BEFORE DAWN

chapter fifteen

July 15th, 1984

'You will tell no one about this, you hear me?.'
She nodded her head , wincing in pain as blood pooled around her.
Lawerent watched from a corner , shaking in fear as his father beat his mother up for the second time that day. It was a usual occurrence but hr could never get used to it. The cries of Hus mother as she begged him for mercy, the bruises on her skin that she effortlessly try to cover up with makeup products. Ever since he could read his dad had always beaten his mom.

'You are useless, I regret ever marrying you!' He yelled kicking her in the stomach Lawerent ran and stood on front of his mom, 'leave her alone!'
His dad laughed and staggered backwards, he reeked of alcohol and smoke .
'And who would make me ,you?you bastard'. He pushed the boy making him fall backwards.
'Leave my son alone!, you evil man.' His mom ran to him, hugging him as her tears purred down on him, he kept glaring at his father as he walked away.
'Bastard..he is no son of mine, that boy!. You both are perfect for each other, pathetic fools!' He mumbled , drowning another bottle of alcohol.
Lawerent hugged his crying mother , trying to comfort her .
'Mommy?' He wiped her tears .
'Its ok , everything is okay my child. You are not a bastard ,never ever think that alright?'. She rocked him and kissed His face.
But she was too late , his fathers words were all that echoed in his head and from that day he hated the man more than anything else in life.

Years past and he got fed up of the beatings and abuses on his mother, slowly he began to wish his father death and soon it happened. He died from excessive intake of alcohol nd although lawerent and his mother were free from his brutality, he could never get over the harsh words that edged scar to his memories.
They always seem to taunt him day and night and maybe they had made him as hard as he was now.

If only he had love.. Fatherly love while growing up as a child then maybe - just maybe things would have been different or even better. Now all he had, all he knew was pain, betrayal and guilt.
Was it too much? What he wanted, love, was it too much to ask from a child to his father? He had always done everything he could to win that love, that smile from the most important man in his life. Instead all he could get was disgust, constant abuse and hateful words from the man.

Lawerent sighed and rubbed his face at least he wasnt as evil and vile as his father, at least he was trying to create a relationship between his daughter and himself. That was the mist important thing right now. All he could imagine was to have her in his arms, to hear her call him daddy, to run up to him with the wildest smiles. He couldn't wait any longer, he needed to level this hell hole.
As if reading his mind, his lawyer walked in.
' you look calm today, anything new?' He unpacked his briefcase and sat watching lawerent.
' I want to see her ', he blurted out, he couldn't hide it.
' you can't do that lawerent, its too risky and you know it.'
He got up rubbed his face again, a habit he had gotten used to, of course he knee it would be risky but what was life without risk. He had to try,
' you think I don't know that? I have to try at least. Its the only thing left to do. '
He faced him, ' she's the only thing I want now, the only hope I have left '. He sounded strange, the look on his lawyer's face said it all, he couldn't believe it himself, so much has changed. Five months ago he would have planned an escape or maybe pour his rage on someone else but here he was as calm as ever.

'Maybe we can work something out'. His lawyer sighed.
'You think so? I mean sure we could!', he was almost smiling but composed himself.
'She really had changed you ', his lawyer said and left the room.

Maybe he was changing, it was inevitable when he was constantly thinking of her. He only hoped he could see her again. He let the smile escape his lip now. It felt refreshing.

Dora clunged to the bedsheets underneath her, shutting her eyes to prevent the tears from falling. Her head was on fire she felt like her skin was been ripped off.
' please doctor do something, she's in pain.' Jaden groaned beside her.
'Calm down sir, she isn't ready now. We still need time'.
She was loosing it, jaden kept muttering something she wasn't even paying attention to. She just wanted the labor to be over.
Few minutes later the doctor came out with two nurses to get her.
'Its time ', he smiled.
She clung to jaden's shirt, fear suddenly gripping her.
' you will be fine, I'm here. ' he assured her, while also trying to stay calm. His whole body was shaking.
Oh come on jaden, you can do this. His phone buzzed beside him.
' hey, ready to be a father yet? ' Samuel teased.
' tell me about it, I'm anxious here man', jaden got up as one of the nurses came out of the theatre.
' relax you will do great, I'll be there in an hour.'
' thanks'. He hung up.

Two hours later the doctor came out smiling, 'congratulations Mr jaden, your wife and your son are healthy. Its a boy!' He hugged him.
Jaden was too shocked to move, he just smiled and followed the nurse into the ward.
' you have one hour ' she smiled and closed the door.
Dora was holding the little baby with her back propped on the pillow. She looked pale but happy.
' are you not going to come closer?' She laughed.
Jaden smiled, he didn't realize he had been standing by the door. He moved closer to the bed and kissed her cheek.
' thank you so much Dora. I'm the happiest man alive!'
The baby in her arm began to move,'here, hold him'. She was crying too.
Jaden picked up the child and sat down to look at him. The little child looked so much like him, same eyes and lips. He was just perfect.
The door to the ward burst open and chimamanda ran in followed by marianne and Samuel .
' congrats Dora ' he smiled, kissing her cheek.
'Mommy we have a brother now!' Chimamanda screamed.
The doctor came in with a nurse.
' thank you doctor ' Jaden shook his hands.
' its a pleasure, she had no complications so I suppose you could take her home today. I'll send a nurse with you.'
'That would be great. I really appreciate it. '
' okay I'll just give you her drugs. 'He left with the nurse.
Dora turned to look at her family gathered around the baby, there was nothing she wanted more in life than this. For a moment she forgot her troubles and allowed herself to dwell in their joy. Everything was perfect.
Jaden locked eyes with her and smiled.
Indeed it was all perfect.