(***Please try to read the Author's Note at the end of the chapter***)
"Her eyes were open, taking in my tired face... Her face twitched into what looked like a squinty smile, and in her wordless expression I saw gratitude, and relief, and trust. I wanted, desperately, not to disappoint her."
We loved you from the moment you blinked your big brown eyes at us.
We have always loved you,Tata.
We always will"
*
*
*
*
10:06 p.m
Muna used to say that it was always easier to lie to the ones you loved because you'd never want to hurt them with the truth.
However,she added that even though lying to the people you cared about felt safer, it wasn't best.
Lying to those you care about was only breaking their trust.
And trust,was the foundation of any true relationship.
As Dasha held the gun in front of me,with expressions of anger,hurt, disbelief, confusion and worst of all, disappointment,I was tempted to tell her any one of the thousand lies that were flying through my brain but I couldn't.
I opened my mouth repeatedly like a tilapia to speak,but I couldn't form the words.
I mean,what was I supposed to say?
I kinda joined the deadliest mafia in the country to you know... find my parents.
I haven't done anything much except hold a man at gun point,and threaten to kill his mother.
You know how it is,all in the day's work.
"Zibah...tell me now or I promise you,I will march up to Rev's room right now and report this!"
She called me Zibah...not Sestra!
This is bad!
Her glare was enough to assure me that she wasn't joking.
"I...I...uh...it's not how it..."
There was a loud and erratic knock on our door.
Much to my surprise,Dasha sprang into action, quickly shoving the gun beneath some pants in her underwear drawer.
"Who... who's th..."
"Dasha! Zibah!!!"
It was Paula and Adah.
Dash immediately unlocked the door and swung it open with so much force that I feared for its hinges.
On seeing Paula and Adah's panicked expressions,Dasha and I exchanged worried glances.
"What is it?"
She yelled.
"It's...it's..."
Adah started,but couldn't seem to form the words.
"Paula speak!"
I ordered,knowing fully well that we weren't going to get any reasonable stuff out of Adah anytime soon.
"Muna's in labour!"
As if on cue,Dae rushed into the room to meet the both of us.
"Dash..."
He paused in surprise when he saw me.
"Oh...Zib...You're...you're back?"
I smiled guiltily. I was so not going to hear the end of this when everything calms down.
"Guys...downstairs now!"
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Maternity Center
General Hospital
White Mountain
Indianapolis
10:35 p.m
I hate hospitals!
I reminded myself for the billionth time that night.
I bit my bottom lip hard as I tapped my left foot nervously on the floor and gritted my teeth against each other before I threw another seed of cashew into my mouth.
This was my nervousness routine.
My bottle of cashew nuts was almost empty.
Oh no!
I was obsessed with nuts, especially cashew.
I got bored when it finally finished,and looked around the maternity wing of the hospital, observing the people who were here.
10:39 p.m
Dae, Roy and I sat silently on the most uncomfortable waiting chair ever!
It was cold metal torture instrument *cough* chair.
I think it was supposed to straighten out your butt before you leave or something.
I honestly think people should protest against this kind of stuff.
I mean,if the hospital wanted people to suffer, they'd have just not put chairs at all.
Maybe I'm exaggerating because I'm nervous.
Well...how in heaven's beautiful gates wouldn't I be nervous?
Mike and Muna were married for 14 years,and Muna has had 5 miscarriages and a still birth.
Apparently, she had some kind of problem with her womb.
We had been praying for a miracle.
And now, we can only hope that this is it.
God really needs to show us mercy cos I could not bear the pain of being the one to tell Muna that her child was gone.
It had always been my job because Mike could not find the guts to do it.
Believe me when I tell you, the job sucked!
"God... you've gotta make this work cos I'm going to be really pissed at you if you don't."
More nurses and doctors ran around, seemingly busy with stuff.
Just my unpopular opinion but...I think some 'busyness' were exaggerated.
11 o'clock p.m.
A doctor ran past us with his jacket, soaked in sweat and blood.
Ok...this is too much now!
12 o'clock a.m.
Two women were wheeled in.
1 o'clock a.m.
Two babies were born.
2 o'clock a.m
Mike paced consistently in front of the ward were Muna was.
He was muttering words of prayer as were Roy,Dae and I.
I was sure Dasha and the kids were praying too.
We had to leave her at home with Ancil,to take care if the kids and Evva.
She really wanted to be here with us as well, but we all knew the routine.
Anytime Muna had to go to the hospital, Dasha stayed home, Roy drove,while Dae and I tagged along.
3 o'clock a.m
Roy and Dae slept off on the hellish chair, I stood up to hug Mike. 'She's gonna be fine.'
3: 04 a.m
A doctor came out and walked to Mike.
I immediately tapped Roy and Dae,who sprang up immediately and we made a mad dash towards the doctor and Mike.
September 19
3:10 a.m
"Rev, it was a complicated surgery considering the fact that Muna suffered a hemorrhage."
I could cut the tension with a knife.
I couldn't even breathe.
"But she pulled through... congratulations,it is a girl."
I didn't notice the tear that rolled out of my eye before Roy wiped it off and hugged me.
I saw Mike collapse on the floor, tears flowing freely out of his eyes.
"It's a miracle."
The doctor said with a huge smile.
"At first,I thought that she would not be able to conceive because of her ovarian cyst and when she did, I thought...well this pregnancy would not last,just like the others. But then..."
"God made it possible."
Mike whispered admist the tears.
Dae bent to Mike's level.
"God made it possible."
He smiled, fighting back his tears.
Roy and I turned to face them, Roy's arm still wrapped around my shoulders.
"Doctor Steve."
A young nurse called from behind us, looking really confused about our states.
"Yes Roni."
"Uh...the...the family can see the woman and her baby."
We practically raced inside the ward like mad people.
The most beautiful sight lay in front of us.
Muna was passed out,in the hospital scrubs and polythene cap.
She looked really tired however,one could tell that all those pain would be gone once she took a glance at the bundle of joy that laid next to her.
The beautiful baby girl was laid on a cot,next to her mother.
She was a wonderful blend of her father's white color and her mother's black color.
Her curly hair was light brown, clearly competing between Mike's dirty blonde and Muna's dark brown hair.
Her tiny lips were folded in,and so were her small fingers which we could make out behind the thick gloves she had on.
She looked so peaceful with her eyes closed, oblivious of the world.
I could not wait for her to open her eyes so I could see the color of eyes she had.
More tears left my eyes as I assured myself that this was not a dream.
Roy squeezed my hand assuredly.
Mike on the other hand,was a mess.
He didn't even fight the tears as they ran out.
Throughout my life,I had always known him to be a composed man who hardly lost his cool.
At five foot 11, he was a muscular man with a low cut dirty blonde hair, giving him the aura of an ex soldier.
However today,the emotions got hold of him so much that he didn't really care about anything else.
This was his baby....his own baby.
There and then, I knew that just as he had done for us, Mike would take care of this child with his life.
I smiled warmly.
"Mike...it's the same birthday as Flourish."
They all looked astonished before the thought finally settled in.
"Hey...I know it's early,and we have to wait for the eighth day. But...but what would you like to name her?"
Dae asked calmly.
Mike smiled through the tears.
"Miracle."
*
*
*
I hit my leg frustratedly on the vending machine.
It was currently a few minutes passed 4 a.m,and we were still in the hospital waiting for Mike to sort some stuff out.
I was trying to get one more bag of cashew nuts to eat
I know it was too early,but a girl's gat cravings ok?
For crying out loud,my foster mom just had a baby, can't the universe just give me a break?!
I slot in another coin....1...2...3...4...5
Urghh! NOTHING!
I hit my leg against it again.
Ouch...ok that hurt.
"Bleed's girl,I suggest you save that leg for the running."
I paused.
Bleed's girl? There's only one person who...oh no!
I turned around to meet eye to eye with my most annoying nemesis.
"What do you want?!"
I half screamed.
He was taken aback.
"Jeez...chill. I'm not here to hurt you or anything."
Yh...like I'm scared...ok... maybe s little bit.
If I wasn't so annoyed, I'd have noticed how ripped he looked in his body hugging v-neck, which gave his his model-like thin body,a perfect outline of his muscles behind his crazy jean jacket.
He had dyed his hair a shade darker,which made his white skin look brighter but in a good way.
But of course,I was so annoyed.
So instead, I pushed passed him and began to walk out.
However,he had other plans.
He dragged me to a corner,and locked my 5'4 frame between his hands.
Seriously... what's it with these people and corner dragging? It sucked ok?!
I let out a frustrated sigh,and ran my fingers through my thick dark wooly hair.
I was too drained to argue.
I just crossed my arm and raised a brow questioningly at him.
He smiled innocently at me, showing his pearly white teeth with sharp canines.
No Zibah! Bad...its the 21st century,no one still falls for bad boys.
"Bleed sent me here."
He stated matter-of-factly.
I clicked my tongue.
"Wow...I'm surprised."
I said with the barest level of enthusiasm.
He chuckled a bit.
"You're different."
I rolled my eyes.
"I'm black,I'm Christian,I love cashew nuts, and I have 13... wait...14 siblings so...I know."
He was hot,but he ain't gonna be pulling that bad boy string on me.
"Fine...let me drop the nice act."
"Took you long enough."
"Bleed's coming to get you... soon."
I blinked my eyes, completely confused about what in the stars he was saying.
"What...wait...this has to be some kind of joke right?
I...I told Bleed I wanted out.
Didn't he understand that?"
He heaved a sigh.
"Listen,I'm sure Bleed has given you the 'mafia isn't a club where you can just opt out' speech. Normally,if someone does that,we just 'take care' of the person but for some reason,he likes you.
So..all I can say is, welcome to the Infierno and... good luck."
***Author's Note***
This is kind of a filler chapter so...
Oh my God!!
Muna gave birth..
I'm so excited right now!!
I wonder if Zib would spill the beans to Dash.
I'm sorry for not updating in like a while.
I had some more exams to take.
So....what was your favorite part of this chapter?
This is honestly my best chapter.
Please please please... don't forget to vote, comment, share and follow.
It really encourages me to write.
Thanks 😊😊
Byeeeeee.