CHAPTER FOUR(SINKING ALONE)
Lillian sat on the couch in Jemima's house, she carried the baby. She was curious,she wanted to know how Jemima found out that she couldn't have a baby.
" I didn't tell anyone that I was going to see a doctor, how did you know that I can't have a baby? Lillian played with the baby while talking.
"My sister in law told me that she saw you at the hospital,she was concerned, so she asked me if you are sick. I would have visited you if you didn't come today. But you came and you look healthy. When you looked at my baby and you cried, I knew you were worried so I made a dangerous guess and I was right". Jemima sat close to Lillian and held one of her hands.
" The doctor said I can't have a baby,that if I get pregnant, the baby will die,he said my womb is too fragile " Lillian said as she walked to drop the sleeping baby in the baby cot. She walked back to the couch and sat down,still close to Jemima.
"That is what the doctor said, not God" Jemima spoke seriously though she smiled while pronouncing God but Lillian laughed. Jemima would never change, she has been like this since their childhood days. She always depended on God even on her tough days.
" If God wanted me to have a child, why did He give me this fragile womb?"Lillian tried hard to control her emotions but she couldn't hold the warm liquid flowing from her eyes. Even Jemima cried too.
Mark came home earlier than he normally comes back from work. He was alone for awhile before Lillian came back from Jemima's place.
"Work was hectic? You came really late today,how was work?Mark asked Lillian.
"I took a leave from work" After Lillian visited the doctor, she took a leave from work and she made the decision herself without telling her husband.
"Since when? Nowadays I don't really understand you,you are always moody and lost in thoughts,now you took a leave without telling me,sweets,you really need to talk to me,I think I'm invisible to you. After Mark's statement, the house became quiet,just like a home where there's nobody.
Lillian would have cried but she controlled herself, she wanted him to know that he wasn't invisible, that her guilt is the problem,she couldn't stare at him,she looked at the corners of the house to prevent her eyes from meeting his.
" sweets, let's have a dinner for two on our anniversary day. I've been busy these days,its my wrong. She wanted to tell him that "that" wasn't the only reason she was apologizing for. Though Mark wanted to ask his wife what she's been busy with, the only word that came out of his lips was "OK".
Lillian's phone rang,Mark's mom was the one calling. The call was unavoidable so she answered and mark's mom wanted to have dinner the next day,just both of them alone
Mending challenges LILLIAN I remember my childhood days,an average family, fighting strong could be used to define my family then. There were times when it was just too hard and my mom would cry all night,she would pray to God from mid night to morning. She was a single mom trying to save her kids from this harsh world. I was very angry while growing up,I didn't have a dad,he died when I was four years old. I let the fact that I didn't have a father border me,"things would have been better if we had one". My mom tried her best playing dual roles,it wasn't easy taking care of three children single handedly. My younger sister always said she wanted to be like mom. I thought life was so unfair to us,at some point, I was so ungrateful. One day while coming back from church, I saw my classmate and her family being thrown out of their house,I remember how the landlord locked the door and
CHAPTER FIVE( THE INSIDER) A young man in his mid twenties entered a nice restaurant,it was obvious that he was searching for someone as he looked at every corner of the restaurant. One young lady waved her hands and he walked towards her after smiling, showing his white teeth. He said his greetings before taking his seats. Sitting opposite her in a little round table,she was wearing a mini dark brown gown,she wasn't smiling yet she still looked pretty. He admired her and smiled even though he knew what her intention of inviting him to this dinner was,he still couldn't deny the facts that she was pretty. The young lady(his girlfriend) kept a straight face even though her boyfriend kept smiling. They didn't order food and she tried to say something "I..." But the young man(Jay) looked at her and said "you want to break up our relationship,you think I'm creepy
CHAPTER SIX(ONE WITH SECRETS) Lillian sat down in the living room,she was watching something in her phone and smiling. Mark walked in,looking stressed. Before,Lillian would rush to him,kiss him and unbutton his shirt but it was just a "welcome home". Lillian received a text from her mother in law,she wanted to have lunch the next day. She was trying to be nice but to Lillian it was "pressuring" to her. Mark sat close to her,the night was cool and so was the bed,a bed that was supposed to be warm. "You know, I had dinner with your mom,she wants to mend our relationship. I'm having lunch with her tomorrow". Even when and after Lillian spoke, Mark just kept reading the magazine in his hands,he didn't reply her. " You know I said something right? Lillian asked sitting close to him,holding his hands to get his attention. " I hop
CHAPTER SEVEN( PEOPLE BY THE SEA) Mark came home and saw a sticker note on a plate. "I'm travelling for two weeks". That was all she wrote in the note,he just couldn't understand Lillian anymore. He tried calling her but her phone was switched off. He called Jemima and asked if she knew where Lillian was but she told him she didn't. Even her mom didn't know where she was. Few minutes later Jemima called and told Mark about a resort Lillian spoke of recently. Mark's mom visited,she brought a young lady with her,she said she was the temporary cook since Lillian wasn't around. " How did you know Lillian wasn't at home? Did she tell you that she was travelling?" Mrs Ade nodded her head. "Wow,she told you she was travelling but she didn't tell me,she left a stupid note for me to read". Mark was r
CHAPTER EIGHT(DARK CURTAIN) The main door of the house opened,Lillian walked in. The sitting room was nice,neatly arranged. The house looked empty. She walked to the kitchen,the utensils were neat and arranged. Even her room was neat,it was as if the house never needed her. She sat on the bed and it was cold. How can love be like this? Why did she leave her home for another woman to walk in? Why can't she tell her husband that she can't have a baby. She remembered the day she saw Jay taking photos of little kids,some with mud on their face. " I can't have a baby,I wasn't interested in having one before,but I suddenly became obsessed with having one and years passed without us Having children and my husband didn't say anything. When we were newly weds,he talked about it a lot but suddenly he stopped,he didn't Even allow us visit a doctor." Lillian pau
MENDING CHALLENGES (PART TWO) MARK. Okay,my family is rich. Being the only child wasn't and still isn't nice for me,I wish I had an elder brother or a baby sister but it's not going to work now,according to scientific researches. When i met Lillian,for me I'd say it's love at first sight. Trying to make her like me back wasn't easy but I did it. Even when my mom was being tribalistic, I stood by my Lillian and US. At first she refused to get married,I dated her for six years and it really annoyed my mom. Ever since I was a little boy,I always wanted to be like my father. Even when my friends had issues with their dad,I never had one,he is a loving husband and a caring father. To me my Father is flawless. I desired to be like my dad.
THE GAME CONTINUES "That's not part of my question, I've answered what you asked" only Jay knew whose thought he couldn't read and Lillian knew he read hers before and he read Mark's in the table. Mark asked because he noticed that Jay have been staring at Joy,could that be reason? Before Mark spin the bottle, he wished the head would point at Jay but it was Joy. This time,Lillian asked her " truth or dare" and she replied "truth". " why are you so quiet,I think there's a story behind it,tell us why" .After Lillian asked her the question, she smiled for the first time that evening. "I was once cheerful as an high school student. I met this man who was much older than me,I'm sure his kid is the same age as me,he visited my mom's shop regularly, he bought expensive wines, he was like a perfect man. I didn't approach
THE NEW WIND Lillian visited Jemima, it has been long since she had a chat with Jemima. Well,she was like Jemima now,a "stay at home wife" but their situation was different, Jemima's husband wouldn't let her work but she(Lillian) left work on her own. Lillian told Jemima about Jay and how he reads thoughts and it was funny to her,she asked if Lillian thinks she would believe. She told her about the little dinner that happened in her house and all the creepy things that happened and Jemima replied "You think I'd believe that,believe me,your dream was wild" it was of no use trying to convince her that it was true. She always believed what Lillian told her but she didn't believe this time. Jemima told Lillian that her husband got transferred from his place of work so they would