Perpetual

I enter the house but it is awfully quiet and I wonder if Sasha is in because she rarely goes for work these days. She mentioned something about working from home, her supervisor has been kind enough despite her pregnancy being healthy and not giving her any challenges in the seventh month. I am looking forward to the baby’s coming, I think I have been doing more of the counting down to the baby’s birth compared to Sasha herself. I go to the nursery and sit on the bed holding the baby’s clothes and sniffing them. I know it’s a weird behavior but I can’t help it. This is going to be my child, my blood, my legacy and if I haven’t had a reason to work really hard, this will be my reason.

The door opens and the help quickly apologies.

‘I will come back later.’

‘No I was just leaving.’

‘Okay Sir.’

I notice the garbage bags in her hands.

‘What is that for?’

‘Madam asked me to clean the room before she gets back.’

‘Clean the room?’

‘Yes Sir.’

‘Why would Sasha ask you to clean the room?’

The help looks down.

‘What don’t I know?’

‘Madam was not feeling fine when she left home last night.’

‘Last night?’

‘Yes Sir.’

‘What do you mean not feeling fine?’

‘She was bleeding Sir.’

‘Oh my word.’

‘How did she go to the hospital?’

‘She drove.’

‘She was bleeding and drove herself to the hospital?’

I know I am asking the wrong person when she just starts to stare at her feet. I start checking my pockets then realize too late that I don’t even own a phone.

‘Can I use your phone?’

‘Yes Sir.’

I see that she is wondering why I am asking her but at this point I don’t care.

‘How did you save her number?’ I ask not wanting to start checking through the phone.

‘Madam.’

‘Okay.’

I go to the call logs and find her name but before I place the call, I pause to see the name that was last called.

‘Mr. Gabriel?’ I ask her.

‘He is the one who called to tell me to clear the room.’

‘What?’

‘Mr. Gabriel called me and told me about Madam.’

‘Have you met him before?’

‘I met him last night at the dinner.’

I don’t know why but my spirit is suddenly troubled. Why would Gabriel be the one calling our help when Lona could have done it.

‘What time did the guests leave?’

‘Around 20:00hrs Sir.’

I eye her.

‘Do you know that this house has cameras and if you are lying to me I will be able to tell and that will just make it easier to fire you.’

‘Sir.’

‘I don’t want to ask again.’

‘They left around 20:00hrs. But then the door opened around 23:00hrs, I thought it was you but when I didn’t hear anyone coming into the house I went to check at the door knowing madam doesn’t usually open the door for you.’

She pauses.

‘She beat me to it, I stood somewhere she couldn’t see me and when she opened the door it was Mr. Gabriel.’

‘What time did he leave?’

‘Around midnight.’

‘And what time did she go to the hospital?’

‘Around three in the morning.’

‘You are sure they didn’t see you?’

‘I am very sure Sir.’

‘Good, give me a few minutes.’

I walk to the bedroom and go to the place where I keep extra money. I get whatever money I find there and walk back to the nursery and hand it to her.

‘Pack your bags and leave this place. Get a ticket and get on a bus make sure you never return here.’

I give her a business card.

‘This is my number, get a new sim card and when you do call me. Do you understand?’

‘Yes Sir.’

‘Good.’

‘Sir I am sorry.’

‘Take care of yourself.’

‘Thank you.’

I wait for her to pack up and leave. That takes about forty minutes in which I have used that time to bath and change into fresh clothes. I lock up and get into Pearl’s car, I am glad I never sold it because buying a new car is something I can’t afford at the moment. I call Sasha and her Aunt responds telling me which hospital they are at. It takes me another forty minutes to get there and I call again. The elderly lady comes to meet me outside. I can see the solemn look on her face and I know what has happened.

‘The doctors did everything they could.’ She says.

I don’t respond. I wouldn’t even know what to say even if I tried to respond. Sasha has hurt me in more ways than one, I don’t think I would have still wanted to co-parent with her.

We walk to the ward and everyone is there; Celina, Musonda, Gabriel, Lona, Zac and Zara. Lona stands up when she sees me and comes to hug me.

‘I am so sorry for your loss.’ She says holding me tightly.

‘Thank you.’ I respond letting her go.

I go inside the ward and find the doctor with Sasha. For someone who has just lost her baby, she doesn’t seem moved at all.

‘Good morning.’ I greet the doctor moving to Sasha’s side.

‘Good afternoon.’

‘I am her husband.’

‘I am so sorry for your loss.’

‘Thank you.’

‘What could have caused it?’

‘I will explain to him.’ Sasha says quickly.

‘I would rather the Doctor explains to me.’

He looks from Sasha to myself before opening his mouth.

‘I explained to Mrs. Mweemba here that what caused the bleeding is the fall. The baby bled to death in the womb and unfortunately there were some complications so she might never be able to conceive.’

I look at Sasha, she doesn’t look moved at all.

‘We will have to keep her here for a day or two just to make sure she is okay then she will be free to go home.’

‘Alright.’ I respond and thank him as he leaves the room.

..

Kwenje’s Girl

Winnie

🙇🏾‍♀️