OPHELIA

Chapter 5: Flunked!

The world was my enemy—this truth was real as the roughness of the stones beneath my sandals. I climbed into an abandoned wooden shed somewhere in the dense bushes of the Southwest. I propped my weight against the old walls and slid down. I had become a fugitive to the only world that took me in.

Prince was the god of the ghetto. He had eyes everywhere. I couldn’t imagine what he would do to me if he found me. I couldn’t return to the hostel or to Bob or to my mother.

I dressed my wound with the bed sheet I took earlier and wore a hoodie I stole from a neighbor’s backyard. My blood stained palms spiked my confusion. Bzzz! Bzzz! My phone rang, it was Bobga.
“Where are you? What did you do? Prince is turning this place upside down looking for you.”
“I…I stabbed him…but it-t was self defense?” I sniffled. “I don’t know what to do…I’m scared”
“Where are you?”
“I don’t know…I think I’m going to die.”
“Tell me where to come and get you…I’m sure we can work something out.”
“We can’t. I don’t want to get you in trouble. Thanks for everything you have done for me. I wish there was a way I could repay you. I don’t think we will ever meet again. You’ve been the best friend I have ever had.”
“Stop talking nonsense…where are you?”
“Bye Bob…” I dropped the call and discarded my sim card. I wasn’t going to die the tragic death that looked me in the eye. My best shot was to move to another town.

The night was dark as always except this time the moon stood ever so evilly above like it waited for me to drop dead so it could claim my body. I went to the bus station, pulled some strings and sold my phone for a few thousand francs. I spotted some of prince’s men on the lookout. If they were here, what would stop them from boarding all the busses just to find me? A wave of weakness courses my body and I staggered.

“Ho…” Someone said holding my shoulder. I shrieked. I turned to meet the fiery gaze of one of Prince’s hit men. “You think you can run?” He asked but I sunk my teeth into the skin of his arm and took off running as fast as I could. “Get out of my way.” I pushed the people. Some cursed me but what did it matter?
“Stop that girl!” I heard a few shouts.

Apparently, I was able to out run them. I wanted to die but not like this.

The crickets chirped, my hands were cold…I wanted to sit down…no, lie down…no…I felt like falling asleep. I couldn’t make another step so I leaned against a tree. Then I heard the sound of a motorcycle grind from behind me as it came to a halt. I struggled to make out the face of the person but I couldn’t.
“Ophelia, what are you doing here? If Prince catches you, you are dead.”
“Jonny?” It was Jonny the matchmaker.
“What are you still doing around these parts…you should leave now I saw some of his boys a mile back.”
“Please…P..lease… help me…” I said in between faint breaths. “No no no not now don’t give up on me now” I blacked out.

The air smelled fresh and my eyes opened to the white ceiling. Was I in heaven? Not possible; hell was made for me. Once I blended into reality, I realized it was a hospital. What was I doing here? Any place but a hospital. Jonny must have brought me here. I didn’t want to be subject to treatment of any sort. I took off the drips and struggled to get down from the bed.

“What are you doing?” A girl about my age asked. I was startled. I didn’t realize there was another person in the room. She moved towards me. “Stay put. You are not in good shape yet.” She said. Then I remembered I had been shot. I shrieked. However, the wound was nicely dressed. “Who are you? How did I get here? Do you work for Prince?”
“Ummm…. Prince Jesus if that’s who you are talking about. My name is Rachael.” She said standing at ease and looking at me with a strange eye.
“What?” I asked.
“Nothing. I’ll get the doctor.”
I rolled my eyes, what was that look she gave me? I scanned every detail in the room and nursed the thought of how I would escape. I had no money to pay hospital bills. It was better I got away before they asked me to pay for what I never wanted in the first place.

The door squeaked open to reveal a kind looking woman in a lab coat and a stethoscope hanging gracefully on her neck.
“Hello my dear. How are you feeling now? You’ve been unconscious for three days.” The doctor said smiling but quickly, she turned to a frown when her gaze fell on my hand. “Why did you take off the drips?” She asked putting it back on me. Doctors—I admired them so much; her voice was gentle. In my eyes she looked like a pile of big books. I could only imagine the amount of knowledge she had absorbed to be where she was. I took a moment drooling over her profession then I realized what she said.

“Three days?” I buried my head in my palms. “I have to go now….my family will be worrying sick.”
“Family?” Rachel asked doubtfully. I narrowed my brows. It seemed she already knew something. I hoped Jonny didn’t let his tongue loose.
“Yes Family. Can’t I have a family?”
She was taken aback by my question “Ummm…of course you can…ummmm give me a number and I’ll get them on the line for you…”
To not look pathetic, I gave her Bobga’s number. “What are you waiting for? Call!” I said. She was intimidated but it was better than her pitying me. “It’s ringing.” She handed the phone to me.

“Hello Daddy….” I could smell his confusion through the line. “Daddy I’m fine. I had a minor accident so I’m at the hospital… Sure. I’ll text it to you Love you bye!” I dropped the call and exhaled. I hoped my acting was good enough to convince them but they didn’t buy it.

“That was quick.” The doctor reckoned. “When he gets here, alert me. It’s urgent.” She added and left. I wanted to tell Rachael to follow her out but who was I to give orders here? I restrained myself. I already looked pathetic even if I tried to deny it.

“So….aren’t you going to call him again since the doctor said it was urgent?”
“Oh yes…it’s urgent.” I had to call again. I couldn’t tell him where I was; that was too much of a secret for him to bear while that thug was roaming like a mad man. As I tapped the dial pad, I pondered on the stunt I would pull…as if on cue someone barged into the room.

“We meet again!” It was a man, a familiar man. My lips wobbled. He folded his arm and looked at me with a blank face. “Don’t tell me he is the one in charge.” I thought to myself.
“Rachael, I hope she has not troubled you. Has she?” He asked; his attention unwavering from me.
“Not really. She was just about to call her father?”
“What father? Me?” The air in the room got hotter. I fanned myself with my hands. Who was he to think that I would consider him a father?
“No sir, her real father.” Rachael said.
“Of course, please do call I was beginning to wonder if I had to be responsible for you.”

As I had expected; he showed no signs of empathy or sympathy—that was for the best though. It would be easier to escape. I looked at the phone lost in thought.
“Hey!” Rachael called me back from my mental wondering. I shook and called Bob again.

“Hello Off, I hope you are not planning on returning….Prince has turned the neighborhood upside down.”
“Yes Daddy, I’m fine….ummmm rather than coming to the hospital later, can you come now? The doctor wishes to see you. She says it’s urgent.”
“Why do you keep calling me Dad, are you in danger?”
“No daddy…. I’m not acting. Even if I am please play along and come now….why would you say I’m acting? I am in the hospital and the doctor has specifically asked for you.”
“Okay… I think I get it. You’re not in danger. Then you should let those people help you….don’t bother coming back here just start over.”
“Daddy, you know that’s not possible, you know how mum is I can’t ask her for help.”
“So now do you want me to come there?”
“No. make an excuse to fulfill my request… your boss will understand.”
“Give the phone to the people who have helped you?”
“Why?”
“I’m playing along…”
“Do you mean that?”
“You know me; I always say things I mean.”
“Thanks.”  I held the phone out to the Pastor man. “He wants to talk to you.”
I thanked God for friends like Bobga. He was the only person in the world who understood me.

I watched all the micro expressions of the Pastor Man but I couldn’t make sense of it. It was so difficult to read this particular man. After a while, he dropped the call.

“Rachael, let’s go…. Her father is on his way. Our work here is done.”
“Why don’t we wait until he gets here?” Rachael asked.
“It’s not polite to interfere in the internal matters of another family….let’s go.”

I was glad they were leaving. Bobga pulled the right strings, it was quick. I snuggled under the blanket as they gently closed the door. I now had time to plan my escape.