Wrongly Accused

Chapter 14

"What did you mean by I deserve it coz of my family?" I questioned him only for his expressions to morph into something evil and sinister.

I waited expectantly for him to answer my question. His statement that my family had turned his life into hell didn't make sense to me. I couldn't comprehend it, as far as I knew, my parents were not the type to hurt others. In fact, when I was young, they had dreams of opening an orphanage in order to spread happiness and improve the lives of children in need. The accusation seemed completely contrary to their benevolent nature. There must be some misunderstanding or information I was missing for him to make a claim so inconsistent with the kind-hearted people I knew my parents to be. Unless he was talking about them...

However, no answer came. Instead, his jaw clenched, a prominent vein throbbing on his neck and forehead. The once amused and mocking gaze transformed into one of anger, resentment, and hatred. He rose from the couch and advanced toward me, each step predatory and filled with menace. Despite the rising panic, I summoned every ounce of courage, clenching the blankets so tightly that my knuckles turned white. I could feel tears welling up in my eyes, but I refused to give him the satisfaction of witnessing my pain.

He seized my chin forcefully, his voice dripping with bitterness, "You don't even deserve to know the truth. You must bear the weight of all this suffering without knowing anything about it. It's the only way I can grant Sharmila the forgiveness I owe her for not protecting her." With a swift, forceful motion, he pushed my face away and stormed out of the room, slamming the door shut in anger. I whimpered, finally allowing the tears to flow that were trapped in my eyes.

"Mom, Dad I do not know what to do. I do not know where to go and how to live about anymore. Please help me." A flicker of hope ignited in my chest as I whispered this prayer, a desperate wish that my parents would somehow materialize, ready to mend my fractured soul and guide me back to serenity.

After shedding tears for what felt like an eternity, exhaustion weighed on me, tugging at my eyelids. Slowly, I reclined on the bed, my gaze fixed upon the ceiling, a canvas for the swirl of thoughts. Questions started to invade my mind. What might my life have been had my parents been here, their laughter and wisdom still being a part of my world? How would my days unfold if their presence illuminated each step of my step in life? And what shape would my existence assume if I were free from the burdens of my medical conditions?

Drowning in this sea of contemplation, I succumbed to the embrace of sleep. In my dreams, I yearned for this to be an illusion, fervently hoping that when I awoke, I would find myself in Singapore, embarking on a new day, a new beginning, free from the weight of my sorrows.