Chapter 9

                              Home

    The past four months. It was nothing but pain and sorrow for both David and Roslyn; it was such a dreary year for Roslyn precisely. While David was swimming in pains Roslyn was swimming in sorrows.

      Roslyn entered the mansion without rapping on the door. Her thighs ached, and her eyes burn and her head whirled because of exhaustion. The last time she visited home was two weeks and four days ago, she’d stopped coming home because she feared David will need her if she decide to come home and so the maids have been the ones bringing new clothes, and food to her at the hospital. She mutely went up to her room and galloped to the bathroom for a good shower.

        She stared at herself in the mirror; Roslyn was aging more than her age, thirty-six, but she understands why. The dark circles around her eyes are very noticeable, her neck bones are deeper and straighter and her one’s thirty-six inches hips have reduced tremendously. She could easily feel it inside her straight, long skirt. Roslyn can easily count the number of times she had a good sleep within those four months; most of the night she stays awake because David keeps screaming, shouting and cursing throughout the nights. She has become his comforter and nursing mother for months now. The sleepless nights were gradually reducing but Roslyn wasn’t still finding it easy with David’s attitudes. He has made it his duty to curse and abused her. He even told her she’s a bad luck to him because since the day she stepped her foot in his house it has been one trouble or the other. It hurts her to hear him say such things to her when she has been the one taking care of him since his accident, but she did not let what he said break her. She remained firm in prayers.   

   After Roslyn had taken a warm bath, she felt more relaxed and refreshed. For the first time in her life, she wished for a good sleep on her soft bed; an inaudible sigh left her lips as she stares at her clean bed. She missed her bed so much and it looks tempting and inviting but she refused to be tempted by it; Roslyn dashed out of her room, making a quick stop at David’s room to get more clothes. Filling the small bag with clean clothes, she walked out of his room, passing through the balcony. She came to a stop in the kitchen. 

  “Malady, you’re home,” said Mercy. It clearly surprised her to see Roslyn home after spending so many weeks at the hospital; she’d stubbornly refused to come home. Her mother and David’s mother practically begged her to return home and rest for a day, but Roslyn insisted on staying at the hospital. 

    “Yes-yes, deah, my mother wouldn’t let me be. She’d practically dragged me out of the hospital,” said Roslyn. She went to the fridge and took one table water table. Mercy handed her a glass cup; she murmured thank you and walked pass Mercy. Roslyn sat down forlornly on one of the dinning chair, she poured herself a full glass of water and drank it in one go. Her anxiety was making her impatient, her thoughts lingered on David and she wish to be back at the hospital taking care of him. 

    “Your mother did the right thing malady; you look like someone who needs good food and a long bed rest.” Mercy said truthfully.

     “I know, I know, but I can’t leave David alone, he needs me.” Mercy glances at Roslyn and sigh, she pondered why Roslyn cares about David so much when he was nothing but rude and arrogant to her since the day she came into the mansion. 

   “He’ll not be alone malady, I can go stay with ‘im for the night if ya want.” Said Mercy suggestively, Roslyn twitter her head, saying no. “No, no, ya don’t have to worry about that. I’ll take care of that. Where are Tessa, Gabriel, and Mathew?” she asked, immediately changing the topic. “Tessa went to get groceries together with Gabriel and Mathew should be in the backyard; he has been working in the garden for some time now. Perhaps ya should have a look at the garden, it’s so beautiful, and you did a great job with the garden ma lady.” Roslyn smile upon hearing how beautiful the flowers she planted grew up to be.

     “Please, I’ll like to have a meeting with everyone in this household; tell Tessa and Gabriel when they return, I’ll go tell Mathew myself.” She said, standing on her feet. Mercy felt a twinge of concern; she wondered why Roslyn want to have a meeting with all of them. “Should we worry about our jobs, ma lady?” Mercy asked, being unforgivably bold. “Oh, nothing of such; nothing to worry about, but is important that I’ve a discussion with all of you.” Mercy sighed with relief. She feared Roslyn will release them of their jobs since David’s health had consumed half of what was in his bank account. “Okay ma lady, I’ll inform them when they return.” And with that, Roslyn walked out of the kitchen, heading towards the back door.

     A broad smile creep it way to Roslyn’s face the moment her gaze fell on the garden. The garden looks way more beautiful than it used to; she scrutinized the beautiful garden that was covered in a thick clump of willows; the edges were honeysuckle, little heather and clovers flowers. The entire ground was covered with emerald-green, silky, and lilac; she made her way further into the wilderness and thicket, and stood in the middle. For the first time in four months, she had a genuine smile on her face. Roslyn tilted her head to the side and saw Mathew’s slim figure at the far end of the garden, Mathew busied himself with weeding the unwanted grasses, and he hasn’t notice Roslyn presence at the garden yet, she maneuvered her way to where Mathew was and gently taped his shoulder. Mathew looked past his shoulder and he immediately stood to his feet when his gaze fell on Roslyn. 

    “You’re doin’ a great job here, Mathew,” said Roslyn before Mathew could utter a word. The young slender man smile, he was over the moon seeing Roslyn.

      “Oh malady, you’re here; the entire household misses you and the boss, hoe’s the doing?” he asked with a sad smile lingering on his rough beard face. “He’s better; we’re still trusting on God for total restoration.” Replied Roslyn, he eyes scrutinized the garden again and she couldn’t help but to thank Mathew for going a great job on the garden. “I prayed for God’s mercy and healing for the boss; do ya need me to do anything for you?” Mathew asked, “No deah, I came to tell ya about the meeting.” Mathew looked at Roslyn confusingly. Clearly, he didn’t understand what she was talking, and he needed further explanation. Sensing the confusion in his look, Roslyn quickly apologized, “I wished to meet with all the staff in.” She began looking at her wristwatch. “Thirty minutes’ time, please avail yourself in the living room.” Mathew nodded his head in response. With reverent enthusiasm Roslyn clumsily walked round the garden, seeing the beautiful garden has graciously uplifted her spirit; she has momentarily forgotten her problems and enjoyed the serene of the environment. She went to seat at the gazebo; the scorching summer sun has graciously penetrated half of the gazebo and illuminating part of her face. Roslyn sat down leg cross with her two hands resting on her thighs; she was admiring the beautiful nature surrounding her. “God, if ya could make a small seed grow to be this beautiful; I believe ya can make my husband walk again.” She breathes and swallowed the lump in her throat, “lord I thank ya for the pains and sorrows because ya said we should give ya thanks in all situations; please heal David.” She silently prayed; mercy’s girlie voice soon cut her little quiet moment short. 

    “We’re waiting for ya, malady,” said Mercy, looking at Roslyn with concern. 

    “Okay deah, after ya.” Mercy went ahead of Roslyn; she opened the kitchen back door and make way for Roslyn to enter. Roslyn entered the warm kitchen and thanked Mercy for her kind gesture. The two ladies walked into the living room and everywhere became silent. Roslyn went to seat at the single sofa and gesture for the rest to have a seat. They sat in utmost silent Roslyn could easily see their fear and concerned faces; she cleared her throat and prepared to speak.

   “Ah, I’ll like to go straight to the point because I’ll be living for the hospital soon,” she began. And every head in the room nodded in response. “I can see the concerned in your faces but I want to assure ya that what I’m about to say does not concern your duties.” She went on, “I’ll like to call this gathering a prayer meeting,” everyone turned to look at the next person beside them; certainly, they did not comprehend what Roslyn was saying. “What I mean is that I will give every each of us seated here an opportunity to talk to God concerning David. One or two people will read the scripture and share it with us.” She said, her eyes fell on each of them to see their reactions. Gabriel raised his right hand up like he’s in a classroom and needed to ask the teacher a question. “Yes Gabriel.” Said Roslyn, giving ‘im room to speak,

     “Some of us have not opened the scripture before; how can we share what we do not know of?” Roslyn was marveled at her new discovery; it also amazed her to know that there are still people who don’t know about the scripture, people who don’t know about God’s grace and wonders.

    “Oh, Gabriel worries not; I can read the scripture and share the words with all of you.” Said Roslyn; She reached out for her bible on the small stool beside and swiftly opened the bible; she read her favorite book of psalms slowly, making sure they understand the passage.

    By the time they finished the prayer meeting, it was already few minutes past the hour of seven; concerned that David might need her at the hospital, she hurriedly flees out of the door without uttering a word to any of the housekeepers, with the small bag handed to her right shoulder.

 ******

       David stirred and murmured incoherent words; he cracked his two eyes and titled his head to the side, glancing at the empty seat beside the bed where Roslyn normally seat and pray for him. He hissed and bites his lips as a sharp pain jolted throughout his body as he tried to seat on the wheelchair beside his bed. With a loud sigh, he sat back on the bed looking perplexed. A sudden flutter of sadness and anger passed his pale face. It hurt ‘im so much because he can’t do things for himself again without the help of Roslyn; David never knew that a time will come where he’ll be treated like a handicap, where he’ll need God’s mercy to move around. A trifle of tears encompassed his eyes at the mere thought of not having his legs again; he secretly thanked Roslyn when the doctor told him she refused to have his legs cut off; he wondered how he would have to feel if he woke up without his legs. David tried for the second time to seat on the wheelchair but it’s like an impossible mission for him. Closing his eyes shut in order to suppress the urine that is threatening to escape his bladder, the door flees open, and he silently thanked whoever walked into the room; his eyes fleet open to meet with the nurse.   

   “Good evening Mr. David, do ya need help?” she asked with a twinge of concern. David did not allow his pride to take control of him for a moment. He lightly nodded his head in response, too ashamed to say yes.

    “What can I do for ya?” the nurse asked again. 

    “I need to go to the restroom, please.” He said, looking down at his bandaged legs; the nurse could tell that the words were difficult for him to say. Gently she eased his right hand, wrapping it tenderly around her shoulder; David struggled to stand on his two feet as he tried not to put his entire weight on the slender woman, she placed him securely on the wheelchair with a loud sigh, David muttered a small thanks to her and she mutely nodded her head in response.    “I’ll wait for ya outside”, she told him. The nurse closed the door behind her and stood at the door waiting for David to finish whatever he’s doin’ inside the bathroom. After a few minutes, she heard a small rap on the door and, without wasting much time, she cracked the door.

   “Thank you.” His voice was low, but the nurse could pick out the word.

   “Oh, it’s nothing, sir.” She told him sincerely. “Do ya know where my wife ran up to?” a frown passed the nurse's face, she pondered why he’ll think that his wife ran away from him when she’s been staying here with him as long as she can remember.

    “I’m sorry, sir, but I do not know. Perhaps she went home to rest. Your wife is an amiable woman, sir. I’ve never seen a woman with so much love and caring likes your wife.” She said truthfully. David hummed and said nothing afterward. 

     Months later, Roslyn was driving David back to the mansion, as they neared the familiar mansion, David was sure of the feeling in his heart, he was happy to be home once again where he doesn’t have to lie down all day doin’ nothing on the horrible hospital bed. He sat down mutely on the passenger’s seat, glaring at the road ahead of them; Roslyn was on the verge of asking him how he’s feeling, but she kept shut and enjoy the silent. Roslyn parked the car in the parking lot and reached for the door. She climbed out of the car. She was surprise to meet all the staff outside the mansion with a broad smile on their faces. Sure something was entirely different at the mansion, she went to open the passenger’s door where David was seated patiently waiting. Gabriel flees to Roslyn’s side and helped her with David. He wrapped David’s hand around his shoulder while Roslyn went to get the wheelchair from the back seat. The rest of the household watched sorrowfully at David, in particular. They’ve never seen their master in so much need of help, and they knew him as a powerful, intelligent, brave and proud man who never accepts help from anyone. David felt something go cold within ‘im “I can’t believe this is me; I’m now a thing of ridicule.” He breathes; he doesn’t appreciate the way Gabriel carried him, like a toddler and the other staff watched, it’s certainly broke his ego and makes him less of a brave man, so he thinks.  

     David scrutinized the entire living room; nothing has changed. The only change here is his inability to use his two legs. He’s now a cripple who will always need assistant from the woman he has been nothing but rude and arrogant to. Suddenly he realized how much of importance Roslyn is to him, but his ego will never let ‘im say it out. 

      “Do you need anything?” asked Roslyn. He hummed but nodded his head in response, “okay, I’ll be right back.” Said Roslyn, she silently and swiftly shuffle her way to the kitchen. She busied herself in the kitchen making coffee for David. The back door flees open and Mercy walked in. She smiled in the fading light when she saw Roslyn. “Let me help you.” Said Mercy, as she approached Roslyn standing next to her with their shoulder almost touching, “thank ya deah,” Roslyn said good-naturedly. “I’ll do it,” Mercy went to stand at the other side of the kitchen, he gaze fell on Roslyn once again and she could easily see the exhaustion in Roslyn’s eyes.  

     “Here we are.” Roslyn passed over the hot coffee to David, and he took it with a loud sigh. He settled in an awkward silent. David took the coffee to his mouth but immediately spat it on the ground. He raised his head to Roslyn’s level, his eyes held so much anger. Shivering with dread, Roslyn wondered what she might have done to make him this angry. 

    “If anyone wishes to commit suicide, they should prob’ly come to ya for poison.” A frown passed Roslyn's face. Clearly, she doesn’t understand what David is talking about. She made the coffee just the way he likes it. “How do ya mean?” she bargained, looking at the coffee cup in his hand.

    “It tastes like poison,” he ventured, glaring at Roslyn. Not knowing what to say to him, she humbly apologized and took the cup away from him. 

   “I’ll make ya another.”

    “Oh, please don’t, I’ll rather starve myself to dead.” He said, wheeling himself to the other side of the living room. Roslyn pondered if she did wrong about making ‘im a cup of coffee. Ignoring her churning thoughts, she shuffles her way to the stairs. Her feet hurry down the hallway as she makes her way to David’s room. Roslyn entered the room, staring at the dusty room. An inaudible sigh left her parted lips. She can easily ask the maids to clean the room, but she’ll rather clean it herself to avoid another fight from David. It took Roslyn thirty minutes to tidy up David’s room; she’s clearly exhausted. Her eyes are burning and her legs wobbled against the cold floor. Without wasting much time, she strode down the stairs, ignoring the pain in thighs. Walking into the parlor where she left her sadistic husband, a frown past her pale face and she tipped up her chin. David is no where insight, she wondered where he might have gone to; she clumsily walked past the small hallway. Roslyn opened the back door leading to the beautiful garden. She simultaneously blinked her eyes as the wind kissed her face. A shiver runs down her spin and she realized she wasn’t wearing any sweater. With a grim look on her face, she went back into the mansion disappointedly. 

     The maid scrambled to do David’s bidding when she spotted Roslyn at the sitting room looking like someone who needed help with her surrounding, she hurriedly walked up to Roslyn and asked if she needed help with something, Roslyn opened her mouth to speak but the bustling noises of plates from the kitchen caught the two women’s attention, without wasting another second the fleet to the kitchen and Roslyn wasn’t surprised at the scene before her. Almost all the plates in the kitchen were scattered all over the kitchen floor with a furious David in the middle. There was blood dripping from his left hand, but he seems not to care. With an inaudible sigh, Roslyn moved further into the kitchen. Being careful not to step on the broken plates, she miraculously gets to ‘im with hurting herself. “I’ll help ya to your room,” she murmured. Roslyn worried for her husband, but she doesn’t know how many plates will be broken before the week runs out if David continues like this. “And I’ll clean this up.” The maid whispered. Roslyn gave the maid a grateful smile before rolling David out of the kitchen to his room. It wasn’t easy getting ‘im to his room because of the stairs and his constant curses and but she did it. The door thumped shut the moment they entered the room, standing akimbo; she doesn’t know what else to do. She pondered what her husband normally does before he goes to bed