Stolen Moments Chapter Four

“We need to go Please drive me.” I said, dropping the call and pulling her by her hand.

“What the........”

I pulled her towards the door. I didn’t have a car so I was banking on her.

“What is going on, Maya?” she asked opening the car as I opened my side as well.

“Asante is up and she was asking for me.”

“I bet it is a bitter pill to swallow after making sure you didn’t get to see her.”

We both laughed but my mind was with Asante. I was worried if she was fine or not.

“But it won’t matter.”

“What do you mean?”

“Nothing to worry about friend just shush up and drive.”

We both laughed as she played that song by Rihana that she loved so much. I was silently praying for Ashante to be well so that she cannot hate me as well.

“We are here so worry not.” She was already parking not so far from the door. I waited for her as she locked the car.

“Please relax. I can feel your tension from miles away. Do not show them your weakness please because I will be forced to be rude to them.”

She was right it was time for me to relax and stop stressing. For me it was easier said than done. When we got in it was at the nick of time as the doctor was also approaching them.

“Good day family. I am glad we are all here as I want to learn something. Who was taking care of the child from birth till she could walk?”

I saw panic on Tawona’s eyes. I was not following why the doctor was asking that entire question and why at that particular time.

“Why are you asking that, is that a true question?”

She sounded so irritated but I was still not following. She stalled again a little to a point where Mphantso interjected.

“Answer the question, not ask your silly questions without an answer.”

She was angry but I elbowed her and she just clicked her tongue.

“I was taking care of her myself on my own without any help.”

She said that proudly and I rolled my eyes as the attitude accompanying the answer bored me to death.

“I guess you should have told these people including myself about her condition before we even treated her. She was going to recover fast.

There was commotion but I was shocked and standing there like a statue.

“What do you mean? What did you do to my daughter?”

Joseph was getting angry looking at her. Or how fast the wheel turned as I was waiting for my mother-in-law to comment but the comment never came through.

“What is going on doctor? Please tell us what is going on as we are in the dark.”

He cleared his throat and looked at us without blinking. “The child has ‘Baby Shaking Syndrome’ she was diagnosed a few years ago and was taking some medication for it but she stopped when she got better. She was supposed to go back for follow up checkups and any possible medication. The dot on her Cerebrum, the one I first suspected was from the fall was from this.”

I was not a doctor and I was not even sure I understood what he was saying. Was she shacking as a baby or what? Tawona was flushed and shaking.

“Please say it in layman’s terms because we are lost at this moment. What shook who and when?”

I was not trying to be funny but I was agitated to hear the whole thing.

“It is an illness that affects the brain mostly. It happens when a baby or toddler is forcefully shaken. This happens when a parent or caregiver severely shakes a child in frustration or anger, often because a child won’t stop crying. Permanent brain damage or death may result.”

When he finished I was shaken. So I was blamed for something I never had control over when the mother had abused the child when she was young.

“What did you do to the child?”

I asked outraged even though I wanted to let it go. Everyone looked at her.

“She was crying too much when she was young and I was alone and clueless when she cried.”

“That is an excuse there are hospitals around here to help you realise what was wrong with the child.” I was beyond angry.

“You are talking from the chair of privilege as you had everything handed to your by your daddy dearest. I was not privileged enough. I had to work hard for all these things. I didn’t even have money for clinic or the transport. The time I got some information was when my mother’s friend told me she had colic and it was too late.

She is the one who took her to the hospital for further examinations and that was discovered. I was all alone and no one told me I was going to have a child with colic.

Judge me or shoot me but I did what I needed to do at that time. At least she stopped crying when I shook her up.”

I was not going to argue with an arrogant good for nothing excuse of a human being who gave every excuse in the book for her bad action. I was angry at the fact that I was the devil in the picture but if the accident had not happened then they were never going to find out about the issue.

I was done asking questions and reasoning with these people. I left them there arguing and took to my prayer partner’s room. She took me to the ward were she was moved to as she was out of the comma.

“Thank you for the prayers; you have been a good friend to me.”

I hugged her as I walked toward Asante. She smiled at me as I rushed to hug her and kiss her forehead.

“You worried me; please do not do that again. How are you?”

She smiled. “I heard you crying and I was not going to leave you like this.”

I laughed and playfully pinched her. She kept laughing.

“Why did you cry because I was just resting? Did you think I was going to die?”

“I will not entertain you young lady. I am happy that you are well and rested then. I love you and I will never hurt you on purpose.”

“You never hurt me though. I wanted to apologies for not listening to you. You told me that it was dangerous and I was naughty.”

I was so relieved to hear that as she was the only person who mattered from this equation. “I am happy you are well. Do not worry about the past but never do that again. Anyone who is older than you when they warn you of danger do not turn a blind eye. Your parents were hurt and sad at the same time.”

“You are my parent also and you are not hurt. Did I do something to you?”

“No my princess I am not angry at you because you appologised I am happy you woke up and you are fine. Now things changed and …..”

“There you are. Let us go before I kill someone and go to jail for nonsense.”

Mphatso said coming to Asante’s room. She softened when she saw her. She smiled and hugged her. She was not going to take out her anger on an innocent child that I was sure of.

“My fighter, look at that smile. Thank God you came back and my friend is now happy. How was it there? Did you go to heaven or hell? You are a naughty child I bet you went to hell. What did Satan say to you?”

I was laughing at Asante who was laughing uncontrollably. She had a beautiful smile like her father. I think that was the reason I love her so much.

“No aunty I didn’t go to hell.”

“Tell the truth before I tickle you. I bet the devil said ‘no child you are too cute for hell but at the same breathe you are too naughty for heaven so go and apologies to earth and live happily ever after.’ I know you are going to tell me stories about your adventure.”

She wiped her tears and smiled. “I was not in hell or heaven I was here resting.”

“Okay princess rest is over I am busting you out of this hell hole. We will go through that window so that no one will have an idea where we went.”

She laughed again. “Okay let us chase mama first she will tell on us.”

I was jealous of their conversation but I was scared that I was not going to be able to….. Let me not go there.

“I will be the first one to tell the police your secrets so you are right your secrets are not safe with me.”

We all laughed which was short-lived as they all came in. I stood up and looked at my mother-in-law and Joseph. “I am sorry for disobeying your order as you didn’t want me in this room but I just wanted to make sure that she was doing fine. I will take my leave.”

Asante gasped but I didn’t give them time to respond I took Mphatso’s hand and we left.

“What was that all about?” she asked looking surprised.

“I do not want to face these people I am still digesting what I heard.”

We saw baby mama approaching and I looked aside and quickened my steps. Mphatso didn't have a choice but run after me.

“Wait a minute; I am not equipped for a marathon.”

I was forced into a halt by laughter.

“I wanted to rush you were not obliged to follow me. I knew you have the guts to face her as I am not in the mood to face her. I do not think I will ever be in the mood to face her.”

“All will be well. It shall soon pass. I know you love that child as your own but it is time you put your needs first. No running away.”

“I was not running. I was going to kill someone too if I stayed.”

We both laughed when we got into the car. She dropped me off home after I bought some take away food. I was not going to cook I was tired so cooking angry was going to make me cook bad food.

I went to Asante’s room to change the bedding. I was not sure when she was going to come back home but this needed to be done ASAP.

I was done clearing and dishing up when my mother-in-law came with my husband.

“May I dish up for everyone or you will bath first?”

I was very polite and smiling just a little. They both looked surprised. I think they expected me to throw a tantrum after what I heard from the hospital.”

“I will go and bath first.” My husband said

“I will eat first.” Followed my mother in law after her son.

“Alright, I will dish up for you, mayi.”

I didn’t even want to ask if Asante was coming home or not. I dished up my plate also and sat opposite my mother-in-law who was surprised. She kept on stealing glances at me. I pretended to be watching the comedy and softly laughed when they did.

When I was done I thanked her and went with the dishes to the kitchen. My husband came took his food and joined his mother. I heard whispers which didn’t move me. When I was done even clearing his dished I was asked to the sitting room.

“Nyamunyirenda, I would like to apologise for what has been happening and to accuse you of what happened.”

The sentence was vague to me but I listened. He cleared his throat and continued.

“I was wrong to not listen to your side of the story. I was supposed to know that you were not going to hurt Asante on purpose.”

He looked at his mother for support which he never got and then he looked at me.

“Okay.”

That is all I said and I smiled a sarcastic one which surprised them.

“I….”

“Good night mother and my husband.”

I left them there with their mouths hanging. I was done with pretense. I was going to bed to rest……

No electricity since last week Friday I know some saw the news and I am afraid no electricity even now. Yesterday I had to charge at a food outlet because Maya was calling me I had to walk Kilometres as roads are closed and no movement. Will try to keep up once we are sorted.