A Hazel Romance

Chapter 3

Jonah was pensive as he stared out at what used to be his mother's little garden- not that he remembered. After a week, his mind, instead of demystifying images, only seemed further engulfed in a haze that haunted him for years. He'd thought the scenery would help; old smells; old pictures --but Francine had done a thorough job getting rid of whatever could aid him.

"You wanted to forget everything if you survived." His mother had told him.

Forget? Why would he want that? Still he couldn't. Making sense of his confusion was his primary objective, and the solution revolved around a little girl who'd grown into a woman.

The early evening air was cool against the skin exposed by his shorts and polo exposed. Jonah tilted his head to rest on the chair and, closing his eyes, let the quietude soothe his troubled mind.

He heard heavy footsteps, recognizing Mr Menor before he stepped into the corridor and spoke.

"It's a bit cold tonight, sir,"

"It is," Jonah responded with his eyes closed.

"It's going to rain soon,"

"What's your point?"

"Wouldn't you be more comfortable inside?" Mr Menor said.

"I'm fine," Jonah breathed.

Mr Menor assessed his employer. He was far from fine. His eyes were tired, his mind weary. Despite his inner turmoils, the youngman looked completely at ease in the old chair. The older man was well aware of Jonah's objective. Too bad he had been placed to foil every progress( Francine had made sure of that).

"Have you had dinner?" Jonah surprised the man by asking.

"Yes, sir. A few minutes ago," Mr Menor said. " What about you, sir?"

"I'm not hungry," Jonah eyes were still closed then he opened them. " What was I like as a child?" He looked up at Mr Menor, watching the man's face. " You know what happened to me, don't you?" He asked, sipping his wine.

"I do, sir."

There was a chair next to Jonah. He pointed at it, said, " If you don't mind the cold," and waited for the man to sit. He offered Mr Menor a drink but he refused politely because his drinking days were over. " Can you tell me what you remember?"

Mr Menor appeared conflicted, and Jonah smirked.

"She bought your tongue, too, didn't she?"

"I'm afraid you're right, sir. There are certain things i am not obliged to tell you. However, I can tell you this. You were a very sharp child, probably the sharpest I've come across. You were also very curious: if something was a problem, you would find a solution. You always stayed indoors, and it pained your mother to watch you suffer as you did. She was always worried because you never made friends and you kept to yourself; she never knew your state of mind. That coupled with the thought of losing you any moment, constantly depressed her. Then for the first time in a long while things began to look brighter."

"When she came?" Jonah asked. Mr Menor bowed his head so low his balding center was in view. Jonah decided against probing the man any further. He could already see how that discomforted the older man. He dismissed Mr Menor, and remained outside, contemplating his next course of action since his mother had decided that he would get no help whatsoever.

*****

"You heard what the doctor said, your antihypertensive drugs are to be taken daily, "Nadeem reminded his wife, " to avoid another episode."

Zainab didn't look at her husband as she swallowed her medications. She'd been discharged three days ago and cautioned on drug compliance, and Nadeem had been mostly by her side ever since to ensure that she did. Although she took her medications religiously but the days prior to her loss of consciousness had bore a new troubling reality.