CHAPTER 9ANNA“Hello, Miss?”A gentle and soothing voice woke me up from my sleep. A nurse stood beside me, her expression kind but serious."Sorry to wake you," she said softly. "I need to check your father's vitals."I nodded, quickly sitting up and rubbing my eyes. "It's okay. I must have dozed off."She smiled gently. "It's completely understandable. You've been here all night. How are you holding up?"“I am okay I guess,” I tell her my voice cracking slightly.The nurse nods sympathetically,” I understand you. You don’t need to worry your father is in good hands. He’ll be fine”“Thank you”, I watch her as she checks my father’s pulse, blood pressure and other vitals.“How is he doing?” I ask the nurse with a bit of uneasiness in my voice.“From his vitals, he’s a little better. However, the doctors will be in the best position to tell you about your father's health so far,” she says softly.“Alright, thank you very much,” I tell her."Do you need anything? Some water or coffee, m
CHAPTER 10Anna “Why are you shocked like you have just seen ghosts? Good morning my dearest soon-to-be wife,” Damien says with a fake smile. He continues to talk “ I just spoke to the doctors this morning and they have assured me that Mr.Smith will be out of coma very soon and he’ll be fine.” “Okay, thanks,” I say quietly still very confused as to why they’re here much earlier than I expected. I look at Mr.Luis with so many questions running in my mind but I am unable to speak up. “Good morning Miss Anna,” Mr.Luis finally speaks. I give him a small nod to acknowledge his greetings. I don’t why all of a sudden I have lost my ability to talk. I guess it’s because Damien is here and I am still very much ashamed of how I behaved towards him last night. I can’t tell if he’s angry at me for how I behaved towards him yesterday. He doesn't look like he’s mad at me though. Well, he’s so handsome that I can’t even look at him straight in the face. Honestly, the pictures of him on the inte
CHAPTER 11 ANNA“Let’s have the meeting,” I say with all the strength I have in me in order not to appear weak. I don’t want them to find out that my house was broken into. The last thing I want from anyone right now is pity.“Finally, the queen of Seattle is out. I wonder what you were telling that boyfriend of yours that kept you so long,” Damien says sounding very agitated.“Boyfriend? That’s my best friend Lola who called.” I shoot a rude response to him since he’s beginning to irritate me.“Best friend huh? Well if you say so wifey dearest,” Damien says sarcastically.“Thanks for understanding soon-to-be husband,”I respond to him in the same tone.“Can we start now? I would appreciate it if you two don’t pick at each other. Let’s all remember we’re in Mr.Smith’s hospital room and he doesn’t need this. You two should act like adults,” Mr.Luis cautions us.I sit next to my father’s bed and take his hand into mine. I need him now more than ever because I am really going through a l
CHAPTER 12ANNA“Anna, oh my goodness”, Lola rushes to me and gives me a tight hug. “Lola, I feel like dying,” I say to her whilst sobbing.“Hey don’t say that my girl. You have to be strong for your father he needs you more than ever. Everything is going to be fine,” she says.“What about my apartment?Any news from the police yet?”“Not yet Anna. Don’t worry too much about it. They’re doing their best to find the culprit.”Lola reassures me.“ I brought you some clothes and got you a new phone charger as you requested. I also got you some food.”“Thank you, Lola.”“Don’t mention. I want you to go to the washroom and freshen up. Girl you look very rough. Don’t stress I’ll look after your Dad.” she shoves me towards the washroom.I take a quick shower and dress up. I look at myself in the mirror and for the first time in the past 24 hours, I feel a bit better. I hope everything goes well now. I go back to my father’s room and he’s being checked by a team of doctors.“Miss Anna right?”
CHAPTER 13ANNA“Dad please open your eyes.”“My princess..”, he murmurs.“Dad I am so happy that you’re awake. Please hang in there Lola is going to get the doctors.”Lola rushes in with Doctor Lambert, “Miss Anna I would like you to wait outside”, he says.“Why Doctor? He’s awake now so why do I have to go out.”“Anna let the doctor do his job. Your father will be okay. Come on let’s wait outside” Lola urges me.I look at my father whose eyes are closed now for the last time before exiting the room with Lola.Lola calms me down as we wait, “Hey Anna, he’s going to be fine no need for you to panic. Let’s be cheerful that he’s awake now and keep hope alive. You should stop crying.” “Alright, I am just scared. I don’t want to lose my father Lola.” “Mr.Smith is a strong man. You’re not losing him anytime soon. He’s going to be fine and walk you down the aisle.”Lola reassures me.As the minutes go by, my anxiety grows. I am holding onto Lola’s hand tightly for strength as I am emotiona
CHAPTER 14DAMIENThe call from Dr.Lambert earlier today was unexpected. I can’t believe that Mr Smith has passed on since Dr Lambert assured me earlier this morning that he was recuperating. I cancelled all my pending meetings and drove to the hospital to confirm as I still didn’t understand what was happening.I arrive at the hospital and hand straight to his hospital room. I stop death in track with the sight in front of me. Anna is sobbing uncontrollably with Mr Smith’s hand in her hand. She’s being comforted by a lady who I don’t know but that does not calm her down as her sobs continue to become rampant.I am still standing at the door watching Anna and this scene right in front of me reminds me of when I lost my parents. Death is something I hate with everything in me as it makes one weak and distressed. I am hit with emotions when Anna says “Dad, why have you done this to me? I can't survive without you. How do you expect me to do life without you by my side?”. I quickly mak
CHAPTER 15ANNAThe team of nurses comes in to take my father’s body to the mortuary. It feels like a dream as a lot has happened to me during the past few days. My life has shattered right before me and I am finding it hard to come to terms with it.“Hey Anna, please stop crying. Everything will be fine. I am here with you. Your Dad is in Heaven watching over you.”Lola consoles me as she pulls me into an embrace. I haven’t been able to stop crying but her words give me hope.I sit and Lola follows suit with sadness all over her face. “Thank you, Lola, I appreciate you being here with me. Your presence gives me hope that everything will be fine with me”.“That’s fine Anna. I am glad that you find solicit in my company. I want you to know that I’ll always be here for you. I am your best friend don’t forget that.” she reassures me again.I embrace my friend like my life depends on it. “You’ll be fine Anna”, Lola wipes my tears and smiles at me.“What’s it, Lola? I ask as she gives me a m
CHAPTER 16DAMIENI make the necessary arrangements for the burial with the help of Dr.Lambert before I head back home.I have to get a new driver now as Mr Smith is no more since I don’t enjoy driving myself.I get home and Miss Rosie welcomes me with a big smile on her face. She doesn’t know about the passing of Mr.Smith yet. I feel like a bad person at the moment as I am about to break the news to her.“Hey my boy, how was your day? You’re a little bit late today,” she says.“Miss Rosie, my day was not a good one. I am stressed as I have a lot going on right now,| I complain to her.“You this boy, I know you’re complaining because you have been driving yourself these past few days. Don’t worry Mr Smith will be fine soon,” she tells me with much hope.I take in a deep breath, “That won’t be possible anymore, Miss Rosie.”“What do you mean by that, my boy?” she asks sounding confused.“Mr.Smith is no more. He died earlier today at the hospital.” I inform her in a low tone.“Oh my godde