Leaving my mother all by herself in the hospital with no one to look after her was a no easy task for me, but I had to if I have to raise money for her surgery.
When I spoke to Rosie yesterday, I explained all what had happened and to say she was disturbed by what happened would be an understatement. She is willing to help me as much as she can. And true to her word she called me this morning to inform me we have a meeting with a prospective client.
I'm on my way to the studio where I work, Rosie has already informed me she'll not be at work today, so I'm not too bothered when I didn't see her at work. Time passes like a blur.
"Hey, Ro", I say as I take a seat in the restaurant, the place is warm and cozy which I really appreciate coming from outside, she looks at me worriedly, "are you alright" she mouths to me, I laugh despite how I feel and tell her that I am, I know she doesn't believe me but she gives me a sad smile regardless. We make our order as we wait.
Rosie, begins to tell me of a new guy she met, and I know she's doing this to steer my mind away from my problems, and I smile aware of her antics. "He's so hot I mean, not your regular hot, super hot, and I think he's rich too… I think I hit the jackpot this time" she says and I couldn't help but laugh, "Rosie you always say this about all the guys you meet" I argue back,
"Look it's different this time" she whispers like someone is listening in on our conversation. She goes on tell me how he was perfect and knew all the right things to say and do, "It was as though he was from another planet Denise" she says, I look at her skeptically because I know she'll be over him fast, "you act like you're in love", I say to rile her up, with a smirk on my face. "I am in love Denise can't you see, or you think I am incapable of falling in love or what", she responds as her eyes have formed slits while talking to me. To her claim I just chuckle knowing who she is. "We'll see Rosie, we'll see" I comment, she resumes with her talking.
We were still going on about her new hot shot, that we didn't notice our client was already here. She greets us briefly as we both rise to give her a hand shake. We offer her a seat, then we all sit down to begin our discussion, Rosie did all the talking while I occasionally contributed and mostly observed and listen. The woman looked to be in her late fifties but, you could see she was a beauty, age had nothing on her, her blue eyes shone with excitement as she gives us details of what she wanted for her party, I couldn't help but admire her bubbly personality, it showed she lives life to it's fullest. "I am turning sixty," she says, I was right she was in her late fifties. "Being alive and well excites me, so I want to have a big party" she continues.
We go on and on with the details and all, and Rosie asks her when the date was and she replies in two months time. Immediately she says this my spirit drops because I need the money before then. The meeting doesn't feel real to me anymore, trying to concentrate is a struggle, as my mind is moving on it's own, I zone out of the meeting totally, as my mind wanders to my mum, I wonder if she's awake now and how she's doing, if she's worried that I'm not by her side, if she's confused, or is hungry, my mind has become a blizzard within few minutes.
"Denise, Denise", I'm called out of my train of thoughts by Rosie. Rosie and the client both look at me in concern, "Are you alright", they both ask me in unison, embarrassed by my zoning out I reply a shy yes and smile at them. Rosie finalises on the details of the event with the client while I watch the both of them.
"Now Denise tell me what's going on in that mind of yours, you kept zoning out", Rosie demanded, "it's just that the event is so far away and I need money urgently, Ro," I respond. She reaches out to me, as she holds my hand, her intense green eyes holds my hazel ones in place assuring me that everything will be fine, " look, Denise, I've made plans, I've sent out as much word as I can, and this is the first person that has responded since I sent out the messages last night, and you've equally spread word just Incase people need a photographer for their event. And I know we'll get something, it won't take long". She assures me, I bite the insides of my mouth just not to cry, Rosie is the only other person asides mum that I know would upend the world for me. I stand up and give her a hug, like she would disappear at any moment. Her scent engulfs me as I hug her and it gives me a weird sense of comfort, she strokes my back and we stay like for some seconds before we let go of each other.
I am grateful that the restaurant is not packed with people. I smile at her and we pack up and leave to the hospital.
We sit in mum's room as we both have dinner and talk to mum pretending she could hear us. Teasing each other, and telling embarrassing tales like we do when we hung out with her. She tells my mum how she thinks I'll end up alone because I have no love life, and how I'm still not willing to even see anyone since I am a big prude.
" Denise I gotta go, I'll see you at work tomorrow" she tells me, she goes ahead to give mum a kiss on the cheek and hugs me.
Rosie walks towards the door with her phone in hand. Her left hand on the door fully concentrated on what's on her phone and my own attention on her too as she leaves.
"Denise…"
She stops in her track and I pause.
"Oh my gosh!, oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!" Rosie exclaims, and I desperately Wonder what is making her this excited."We've got a gig!" Rosie exclaims again, she's jumping up and down like a child that just received a candy she has long awaited, I can't help but smile. This is a miracle that we've been waiting for, my heart soars with delight. "It's not just any gig, it's a major gig that can pay for your mum's surgery and you'll still be left with some change to spare"Her explanation leaves me stunned, and we both begin to hop in excitement, we giggle like school children as our heart is elated.I drag her towards the seat so she can explain further to me. "Look they said their photographer won't be able to make it because he came down with a flew fortunately for us they saw your work which I put out, that's why they reached out to us", she explains, her green eyes are shining with excitement and her face is red due to the blood that has rushed into her cheeks from the excitement. "De
My heart beats violently in my rib cage like it's about to explode, I stretch my hand and put off the alarm. My feet land on the floor and I am met with the biting cold of the floor. I rush towards the bathroom, brush my teeth and quickly take a bath. Heading to work like someone in a marathon I hit Starbucks for coffee before getting to work. The day is characterized by me taking a photo shoot of a month old baby, the session wasn't as stressful as my other ones because the baby was asleep throughout the entire session, the family session was next and that was a breeze in the park for me " what can I say I'm good at what I do", I later went further to edit their picture in preparation for print and soft copy.Rosie and I are at the hospital to see mum. As we walk towards her room, I notice that the door is ajar and the doctor is talking, my eyes widen in surprise, mum's awake and the doctor is talking to her as I stand there staring in awe, Rosie rushes towards her and gives her a hu
"Jesus! Who is this man" the alarms in my head keep buzzing, he isn't even talking to me anymore but I'm feeling hot and bothered, wait a minute is this feeling people get before they sex with someone?, Because if it is, then this means trouble, the guy isn't doing anything and I m so bothered by his mere presence"."Sir" some one utters breaking the silence we were in, we both turn around and a man in a well tailored suit is standing meters away from us, Gregory gestures for him to come forward and he does so, going straight to whisper in his ears."Excuse me err Denise, I have to attend to something", the way my name rolls out of his tongue, hmm good heavens, I don't think anyone has called my name better. I nod to his request since I'm too distracted to respond with my voice. As he steps away from me I can't help but watch him leave, my eyes linger on his firm back, moving down to his long legs that carry his body with grace. " Well that's a fine…. specimen" my inner self concludes
My body responds to his instruction as my legs carry me towards the area he is leading me to. Before you know it, we are standing before a black Chevrolet Corvette, despite my tipsy state I recognize it. I know this because I love cars even though I cannot afford one even if I wanted one so badly."Step into the car" Gregory tells me. "Gosh does he speak only few words", my mind wonders.The ride was quiet, not an uncomfortable one, on the contrary it was peaceful like the calm before the storm. I can't fully process my surroundings and all I know is that I am in an elevator with just Gregory and I in it and he is staring at me with those unfathomable yet beautiful gray eyes, like I'm the only thing that exist. He takes a small step forward and I take one back and my back hits the end of the elevator wall. My breathing is has become heavy as I stare into his eyes. He leans towards me despite his height and kisses me on the lip not just any kiss but a deep kiss. I k
The hurt I felt in my chest burnt like an inferno. Unable to hold my tears, l let it flow from my eyes like a river as I quickly dress up. I looked back at the door I came out from before turning to find my way out of the penthouse.The ride back home seemed fast because of the state of my mind when I rightly knew that it took an hour plus. But who cares how many hours it took when I just experienced this level of embarrassment. As we reach my home I pay the driver and rush out towards my flat and into my room. Immediately I got into my room I shut the door and I cry, like a child in pains I cried. sliding down the door unto the floor I cried. The scene of everything that transpired playing and replaying in my mind as I cry my eyes out. Regret and hurt the prominent thing I know as of the moment and I cry. The first time I decide to give myself to a man and he treats me like nothing, after everything we did together. After making him my first everything. I thought he actually liked
Rosie and I got to the hospital and the doctor immediately informed us that my mum needs to conduct her surgery as soon as possible. No matter what has happened to me between last night and this morning I am still grateful that I got that gig and I have money for mum's surgery. I rush to pay for the surgery and mum is prepared for surgery and immediately taken to the Operating theatre. The whole time Rosie is with me as we wait for the surgery to be over. Hoping for only the best. Rosie goes ahead to inform the studio where I work that I won't be coming in for some time. And my boss, being a nice person, accepts and sends his support. Calls have equally come in from my colleagues and she has been the one in charge of answering all the calls on my behalf. When God put her in my life he knew what he was doing because having her here supporting me all through has been wholesome and I am grateful.Three hours and some minutes later the doctor comes out and I rush towards him "Doctor how
Morning comes fast and I push myself out of bed to begin my day. I look at the mirror and inspect what's left of my face and the only difference is that there isn't blood all over anymore. Setting aside my usual routine of self pity I prepare for my day and eventually leave the house.As I arrive at the hospital, there is a little crowd of reporters in front of the hospital trying to get the attention of a man. But he is fast enough to escape them. I laughed to myself at how annoyed the reporters looked. I stride into the hospital and head straight to get my face checked. The doctor attends to me and I get a stitch where I need one. I know my face doesn't look like how it used to after the beating but I know my face will return to normal after a few weeks. After my checkup I moved in to see my mother.As I walked down the hallway I saw him, the man that made me feel so many emotions, the man that made me feel special one moment and feel so worthless the next. The man that took my pri
It's been a month now and Patrick hasn't come for his money. I have been living in fear because I don't know when he'll show up demanding for his money. I haven't been able to raise the complete money yet. I'm jumping at the slightest sound, looking over my shoulder at every opportunity. The thought of him popping out at any moment clouding my sense of reasoning. The anxiety is making me sick, I can't seem to sleep properly or even stomach my food. My mum has been pretty worried but I try to shut down her concern. I try as much as I can to act normal around her in order to ease her worries. I'm trying to edit some pictures in the studio but I cannot seem to concentrate, so I decide to take a stroll to feel a little bit at ease. The stroll doesn't seem to be working. I seem to be spinning, My eyes can't focus on a spot. Nothing prepares me for the impact of the floor as I hit it with force and immediately black out.I don't know what's going on but I can feel that my body has been pla