Chapter 4

Anna's POV:

I never knew how hard it is to run inside the heavily pouring rain until today.

I always thought it would be fun, but here we are today soaked to the bones, running through the streets holding each other's hands.

Mom tried stopping a taxi, but it was in vain, cabs were scarce around this part of town especially now that the streets are drenched. Fortunately, the station wasn't far away, so we decided to run instead.

We arrived at the station and just as we were about to enter, an officer halted us by the door.

"Woah, hold on ladies, the floors have just been mopped and our tiles can be pretty slippery. Wouldn't want you cuties kissing the floor."

"Officer please, we just need to see someone, my father. He was brought in about an hour ago. We received a call..."

"The speeding guy? He was the only one we brought in this morning." The officer said while portraying an awkward expression. "Go over to that desk and explain to the officer standing there. But first, let me help you both with a dry towel."

"Thank you, officer, thank you so much." was all Mom was able to say through her trembling voice.

We were escorted to the cells and in the second cubicle is Dad, sitting down holding his hands as his head is glued to the floor.

"Dad. Are you alright?"

He only raised his head to look at me and Mom before staring back down again.

"I killed that young man. I just can't believe he's gone, and I killed him." He said in a whisper-like tone.

"The way I see this it wasn't your fault at all, Gary. It was meant to be that way, please don't think that way."

Mom said as she began sobbing quietly. I felt so bad for him, I was silently praying that he doesn't try to drown in his sorrow and start having real suicidal thoughts.

"Dad, we will get you out of here, I promise. Don't blame yourself, okay? It will be over soon." I managed to say, but I was trying to convince myself.

"Tell us please, what really happened, Gary?" Mom finally asked, wiping away her tears.

Dad was quiet for a while, then he stood up and turned his back to us as he began to speak with hands akimbo. "I was going to get some supplies from the grocery store. And I wasn't even speeding, but as I was driving I noticed some young lads talking a little bit aggressively, I swear I hadn't expected it, and then before my eyes, one of the lads pushed another in front of my truck, just as I was about to drive past them. And it was too late for me to hit the brakes. And when I came out to see..." 

Dad was sobbing now,

"I didn't even notice that the guy who pushed him and the others haall run away. I couldn't get a good look at any of them. By the time the police arrived, he was barely breathing. And they just couldn't believe my explanation, so here I am. Just as I was locked, an officer came over and told me he died at the hospital."

"I'm so sorry Gary, but it wasn't your fault. I'm sure the investigations will prove that." Mom responded, wiping her tears.

"Or maybe this is where I deserve to be, for the life I took. Maybe this is my punishment." He replied, returning to where he was seated before. 

But Mom wasn't done yet.

"What are you doing? Gary, look at me, if you think we'd just let you get locked up when you did nothing wrong then you must be dreaming. If you won't help me with this then you can at least do it for your daughter. Look at her. How would you think she feels seeing you like this?"

He looked at me and turned to Mom. He nodded his head in approval but didn't say a word.

We returned to the first hall in the station and sat down. Mom tried asking around if we can get bail for him, but the response she got made us realize that this is more complicated than we think.

The dead victim was said to be the youngest son of a very wealthy family, and that as soon they leave the hospital, they would want to see Dad and decide whether to press charges or not, and we have been cautioned that we can only try to compromise with them and that if we act unreasonably, it would complicate things for Dad, messing up any chance we have of saving him.

The rain stopped after another hour. So Mom made a list of things we might need at least till the family comes here and we see how long it'll take for us to bail him out. So I went out of the station and walked to a junction nearby, where it'll be easier for me to stop a cab.

On reaching the bus stop, I sat down on a bench and began reminiscing on all that occurred in the past two hours, and then my mind wandered; what if the family insists on pressing charges? 

What would happen if we went to court? Can Mom and I be able to prevent the possibility of dad going to prison? 

My legs and arms began to tremble but as I began to cry, I told myself to remain as optimistic as possible.

"It was all one big misunderstanding, and nothing will happen to Dad." I said and wiped away my tears. 

I realized that I didn't take the house key from Mom, so I went back into the station and over to where Mom was seated. She wasn't there again, so I headed towards the cell room. 

Just before I got there I found her talking to some people, probably the family we were told about. I spoke from the distance to inform her that I forgot the key when I saw a slightly familiar face gazing suspiciously at me.

In a matter of seconds, it hit me, and I felt a chilly shiver jolt down my spine.