MEN DO CRY
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I spent one week in that hell hole, it was torture for me to be found in such a place, the floor was dirty, the toilets where filthy everything about the cell made me want to puke and day in day out I prayed my father could get better so he could bail me out.
"Nora Munanga, you have visitors" the officer told me opening the door to the cell, a young girl who had grown fond of me helped me get on my wheel chair and I wheeled myself out, the officer locked the cell before taking me to the visiting room.
When I got to the visiting area, I found mum and dad. I couldn't help but shed tears at the state in which my father was in, he was in wheel chair, he had his head bending on the other side and saliva was dripping from the corner of his mouth like a retard.
"What happened to him?" I asked as tears started falling
"It's a long story, I wasn't even supposed to bring him here but since you told Jacob that I should bring him, I had no option but to comply" mum answered
"I want to know what happened to him, tell me" I pleaded with mum
She then narrated the whole ordeal and by the time she was done, my eyes were flooded with tears.
"You are too blame for all this, he gave you everything you needed how could you be so selfish as to betray him in this manner?" I yelled
"Nora there is more to happiness than money, you father was suffocating me"
"You have killed my father, you ungrateful woman"
"Henry is nor your father Nora"
"I don't have any other father apart from him, never will I recognize another man as my father" I said hitting her
"Nora your real father wants to see you"
"I have no other father apart from this one, can't you get it"
"Let him help you out of this place"
"You think he can help me? What power does he have?" I yelled
"He is rich you should know how rich"
"How am I supposed to know that?"
"Because you worked for his company"
"What do you mean?"
"Mr. Joe Kapambwe Owner of Wood Media Consultancy"
"You lie! Chard's dad" I said putting my hands on my face
"Yes"
"Mum no not Chard, he is the man that is supposed to marry me, he is the love of my life" I screamed out
"He is your brother"
"No, no it can't be, look what your bitchy ways have landed us, I had sex with Chard"
"OMG" Mum exclaimed
"What are the chances of dad getting better?" I asked while trembling
"He will forever be like this till he dies, he is now a vegetable he can't do anything on his own"
"I am finished, God why?" I screamed out with every power in me
"My child" mum said trying to get close to me
"Don't touch me, don't get near me, I swear I will get out of here and when I do, you will be the first person I kill"
"I am your mother Nora"
"Not anymore Beatrice, not anymore"
I knelt down and held dad by his hand, it's like he didn't feel anything because he didn't make any movement, it hurt to see him in that state, it broke my heart.
"I promise I will avenge you, I will find a way dad I swear" I kissed his forehead and called the officer to wheel me back to the cells
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It had been a week since all the drama unfolded and even if I was broken I had to pick myself up and be strong for mum and my siblings after all I was the man in the family. We hadn't talked much about what was going on, each of us where quiet because we didn't know how to deal with the pain and shame that surrounded us. Dad had tried to patch things up with mum but she said enough was enough and the divorce process had now started.
I had not been able to talk to Nicole I was scared about what she would say about all the drama that surrounded me so I let Maya visit her on my behalf the past week.
"She is getting out today, how will you face her?" Maya asked as we drank some juice
"Honestly I don't know, do I even deserve her love?"
"Of course you do, you made your own mistakes but you deserve to be happy too"
"Will she accept me?"
"I don't know but its better you try and talk to her, face your fears"
Later in the evening Maya drove to the hospital and picked up Nicole, her mum and sister and brought them home.
I stayed in my room even when I heard they where back I didn't know how I would face her. Maya had to drag me out of my room so I could talk to Nicole.
"Hey" I said when I found her sitting on the bed
"Hey, heard about you and Nora being siblings, small world huh?"
"Yes small world, I said". Then there was quietness.
"So what do you intend to do now?"
"Well, I want to hand in my resignation letter then leave for Livingstone with mum I guess I need a change of environment"
"And Nora's case?"
"I don't know, honestly everything that has happened has drained me and I just need a change of environment, I don't even think I can face Nora at this time you know"
"Okay, let me give you a little time to rest" I said before walking out
I found Maya cleaning up my room and she seemed so excited thinking I had talked to Nicole about giving us a chance.
"How was it?" she asked excitedly
"Well I didn't ask her"
"Gosh Chard why?"
"She is leaving, it's clear she wants nothing to do with me"
"Please talk to her"
"Maya let her rest for now"
Afterwards I found the courage to call Faith I needed to ask her for my forgiveness for humiliating her the way I did. Her line rang twice before she picked up.
"Chard, what a surprise" she said
"Hey, so you are in the country? I thought you left"
"Yes I had actually left, I came back yesterday"
"Oh can we meet up there is something I would like you to know"
"Okay, you come over to mum's house"
"Now?"
"Yes I could spare a few minutes"
I quickly rushed out to Faith's place I needed to make peace with her if I had to move on with my life. When I got there she welcomed me as if we where best buddies, she had changed a bit, gained some weight but still looked pretty.
It was hard for me to tell her about Nora but one way or another I found some strength and told her everything, she had tears in her eyes when I finished telling her, she couldn't believe how a person she considered a friend could hurt her in such a way.
"But at least I have learnt my lesson now never will I allow just anyone to get close to me in the name of friendship"
"I am sorry for everything"
"Its fine Chard, we were not meant to be, besides I came back here because I came to introduce the man who is marrying me to mum" she smiled
"You are getting married?"
"Yes"
"I am happy for you"
We said our good bye's and I drove off feeling like a big weight had been lifted off my back.
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