….it was raining heavily outside which was accompanied with thunder. The wind shook the windows violently.
At the corner of the sitting room was a bucket which was almost full with water dropping from the leaking roof. An old man sat on the sofa facing the small television , he was sleeping and seemed to have been woken up by the sound that came from the windows.
"Mel" the old man called "come and shut the windows I am trying to sleep" there was silence in the environment it was as if no one was around .
Mel sat on the floor of her bathroom, tears streamed down her cheek. memories of last night was still fresh in her head.
She remembered how she screamed and begged . She held the Hem of her dress and squeezed it tightly.
She stood up with difficulty, the pain in between her legs was excruciating, her movements were very slow and every step she took was painful.
She walked into the shower to take her bathe.
How was she so stupid to give her body to a total stranger…was it worth it..she thought. Even though she would now afford to take her father to the hospital but the guilt was still there…would her father be proud of her if he finds out …this was not how she planned her first night to be.. all these thoughts ran through her mind as the water poured on her. When she had finished bathing she wore a yellow frock which had floral patterns embroidered on it. She packed her long black hair into a bun and looked at her self in the mirror… the deed has already been done.. she said comforting herself.
"Mel!" the old man in the sitting room called again.
"Am coming papa" she said. The pain was still there but she had to comport herself to avoid questions from her father.
She walked out of her room but this time without limping.
"Melissa!" the old man called again but this time with seriousness.
"Papa am here "
"Where have you been , I have been calling you for sometime now"
"I was having my bath" she said and walked towards him .
The book he was reading was on the floor .
"This is the 100th time you are reading this book" Mel smiled picking up the book.
He turned and smiled back" what do you expect your sick old man to do , I don't go out and you are not always around"
She walked towards a small book shelf and placed the book neatly there.
The wind blew again this time causing the curtains to move. She rushed and closed the windows.
"The weather's so bad this morning" he said touching his palm.
"you did not come back last night"
She stopped frozen " working "
"You don't need to work so hard you know" he said.
Mel felt at ease a little, she walked to where he sat and squatted down holding his hands. "we have to pay your hospital bills you know"
The old man looked at her and felt self pity and anger. He was angry that he wouldn't help himself, that he wouldn't help his twenty year old daughter who is supposed to be out there living her life but here she is working day and night because of him. A tear dropped from his eyes, he wiped it with the back of his palm.
Mel stared at her father, the old man had really suffered a lot . She would remember the good old days.she felt her eyes tearing up again ….
"Mel the bucket is full , we don't want to get water all over the place"
Mel stood up and carried the bucket , she walked to the front door dropping the bucket on the floor she opened the door. It has stopped raining, it was just drizzling a little. She emptied the bucket out side and shut the door.
" let me get breakfast ready , we don't want to be late today"
"Late for what" the old man asked puzzled.
Mel hesitated for a moment , " we are going to the hospital today"
The old man was surprised" for what"
Mel walked to the kitchen, "the appointment is by eleven papa, we will talk over breakfast".
Break fast was bacon with coffee, they ate silently. they didn't talk about anything over breakfast .
That was the old man's condition . He was having Amnesia…
"Melissa you are right on time" the doctor said and smiled as he welcomed Melissa and her father into his office.
"have a seat"
"thank you" she helped her father sit down before helping herself to a seat .
The old man just stared, he had been quiet through out the trip to the hospital.
"The nurse called me this morning, she said you have deposited the money" he stared at Mel. She bowed her head to avoid meeting his eyes, "yes"
The doctor was quiet for a minute, "we will begin treatment very soon"
Mel nodded and smiled , she held her Father's hands. For the first she had hope.
The doctor pressed a button on his table, a nurse came in, she was in her thirties , tall , her face was pale ,short black hair with pale lips.
"Nurse Camila please help the old man outside I want o speak with the young lady alone" the nurse nodded , Melissa watched as she took her father outside…what does he want to say to her again… she thought in her mind.
The doctor stood up and walked to where she sat placing his hands on her shoulders "Mel why are you so stubborn, can't you see that I love you"
Mel quickly got up and pushed him away" Antonio I will say this countless times I don't feel any thing for you , just treat my father and I promise you after his treatment you won't see me here again"
"Where did you get the money for his treatment" he asked
"None of your business"
"It is my business" he said and grabbed her right arm, "look Melissa whether you like it or not you will be mine". He bent his head towards hers trying to kiss her.
Mel who was already burning with anger and rage picked up a small statue on his bed and hit him, freeing herself from his grip.
"You disgust me " she said and left his office leaving Antonio sprawling on the floor….