Chapter 2 A Tough Decision

I FELL FOR MY BOSS

Chapter 2: A Tough Decision

"Oh my God" tell me I'm dreaming. Stella said to no one in particular as they looked into her compound.

Her compound was crowded with lots of people, many villagers were present there, she could recognize some faces and she couldn't recognize some of them. As she haven't seen them around before.

Stella's heart raced as she drew closer, coz this was how they normally gathered in a person's compound when they lost someone. So this shouldn't be what she is thinking. She wondered the reason for this, coz she left a peaceful home this morning, so what is this?

She looked around seeing unknown and familiar faces, not knowing who to ask anything. And the pitiful stare some of the villagers were passing her made her more scared and curious. She kept looking around until she spotted Grace sitting on a small stool close to the entrance, her age grades were all around her and it seemed they were consoling her. But she asked herself a question. Why was there no single tear in Grace's eyes??

She walked motionlessly to where Grace sat, with the bag of mangoes in her hands not minding Dorris who was at her back, asking her questions.

"What happened, where is mum and dad. What is going on here?" she found herself speaking. coz at that moment , she knew she wasn't herself.

"Dad is seriously ill, he could not even wake up this morning" Grace answered in a calm but pained tone. Stella knew her dad wasn't feeling that well before, he's had a sickness for years building in him. But he always claims to be fine, she guess it has gotten the best of him.

"Have you guys called the herbalist?" Stella asked lowly.

"Yes he's inside, but he said he can only give him some herbs to keep him alive for the meantime. He needs to be treated as soon as possible" Grace voiced out.

All this while Stella kept her focus at a place not knowing what to do anymore. She was slowly loosing her mind.

"What is going on here!" she started screaming repeatedly as she threw the bag of mangoes in her hand, and all the mangoes were rolling away. All over the ground. She was shouting at the top of her voice, drawing the attention of people to herself.

"Don't shout at me, you can go inside and see for yourself. There's no use shouting here, cause it won't change anything" Grace fired, letting the tears she had been holding back all this while, fall freely.

Stella talked no further and she immediately went into the house. She found her father lying unconscious on a mat, he was putting on a singlet, and there was a piece of clothing wrapped around his waist. Her mum was seated close to him with a tearful eyes, and sympathizers around her. At that moment, seeing her father lying there almost lifeless, half dead, her breathing seized for some time.

The Herbalist then stood up and looked around. "Remember, you must not waste anytime if you want this man alive" he said firmly and her mom nodded.

"I'll take my leave now" he announced and left immediately.

"Mum!" She exclaimed falling beside her mother, immediately after watching the herbalist leave.

"What happened to dad, should I be worried, is he going to be okay?" She kept on asking questions which her mother could not give answers to. She just embraced her and kept on crying bitterly.

"My daughter," her mom cleared her throat, finally finding the voice to speak.

" I love you, we all love you. Whatever decision we may take is for the good of everyone. You know someone has to sacrifice for the well-being of the family. We love you no matter wat happens, never you forget that."

Confusion and worry was clearly written all over her face, as she stared at her mom.

"Mum what are you talking about? Come out clean, what do you have to say to me, what is It you wanna say? Stop beating around the bush, you're making my heart race. Just tell me, tell me mum" She ranted. And just then she discovered she was crying badly.

"You know we are not greedy parents" she started again. " we are happy family, we are satisfied with what we have, and we love you three dearly. We would never take a decision that will hurt any of you. But.........." she paused.

"But what mum, tell me and stop putting me on suspense before I die" she half yelled, looking so serious and almost annoyed.

"But your father's condition is way beyond me, we can't fold our hands and watch your father die."

"No mum, we can't" Stella interrupted her.

"We have to provide the money needed for his treatment..., she continued. And in other to do that, You Stella will have to go to the city" she released the bombshell.

Stella was dumbstruck immediately she heard those words. All the blood in her body went dry and some systems in her body stopped functioning for some minutes. She was partially dead at that moment. Dorris who has been standing behind Stella the whole time gasped and covered her mouth with her hands.

"It was Serah's mom that helped us out in finding a job. There's a certain woman in the neighboring village, her son in the city needs a help, and she agreed to consider us. He has assured a year payment and I think that is enough for the treatment for now. You leave first thing tomorrow morning." She concluded

Stella searched deep into her heart, asking herself questions, she was deep in thoughts. She was trying to say something but she found herself saying nothing, she was dumbfounded. All the whispering and murmuring, sounded distant. She felt her mum trying to touch her.

"Stella, please do not take this the wrong way, there is nothing else we can do to raise the money except you going to the city," her mum said patting her shoulders.

Stella flung her mom's hand away from her shoulders and ran away, while Dorris ran after her. She got into her room and bursted into tears, she laid on her foam and kept crying seriously. Dorris came behind her and started consoling her. She held Dorris's arm and kept crying profusely.

" Don't worry you won't go anywhere" she assured.

" Yes, I'm not going anywhere, if I get to the city, I'll be maltreated, beaten up, and be treated like an animal. I might even be raped.....she gasped. I could die Dorris" she said with fear in her eyes.

Dorris kept on patting her, in order for her to calm down. They were so many thoughts running through her head and soon, she drifted to sleep.

*

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When she woke up that evening, Dorris had gone back home. It was late in the evening and she has already made up her mind to run away from home that night, so as to escape going to the city. She knew it was a rough decision to take, but her mind was made up. She wasn't ready to die yet, or even loose her virginity to any being that she does not even love.

After they had said their prayers that night and was about to retire to bed, when her mum called her back for a talk. She placed Stella to sit beside her, and started showing her reasons why she has to go to the city.

"Stella, it's all for your father, we will be hoping that nothing bad happens to you, if your father dies now, the hope of this family has ended. Your father needs to get well, and this treatment is needed urgently, and this is the only way I can think of. He has always been there for you, and has done a lot for you. Can't you just make this little sacrifice for him, to save his life? Please do not try anything stupid, coz if your father dies, it's all on you" her mother sobbed.

Just then, Stella saw that all her mother was saying is the truth, and she realized she had been selfish all this while. And there, she made up her mind to go to the city and bear the unbearable for her father. She couldn't care less if she died. She was determined to do anything for her father.

"I'm ready mum, I'm ready to go. I will go to the city" she said firmly.

*

*

TBC.