Conjuring Silent Flames

Chapter 1: Help Me!

The following morning; it was as if my head was too heavy for me to even move, while the other parts of my body were afloat. Despite the terrible pains and headaches, I couldn't open my eyes. I just forced myself to sleep.

“Morountodun!” a lady breathed. Her familiar voice was barely above a whisper. “Jeez, you’re awake!”

I gently opened my eyes as my blurry vision cleared. My gaze fell on a close friend of mine, Deborah, who sat in front of me. Depression and sadness clouded all over her face, as she beamed at me with smiles and tears.

“De...debby.” I muttered. My voice slowly cracked in hoarseness. “Where am I? What are you doing here?”

“You’re in the hospital, my dear. You’re still recovering from the poison.”

“How did I get here? How long have I been here?” I muttered as painful tears lingered down my cheeks.

“It’s a week already, Todun.” she tried to smile, making it pleasing to the ears, though it wasn’t. “Today is 17th July.”

Shocked, I tried to pull up, but she held me back.

“What are you doing here?” I coughed. “How did you get in here when those police officers-”

“Keep it low, Todun.” She paused, casting a brief gaze back. “I had to force my way in.”

“What about the police officers?”

“Don’t worry. They won’t be disturbing us for a while. How are you feeling?” Worry plastered her face as she pulled closer to me.

“Weak. I just want to get out of all this.” I explained in a flat tone and a weak sigh whooshed out of my cracked lips.

“Is it true that you stabbed pearl?” Her eyes searched mine, like an investigation officer that she was. And her voice, frank and firm.

“Deborah?” My mouth dropped in utmost shock. “How can you even ask me this?”

“It was just a question, Todun, and nothing is impossible!” she pressed, scratching her woven hair in total confusion. “I need answers, okay? And the truth!”

I slightly pulled up to reply to her, though my voice was still rough and raspy. “If you’ll sit here to ask me such a question, then you truly aren’t my friend. I would never hurt Pearl and you know it. She’s my daughter’s friend. She’s like my daughter. Pearl is family.”

“Then why do you let her live with you when you aren’t comfortable with her presence?”

“I accepted her in my matrimonial home and Dotun betrayed me. He...” I held back the urge to spit out the truth. My tongue, a flesh of aloe vera.

My folded lips held back across the plains, and water gathered on my eyes. I choked on my own words, unable to fathom what I’ve gotten myself into.

“This is not the time to cry, it’s time to act. To say the truth.” Deborah placed a soft hand on my leg, which was covered by the light hospital bedsheets. “This case is more complicated than you think.”

“My hands dropped from my jaw, facing her. “What do you mean by that?”

“They've admitted Pearl at the national hospital, receiving treatment. Her parent wants justice. They filed a complaint to the court.”

“W… what?!” I muttered with so much pain. Tears gathered in my eyes again as I tried to move, but Deborah held me back. “Pearl isn’t up yet?”

A drop of tear tricked down my left eye and I quickly wiped it out.

“Yes, Todun! She’s their only daughter. The president’s only child.” A weak sigh escaped from her lips as she continued. Chewing on the bitter thoughts as well. “You should have thought twice before doing whatever you did that made her lose breath.”