The Sponsor

Olivia

They did not speak for the entire journey back home. Her mother was sited in the front seat, silent. She did not ask her how she felt nor gave her any advice she just stared at the road without blinking as though she were in a trance.

At the back of the car Olivia was feeling noxious. She leaned on the seat lightly and whenever the car hit a bump or a pothole she shook and moved the way an empty box without support would.

Her head was spinning and she felt like vomiting. She opened her mouth and a green gooey substance spilled on the seat. She did not bother moving, she stayed there as if marinating in it.

The driver made to open his mouth.

"Don't worry about it. I'll pay you triple, will that be enough to take care of it?"

He nodded.

Mzee Ajabu had put mama Warimu on an allowance which he considered very healthy. Of course mama Wairimu did not see it that way. She wanted more although she could never tell you what she did with her money. It all just disappeared after every month.

They walked on the foyer to their mansion, Olivia dragging behind like a bag of rocks. They entered the house and she fell plop on one of the sofas in the seating room.

"What will someone think when they find you here? Go to your bedroom at once," her mother shouted.

She moved her feet from the floor and placed them on top of the couch and got comfortable.

"I said go to your bedroom."

She lied there motionless like a stone. Her mother tried to carry her but she was too heavy. She wondered where Wairimu and Fred were? She did not dare call them. She put the pills and the documents on the table and went outside to look for the watchman.

Olivia was in a river of pain. It was not on her body but deep in her core. She felt the knives go into her womb once again. "Don't kill my baby, don't kill my baby," she mouthed but she was too weak for anyone to hear. She turned and slumber swallowed her.