All Alone

Aliyah’s POV

 It was so hard… so hard to realize I was all by myself now. There was no one to stand by me or fight for me. 

 

“You should spend the night over. I miss you. I miss your presence.” He whined. Deep within me, I scoffed. Missed me indeed. I faked a smile.

 

“I do too but.. I am married to your brother and your mother… she would be very upset with me if I do not tend to him. Please, try to understand.” I pleaded once again. He stared at me for a couple of seconds, his hands on the arm of the chair. 

 

“Alright then. Should I drop you off?” He questioned and I shook my head. 

 

“I do not want to breed suspicions. I have to leave now.” I responded and headed out immediately before he could object. Although he tried to accompany me to get a cab, I walked briskly. I didn’t want to see his face at that moment else I could break down in tears and that would be very horrible. 

 

Throughout the ride, I was down. I was heartbroken. It was still so hard to come to terms that I was all alone as Jason and Carey's word resounded in my memory. I was such a fool. The driver stared at me occasionally, pity in his eyes. 

 

“I am fine, thanks.” I finally responded and wiped off the tears that fell from my eyes. I was even more upset that Jason did not notice the choice of outfit I wore neither did it mean a thing to me. I was certain Carey would be in there somewhere. Perhaps, she could be naked on his bed or… the thoughts drove me crazy. 

 

Watching my best friend in my lover's arms? 

 

“We have arrived.” He announced, drawing me back to reality. 

 

“Thanks.” I sniffled that minute before alighting and heading inside. The lights in the living room were off and I was thankful everyone; my mother in law, as she was the only one I had seen that day, had gone to bed. 

 

No sooner had I taken two steps when the lights were suddenly turned on. My eyes widened in surprise and I stared at my mother in law who was carefully sitting on one of the sofas, her little wrinkles even more visible as she squeezed her face in disapproval. 

 

My heart raced at that moment as I wondered what to say to her. 

 

“It’s late already. It is almost midnight.” She diverted her gaze to the wall clock and back to me. 

 

“I…..”

 

“A responsible wife should be at home with her husband and take good care of him, more so, an incapacitated man. You should be having your honeymoon with your husband!” She yelled and I scoffed. Honeymoon? What hell of a honeymoon? Honeymoon with a man who cannot even stand or walk? A man who is barely alive?

 

“Your son is hanging on to a thin thread of life. He doesn’t need me.” I retorted. 

 

“Well, he does. He is your husband and your master. You should do everything to make him feel better even if he cannot see it. Perhaps, a change of cloth or brushing his hair or anything.” She spoke once again. 

 

“He is not my husband.” I gritted my teeth and clenched my fist.  She raised her brows and let out a mockery laughter. 

 

“Oh really? Tell that to the world.” She responded with a huff and it got me quite upset. She was right. Who do I tell the truth? Who would believe me? My mother… I hope she does not get to find out. If she does, it would be horrible. It would be the worst thing to ever happen. 

 

“I am going in.. Make sure you spend the night with your husband. Today is his wedding day and a joyful day for him. He shouldn’t spend the night alone since he now has a companion.” She responded. 

 

My blood boiled within me but there was nothing I could do. She was right.. he was my husband. Lazily, I walked to the room where he was placed. I suddenly began to feel pity for him as he laid there on the bed, semi lifeless. I couldn’t imagine how his life was blissful and how joyful he was before the whole incident happened and made him a burden to everyone; me inclusive. 

 

If he was alive, it would be easier to leave but at this point, it was not so easy. He was handsome.. way more handsome than Jason and I knew unlike Jason, he would have a beautiful heart and a beautiful character. He wouldn’t be so cruel and after revenge… or could he?

 

I spent the next couple of minutes staring at him and wondering since when he had been in that condition, how he would feel when he gets to know he now has a bride if he eventually gets to wake up. What if he never wakes up ? Would I be a widow so soon?

 

I shook off the thoughts immediately. Not like I wanted him dead but it would be easier for me to leave. The thoughts were jumbled in my head and I felt so horrible. 

 

“Why don’t you just surprise us?  Why don’t you just get up one day and surprise us all? Reject me as your wife and move on with your life?” I questioned, staring at me. “If I could wish for a thing right now, it is for you to get up and tell everyone you do not want me perhaps because you have a girlfriend or something. I just wish you will tell everyone that you do not want me because I clearly do not want you.” I vented out to him. 

 

It made no difference anyway. It was like venting into thin air but it was better than holding it all in. I was beginning to lose my mind. 

 

“You know… if we lived in a world of fantasy, I would not hesitate to find out the woman you once loved or the woman you loved before you got into this condition so she could place a kiss on your lips and you would wake up. Sadly, this is reality and no such thing happens.” I let out a sigh and stood up. “I just don’t want you in my life just the way you don’t want me. Your brother ruined my life.” I spoke before heading out of the room , back to my own room. 

 

I sat on the bed lazily, several thoughts running through my mind all at the same time but I was grateful sleep came earlier than I imagined. 

 

**

The early morning sun found its way through the blinds, reflecting directly into my eyes. Stretching lazily, I stood up from the bed and made my way into the bathroom. It was large and spacious just like I had imagined it to be . Taking a cold bath seemed to wash away a bit of my pain for a millisecond but as soon as I was done, it returned once again. 

 

A sigh escaped my lips as I wrapped myself up in a towel and returned to my room. I was suddenly brought to an halt when I sighted my mother in law in there. I forgot to blink for a second as I stared at her, shocked. How had she gotten in there?

 

“Did you see a ghost?” She questioned, staring at me with surprise. 

 

“No, I….” I shook my head. “I was just… startled. I was startled to see you in here.. I mean, I did not expect to find you here.” I responded. 

 

“Well, this is my house.. and every room here. .belongs to me.” She answered. I was quiet for a while, wondering what to say to her. “You should be awake, doing the chores, doing the dishes.. like every responsible house wife should do.” She spoke with disgust evident in her voice. 

 

“Apparently, I am not one. By the way, it is the duty of a maid to do all the chores you listed.” I responded defiantly. 

 

“No, dear. It is your duty as my son’s wife to do the things that would make him happy and comfortable including making sure his house is neat and well arranged and everything is in order. “ 

 

“In your words, it is your house not his house.” I responded with a frown etched to my face. She was quiet for a second as she stared at me, her face forming into a bowl of frown. 

 

“Your husband needs to be cleaned. “ She stood up and headed towards the door. “Also, breakfast needs to be made. You should join me downstairs. “ She added before leaving. I rolled my eyes and walked over to the wardrobe to get something to wear. It was going to be one hell of a day. 

 

Hurriedly, I got dressed and headed downstairs. I was quite hungry hence I had no choice but to join my mother in law in the kitchen. She had a smile of mockery as she stared at me. For the first time in forever, there was no call or message from my lover or my best friend. Usually, both of them would place a call to me to wish me a beautiful day but this time, there was nothing. 

 

“After breakfast, you have to clean up your husband. You should have done that a couple of hours earlier.” Contempt was evident in his voice. I rolled my eyes and picked up a knife, staring at it with so much curiosity. How would it feel to drive it through….

 

I shook my head immediately. That was not the type of woman I am. That was not the person I wanted to become. 

 

“Afterwards, you should do his laundry.” She spoke once again. I raised my brows but lowered it immediately. 

 

“You aren’t convenient with that?” 

 

“I am not a maid…” 

 

“You are his wife and companion and he should mean the world to you. “ She responded. World? I scoffed. He meant nothing to me. I hated the fact that I was in this position and I wished he never existed. 

 

Just when I was about to give him a response, my phone rang. Hurriedly, I diverted my gaze to see who the caller was, giving them the benefit of doubt. My heart raced and I was heartbroken as I got to realize who the caller was. It was my mother. My heart shattered into prices that minute as I felt so bad and guilty. 

 

Now, she was going to be very worried about me. Perhaps, I should have listened to her warnings. I shouldn’t have trusted Jason. 

 

“Pick up your call..” My mother in law spoke but I refused to.  How could I face my mother? What if she had found out the truth? What if they had exposed me? How would my mother feel? It would be so embarrassing. I was quiet for a little while, genuflecting on the state I had put myself. 

 

Just as I was about to speak, my phone rang once again. Just like before, I ignored it. 

 

“Pick up your call and do not disturb the serenity of this environment.” She spoke. 

 

“It isn’t important.” I replied and ignored the call. She was obviously not convinced as she stared at me, her brows arched. She shrugged and continued with the cooking. 

 

“Is he ever going to be awake?” I probed. She had her back turned to me as she continued with the cooking. I was tired.  Tired of the mess I was in. I wanted to go home to my mother. “Will he ever wake up?” I added. She let out a sigh and turned to look at me. 

 

“Complete the cooking and serve us all. “ She responded before heading out. Us all? Was there someone else?