C2 chapter 2

Aunt Sandra where are my parents?

I asked Sandra immediately as we settled into the hotel room.

Sandra who was already on the bed took a pitiful glance at me and said

...They're in the hospital

What then am I doing here? I need to be with them.

We'll meet them but not now. Your life is what matters the most, for now.

What do you mean? I asked her curiously.

Jessy is calm. They'll soon be back.

Okay... I responded to her as I found out she wasn't ready to grant my request.

.. Information reaching us a few minutes ago says that Barrister Louis and his family were attacked less than an hour ago. Barrister Louis and his wife were killed on the spot. The only surviving member of the family is Miss Jessy. Let's hear from Jessy as she was at the scene of the incident.

...I was just doing my homework when I heard the doorbell repeatedly...

As I heard my voice from the television, I turned to see myself narrating to the policemen what happened in our house. I never knew it was recorded. It was from the news I heard that both my mother and my father were dead. But Sandra told me they were in the hospital. I looked at Sandra with distrust and said

Aunty, why must you lie to me? The same people you invited to our house now announce that my parents are dead while you confidently looked into my eyes and told me that they are in the hospital, Aunty why? And I trusted you?

Baby Jessy, I thought and know you can't handle the truth. Please your safety is the most important thing to me now"

What could that mean if I may ask?

You need to be safe Jessy. You saw what happened in the house, so terrifying. Please let's be calm

I was seriously boiling in myself. Why could she lie to me? But not her fault anyway. So now I'm an orphan? I had my parents a few hours ago, and now Jessy is an orphan. God, where do I start? At this tender age? God, why now?

several questions kept ringing in my head. How would my life be as an orphan? Is it not just better to die with my parents? Now I have no one to talk to and no one to even listen to. I'm doomed. I kept mumbling to myself not minding whether anyone hears me or not.

It's Okay Jessy. I'm here for you and I promise to always be. Let this wave pass then we can go back to our normal life

Tears I never knew that were stored in me started rolling down from my eyes. It was hot that I even felt it. I continued crying as Sandra got up from bed and hugged me. She started cleaning my face with the white handkerchief she brought out from her Pink handbag. The name my father mentioned before being shot kept echoing in my head.

Sam, so you're the one...

If I must forget other things that happened tonight, I mustn't forget that name cos there's something about that name. That's the name that stole my joy.

"Jessy, freshen up so that we may eat our dinner. It's already late"

Sandra said with her adorable voice.

I nodded and left her hands. I had no choice but to just take my bath. I turned around to see the small bathroom door slightly open. I entered there. Closed the door only to remember that I had no other cloth except the one I was wearing. I needed to ask Sandra whether she has any of my clothes. I opened the door just to notice that Sandra couldn't control herself but roll on the bed while.

"Aunt Sandra, what is it?" I asked Sandra blatantly.

"Nothing! I thought you were already showering in there?" She answered while trying to use the bedsheets to clean her tears just to make sure that I don't see her cry.

I needed to make sure that she stops crying because she did the same for me. I went and hugged her, I started cleaning her tears but it seemed like she wasn't stopping sooner.

"Aunt they're gone and gone forever. You told me that my life is what matters. Now our life is what matters. Didn't you hear when that policeman was telling his fellow to make sure it is safe for us? Please stop crying"

" I know, it's okay" She replied while continuously blowing her nose and clearing her throat but still couldn't sound as her voice used to sound. Not long, she stopped crying. I left her without even telling her why I left and entered the room. I needed not to bother her again.

In the bathroom, several things were knocking on my skull. So Sandra has been nursing such pain in her? Not that she wasn't pained but she needed to be strong just for my sake. She just behaved like a mother to me. God will reward her.

I continued taking my bath.

I was fast enough to finish within a minute. I met her while she was lost in thought. No need to bother her again, As I already used a hotel towel to dry the water on my body, I just wore back the same dress. Our food was already served on the small table at the center of the room. I gently tapped her hand. She shook like she wasn't in the same world as me. Then I was the one cheering her up. We ate the meal sluggishly as we all were languishing in agony. That was the most excruciating thing that ever happens in my life. Can I ever survive the trauma? Losing my father and my mother on the same day was traumatic and terrifying.

But that name I heard needs to be written somewhere where raindrops can't clean it. After the meal, we cuddled up and slept. Though it wasn't easy I managed to sleep for some moments