Most times, what you know as the truth might not be the reality…
******
At first, Tom did not pay attention to his father’s words. He was busy plotting ways to kill him quietly neatly and fast now that he knew strangling him would not be as easy as he had thought.
But when he heard the sniffing and crying, he was perplexed as he looked up. Seeing his father in an emotional distress, Tom was so poleaxed he did not know what to say or do, he could only stare at the man’s drama.
‘Is this man acting drama for me because he knew what I was planning and he is trying to distract me till he can call the police or kill me first?’ Tom asked himself as he kept his gaze on his father’s pitiful position on the chair as he sniffled in tears.
“I’m sorry, I didn't mean to go all teary on you, but I’m just so sad, sad for your poor mother who did not enjoy her youth, sad for you because you were robbed of your childhood and fu
What do you think of this story so far?
True love can transcend the passage of time…******“I will never forget that day and the look on your mum’s face when she heard the news.” Mr. Thompson wiped his hand over his face in residual pain before continuing with the story.“Your mum cried and begged me, she told me how she could not live without me and reminded me of all our plans. She begged me to let us run and leave the town. But what could I do? I’m a man and I’d always been a pride of the town, how could I just disappoint them? So, instead of listening to your mother, I disappointed her and signed up for the war.” Mr. Thompson said.“Of course on the day I was leaving for the battlefield, I summoned my younger brother, Austin, the only relative I had left after our parents died and begged him to move into our home and take care of my wife and our unborn child, and even though he was a low life miserable
Your blood can sometimes be your worse enemy…*****Dropping the cup noisily on the table, his father wiped his mouth with trembling hands before continuing.“It was after I ordered the guard to read the letters to me, twenty five of them Tom, a whole twenty five of hellish letters from your mum that made me realised your mum had kept writing to me even when she heard the news that the war had ended. When I did not come home, she kept writing to me hoping I would get them. In one of her letters, she told me how my brother had found out where she kept our savings and finished them all on gambling and drinking and she begged me to please come home to her and our child.” Tears dropped from Mr. Thompson’s eyes as he replayed the letters in his head.“Well, after a year of not hearing anything from me, my brother told her he got news that I was dead and he asked her to marry him in order to provi
Saying goodbye to a loved one isn’t an easy thing to do…******To think of the hell his mother had gone through in the hands of the brother in-law she had been forced to marry, but for the sake of her son, decided to endure the abuse, while crying herself to sleep every night, hoping the love of her life would one day come back from war and claim her, left Tom feeling so bruised and worthless.He kept thinking of how he had cursed his mother several times believing she was a selfish mother who did not care about her son.He never knew until now that rather than hate him, his mother had loved him so much she had been protecting him by not giving him too much attention, knowing that would only drive her husband into jealous rage and he might take it out on the innocent Tom.No wonder his mother had always been more caring and attentive whe
Life is no fun without a full memory… ****** “Please, we have an appointment with the doctor, is she on the seat?” Liza wanted to know. “Oh yes, she has been expecting you. We were told you could not make your last appointment.” One of the nurses replied with a curious note at the end of her words. Turning her face to the side to hide the glint in her eyes, Liza remembered why they missed their appointment and blushed furiously. It was Mike’s turn to chuckle in amusement as he ignored the pointed look the nurses were exchanging among themselves. “If you will excuse us, ladies, we would like to go in now, so we don’t keep the good doctor waiting.” Mike told them with a smile as he took Liza’s hand in a protective hold to go to the doctor. Watching them, the nurses at the same time released their bre
Find pleasure in little things… ***** Taking a step forward, the good doctor smiled at them. “Can you both wait for me in my office please? I will be back in a short while.” The doctor requested. Giving a short nod of his head, Mike agreed. “Sure doctor, we will wait for you at the office after I get Liza a cup of water to drink.” Turning to the men in the room, he sent them a brief smile. “Gentlemen, thank you.” Taking Liza by the hand, he left the room with his woman and every soul in the room smiled wistfully. ‘Love is the only thing that can humble a powerful man and it’s so sweet to be a witness to one.’ They all thought in amusement. Back at the doctor’s office, Liza sat beside Mike with her head resting on his shoulder. In front of her w
Love is pure and never secretive…****Moments Later…Entering the parking lot, Mike saw a free slot and taking it, he switched off the car and twisting on his seat to face Liza, he gave her a quick peck.“Let’s quickly grab some things at the supermarket, so I can make a quick meal for us in the house while you are having that soak you so much needed.“You mean you will cook for us at home?” It surprised Liza every time she thought of Mike, the powerful man standing by the stove to cook.“You don’t like my cooking?” Mike asked with a frown, though he was pleased by the way she called his place a Home.“Mr. Stanford, I love your meals.” Liza told him with a lascivious lick of her tongue and Mike laughed.“Then get your ass off the car lazy bone.” Mike said with a chuckle.“Okay, boss.” Liza quickl
Every love life should have spices…*****Getting back to the house an hour later, Liza went upstairs to change from her dress while Mike went to the kitchen to put away the groceries they bought before going upstairs to draw Liza’s bath.Liza met him on the stairs with a small frown on her face.“Mike, I think there was a robbery while we were out of the house.” Liza told him with a worried note in her voice.“Robbery? Where?” Shocked, Mike quickly moved to protect her with his body while looking to his left and right to check for an invader.“In my room. All my clothes are gone.” Liza told him.It took some minutes for Liza’s words to penetrate Mike’s alert brain and when it did, he stood still for a minute before turning to her.“What did you say?” He asked again.“I said there was a robbery in my room and
We tend to appreciate that which we almost lost… ***** Walking inside the house with a grocery bag, Tom dropped it on the hallway table as he checked for his father. “Dad? Where are you?” He called while walking to the sitting room “In here, son. I decided to have a short nap.” Mr. Thompson responded. “A nap? Is everything okay, Dad?” Tom asked in a worried tone as he sat beside his dad on his recliner. “I’m okay dear, I just felt I should rest more, now that my son is with me and I need to spend every moment getting to know you before I join your mother.” He told him with a small smile. “Don’t say that, Dad. You scare me every time you talk about joining my Mum. Do you mean you want to leave me?” He asked with tears in his eyes. For the first time in a long while, Tom is feeling so powerless and emotional. Getting to meet his real father and hearing his story has really changed
A good ending for all… ****** Two weeks Later, Mike sent a bunch of flowers to Tom’s room at the hospital, having heard he was responding to treatment and would soon be discharged. He had also heard that with the help of his father’s team, his father was flown to London to be with his son at his critical moment. Mike felt for them but he knew they would get through it and survive together. That’s just life! It will throw you but if you are willing to stand again, everything will work out. Liza had heard him on the phone when he was ordering for the flowers and she had thought the flowers were to wish Tom a quick recovery and to also cheer him up. But only Mike knew that the real reason he sent the beautiful bunch of flowers was to silently thank Tom for indirectly bringing them back together. By pointing out some home truths to Liza, he made her see what she should have known, ‘That Mike would always be there for her’. For that alone, it shows the guy had some redeeming trait
We all deserve genuine love… ****** For long moments, they looked into each other’s eyes with trusting eyes that suddenly turned passionate. Mike’s eyes flared with a knowing light and Liza gave an unconscious gasp. Mike grinned as he lightly pushed her to continue walking to the car! “You always seem to be surprised every time I make my love and passion obvious, why?” He had always wanted to ask her. “I don’t know, Mike. Maybe because I never truly believed you could really love me, so I am always surprised when I see the evidence of it.” She admitted softly. Mike did not say anything to that as he opened the door for her to go in. Then he circled the car to join her and only then did he turn to look at her. “But that’s bullshit, babe. I have been showing you nothing but my love since we started dating.” Mike reminded her. “I know, Mike, but I guess it was just hard for me to believe and understand. I mean, I grew up without knowing much love, so how would I have recognized i
Give an option of doubt…*****Putting the phone back into his pocket, Mike turned to go back to Liza and that was when he saw her, watching him with a dazed look.“You heard everything, right?” Tiredly, he asked her, unable to hide it again.Liza nodded slowly.“I am sorry, Liza, but it is not what you think. I can explain, okay?” Mike was worried she might misunderstand.Again, Liza nodded slowly.“I am sure you have a reasonable explanation Mike and I promise to listen without judging you.” Liza acknowledged softly.Relieved, Mike nodded as he walked to her.“Thank you. I promise to tell you everything without hiding a word.” He embraced her soft body to him, knowing that he needed the warmth.Liza accepted his words and actions with a smile as she returned his embrace.******The following morning, Liza and Mike walked out of the old building with Martha who was holding tightly to the purple eyed, immensely bruised Tom.His left eyes were almost closed and Liza feared he might nev
Be honest with your loved ones… ******* What happened the next moment was so sudden, Mike was sure he was about to have a heart failure. “Oh my God—Oh my God—-Oh my God.” Liza kept crying. Recovering himself, Mike quickly left his seat to hold onto her shoulders. “Liza? Are you okay? Talk to me.” He saw the distressful emotion she was in and he could not bear it. It’s a fact that whatever affected Liza would get to Mike. Her joy and sadness were equally part of him. “I totally forgot, Mike. I did not mean to, but I forgot. I am a bad person. A very bad evil lady.” She cried softly while holding onto him. “Whatever it is Liza, we will get through it together, but I will not accept any disparaging word on your person. You are not a bad person and neither are you evil. So right now, I want you to take a deep breath and tell me what this is all about.” A little bit calmed by Mike’s reasonable voice, Liza took a calming breath. “It’s Tom, Mike, I totally forgot about him.” Liza exp
Apologies don't make you less of a man… **** Helping each other to dress up four hours later after a short nap on his office sofa bed, Liza sent a smug smile across to Mike. “You need to apologise to your staff Mike, they did not deserve the treatments you have been melting out on them.” Liza pointed out and Mike groaned. He did not have to ask Liza, he should have known Stella would tell her all about it. “I am serious, Mike, you need to apologise. Just imagine if any of your staff is acting unprofessional just because they are going through a lot at home. Would you accept that, even if you try to be understanding towards their plight?” Liza demanded to know. “I am the boss, Liza, it is different.” He pointed out arrogantly, trying to cover up. but he knew she was right. ‘That’s the thing about Liza, she was always almost right.’ He thought fondly with another groan. “No Mike, there is nothing different about it. They are humans and if you are truly the man I know you to be, I
A forgiving spirit is a kind one…*******Typing furiously away at her system while equally muttering furiously to herself, Stella was not aware of the person at her desk until she heard a chuckle which made her jump in fright.“Is the building on fire or what?” Liza asked with an amused gaze while watching the different emotions flashing across the face of her former senior colleague.“Liza Stanford, you scared me.” Stella cried, turning her full glare on the innocent Liza.“Uh oh wow, take it easy with the glare okay? I’m innocent of whatever the crime was.” Chuckling, she raised her hands in mock surrender.Stella snorted, unimpressed.Innocent her foot! Whatever their boss was going through, Stella knew Liza had a hand in it and even if it’s not in Stella’s place to say it out loud, she just hoped they could settle whatever it was between them.Having been married for several years now, she knew it was not always smooth sailing between couples.Just look at her and her husband Leo
Correct your mistakes once you know it… ******At the other end, Liza kept staring at the silent phone in her hand. Mike had dropped the call. Without telling her it was a joke. Which meant that truly, he was pushing for a divorce? ‘No way! Over my dead body.’ She swore violently as she ran to the bathroom. Almost tearing off the clothes on her body, she hurriedly lathered the washing clothes with soap as she switched on the shower, full blast. Dressing with haste, five minutes later, Liza was walking down the stairs, smartly dressed in one of her office clothes. But before she could cover the last step, one of the maids walked in from the hallway to greet her respectfully. “Good afternoon, Mrs. Stanford.” “Good afternoon Mary. I am on my way out and I might not be back for a while.” She said in a distracted tone while checking her bag to make certain she had all she wanted. “Oh okay Madam, but I was just on my way upstairs to tell you there is a visitor at the door asking fo
A disappointed heart is always heavy…****Glaring fiercely at the door of his office, willing any of his staff to walk through the door so he could at least have an excuse to vent his frustrations, his eyes caught the favourite coffee mug on his table and picking it up, he threw it violently at the wall and the smashing sound gave him a momentary satisfaction.At that exact moment, the Head of Sales Department was on his way to discuss the latest marketing pitch with the boss after deciding to brave the lion’s then. Even his colleagues had teased him when he casually told them he was in to see the boss.There had been teasing calls about his head and they had all laughed, saying by the time Mike Stanford was done blasting him off, his considered small head would become bigger as it rolled on the floor. Someone had even said he was sure he would come out without his tongue in his mouth.Of course, he had scoffed disdainfully, not giving them the chance to see his fear.Only the Head o
The surprise package…*****Liza dismissed the maid and, turning with a determined step, she hurriedly walked to the door just as the person pressed the bell again. Liza groaned ferociously as she pulled the chain from the back of the door.“Who the hell are you that you want to bring down the whole house just to get what you want?” Liza blasted the person with furious eyes even before the door was completely open.The short bald man that was standing at the door blinked owlishly up at her, surprised by the unexpected attack.“I—I didn’t--hmm aha…” The man stopped coughing slightly but when he took a little glance up, he saw Liza was still furious, so he dropped his eyes to try again.“I—I’m—sorry madam. I was just trying to do my job.” He stammered in a voice that was a bit scared.Liza glared the more upon hearing this silly talk. “Excuse me? You mean your job is to disturb my peace?” “No—No—of—course not, madam. I was just trying to get the attention of whoever is in the house.” H