did she match with hers?
I looked at the doctor.
“What was the result of the DNA?” I asked and he hesitated a little.
“It was positive. The two DNA she brou-ght had matched” he replied and I sprang on my feet.
“Doctor, who’s…who’s DNA was it?”
“I don’t know. She wouldn’t say”.
I was breathing heavily as I stormed out of the office. I got into my car and took off in a very high and rou-gh speed.
Megan took a DNA test on Audrey? But why?
The DNA result was positive. Meaning Audrey’s DNA matched with the other one she had tested it with. But who’s DNA was it?
who’s DNA did she match with Audrey’s? And why did she suddenly become remorseful after the test?
I nee-ded answers. Answers.
I drove straight into her compound and didn’t even turn off the car before coming out of it.
I barged into the house and yelled her name and she c@m£ downwards immediately.
Megan’s Pov:
I was taken abacked at for manner Rodney had screamed my name and I was more surprised at the way he was looking.
“Rodney, what’s…”
“Who’s DNA did you match with Audrey’s that c@m£ out positive?” He asked immediately and my heart skipped.
What?
How did he find out?
“Rod…Rodney” I stuttered.
I was surprised at the way he was angry. I’ve never seen him this way before.
“Rodney, you nee-d to calm down. What are you talking about?” I asked, frightened.
“Just answer the damn question! Who’s DNA was it?” He asked raucously.
“Rodney, I…I don’t un-derstand. I thing you…you must have been misinformed”
Immediately, he gr@bb£d me and pushed me to the wall, holding my n£¢k very ti-ght and rou-gh.
I began to choke and g@sp for breath.
“St©p lying to me Megan, else, I swear, I’ll kill you here and now. Who’s DNA was it?” He said angrily.
“Ro…Rodney…”
“Tell me! Who’s DNA did you match with Audrey’s? Who???”
“it…was…mi..ne” I finally struggled to say, not being able to take anymore of the choking.
I might’ve died if I had persisted.
DEAR
JOCELYN
Episode 38
By: Faith Lucky.
Rodney’s Pov:
My eyes dropped, but my hands were still on her n£¢k. I didn’t even know I was still holding her.
It was more as if an heavy ice had landed on me.
“Wh…What did you say?” I asked in a faint tune as I stared into Megan’s face.
“Rodney…plea-se” she whimpered and t©uçhed my hands on her n£¢k.
“Is…is she…” I paused and let go of her n£¢k, moving backwards.
She was coughing and g@sping.
I was weak and consternation ran throu-gh me.
“Is she…is she Jocelyn?” I asked fraily with tearful eyes and she wept.
“Is she?” I asked again and she nodded.
I felt a string of pain cut across my che-st. The whole place was going round in circles for me and I held on to something to prevent me from falling.
Audrey was Jocelyn? The one I’ve been looking for? She’s been with me all these while? but I never even noticed?
And how I had ill-treated her, pushing her away, hurting her feelings, not knowing she was my Jocelyn.
How could I be so blind?
Where could she be? I nee-ded to find her.
I ran out of the house and resumed driving in my car. My hands were shaking on the sterling as I headed to aunt Tessy’s house. I didn’t even know where she lived.
My Jocelyn was alive, the one everyb©dy thought was dead. My hope and faith were not for nothing. She had really survived the fall.
But how come she doesn’t remember me? Was it possible she had amnesia after the fall and was adopted by Mrs Salome? But why did Mrs Salome keep quiet about it?
Oh! My Dear Jocelyn. The one who’s abs£nce has tormented me for years. The one that has made my life Incomplete. I couldn’t believe I was going to be with her again; see her and t©uçh her.
And the mark!
Yes! I could confirm her identity with the mark on her tummy.
Why didn’t It occur to me all along? How could I be so stupid to forget she had a mark I could recognise her with?
No wonder I had been strangely attra-cted to her. No wonder I had liked her differently from the very start.
It was because she was Jocelyn and I had been so dumb not to notice it.
Oh! Jocelyn.
I drove into aunt Tessy’s compound and found her in the garden. She was surprised seeing me there in that state.
“Mr Rodney?” She called with shock large writ on her face.
I was breathing heavily.
“Where’s Jocelyn?” I asked impatiently and she flin-ched.
“Jocelyn?” She asked.
“Where’s Au…Audrey.” I asked again and her anxiety increa-sed.
“I…I don’t know. She left my house some hours ago. Maybe she should be home” she replied.
“Where does she live? plea-se!”
She stared at me for a while.
“Uhm…hold on” she said and went into the house and returned with her phone.
I watched her as she called Audrey’s number but it wasn’t going throu-gh. She called severally but it still wasn’t going throu-gh and she decided to call Rachel.
Luckily, Rachel picked and she put it up on speaker.
Hello aunt
Rachel, is Audrey at home?
I just returned not long ago and couldn’t find her here. I’ve been trying to reach her on phone but her line isn’t going throu-gh
Okay. um…do you have any idea where she might be?
No aunt. She told me she was off duty and wanted to spend the whole day resting at home. So,,I’m kind of confused why I can’t find her here.
She looked at me and ended the call.
“Mr Rodney, is there a problem?” She asked but I didn’t reply.
I just sat on the floor and ruffled my hair.
Where could she be? Why wasn’t she at home? Why does it have to be now?
I felt like screaming her name.
But will she be able to hear me? Where could I look for her?
I stood up weakly from the floor and entered into the car. Aunt Tessy was speechless.
I took off at a dizzying speed, cruising along the road.
I was so frustrated, so depressed. Where could she be?
I drove into the h0tel to check for her just in case there was an emergency switch and she had to report to work.
I went to the reception and asked for her but was told she was off duty and didn’t repot to work that day.
I left the h0tel and continued driving, not knowing where else to go. I was haggard.
I decided to go to the cliff where she had fallen off and when I reached, the whole place was empty and quiet.
“Jocelyn!!!” I screamed and kicked one of the tress.
Was I being punished or what? I’ve been looking for her my entire life and now I’ve finally known who she is, I still have to look for her again.
Why was she tormenting me this way? Have I done something to offend her?
I nee-ded to see her, t©uçh her, k!ssher, embr@ce her.
Oh! Jocelyn, where could she be?
I went back to the car and took off again. I had one more place to go.
I parked by the road and went into the garden. That was my special garden with Jocelyn and we always visited it when we were kids.
Maybe I should stay there and wait for her because I’m tired of searching.
I walked further into it and noticed there was someone there. Who could it be? I’ve never brou-ght anyone there before.
I drew nearer and noticed it was Audrey.
Jocelyn!
She was backing me and her eyes glistened as she turned to look at me.
She was in tears and I noticed she was holding two pictures to her che-st.
How did she get there?
“Romeo” she called tearfully and took a weak step forward.
My heart gave a mighty leap.
Did she just call me Romeo? But how?
Was It possible her memories were back?
Tears were streaming down her cheeks.
“Romeo” she called again.
“Juliet?” I also called and immediately, she made to fall on the floor.
But I was fast enough to run and hold her and she fell in my arms and pas-sed out.
I knelt on the floor and placed her head on my leg. And slowly, I opened the ti-p of her shi-t and checked for the mark.
It was right there. The mark was there. She was my Jocelyn; the one I’ve truly been looking for.
I held her ti-ght to myself and wept.
“Jocelyn” I whimpered as I placed myl-ips on her forehead, still holding her ti-ght.
My dear Jocelyn;
My missing rib.
More tears dr!pp£ddown my cheeks. I couldn’t let her go. I didn’t want to.
I’ve been away from her for years now and now I’ve finally seen her, I didn’t want to spend a secondsecond without tou-ching her.
Tbc
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