“I’m afraid, we just lost him” the Doc declared.
“What!!!!!!!!! Kate shouted
“Doc, please tell me it’s a lie. How? She continued as David held her by the shoulder to console her.
“We tried all we could. I’m really sorry for your loss” the Doc confirmed and left David with her at the OPD.
Kate cried her heart out… She couldn’t help herself… She was inconsolable.
There was nothing David could do to comfort her. He waited patiently till she was ready to go and drove her home.
Charles and his mother were already home.
Despite the mischief they had been up to earlier, they were reading and sharing from the bible together.
David and Kate met them in the living room. Kate who was still crying ran into her room leaving David behind and locked herself up.
That got the attention of Charles and his mother.
“What is wrong with that girl, has she lost her manners or what? How could she walk pass me without greeting”, Mrs. Chris complained.
“Mum, please don’t blame her. She is in pain, she just lost her friend Sam, the one we saw at church the other day” David intervened.
“Oh so sorry for her, but it still does not justify her actions. I am the one taking care of her. Even the bible says ”let the dead burry their dead’ ” Mrs. Chris responded.
“What?! Mum, did you just say that? Come on, the girl is really hurt!” David said and walked away, leaving his mother with Charles who refused to utter a word.
Kate stayed in her room all day weeping. David brought her food to her but she refused to eat.
Somehow, she blamed herself for Sam’ death. She figured that if Sam hadn’t driven her home, he’d still be alive.
It was out of his kind gesture that this tragedy had happened.
Maybe her foster mother was right, she thought. She should have stayed away from Sam. At least, he’d still be alive.
Kate blamed herself. She knelt down beside her bed at that moment, looked up to her roof and began praying with tears in her eyes.
“God, why am I going through this. Forgive my sins, I beg of you. I pray that you grant Sam rest with you. Forgive me father for I know I’m the cause of this, forgive me.” She prayed.
Time ran fast and soon it was 6:30PM. Kate had forgotten she had a prayer meeting that evening.
As head of the prayer group, her presence was required in church.
It had completely skipped Kate due to the current situation she was in.
Stella called her to ask if she was going to make it.
On phone:
Stella: “Hello Kate, where are you? We are here waiting for you.”
Kate: “I’m sorry Stella, I can’t make it. Please let someone stand in for me”
Stella: “Why? What’s wrong? This is very unusual of you.
Kate: “We’ll talk about it later. Just kindly do me that favor, ok. Let someone take over”.
Stella: “You really surprise me but fair enough, will do just that. You take care now, I’ll call you later.”
Stella hung up and immediately called Mrs. Chris to tell her about the conversation with Kate.
Mrs. Chris got upset. She stormed into Kate’s room.
“Young lady, what are you still doing here when you are supposed to be at church? She aggressively asked.
“Mum, I’m sorry but I can’t make it today” Kate answered.
“Look, you better dress up and get ready for church before I pounce on you. Have you lost it? What do you think I have been bringing you up for?” she said.
Kate quickly got up and began dressing. Mrs. Chris was leaving Kate’s room when she remembered that she had left her purse in her room.
She asked Kate to fetch it for her while she left and waited in the living room.
Kate brought the purse to her and returned to her room to finish dressing up.
Mrs. Chris opened her purse and her facial expression changed.
It appeared that she had lost her money. She immediately called Kate back to ask her.
“Hey! Where is the N5,000 I kept in the purse?” she asked.
Kate was clueless “Mum, I …” she started saying, but before she could finish speaking, Mrs. Chris landed a heavy slap on her face.
“Where is the money?” she asked again, looking furious.
…………..To be continued……………….
