HER ADVERSITY: Chapter 61 – The End
By Obianke Prosper
Chapter Sixty Four
GRACE POV
I woke up on Monday morning at 6am. I didn’t feel like sleeping again so I just brushed my teeth and went downstairs. I heard the scent of food being made and I walked to the kitchen only to see Nancy cooking. Mum was not in, so I assumed she was still sleeping.
“Good morning Nancy”.I sat on a high stool and she turned to me, a smile brushing her lips.
“Good morning Grace. You’re awake, you couldn’t sleep?”.
“I’d sleep but then I woke up and couldn’t continue sleeping but anyways you came very early today. Why?”.
“Oh, nothing. I just felt like”.She grabbed a spoon and took a taste of the soup she was making.
“Okay but what about Elsa? Hope she is fine?”.I smiled as I remembered Elsa, she is one smart kid.
“She is and she wishes to see you again. It’s surprising because the Elsa I know doesn’t flow along with people, in fact she avoid strangers like poo”.
I laughed.
“But she likes me and you should bring her here again, I will be happy to see her”.
“I will, I want to see her happy too, every time”.She smiled and began slicing some carrots.
I wanted to ask her about something bothering me but I wasn’t sure she would like the question or give me an answer.
“Grace, you have been staring at me. To you wanna tell me something?”.
I nodded, playing with my fingers.
“Then say it. Being silent will only increase the urge to talk”.
“I… I don’t know if you would answer the question”.
“Oh, it’s a question”.She chuckled. “Ask and your answer would be given”.
“Promise?”.
“Yeah promise”.
“Okay, it’s about your husband”.I saw her stifle a bit. “Where is he?”.
She kept silent, her hand shaking slightly.
“Nan….”.
“He is dead, he died before Elsa’s birth”.She said and a tear came rolling out of her eye, I’d felt bad for asking her about him.
“Am sorr….”.
“Don’t be, am just too emotional. I don’t want to remember him, I want to forget him and keep living but his images and voices keep ringing and occupying my mood every second. Why is it too hard to forget him?”.She sniffed, clenching up to the knife she held tightly. “He was a nice man, too generous and he was rich, not that rich and at least he got the money. Anyways I love him and I got married to him when I was eighteen maybe I was just selfish, I didn’t want any girl to snatch him away from me. My parents didn’t mind about me getting married at eighteen, they were dead, I am an orphan. I needed money.
Henry, my husband gave me the money to start up a good business, I built a small restaurant with it and people began patronizing me”.She half smiled as if remembering something good. “Things were going fine, I was the best wife ever but then I got pregnant and things started falling apart in my home. It was my husband. He was complaining of sickness every time and he was getting thinner everyday. It got to a situation where I had to take him to an hospital after he fainted and after several tests, it was confirmed that he was suffering from an internal injury which was already decaying and bleeding. He’d get an accident few months back but we never knew he got an internal injury. However the doctor said we’ll be needing a large amount of money to carry out a surgery on him so that the wound would be taken care of before it gets worse. The amount needed was eight thousand dollars. I sold my shop and other house items but I was able to raise five thousand dollars. It wasn’t enough but I gave it to the doctor promising to pay the rest soon but the wicked doctor wouldn’t agree. When my pregnancy turned eight months, he died”.She sniffed, tears flowing out from her eyes uncontrollably. “I was sad, very sad but I needed money for his funeral and other family issues. I went to his family to ask of money but they threw me out blaming me for his death, calling both of us names. Henry wasn’t in good terms with them either for personal answers… I had to sell the house we stayed and with that I was able to bury him, I birthed Elsa and rented an apartment. She grew and asked questions about her father, I only told her he was dead but I couldn’t bring myself to tell her the full story. I wanted her to be safe, I hated keeping her alone at home, I’d feel like someone might just barge in and take her away from me. She is the only reason I keep breathing but… but I need Henry back, I want him but if God wouldn’t fulfill that wish then let me forget him. The memories hurts so much.. It hurts, it does hurt….”.
“Am so sorry Nancy, am so sorry” I pushed back my tears and hugged her.
HER ADVERSITY: Chapter 61 – The End
Mr Lucas drove I and Dave to school but I was absent minded. I was thinking about Nancy, she have gone through a lot and I ended up reminding her of her part which she must be trying hard to forget.
I felt guilty, so guilty. I could still remember how I had tried to stop her tears after she cried for long, we was just so emotional but she was more filled with emotions.
“Hello? Grace? We’re at school now”.Dave tapped me and I came out my thoughts, sighing.
“Sorry”.I said when I saw the worried expression on his face.
“Is everything alright? Is anything bothering you? I could help….”.
“It’s nothing Dave… Thanks but bye, I will see you again in the cafeteria…..”.I remembered I didn’t go to the cafeteria anymore, I now spend my lunch hour with Dylan. We talk and catch fun since last week and that’s probably what makes me like him. He now smiles, not always though, it’s hard to see him smile but I’d see him smile when I told him he was handsome. I told him talking makes him look more handsome and he actually smiled. Though I didn’t talk about it but I felt special knowing I made the un-smileable Dylan to smile.
“Hey! Grace?”.I snapped hack to reality. “What’s on your mind?”.He looks disturbed.
“Nothing, am really sorry… I have to go now”.I stepped out of the car, wearing my backpack. I began walking away until I heard…
“Okay then, I’ll see you again at the cafeteria. You will come join Vanessa and I for lunch, she haven’t seen you for days, she wishes to”.
Yeah that’s true. I haven’t seen Vanessa for like two weeks but I can’t go to the cafeteria again, I can’t leave Dylan alone, I can’t.
“Dave, I will be busy in class today. I wouldn’t come to the cafeteria”.
“Seriously Grace? You always give excuses”.
“I know…”.I breathed out. “But it isn’t my intention, I hope you understand”.
HER ADVERSITY: Chapter 61 – The End
I walked away, heading to class but suddenly Kyree came in front of me, blocking my path. I haven’t seen him for seven days, that’s one week, it was like he was avoiding me but I don’t wanna conclude yet, I might be wrong.
“Kyr…..”.
“Can I talk to you Grace? It’s very important”.He cut me off and I nodded, feeling curious already.
“What is it?”.
“Can we not talk here please?”.He glanced around. “It’s crowdy here and I don’t want people to listen to our conversation”.
Now my curiosity was already at its peak. “Yeah, okay”.
He took me to a less crowdy place and cleared his throat, looking shy.
“I… I don’t want to tell you this Grace but I have to, I can’t help it. I do want you Grace, I really do”.
I scoffed. “I don’t understand”.
“Please Grace….”.He held my hand. “I think of you every time, I don’t know what you did to me. I try to fight off the feelings but it’s still there, growing stronger. Please Grace I want you….”.He drew lines on the back of my palm as if caressing it. “….And I love you!”.
Then I gasped, gobsmacked.
HER ADVERSITY: Chapter 61 – The End
Click 5 below to continue reading