25/26
MOTHER’S LOVE
in-sert…25
I wore a white work out outfit and black Nike hoodie then tied my hair in a ponytail, I took my phone and headphones then went out and found Austin in the kitchen grey sweatp@n-ts and a black T-shi-t and I couldn’t help but admire him until dad who hadn’t gone to work walked in
Dad: you two look good
Me: thanks for the compliment daddy dearest and you’re all dressed up, going somewhere?
Dad: remember what we talked about?
Me: ohh no, not that
Dad was going to get Florence back since she had been away for 3 months, he said it showed no respect to her and her family for them to live separately besides she said she was only giving me time to heal and I guess it was working because I had started being optimistic about the surgery. Kindly Hi NovelsRepublic on +2348055889183 on WhatsApp to get added to our novels group and get PDF links . I wasn’t in so much objection regarding his idea of bringing her back to the house not because I’d un-dergone counselling and dad always talked to me about my actions but because I knew I was taking a risk at life and had to make sure she was completely gone, I strongly believed in the saying “keep your friends close but keep your enemies closer ” so she had to be closer
Dad: how did your last session go?
He interrupted me from my thoughts
Me: great
He was driving me to the cardiac rehabilitation centre since I was told to join a cardiac rehabilitation, a program of exercise and education which was designed to improve health before and after the heart transplant. Austin supported me by always going with me and he’d drag me if I didn’t want to go, he dropped us and went to fetch his wife. He had offered to come and fetch us but I declined his offer saying we’d walk home when we were done and he drove off. Austin and I had made friends there who we mingled with until the session began and they were great company maybe because we all would un-dergo the same thing, the session was and we walked home afterwards talking about silly stuff with Austin until we arrived. I opened the door and was welcomed by a loud laughter from Florence who was in the kitchen speaking on the phone and we looked at her
Me: she has lost weight because she wasn’t feeding properly
I whispered to Austin
Austin: Lucy
He sma-cked my mouth and tried holding his laughter but failed dismally as he was in stitches and he ran away, she turned and saw me then a smile immediately crept on her face
Me: hey Florence, so good to see you
I smiled and I could see that I got her confused
Florence: hey Lucy, I missed you
She opened her arms as she approached me and I froze, she hvgged me and there was something strange about her, the hvg was warm, I wanted to stay in that state forever because what I felt was something I only felt when I was in mom’s arms. We stayed like that for a long time and she brushed my back, we were both in tears by the time I pu-ll-ed out and I quic-kly ran to my be-droom where I locked the door and sank on the floor
“Is that mom?”
I asked myself
“No, no, no Lucy you can’t love that woman, you shouldn’t love that woman, you mustn’t, she’s not real, get back to your right s-en-ses”
Something inside of me told me and I shook my head countless times and I started having a headache……..
in-sert…26
I had finally decided what I was going to do, I was not going to let some fake hvg deceive me so I continued with the torture which even got worse coz I was trying to fight what I felt that day. Dad once invited his colleague and his family and I took her illiteracy to my advantage by embarras-sing her in front of them, we never spoke to each other for weeks ever since then until she decided to be the bigger person and greeted me one morning which I never expected and I felt ashamed for some reason. Austin had gone back to his house a few weeks after Florence returned and told me to avoid quarrels with her and treat her like any other elderly person since I couldn’t accept her as my mother.
I was preparing myself to go to the rehabilitation centre when someone knocked on the door and them in only to find that it was Florence, I tried to walk out but she blocked my way
Florence: Lucy st©p, I felt the nee-d to tell you this but I think I’ll have to tell you today
Me: I’m running late and can’t stay long
I was indeed running late
Florence: I won’t take much of your time, plea-se Lucy you have to listen to me
Me: you can talk to me when I’m back coz I really don’t have time for you
I attem-pted to walk out but she got on her knees and held both my legs ti-ghtly so I couldn’t move
Florence: Lucy plea-se
I decided to spare her some of time and hear what made her act that way while I sized her
Me: landa (talk)
Florence: you and I have never had peace ever since we met and I ask for your forgiveness in whatever way I’ve offended you but I want you to know that I mean no harm to any of you.
Me: is that all you wanted to say?
Florence: I had a heavy heart always wanting to tell you this but now I leave it up to you
“Boring speech” I said to myself as I rolled my eyes and Austin immediately called cutting Florence from whatever it was that she wanted to say, I picked up his call and he told me that he had started off so I walked out leaving Florence still on her knees and off I went. The session was greater than usual and as we were about to end it I suddenly developed a dull feeling, one which I only experienced when mom pas-sed away and I tried to fight it but it got the best out of me and decided I’d visit mom. I walked with Austin to the mall to do my shopping and didn’t notice that I hadn’t gotten anything but was just walking around the sto-re until Austin t©uçhed my shoulder
Austin: Lucy, you’re okay?
Me: no I’m not
I felt the nee-d to cry but for a reason I didn’t know
Austin: what’s the problem?
Me: I…. I….I really…. don’t know
I threw myself in his arms and cried there, my sobs were so loud that they got the attention of people. I was so hysterical that one would blame it on hor-mones if I were pregnant, Austin led me out of the shop to a park that was nearby and he let me cry while brushing my back until I was calm and he took me to the tap where u washed my face and sat on a bench
Austin: what’s the matter Lucy?
He asked starring right into my eyes
“Why was I crying?” I asked myself too but couldn’t find the answer so I just shrugged my shoulders and he looked at me in disbelief, I had to quic-kly come up with a lie or I’d seem like I wasn’t right upstairs
Me: ummm…..I’m hungry
Austin: alright
We went to a certain restaurant and placed our order while we waited for it in a comfortable silence….. I couldn’t get anything down my throat so I just pla-yed with the food, Austin looked at me and I knew that look but I couldn’t help it coz I still had that dull feeling
Me: I nee-d to visit mom
Austin: alright, finish up so we can leave
Me: I’ve lost my appetite
I got up and left while he settled the bill and c@m£ running after me, we walked without saying anything to each other until we got to some shop which had Nike sneakers
Austin: these sneakers are the best, I think I’ve got a little something back home and will return for them
Me: no, no, no, no plea-se don’t
Austin: why?
I didn’t know why I didn’t want him to return for them but found myself speaking against his decision
Me: I don’t want you going out without me
He chuckled which got me annoyed
Me: I’M SERIOUS HERE
I lashed out at him
Austin: I get you, you don’t have to yell
Me: promise me
Austin: I promise
We got a taxi going to the cemetery and he remained in it when we got there……I told mom everything I felt and just sat there starring at her grave until I felt someone’s pres£nce, my heart started beating fast, I looked around and saw no one then I tried to compose myself, I felt shivers down my spine and my back hair felt funny, the rhythmic heart beats weren’t an exception so I got up and left. I asked the driver to drop Austin first so I ensured that he never went to the mall and he also drove me home where I found the whole family in the lounge, I pas-sed them all and went to my be-droom where I took a long shower trying to relax but it didn’t work, I wore comfortable clothes and took my phone and headphones listening to loud music as I went to join everyone coz I wasn’t interested in listening to them pl@yhappy family. I got to the door when my phone rang and it was Austin’s mother so I smiled wi-dely while picking up
A.mom: m…my…baby
She was crying
Me: aunt!!
A.mom: Austin has been hit by a car and is in hospi……..
I didn’t hear her finish her s£ntence coz darkness took over me……..
Tbc…