” I can’t believe I was a fool….Now I have to start again from the regimens again,” he buried his head in his hands.
” You will be fine,” Melody rubbed his shoulder .
” Mama,I lost my baby and Jessica is more sicker than me…. What if I lose her?” he sobbed.
” Bright , you will be fine. Think positive and I can’t lose you too. I have just lost Lovemore,” she folded her arms and frowned.
” I wish I never trusted those prophets ,” he slapped his thigh harshly..
Melody had come soon when Bright notified that Jessica was admitted.She was not doing well . Both Jessica and Bright had test done but it was not looking good . He recalled the entire conservation.
” You are in stage 4,” the doctor spoke calmly.
” What does it mean?” he sat upright and stared at her questioningly.
” You had HIV but now it have turned to AIDS,” the doctor replied while trying not to scare him.
” But if you keep taking the new arvs I prescribed you will be back soon to HiV but you need a miracle,” the doctor said sadly .
He sobbed loudly drawing attention to people who walked by in the visitor’s ward. His mother sat close to him and hugged him tightly.
” The family will help you through. I believe you both will heal,” she whispered though she was scared of worst.
*********
” I can’t believe he was so stupid,” she clicked her tongue.
” It’s not his fault.If you were in his shoes and hear about a miracle you would have trusted the pastor,” Martha sighed and turned to Shamiso who was busy with her phone.
” Let’s support them and help them ,” Gerald exclaimed .
The family was sitting in the lounge though Shamiso was the only one with a happy face.
” Shamiso… You have anything to say?” Martha asked annoyed.
” I would be happy if he died,” she muttered in a low voice while scrolling her finger on the phone screen.
Every one drew their attention to her and she was smiling. Shamiso saw questioning eyes and she put her phone on her lap and gestured with her hands asking what she done .
” Didn’t you say you had forgiven Bright asked?” Gerald asked while staring in her eyes.
” I knew her forgiveness seemed good to be true,” Melody clapped her hands once and sighed.
” Shamiso….. he is our brother. We don’t wish bad on one another,” Nomatter mumbled gently.
” It’s time to move on and one day you need Bright… We need each other,” Martha spoke sadly and touched her shoulder gently.
Shamiso felt bad and embarrassed. She bowed her head, shyly.
” I’m sorry,” she muttered inaudibly.
” Fine,” they muttered simultaneously and smiled towards her.
” I’m sorry,” she buried her head in her hands and sobbed.
” It fine. Let help him back to health,” Gerald walked towards Shamiso and embraced her in his arms.
” I can’t undo what happened but it’s time to move on and look to the future,” he patted her back as she cried loudly.
****************
“What happened to you?” she shouted.”
He sat quietly and ignored her. Mike couldn’t help Shamiso with the kids. After he was fired from his job ,he didn’t tell Shamiso but had mood swings and slept whole day sometimes. She didn’t know what to do but she needed a solution fast. It’s been a month after Jessica got discharged from hospital.
One sunny Saturday she had put the twins to sleep. Though there were three years old,they were hard to handle. Mike was watching TV and he didn’t talk or respond to her. She took her phone and scrolled names of contact. She must tell Nomatter,she thought but her heart refused. What if Mike end up being love with Nomatter? She didn’t trust anyone when she recalled Martha stealing Nomatter’s boyfriend of years .She shook her head to saw Melody’s number.
‘ I aren’t close to her,’ she sighed and scrolled up and saw her father’s number. She dialed it and quickly cut it .
‘ What if my marriage get destroyed.Daddy won’t take it easy,’ she stood up when she had a cry .
The twins were sleeping ,it was the TV,Mike was watching ‘Three Man And A Baby’. It was the third time he watched. The movie was gun but annoying because it was a movie in the 90s.
She sighed when realized she had one option ,Bright. He get along with Mike and as well as Martha’ s husband. She called him.
” I hope you are well,” she cautioned.
” It is well,sister,” he replied breathing hoarsely.
Shamiso felt terrible and wanted to break the call but she really needed help. She didn’t want to add more burden when she knew how much he was suffering but she confidently narrated everything that was happening.Bright was shocked ,he didn’t expect that one day she would need help from him.
” Sis,I will come talk to him man to man later. Don’t worry yourself,” he assured her all was well.
Later that afternoon Bright came and have a chat with Mike. They talked for a hour while Shamiso prepared lunch for them. She was surprised to know about Mike being fired. She suspected he was cheating. Bright promised to give a good word to a company which could employ Mike.
” Thank you , brother- in-law,” Mike smiled but shyly.
Shamiso felt relieved and better . She saw the importance of family. Mike might have been jobless for the rest of his life but Bright showed care and kindness.
” I’m sorry ..I was embarrassed. I will make up to you,” he turned to her and embraced his wife.
” Thank you brother,”she muttered in a low voice while looking over Mike’s shoulder.
” We are family after all,” he stated.
***********