Shola and Helen's ghost walked side by side in silence down the street. This was shortly after Shola's release from police custody. As they strolled along the roadside, Helen broke the awkward silence, deciding it was time to speak up again.
"Now that you're free, Shola," Helen asked, "what is your next plan?"
Shola exhaled deeply and didn't answer right away. She continued walking, lost in thought as she considered Helen's question. As they walked past the glow of a nearby street light, she turned to Helen and finally spoke.
"I need to return to my parents and beg for their forgiveness," Shola said. "That was my initial plan, but everything changed when I discovered the true nature of Doctor Collins' wickedness."
"That's actually a thoughtful move, Shola," Helen replied, nodding her head in approval. "But what if your parents are not willing to forgive you? What's your next step then?"
Shola didn't respond immediately again. She waited for a small group of people to pass by before answering. She was cautious not to give anyone the impression that she was losing her mind, as they couldn't see the ghost she was speaking to.
"I hope my parents forgive me," Shola said. "I have nowhere to stay if they don't. The hospital is no longer a safe haven for me; it's not a place I can return to. If my parents reject me, I'll be left to fend for myself, and my education will suffer greatly as a result."
"I know things will be difficult, Shola," Helen's ghost said. "This is why I sent some extra money beyond the bail charges. I hoped you could use this money to secure a temporary apartment, at least until I can arrange something more permanent for you."
"Thank you, Helen," Shola said, turning to look at her ghost. "But I don't think I can accept your offer now. I appreciate everything you've done for me, and I don't want to burden you with even more responsibilities. Since my parents are still alive, I'm hoping they'll forgive me and give me another chance. I want to make amends and live a better life from now on."
"You're not bothering me with responsibilities, Shola," Helen's ghost replied. "It's my duty to care for you, and I want to introduce you to someone who can provide you with a more stable and secure future. Please don't think of this person as someone from an NGO or a government organization," she said carefully. "The person I have in mind will ensure that you never have to live on the streets again."
"Alright then," Shola replied. "I'll meet this person after I've met with my parents first. If things don't go as planned with my parents, I'll definitely follow up with the person you're recommending. I appreciate your concern for my well-being."
"Okay, Shola," Helen said. "Just know that you are not alone; I will be here to support you every step of the way."
"Thank you, Helen." Shola expressed gratitude as tears circled in her eyes. "I don't know what I would have done without you."
The two of them continued on their way to the Anderson house, with Shola hoping that her parents would forgive her and welcome her back home.
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(REBECCA'S POV)
Rebecca entered her house, carrying a small bag of groceries after a long day at work. She had moved into the apartment six months ago after leaving her ex-husband, Dr. Collins.
She placed the grocery bag on the kitchen counter before heading back to the bedroom.
In the bedroom, Rebecca began searching her wardrobe for the spare keys to her apartment. As she reached for the top shelf to rearrange a few things, a small picture fell to the tiled floor.
Carefully picking up the picture, her heart sank when she saw the image of who it was. It was a photo of her daughter, taken years ago when she was healthy.
Her daughter had bright eyes and an infectious smile that radiated joy. Rebecca felt her breathing quicken as memories of their time together rushed back. She sat on the edge of her bed, crying as she held the picture close to her heart.
Rebecca's mind replayed the last time she saw her daughter, who looked frail on her sickbed. Her once-bright eyes were now sunken and dull from illness, as 'Nyxin' disease had left her bedridden for years. There was no cure or relief, only experimental treatments from Dr. Collins and endless suffering for her child.
Rebecca's hand trembled as she held the picture closer to her chest. The memory of her daughter's aching body replayed in her mind. She remembered how Dr. Collins changed the bandages on their daughter every day, the supporting machine, and the cannula in her nose. Everything broke her heart all over again as she thought about them.
She also recalled the night she left her marriage, how she had begged Dr. Collins to let their daughter go and stop prolonging her agony. But Dr. Collins refused to listen, no matter how much she pleaded that their daughter needed peace.
Tears filled her eyes as she stared at the smiling child in the photograph. She didn't know if her daughter was still alive or trapped in that room, supported by machines that only prolonged her suffering. But she was determined to find out, and she would take action against Dr. Collins if the need be.
__________________________________
(The ANDERSON'S APARTMENT)
Shola arrived at the tall white gate of the Andersons' apartments, a place that had been her home for years and where she had always felt like a member of the Anderson family.
"Hello? Is anyone home?" Shola called out after knocking on the iron gate. But there was no response.
She knocked again, a bit harder this time, but still, nothing. After several minutes of knocking with no signs of movement, she sighed and leaned against the gate in frustration, unsure of what to do next.
Helen's ghost, who had been silently standing beside her, suddenly walked toward the gate. Shola watched as Helen's ghost passed through the locked gate and disappeared into the compound.
Inside, Helen looked around the quiet space. The place was neat and well-maintained, but it felt lifeless. The windows of the Andersons' house were closed, and there was no sign of anyone inside. She walked up to the front door and looked at the handle; it was also locked.
As Helen observed the surroundings again, she noticed the absence of cars in the driveway. It then occurred to her that the Andersons might not just be away but possibly on a trip. Her ghost passed back through the iron gate to stand in front of Shola outside.
"They're not home," Helen said, looking Shola straight in the eyes. "The house is locked, and everything is quiet. I don't think they're here. Maybe they've traveled or gone on vacation…. Something"
While Helen was speaking, a lady who was passing by and was also a member of Shola's church spotted her standing by the gate. She was surprised and quickened her pace toward Shola.
"Ah, Shola! Are you still around?" the lady exclaimed.
"Around? Doing what?" Shola replied, looking confused.
"Oh, I thought you would leave with the rest of the family," the lady said. "I heard your dad was transferred to a new church."
"Oh, really? I mean, yeah," Shola said, pretending to be aware. "I'm still here because of my studies, and I'll be joining my family soon."
"I see. Well, take care," the lady said and continued on her way, leaving Shola and Helen astonished by the sudden revelation.
"So, what am I supposed to do now?" Shola said, looking at Helen sadly. "My parents have obviously given up on me. I was wrong to think they would change their minds, but this isn't the first time; they did the same to my older brother before."
"Everything will be okay, Shola," Helen replied. "We can rent an apartment for you to stay in for now. You don't have to worry; I'll make sure you are well taken care of in terms of your needs and education. Let's take a moment and start fresh. You've been through a lot already."
"Thank you, Helen," Shola said.
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Meanwhile, Kamoru and Serah arrived in front of a beautiful two-story building somewhere in Lagos. They stepped out of the tricycle and paid the driver. Serah felt nervous as they approached the building, and Kamoru quickly noticed.
"Just be yourself, Serah," Kamoru advised. "This client of mine is very nice, and I'm sure you'll enjoy working with her."
"Alright," Serah replied, taking a deep breath.
They moved closer to the building and rang the doorbell. A woman appeared moments later and swung the gate open.
"Kamoru! Kamoru!" The woman called his name playfully before turning to Serah. "Hello, you must be Serah, right? I'm Mrs. Smith. Please, come in."
Kamoru and Serah followed Mrs. Smith into her cozy living room, where she offered them a seat. She outlined Serah's main responsibilities, which included preparing meals for the children when she wasn't around. There wasn't much more to discuss, given Mrs Smith's existing relationship with Kamoru, so she told Serah she could start working for her the next day.
TO BE CONTINUED…..
DEATH CAN WAIT - EPISODE 20
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