Heavy Hearts

SEVEN

Desmond sighed deeply as he watched Veronica and her mother descend the stairs with their luggage. He made sure they didn’t see him as he didn’t plan on saying goodbye to them.
He had left her room earlier on without her notice as she answered that call because he felt jealous. She spoke discreetly and tenderly to the person on line. He knew it was another man in her life. She called him Greg. Probably what she wanted to tell him before the call came.
He was such a fool to have thought she didn’t have any man in her life. His heart ached at just the thought of that. Veronica could be in love with another man, and here he was wishing she was in love with him as he was with her.
Feeling sad and dejected, he walked back slowly to his room.

The next day, Regina knocked gently on the door of Desmond’s room and waited patiently for him to answer.
“Come in.” He answered finally, “The door is open.”
Regina entered quietly. “How are you feeling Desmond? Alex told me you won’t be going to work today because you are not feeling too well.”
“Yes. But you don’t need to worry, I will be fine.” He said.
“When did it start? You looked fine yesterday?” she inquired.
“This morning.” He informed.
She heaved a sigh, “did she tell you?” she asked quietly.
“Who?” He asked confused.
“Veronica.” She answered softly.
“Veronica didn’t tell me anything.” He said, looking at her suspiciously.
“Oh!” she said, pretending to be surprised. “Seeing how you guys got close in the few days she spent here made me think she told you, and that was why you are feeling down.”
“What exactly is Veronica supposed to tell me?” he asked curiously.
Regina lowered her head a bit, feigning sadness.
“Regina talk to me.” He persisted.
“She’s dying.” She said softly.
“What?” He shrieked.
“She has leukaemia and it is going to kill her in few months.” She told him.

Desmond rang the bell on the entrance of the Simeon’s house and waited impatiently for someone to answer the door, he had drove down immediately to Veronica’s family house after Regina had told him about Veronica’s illness.
Dorothy Simeon opened her door and was surprised to see Desmond standing on her porch.
“Desmond?”
“Good morning Ma.” He said quickly.
“Is everything okay?” she asked, sensing the tension in his voice.
“Yes.” He lied, “is Veronica in?” he asked.
“No, she travelled early this morning to Lagos.” She told him.
“What? Lagos?” he asked perplexed, “she has gone back already?”
“Something urgent came up that she had to attend to in Lagos, but she said she will be back soon.”
He breathed heavily, “Okay.” He nodded and started turning around to leave then he stopped, “can I get her number?” he asked.
“Okay. Just wait let me get my phone.”
“Alright.” He said as he watched her walk slowly back into her house to get her phone.

In GREGORY hospital at Surulere, Lagos. Veronica Simeon waited in Dr. Gregory’s office with a feeling of hope, anticipation and dread. Soon the final analysis will be out. After she had hung up the phone from speaking to Gregory a week ago asking her to come for another test, she’d heard a hint of hope in Gregory’s voice.
She spent the New Year in the hospital going through one test and the other, and different treatments. In few minutes, Dr. Gregory will be coming with the result.
The minute Dr. Gregory Dike entered the office, the hope Veronica Simeon felt wiped off. The expression on his face said it all. Nothing has changed. She was still going to die.
“Veronica…” he called softly.
“Stop Greg! Don’t tell me not to give up.” She shook her head as a tear trickled down her eye.
“I was actually going to say you should try putting this whole thing behind you.”
Veronica looked up at him aghast.
He nodded. “Perhaps, you could think of leaving for a while. Get out, travel around or spend more time with your loved ones.”
Veronica kept mute.
“At least try enjoying the few months you have left.” He added softly.
“Enjoy what? Enjoy what Greg?” she asked hoarsely as tears slipped off her eyes. “I should get out and travel around Greg?” she scoffed.
Greg bowed his head in despair.
“Oh probably I should even find myself a man, fall in love, get married and have children or what do you think Greg?” she added sarcastically.
“Veronica, I know how you feel.” Greg said coolly.
“You have no idea Greg.” She said getting up from where she was seated. “All I have ever wanted was to meet a wonderful man, fall in love, get married and have a kid or two,” she sobbed, “guess what Greg?” she asked.
Greg exhaled heavily, “what Veronica?” he said quietly.
“I finally met him.” She told him grinning.
“What?” he asked as he turned surprised eyes towards her.
“Yes.” She nodded looking him in the eye, her gaze not wavering, “I finally fell in love with someone who loves me just as much, but I can’t even be with him…” she said and began to cry.
Gregory gets up suddenly and pulls her into his arms, “I’m so sorry Veronica.”
“I can’t be with him Greg, and I can’t even tell him why either.” She said softly pulling closer into his arms as she cried more.

In her home back in Benin, Mrs Dorothy Simeon was sitting by her daughter’s side, listening to everything that had occurred in Lagos. Veronica had returned last night from Lagos looking weary and dejected. Dorothy sighed at all her daughter told her concerning her illness.
“There is no more hope mother.” Veronica said sadly.
“Don’t say that Vero.” Her mother admonished.
“But it’s the truth, I won’t be able to get married and give you grandchildren.”
Her mother stared at her for a moment, pain and grief in her eyes, “but at least we will get to spend the months left together.” She said.
Veronica sobbed and leaned into her mother. They stayed like that for a while before her mother spoke again. “Did Desmond call you when you where in Lagos?” she asked.
Veronica looked up sharply at her mother. “Desmond?”
Her mother nodded, “he came looking for you that same day you travelled, and he asked for your number,” her mother informed.
“He didn’t call me.”
“Well, he hasn’t come back looking for you ever since then.”
Veronica flinched at what her mother said. “It’s for the best.” She said finally.
“Is there something I should know about the both of you?” her mother asked sceptically.
“What Desmond wants with me cannot happen mother.” She said bluntly.
“And what exactly does he wants?” her mother asked anxiously.
“The future. He wants the future with me.” She scoffed.
“Did you tell him?” her mother asked softly.
“No. I wanted to but I didn’t, and I don’t think I should anymore.” She said sternly.
“Veronica, he deserves to know the truth. Or don’t you care about him?””
“I do.” She admitted softly.
“What are you scared of?” she asked holding Veronica’s gaze waiting for her reply, but then there was a knock at the door.

Desmond could stand it no longer. All night he had lain staring at the ceiling, thinking. And like all roads leading to Rome, all his thoughts led to Veronica. Now he stood outside her house and knocked purposefully. He prayed and wished deep inside that she was back from Lagos. It was almost two weeks now since she travelled, and he refused to call her number as he decided it would be preferable to talk to her in person.
When Veronica opened the door, he saw her eyes widen with surprise. “Desmond?” she said, her voice as surprised as she felt.
Desmond smiled. He was glad she was home. “May I come in?”
Veronica moved aside, heart thumping as he walked past her to enter her house. Shakily she shut the door behind her.
“Good evening Mrs Simeon.” Desmond greeted once he sighted her sitting in the living room.
“Good evening Desmond.” She replied and gently got up and went to her room.
Once Mrs Simeon had left the living room. Desmond turned and looked at Veronica. He said simply, “I know, Veronica.”
Veronica felt the breath shoot out of her, and it took her few shocked seconds before she could draw another. “Know?” she queried.
“I know about your illness.” He said gently, his voice firm and gaze steady.
“Oh Desmond,” she said, tears helplessly flooding her eyes. “How did you find out?”
“It doesn’t matter.” He said as he pulled her to him, his hands shaking slightly as he cupped her waists and shoulders in his hands. “It’s alright. It is going to be alright.” He whispered, moving his chin back as she raised her head to look up at him.
She wiped her tears from her eyes and tried to step back, but he wouldn’t let her. “It’s not going to be alright Desmond,” she said, her voice wavering but becoming stronger, “I have months left, at most a year.”
“Then we will spend them together.” Desmond said simply.
“No.” Veronica said sharply and wriggled out of his hold.
He saw at once that she was serious about this and quickly nodded. “I understand, but Veronica,” he said gently, reaching out and placing his palm gently against her cheek, “don’t stop me from doing this. I love you.” He said, the words leaving him with relief, the sound of them never more certain in his ears.
Veronica made a small sound, deep in her throat. It felt as if she had waited for this moment ever since they met again at the Thompson’s house. “I love you too, Desmond.” She said. “But you have to understand what…what’s happening to me.”
Desmond nodded, understanding her need to be totally honest, “alright,” he said softly. Gently he led her to one of the seats and pulled her down beside him. “Tell me,” he said softly. “But no matter how bad it is, I’m going to stay with you. I love you and want you to marry me. Till death do us part. Do you understand Veronica?” he asked gruffly, and she nodded, two silent tears slipping down her cheeks.
“Yes Desmond. I do. And…thank you.” It was such a simple thing to say. But it meant so very, very much. Her mother had earlier asked her what she was scared of. She was scared he would no longer be interested in her. But here he was doing the utter opposite.
Desmond nodded and leaned forward to kiss her, but before he could kiss her, she added, “But you’re crazy Desmond. You’re making a big mistake.”
“No, I’m not.” He said and kissed her lightly. “Now tell me.” He said, taking a deep breath, “tell me all about your illness.”