Mirrored Hearts

28

Lela's POV

  “Lela! My baby!” Mom cried as she hurried into the sick bay. I was startled at first, but when I saw the tears in mom's eyes, I was moved. I imagined myself drowning and leaving mom and dad behind. They would have both been miserable. Mom walked with long strides to the bed and pulled me into her arms. Her grip was so tight and suffocating, but I didn't complain. I could understand how frightened she might have been. The thought of loosing me alone could kill her. So, I held her too and we didn't let go of each other for a while. If felt like we were the only ones in the room and our heart beats were the only sounds in the room. Finally, mom let go and smiled warmly at me before blinking away the tears in her eyes. She sniffed and let out a sigh before saying, “I don't know what will become of me if you ever leave me.”

  “I'm not going anywhere mom, I promise. I'll be here for you.” I smiled and reached for mom's hand. When she placed her hand in mine, I gave it a squeeze.

  “Good afternoon ma.” Judith and Huoma greeted, startling mom who had no idea that they had been in the room when she entered. I couldn't blame her though. The state she had been in could have made a person do worse things.

  “Goodness,” mom placed a hand on her chest, then she breathed a sigh and smiled at both of them. “Good afternoon. How are you girls doing?”

  “We are fine ma.” They chorused.

  “Thanks for taking care of my Lela.” She smiled at them and they both nodded at her and smiled back. Just then, the nurse, Miss Theresa entered.

  “Oh, you must be Lela's mother...good afternoon.” Miss Theresa acknowledged.

  “Good afternoon,” mom walked up to her, “how's Lela doing?”

  Miss Theresa smiled, “nothing to worry about madam. She'll be fine.”

  “Are you sure?” Mom asked with worry etched on her face.

  “Absolutely.” She assured her.

  “Thank God,” mom breathed a relieved sigh, “the Principal says I can take her home.”

  “Oh, that will be no problem. You can take her home right now if you wish.”

  “Really? Thank you so much.” Mom walked back to me and helped me get down from the bed. “Let's go home.” She smiled at me and I smiled back.

  “I'll go get your bag Lela.” Huoma volunteered.

  “Thank you.” I smiled at her. Immediately Huoma left, Temi and Joel stepped in.

  “Lela, Huoma mentioned that your mom was here and that she's taking you home.” Temi said as he and Joel walked towards me. When they both noticed my mom by my side, they smiled nervously and greeted her.

  “Such handsome young men.” Mom smiled at them and they both grinned like idiots. It was funny to watch them try to hide their embarrassment. Then, I glanced over at Joel and remembered something I hadn't done yet.

  I walked up to Joel slowly and calculated each step I took. Then I smiled at him and he smiled back. “Thank you,” I told him, “thank you for saving my life.”

  “Don't thank me,” his eyes smiled warmly at me, “I'm just glad that you're alive and well.”

  “He saved you?” Mom interrupted as she moved towards us.

  “Yes mom. He was the one who saved me from drowning.”

  Mom looked up at Joel and smiled appreciatively at him. “Thank you my dear,” mom told him, “you don't know what you've done for me. I'll forever be indebted to you.”

  “No ma, don't thank me.... let's just be happy and thank God that Lela here is alive and well.”

  Mom smiled at him and patted his left cheek, then she said, “you are a lovely young boy.” Just then, Huoma returned with my backpack.

  She stood by the door and tried to analyze what was happening. She looked from one person to the other, then she asked, “what did I miss?” and everyone laughed.

  Mom smiled as she walked up to her, “you didn't miss anything dear.” Then she collected my backpack from Huoma and patted her on her left cheek as well, “thanks,” she told her. Huoma smiled sheepishly at her. Then, mom turned around and said, “Lela, shall we?”

  I grinned, feeling strong again, “yes,” to the rest of them in the room, I said, “goodbye,” and “thank you.”

  Mom and I advanced towards our car in the parking lot and after getting in and fastening our seat belts, mom started the car and drove out of the school compound and unto the road.

  “We should see a doctor to make sure you're okay,” mom said and glanced at me briefly.

  “No need mom. You heard Miss Theresa...I'll be fine.”

  “Who?" Mom arched an eyebrow.

  “Miss Theresa. The nurse at the sick bay.”

  “Oh. But all the same, you're still seeing a doctor.”

  “But mommmm,” I whined, “I feel okay.”

  “It doesn't matter Lela. You're seeing a doctor and that's final.” No matter how much I tried, I couldn't convince mom and we ended up in a hospital for a check up and at the end of it all, the doctor said, “she's fine. All she needs to do is rest a bit.”

  “You see. I told you I was fine.” I told Mom as we drove home. My arms were folded on my chest.

  “Prevention is better than cure, Lela.” Mom said, still standing on her ground.

  “I believe you.” I shook my head and let out a sigh in defeat. The deed had been already. We talked about random stuff until we got home. Eka-ette was in hysteria when I stepped through the doors of the living room.

  “Lela! Are you okay?” She looked me up at every angle to make sure there was no scratch on me.

  I let out a sigh, “I'm fine aunty. I just need to go up to my room and rest.”

  “Thank Goodness,” she exhaled, “but won't you have something to eat first?”

  “Maybe noodles. I'll be up in my room.” I told her and went upstairs.

  'What a day.' I thought.

  Everything now seemed like a bad dream. Like none of it felt like it actually happened, but the fact was that it actually did. Well, thank God I didn't die. It would have been a whole new different story. I was really grateful to Joel. I didn't know what would have happened if he hadn't jumped in and saved me. Somehow, I thought Temi would have been the one to save me and I really didn't know why I had such thoughts. All the same though, I was alive and that was all that mattered

Author's Note:

Hello everyone. Here's another chapter and I apologise for taking so long. All the same, I hope you enjoyed reading. Tell me what you thought about the chapter in the comment box and please vote if you liked the chapter. Also, tell your friends about Mirrored Hearts if you think it's worth their time. I won't be posting chapters for the next two weeks... I've got exams, starting Monday. Don't miss me too much, okay? Don't worry, I'll treat with three new chapters after two weeks. Have fun...

With love, kisses and hugs,
Anna Reign😘💓