Dark Nights ✔️

Chapter Twenty-Five

"Ah ah why's everyone suddenly quiet this morning?" Mama asked as we all sat down at the dinning table to have breakfast.

"Nothing... rough night." Jerry said as he turned to me... I only faked a smile and kept my face glued to the plate presented in front of me. It was rice we were eating and even though it looked yummy, I didn't have any appetite to eat. I had tried ignoring my father since morning and now we were on the same table.

I couldn't look up to face him because he disgusted me and I would probably just throw up if he spoke to me.

"Let's go out after breakfast. Anywhere fun." Jerry suggested as I smiled. It was a nice idea and that was exactly what I needed.

"There's this new movie theatre they just opened not too far from here. You both can go there and enjoy yourself." My mother suggested with a smile as my father got up angrily.

"Papa T, you didn't finish your food." Mama yelled at him but he only rolled his eyes at her in disgust. "I've lost my appetite." Was all that came out of his mouth as he walked out of breakfast and into his study room.

When we got back upstairs to the room to change and go out to see the new movie theatre, Jerry asked me a very strange question.

"Has your dad ever tried raping you like that before?"
I was speechless, what did he mean? How did he figure that out?

"I don't u-understand what y-you're saying."

"I'm not dumb Thelma. I saw him last night when I came downstairs to look for you... I just ignored him because I'd have done something foolish if I had actually looked over at him."

"I don't want to talk about it." I protested as I made my way to the toilet angrily and closed the door.

"You know it's not right, what he's doing to you? Let me help you." I heard him plead from behind the door... but I wasn't sure I wanted to relive any of those moments again.

"Just forget about it all." I yelled back to him holding back the sobs about to start flowing.

"No one is ever gonna hurt you Thelma, as long as I'm around." His words came reassuring me as I let out a little smile. He could be really sweet with words at times.

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We left the movie theatre a little past eight and decided to walk back home since it wasn't that far. It was a romance movie we watched and Jerry had been trying to make a point out of it ever since.

"So Thelma, about your baby, you know you're gonna have to talk with Alex about it. He's still the father you know." I wanted to laugh at that... Jerry had no idea how the baby came to be.

"Alex's not the father."

"Oh so who is?"

"A coward like that. I'd prefer not to go into details." I pleaded again. Jerry was really prying a lot into my private life and it was beginning to annoy me judging from the fact that it would open up wounds, wounds that I didn't want to remember exist anymore.

"You know Hannah has been praying for a little baby brother ever since she could talk." He said and let out a little laugh. My gaze was fixed on him as he said so. Was he trying to tell me something? I wasn't sure.

"What's your point exactly?" I asked with a little smile beginning to creep on my face. He looked red all over, could the mighty Jeremy be shy right now?

"God you're dumber than I thought Ehn. I'm tryna ask you out." He finally declares as I stopped walking. My legs couldn't actually move anymore as they came to a holt.

Ask me out

I tried talking but my lips were also sealed shut... I looked at him and I could see he was sincere.

How did we get to this point?

"Don't you have anything to say?" He asked. I could tell he was nervous because so was I. The whole atmosphere seemed to come to a stop at that period. Almost as if everyone was waiting for my answer... I also was waiting for my answer because I didn't know what to say. I detested moments like this, moments of confusion and uncertainty.
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"Jerry, I'm sorry... but I can't date you." The words came spilling out of my mouth like acid to Jerry. I could tell he was heartbroken and honestly so was I.

I was a coward. I was too scared to give myself a chance at love again. I was scared I would get played or worse used. I knew Jerry's intention were sincere but I wasn't sure I was ready. Sure I liked him, I liked him a lot... but a relationship is something that I don't think I could handle at that moment.

"A-alright sure." Jeremy stuttered for the first time and I could see that he was really sad. We walked back to the house quietly and neither of us made any attempt to talk.

"How was this movie?" My mother asked as we got in.

"Fine." We both chorused and went upstairs to the room.

I got on the bed ready for the floor to swallow me up but sadly didn't happen. I looked over to Jeremy as he picked up two pillows from the bed and made his way to the floor.

"What are you doing?"

"I'll be more comfortable on the floor." He said coldly and that was it. I knew I had made a grave mistake tonight and Jerry was never gonna be the same with me anymore.

I always knew Jerry was a proud guy so for him to ask me out must've taken a lot on his ego and getting rejected, killed him.

"I'm sorry." I said softly but he didn't reply back.
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How was this chapter guys?

Do you think Thelma made the right decision in rejecting Jerry? I think not😪🥺

Anyways vote and comment your thoughts 🤗❤️.