This was my last day by Jessica's side; it was a day full of mixed emotions. I did not know whether to cry, to smile, to hope or to doubt. I was in utter confusion, but I told her about this anyways. I clung to her, like a mother would cling to her suckling child. Little did I know of what was to come, it hurt to look back, but I did that anyways.
It was the summit's week and I and the team were already at the airport. Nobody knew about Jessica, how I had spent my leave and what I was thinking. I just kept mute in the plane and was sulking on the entire flight. It brought back memories, this was the first time I have been aboard a plane since the accident that I had last. I remembered dad again and thought of my mother. It was like my entire life was on a single sheet, not too many characters but a lot of affection.
We arrived at Brussels safely and the summit went as good as it should have been. I got to meet the big boys of the finance and legal sectors around the world. It was a great time; at least, I got to hear some words that propelled my drive for success. Beauty could not withhold her interest in me and I really got chatty with her, I got to know a lot about her. Mum was right; she was not a bad girl after all. She had a large heart and was so thoughtful not to hurt anyone's feelings.
The end of the conference was here, we were to return home the next day. I tried to sleep, but as usual, the thoughts of Jessica and my mother would often keep me awake, before I sleep off with them on my mind. I was so happy that I would be with them soon. My plan was to visit Jessica at the hospital ever before I go home to mom.
Just like the exit, our entry was quite safe, no hazards, no evil. My mind was already fixed on Jessica. I had bought her a ruby-red hair clip, as suggested by Beauty. While I opted to leave, Beauty asked me if we could have dinner together that day. I told her that I really had to spend time with my family today, that we could have it next time. She accepted my response without resentments and I left her and the team and drove to the hospital.
Upon my arrival at the hospital, I went to her ward and met it empty. Jessica was not here, I could not sit or think straight. Diverse thoughts plagued my mind, including death. What could have happened to her? In a hurry, I went to the doctor's office and he tried to calm me down. I was all shaky and full of fear and worry. He asked me to calm down and to take my seat, I did this reluctantly and he told me that Jessica came round the very day I left for Belgium. She was confused and asked of the guy who had been with her, the doctor had to tell her that I went to purchase gift items for her. He could not tell her that I had travelled, in order to avoid a critical amnesia for her.
"She waited for about two days and I kept telling her the same story, she later discovered that you must be far away. She remembered her mother's number and she called her; eventually, she was taken away from here the next day", the doctor said to me. Already awaiting his conclusion, he watched as tears rolled down my cheeks like I had a stream within my eyes. He tried to pacify me but I wept ceaselessly. I really did not know why I wept, did I love her? Was it care and affection? Was it the hope that I grew without seeing the fruits?
I left the hospital premises with tears and was having various thoughts cloud my mind while driving. I wished that I did not go for that trip, this made me to remember the doctor's words to me the other day that I saw her weep. It could have meant that she never wanted me to leave her side. With pain, guilt and plagues of doubt and reason, I got home and went straight to my room. I wept thoroughly in my room until I had a clear head.
After several hours of being in my room, I went to see my mother in her room. I tried not to feel sad, for her not to know what had happened, but I could not control it. I burst into tears right in her arms and she asked me what had happened, I just told her that the girl was gone, but that all would be fine. She tried to make me speak more, but I refused, I did not want her to feel sorry for me.
For about two days, I did not resume at work, they called severally, but I refused to pick up the phone. I did not know if I was transferring the aggression on them or aggravating my hurts. On the third day, there was a knock on the door at home and I went to open it. To my greatest surprise, it was Beauty who knocked the door. I greeted her warmly and refused to extend my sorrows to her. She asked me why I was not at work and refused to pick up my calls, I told her that I just deemed it fit to take a short break from work. She persistently asked me what the problem was and I told her that I just needed some time alone.
That day, she dragged me to work and I tried to be myself. In her car, she often cracked silly jokes that always left a smile on my face. Not to forget, she was a radiant and charming young lady with brains. She took me to work and as I alighted from her car, she asked me if I had not forgotten about our last discussion and I told her that I had not forgotten. I told her that after work that day, we would go wherever she wanted us to go to.
I tried my best to work with a clear head at work and it was proving successful. It was already the end of work that day and I left with Beauty for a nearby restaurant. We discussed extensively, even to our relationship statuses. She was plain in her speech with me and I told her that I was not ready for any serious relationship. She understood and refused to bring up this issue anymore. During the course of our meal, I saw a girl that came in with an elderly woman and I somehow saw Jessica's face on hers. I was utterly befuddled and almost spat out her name from my mouth, if not for Beauty's snap that brought back my consciousness to our already dying conversation.
We left soon after that and I could still not get the thoughts of Jessica of my mind. All night, I was thinking about her and where she could be and what I would have done if truly she was Jessica.