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Chapter 2 - CHAPTER TWO: NOVEMBER 2017

"I wonder why a rich beautiful woman like this could commit suicide," remarked one man who seemed too busy to take care of his beards because they were all over his face. A number of remarks were given as the police was dialled and called. The large number however did not depart from the place until the police was seen.

Two patrols arrived at the scene to do their work. A number of policemen came for the cause and started to do their job the moment they entered. They first demarcated the crime scene and ordered people to stand behind the yellow ribbons. Such inaccuracy—the people had been there for some time and hence they hadn't already seen what they wanted. I wonder why they even remained there. Did they want the female black Lazarus to come back to life?

The policemen cut down the rope and wrapped the body after collecting the needed hints and information from the compliant people. Various news anchors hunted for the raw facts about the deceased from the people to spice-up their news.

"What do you know about the deceased?" asked one journalist, to one of the renting.

"Mrs Wasswa Elizabeth has been a good landlady, and I pray God forgives her for such an evil sin," replied an old lady to whom the question was being directed. The answer did not quite satisfy the journalist in any way so moved to a man that seemed not to be moved by the act, probably because he'd seen worse things.

"What do you know about the deceased?"

"Ma'am Elizabeth has been a good lady but was never happy with her husband," replied the man who seemed to have a lot to say. The journalist never interrupted, rather lifted up the phone to record clearly whatever the man was willing to produce. "They have been pulling ropes with her husband about a matter best known to them, and a few weeks back, he picked most of his property from the house and departed. Ever since her husband went, she's been changing even now and then like the soil to weather changes.

"Could you know why the husband departed?"

"Not really. I can't even guess because it was a happy couple at the start. I've been watching them ever since I started renting in one of their rentals. They did not have children but seemed happy, not until the past number of months." A number of questions continued as the body was taken to the hospital for further investigations. The police cleared everything involved in the act and briefed the people on the suicide. A folded paper lay on the ground but the police missed it. It was picked by Faith, the deceased's good friend who had just arrived in a pool of endless tears. It was a suicidal note written by Elizabeth and it read:

Dear my beloved husband; Wasswa Seth,

I thank God for the many years we've spent together, both before and after marriage. Honestly, they were the best years of my life—my history can prove that. I'm sorry I couldn't be able to fulfil all the responsibilities of a wife but just know it wasn't my call to make (and besides, I tried my best, you selfish man). The only thing I had control over was to live for you, my coloured sky. The whiteness of your eyes always gave me hope that I'd see the next morning, and your gentleness always made me forget other men that were a total opposite, like my satanic father. I'm crying as I write this darling. My eyes are too weak to carry this big pain alone. I needed your shoulder but it has been parallel to me for the last number of months before you decided to push yourself away completely. I'm not sure if you'll be able to get this note or even read it but my last prayer to God is that you do (my afterlife has already been decided upon by me, I know I'm going to hell). The truth is that I love you so much. And I don't know how to stop saying this. If it really meant something to you then you would have considered me in a better way. When we became one, I felt a burden fall off my shoulders but now that you're gone, this burden weighs my body down. If I don't depart from it now, I may be trapped in the ground with it forever. That fool you chose over me is a very lucky one. If there was any other way to push her away, I'd gladly do it, but I've found none, rather hurting day and night trying to pick a burning metal from a fire. I tried everything but your selfish mind told you to betray me with a friend of mine. Well, now I'm gone and you'll live in peace. My gentle lord, always keep me at the back of your mind even when you make love to her because that's the only thing I can get from you when I'm gone. I can't wish you the best with that thief because she was never your rib. I wish her death and even worse! The mere thought of your happiness with her always tears my soul apart. I couldn't breathe Seth. Even now I can't breathe; I feel the air is stuffed with the laughter of your children with her. I can't bear it. It chokes me. I don't know why you couldn't think twice—or even thrice, or even a thousand times for my sake... Have you ever seen the moon leaving the sky bare at night; or the sun leaving it bare during day? Oh, how I loved you Seth! And I will still love you even in my death. I will love you more than the chattering birds love the morning, or the sea loves the shore. I'm troubled by the selfishness of you men. Why didn't you wait a little longer? I hate you Seth, I hate you. I pray you never live happily! I can't stand the thought of my husband being in the bosom of another woman. So as I go, I pray you follow me! Goodbye for now.

Seth's Beth.