Sharon's Plight

Chapter 16

"Relax Sharon, I've got this!"

"What are you doing? I'm serious."

"It's exclusive for you and me for tonight. Sharon, you are so modest, a quality I admire. That is why I reserved the whole restaurant." George winked at her with pleasure.

Sharon took a deep breath as George called up the waiter, who brought in the drinks.

He reached out and held her hands. "Sharon, you said tonight I am speaking and you are listening."

"Correct," she replied, composing herself adjusting her seat.

"How do I start? Do you want us to eat first before talking, or you want us to talk first?" inquired George.

"I'm famished. We eat first," decided Sharon.

"You do always love your food," George signalled to the waiter to begin the service.

"Yes, I do like my food," admitted Sharon.

"Interest enough, you still manage to maintain your body weight."

"I take care of my body and remember to eat healthily."

"Oh, I can see that," he echoed as the first course of the mouth-watering meal of pepper-soup and fried meat hurried down her starving throat. Then came the second course of Jollof, fried rice and assorted meat. Gulping down the meal in silence, Sharon noticed George was always glancing over at her. Not long after she slipped the last piece of the second course into her mouth, she asked her first question.

"Tell me about yourself, your childhood." Picking up her glass of wine to take a sip.

"To be honest with you, I can only tell you what I was told because I cannot remember my childhood." admitted George.

"That's strange, who doesn't remember their childhood, George?"

"Okay, Sharon, let us say I was born about some 32 years ago."

"About, you say?" Sharon regurgitated his words back to him.

"I know, right? Okay, let's start 32 years ago," he continued, sipping his glass of wine.

"I remember. I was born to my dad and mum as a twin."

"You mean Mr & Mrs Finland." Sharon pressed her feet to the ground as the image of the stranger flashed through her mind.

"Yes, but somehow, as a living nightmare, my childhood tragedy occurred."

"What do you mean by tragedy?" Sharon asked while popping an extra escargot, directing it into her mouth.

"After Mum's delivery, we were told that my identical twin brother died. The doctors tried everything they could. I only survived."

"They informed them?. Didn't your mum and dad see your identical twin?"

"Yes, they went through the mourning process for him." Sharon lost any further interest in the food.

"It's not all a sad tale. Sharon, I will tell you everything on one condition."

"You used my words for me," she smiled. "What's the condition?"

"Miss Sharon O'Loan, kindly finish the wonderful meal before us, then I continue my story." He looked desperately into her eyes.

Adjusting herself, she responded, "I agree," picking up her fork..

The desert came after the meal. Sharon ate in silence, avoiding eye contact with him. She feared the worst is yet to come... What a sad story! She pondered. Once the waiters cleared the plates replacing their bottle of wine, George continued. "I grew up as the only child. It was hard for my parents, knowing that I am one twin and the other dead."