MEN DO CRY
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I told Maya to drive me home because I wanted to be on my own, I didn't want to see anyone with the way I was feeling but Maya insisted on staying with me.
"I promise I won't even make noise for you, you won't even notice I am there"
"Its fine you can stay as long as you stay out of my space" I giggled
"Your space is my space, we are one" she smiled
We got into the house and I immediately went to my room, I needed to do some thinking.
"We have done our best, God will do the rest pray to him" The doctor's words kept ringing in my head
I got down on my knees with my heavy heart so I could say a prayer, I don't remember when last I had prayed so I didn't know how to do it, after a few minutes on my knees I gathered up my courage.
"My God, I don't know if I am welcome in your throne because I have been absent for so long, I don't know the right words to use but I hope you listen to my plea, I ask that you please heal Nicole for me, don't let her die oh lord and if you do I will forever praise you, so many people have told me of your wonder, show me oh lord that you are indeed the God of possibilities" I prayed
When I finished I felt better, I felt a sense of peace like never before so I took a nap because I still wasn't healed from the beatings I received.
We had managed to get Nicole's phone and we contacted her mother who said she would arrive the next day from Livingstone.
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I was in my living room watching Empire when Ba Jacob called me to say Chard had been to the hospital to visit Nicole who apparently wasn't dead. I was very upset I threw the glass in my hands at the wall.
"What is it with that girl? Couldn't she die?" I thought as I drank poured myself some more wine
"Do you want us to finish her off?"
"No ba Jaco, this is my fight, when the time is right I will finish her off"
"Do say when you need help"
"I know I can always count on you"
I cut the call, took a quick bath and wore a black dress then drove myself to the hospital when I got there I walked in carrying a banquet of flowers.
I asked the receptionist about her and she called the doctor who asked me a couple of questions before escorting me to the ICU. She gave me the hospital gown, mask and gloves. When I walked in I couldn't recognize her, she looked all dead connected to the tubes in the room. I placed the flowers on the table and tried touching her hand.
"You see what you got yourself into Nicole? I loved you treated you well but you paid me back with evil, I really wanted to let you leave but you couldn't adhere to instructions and now you are laying in here all by yourself not even Chard can help you"
When I walked out the doctor was waiting for me by the corridor.
"What are her chances of survival?" I asked
"Well it's 50/50 at this point we don't know if she will survive the night"
"Is it that bad?"
"Yes, the bullet went deep in her chest, her situation is really critical"
"Oh my poor friend" I said shaking my head
"So here is the card of the police officer handling the matter, if you have anything you would like them to know about the victim please visit them as this will help speed up the investigations"
"Thank you doctor "I replied before driving out feeling happy at the turn of events.
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The next day I woke up early and drove to intercity to pick up Nicole's mother and sister, they had no relatives in Lusaka apart from Nicole. I drove them to the hospital, when we got there the Doctor escorted us to the ICU, Maya and I stood by the door while they went in to check up on her. They couldn't stay there for long because they were weeping hysterically.
"Hush mum; she will be fine" Maya tried consoling her
"What happened to by little girl, who could be that heartless as to want her dead" she asked in between sobs
"The police are still investigating but her boyfriend was arrested as the main suspect?"
"Carlos?" her sister asked shocked
"Yes" I nodded
"Unbelievable" she responded
We then followed the doctor to his office because he requested to see us.
"I am sorry to inform you that Miss Kabuswe is in a state of Coma"
"Coma, you mean she will never wake up?" The sister asked
"It's a 50/50 situation but a lot of people do wake up from Coma, some never do all you need is faith"
"How long is she likely to be like that?"
"We can't predict, it could take weeks, months or even years" "Years?" I asked as tears threatened to fall of my face, I was never going to forgive myself if anything happened to her because I blamed myself for the state she was in, maybe if I didn't follow her around, Carlos wouldn't have had a reason to shot her.
We went back home feeling disturbed, her mum and sister was scared of being in her house alone so I took them to my place. I didn't go to the office that day because I was just a wreck, I couldn't concentrate on anything.
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Three months later, it was a Thursday to be specific I got out of bed when I saw the sun penetrate through my window indicating that it was finally morning. As usual I didn't sleep much because my mind kept wandering. I couldn't stop thinking about Nicole, she had been in Coma all these months with no improvement or sign of life but we didn't give up on her, we made it a routine to go the hospital to talk and sing to her and just hoped one day she would pull through.
I took a quick shower, wore a blue office suit and a grey T-shirt, I had lost so much weight in the last three months because I hardly ate, I had dedicated most of my time to be by Nicole's side at the hospital, I spent a few hours at the office but the rest of the hours were spent at the hospital, I felt like a part of me was missing, without Nicole life felt empty.
I drove to the hospital first before going to the office, when I got there I was taken to her ward and I sat by the chair which was next to her bedside. I held her hand and just poured out my heart to her like I had been doing the past months.
"It's another day Nicole and you are still in this state, I know a lot of people say we should just let you go but how can I let a piece of my heart go, I might have just known you for a while but it feels like I have known you forever, I will never give up on you no matter how long it takes I will be right here because I know you will wake up someday"
I spent one more hour there then went to the office I got there and met with Nora who was fuming with anger for whatever reasons.
"You are late for the meeting again"
"I went to the hospital" I replied entering the office
"Chard what is with you and the hospital?"
"You know I love your friend"
"She is dead come on, forget her"
"She is still alive, she will wake up"
"Demit Chard, why can't you forget all this drama of wanting Nicole when I am here"
"I don't love you can't you get it"
"After everything I have done for you, you insist on following someone who is practically dead"
"What have you done for me Nora?" I asked
"I have done so much for you"
"Just forget about me please, this is not healthy"
"I can't forget about you, can't you are the reason Nicole is in that state? can't you see others keep getting hurt because of you"
"Meaning what?"
"Meaning I am capable of eliminating anyone who stands in my way of being with you"
"You are sick" I said opening the door for her to leave
I sat down and opened my computer then something Nora said played in my mind.
"I am capable of eliminating anyone who stands in my way of being with you" Could she have had a hand in Nicole's shooting? No, no, she is crazy but would she go that far as to kill her own friend? I debated within myself then I thought of how Maria died and got so confused.
"Maybe I am just over thinking" I told myself before I started typing.
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I walked out of the court feeling excited and I couldn't believe I had been acquitted of all charges because they didn't find enough evidence to convict me. My eyes were bloody red from all the crying, I had spent the last three months shedding tears because I didn't have any hope of ever coming out of the cells alive.
Have you ever been wrongly accused for something and everyone believes you did it when deep down you know you just got implicated, the months I spent in that fitly cell where the worst months of my life, it was terrible, the food was pathetic and everything just made me want to end my life in there. I had my flaws yes but not even once did I think I would find myself in jail accused of attempted murder for the woman I loved. When I got home I looked at myself in the mirror I had lost weight, I had become a little darker and my beard had grown too much. I soaked myself in warm water not believing I was finally home then later I shaved and took a long nap. My uncle woke me up later when it was lunch time
"Good you are finally back my son" my uncle told me when I was lunch
"It's good to be back" I responded
"So what are your plans now?'
"I want to live Lusaka for a while I need to regain my sanity"
"That's good it will do you good"
"You know I don't know what I would have done without you, thank you so much for the effort uncle"
"You are my brother's son, I would do anything for you, but why did you lie about where you got the photos?"
"I didn't want to implicate Nicole's best friend in the whole matter, Nora is like a sister and I doubt she had a hand in all this no wonder I lied that I just found them by my door step"
"Its fine my son but now make sure you stay away from trouble"
"I have sure learnt my lesson"
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It was Friday and they had just acquitted Carlos, after court I drove to the police station because I wanted to find out if they were continuing with investigations"
"Mr. Kapambwe please come in" Inspector Zulu said opening his office door for me to enter
"Thank you very much sir"
"To what do we owe this visit?"
"Well I wanted to find out how you are proceeding with the case since the main suspect was acquitted"
"It's quite tricky because we couldn't find anything this case is a dead end"
"I would like you to look up one Miss. Nora Munanga, I don't have much about her but an investigation wouldn't hurt"
"Isn't that the victim's best friend?" he asked "Yes she is but her actions lately have been giving me a lot of questions"
"Why exactly?"
"Miss Munaga and I had something some time back but then I fell for her friend and she was really mad but I didn't really put anything to it because she usually has tantrums but yesterday she said something that got me thinking"
"Which is?"
"She actually mentioned Nicole was in that state because of me and that she would be capable of eliminating anyone that stands in her way to get me"
"That's a serious statement but not enough to convict her, it could be your word against hers, but we will look into it"
"Thank you so much I appreciate" I replied before walking out
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