Perpetual

We are kept the night after the Plaster of Paris is out on Pearl’s hands. The medication is lessening the pain and she says she feels much better than she did when she was brought. As much as I am laughing at all the stories she is telling me of how she thought she wouldn’t make it out alive I can’t help but worry about what would have happened had the phone call I received been a different one. Imagine being called to be told that your girlfriend was involved in an accident and didn’t make it out alive, I am not sure I am prepared for such. Anyway I don’t think anyone is ever prepared for death or the news of the loss of a loved one.

She closes her eyes and I watch on as sleep takes the best of her. She looks so beautiful and peaceful as she sleeps my heart tears apart. Just what if she had died? What story was I going to live to tell? How was I going to come out of this? Would I ever heal from all this or maybe I would lose my life whilst alive and never recover from all this?

I am still thinking of all this when my phone starts to ring. I look at it for a few seconds before deciding on whether to pick up.

‘I know we are in bad books but this is my cousin we are talking about Leo, I honestly had to learn about this from a third party.’ Sasha whines on the other end of the line

Because I don’t want to wake Pearl up with the noise, I walk outside.

‘Good afternoon to you too Sasha.’ I respond

‘Cut the bullshit Leo, we both know you and I are not cool like that so you are not going to pretend to be formal.’

‘Unlike you Sasha I will try to be anything for Pearl, and if it requires me to be civil around you for her sake I will be just that.’

‘Which hospital is she admitted in? I would like to come and see her.’

‘I don’t think that’s a good idea.’

‘Excuse me?’

‘It’s not a good idea, if you want to see her you would have to wait for us to get back home. For now I would suggest that you stay where you.’

I hear her sigh on the other end of the line.

‘How is she?’

‘The doctor says she is fine.’

‘You know that’s not what I am asking.’

For the first time since I met Sasha I decide to remove my mask.

‘I am worried Sasha, I don’t know but my spirit doesn’t sit well with me. The medical report says she is fine, she says she feels fine but a part of me is just saying that maybe she is lying to me. That the medical report is lying to me.’

‘Do you think we should get a second opinion from another doctor? Just to rule out everything?’

‘Yeah I think so.’

‘Alright. Are you guys staying the night?’

‘Yes we are.’

‘Alright I will bring you dinner and her some change of clothes. I don’t think you carried anything did you?’

‘I didn’t. I just wanted to come here as soon as possible.’

‘I figured.’

‘James will be going home, maybe you can meet him there.’

‘Alright sure. I will ask him to carry you fresh clothes too.’

‘Thank you so much Sasha.’

‘Sure.’

I drop the line and call James informing him that he will be meeting Sasha wants he gets home. I send him her number too just incase he gets there before her.

When I go back in the ward I find Pearl still sleeping. I make sure she is still covered before I settle on the chair next to the bed and cover myself with the fleece blanket provided by the hospital. I didn’t realise how tired I was till now, immediately I get comfortable and warm I start to doze off. I try to fight off the sleep but the more I try to keep my eyes open the worser it gets.

I am just getting to enjoy my sleep when I hear a clicking sound.

‘Jesus babe.’ I say looking at Pearl who looks like she is having fun taking photos of me

‘What time did you even wake up?’

‘A few minutes ago.’

‘You should have woken me up.’

‘You looked so peaceful.’

‘What time is it?’ I ask stretching my legs

‘7PM.’

‘We have been asleep for close to 2 hours?’

‘Looks like we both needed the rest.’

‘Wow.’

‘Sasha and James were supposed to come.’

‘I think they did, they left a note on the phone that said we should call them when we are awake.’

‘Alright let me call, Sasha was supposed to bring food.’

‘You calling Sasha?’

‘At the end of the day we need each other you know and she is your family. Despite her faults.’

‘Despite her faults.’

‘Yeah.’

I call James and tell him that we are awake and it only takes them a few minutes to come into the ward.

‘Look who almost kicked the bucket without mending fences.’ Sasha says and we all look at her bewildered

‘Bad joke?’

‘Very bad joke Sasha.’ James tells her

‘My bad. I just wanted to make the air light.’

‘It’s good to see you too Sasha.’ Pearl tells her with a smile

Sasha walks over and the two ladies hug.

‘I got worried when they told me about the accident.’

‘It had to take an accident to make you come around huh?’

‘I missed you too.’

‘We will leave you two ladies alone. Otherwise I don’t understand this relationship.’ I say dragging James out of the room

..

Kwenje’s Girl

Winnie

🙇🏾‍♀️