He Is Mine

Jacob crouched on a wedged chair spewing a crystal tumbler of colorless wine, it gave off a sickly flavor that smoldered his nostrils. His head kneeled like a sack of wheat, letting strands of his jet-black hair hanging on his face, his eyes were filled with tears that blurred his vision.

He clasped the freezing tumbler against his lips, and in one swift motion gulped down the wine like a brew of medicine. He felt a tingle of being whack in the back of the head with a club and tilted his head back taking a deep breath in trying to stop himself from barfing.

Jacob had already taken a few shots of the whiskey but the vile liquid still made him gag. A bit of spittle dropped on his red skinny lips, he dabbed it off and moaned. He already had a few shots of liquor. He wasn't used to the taste or smell of alcohol. Liquor wasn't for him.

Jacob never touched alcohol even though he had a bar that comprised a large exhibition of liquor in his vast living room.

Jacob leaned his back on the chair reliving the friction of his muscles and letting out a sigh.

A piece of music was flowing from the studio, and it thumped loudly in Jacob's ears, it dawned on him, that he's at a club, and he jolted out of his reflections.

Almost everyone was on the dance floor, dancing to the tune of the music. It's a disco. They twirled, whirled, and switching sides, they threw their hands in the air, moving their bodies like an uncoiling rope.

As the beats were playing fast, they moved their feet as they belonged to the music feeling so joyful like a shot of adrenaline to the heart.

the disco ball light twirled above - launching a very shade of the rainbow into the darkness.

Jacob stared at the slender and full-figured ladies downing his wine with smiles beaming on his cheeks, he dropped the cup feeling unsettled. Listening to the fast beats, he was feeling the urge to dance, but he didn't want to rise.

The enthusiastic youngsters tossed out empty bottles on the floor. Few of them were hopping high holding and sipping a bottle of liquor. Carried away with the beats, they flung the chairs and tossed the tables.

some of the ladies spitted out chewed gums jumping and laughing stupidly and their hair was rolling as they shook their heads.

They disposed of sticks of cigarettes and their packets which got crumpled as they stepped on them.

The club waitresses sold packets of cigarettes to everyone they came across in the room. Their red short sinewed leather skirt conveyed their hips, and their blouse was divulging their figure, that most of the male customers ogled at them like they were glued to a TV. Their crimson lipstick shone on their lips which were rolling as they were chewing gums. Their hairdo was orange and pink colored.

A waitress moved toward Jacob's table with a small tray of cigarettes. The vibrating red tray in her hands glowed under the lighting. As she got closer to the table, her lips curved into a seductive smile while her hips swayed a lot more than necessary.

She had a blessed body figure and looked attractive like a model that is irresistible not to ignore. Although, Jacob didn't feel amused.

The packets of cigarettes were tastefully arranged in the order in the tray, but Jacob scrunched his face at the sight of it and turned away from the waitress and her endeavors to seduce him.

The waitress was dissatisfied fighting back the tears in her eyes. She wanted to earn more income for the night. She walked away bobbing her head.

Jacob suspected she might be heartbroken, but he didn't feel bad and continued sipping his wine.

He heard the entrance doors open, and he stared at the doors noticing some ladies stylishly dressed, running in and dancing wildly carried away by the fast beats of the music. After which, some party boys, walked into the room wearing designer jeans with curved chains hanging on each pair sagging down their waist. They were swaying their body to the music tune as they were heading to the stage floor. There was no more room, they slipped in among the crowd.

The boys jumped high, their limbs had so much vigor. They were screaming as if, from a mountain top and stretching their arms to the ladies' waist. Jacob noticed and the ladies putting their arms over their shoulders as they dance.

A string of Jacob's memories with Maya flooded in and his heart sank. He tried to fight back the tears and an image of Maya kissing his best friend Raul flashed in his mind, He could not hold back the tears anymore, they ran down his face in streams.

Darci had a sculpted figure which was twine-thin. She plodded into the room in a short leather strapless dress. Her waist was pointy and she had a burnished complexion.

A pair of arched eyebrows looked down on sweeping eyelashes. Her delicate ears framed a button nose. The gorgeous lady was walking arm in arm with a noble Brazilian man, Fabio.

He was tubby, he always held his red Brazilian walking stick. His puffed stomach was drooping in his lemon-colored stripeless shirt. On his shirt, was his designer's black jacket. His britches, were baggy as he had large legs.

The sixty-year-old man had strands of grey hair, his grey beard concealed his chubby cheeks. The wrinkles on his face reflected his age.

A set of dazzling, angel-white teeth gleamed as Darci wore a wild smile. Her constellation blue eyes were so inviting, the men, could not resist staring into them. Nonetheless, Darci did not want to be admired by the boys and men. She gets uncomfortable around perverts, and with attending such clubs.

Darci stared at the gleaming bulbs, and around the room like she was examining it. Her heartbeat incessantly feeling nervous about how her date with Fabio will be.

Jacob could no longer contain such heavy memories of him and Viviana. He sprang off the chair suddenly, dropping a few bucks on the table. He walked from the table, reaching the doors.

Scurrying out of the room, he brushed off Darci, she nearly staggered and Fabio hastily held her by her waist. The bun of her hair, loosed, and Strands flew across her face. Jacob halted to see if she was fine, but catching sight of Fabio gripping her by her waist, he felt stiff and didn't mind the scowl she was making, and he exited the room.

Infuriated, Darci. She attempted yelling at him, but Fabio jerked her back softly. He lighted tobacco in his lips and the smoke was dissipating around them. Darci wrapped her nose with her handkerchief. She loathes the whiff of cigarettes. She was coughing quietly.

Darci swerved to Fabio. "He is rude. I want to give him a piece of my mind!"

"Forget about him. Let's, focus on what we came here for." Fabio's cheeks were melting into a huge smile.

He stretched his hands to her waist, she got jittery and felt like walking from him. spotting an empty table in the middle of the room, she said,

"Let's go sit there!"

Darci moved toward the seat, Fabio was ogling at her as she strode, and he joined her at the table.

Fabio's eyes were running down her chest to her hips like a scanner. Darci comprehended and leaned slowly backward placing her handbag on her hips as if adjusting on her already comfortable seat smiling nervously.

Fabio's eyes still stuck on her, She pulled herself closer to the table opening the bottle of champagne slowly. She turned her face slightly peeking under her lashes if the old man was still ogling her.

His eyes were now focused on the bottle of champagne, his lips curving with excitement to have a drink.

The tightly woven cover of the liquor tumbled, and a light smoke escaped into the air. Darci held the hefty bottle filling up the tumbler.

"Want some?"

"Nah! I don't want wine." He advanced closer to her, "I want you."

He held the curls of her hair sniffing it calmly. It had the fragrance of lemon.

Darcy's heart drummed loudly against her ears.

"I knew it will come to this moment." She drew in some breath and exhaled. She stared at Fabio contemplating in her mind.

"Anyways, I have to do this."

She was starting to feel nauseous.

It was 9:54 pm. Jacob sped down the highway heading to the city bridge. His eyebrows were furrowed like he was gonna run someone over. Few vehicles were driving by, the highway was not crowded. The street lights gleamed the roads. Huge billboards stood by the roadside advertising a Toothpaste brand.

Jacob was deep in thought to notice.

On reaching the city bridge, he screeched his car closer to the bridge on two wheels like a maniac and parked his car.

His car was a red Range Rover sport model. It looked alluringly new.

Ry, his Friend loitered at the bridge waiting for an hour. Jacob texted him as he was driving out of the club asking him where he was.

Ry was disgruntled with his rash ride. In a fit of rage, he approached Jacob's car. "Do you want to get an accident?" He screamed.

Jacob came out of the car and he slammed the door. He stood near the bonnet, shoving the car with his canvas boot. He got bored and he heaved a sigh. Strands of his hair fell on his face, he flung the strands to the side and started towards the bottom of the bridge.

The bridge was hewn with granite stones. Beneath it, the water swelled and declined.

He stood on the bridge bowing his back as he kneeled his arms on the bars. He gazed into space, trying to fight back the tears prickling his eyes. He could hear the river flowing. The scenery of the bridge was a hand upon his shoulder, a sweet palpable.

Ry stood at the edge of the bridge staring at him quietly with his hands sank into his trousers.

The bridge was shrouded by a forestation that ventilated the air, the subtle breeze was flowing softly caressing them.

"I thought I could replace Maya by wooing or letting myself fall for any lady in the club but watching how lustfully the ladies danced with several men, only reminded me about Maya's betrayal." Jacob's face reddened slowly. He clenched his fists gnashing his teeth, "I felt like I was staring at Maya looking at those girls, and I envisaged gripping their necks." He sighed and sniffed gulping down his tears.

A few cars drove past them, and the pitch vibrated in their ears. The heavy breeze shook Jacob's shirt vehemently and his hair was flying over his face.

Ry grimaced.

"It's been two years. I thought you have moved on from Maya."

Jacob swiveled to Ry howling,

"How can I move on when it's hard forgetting about her betrayal and her deceit? How can I forget that she made a fool out of me? I do not blame her. I was weak." he bowed his head down weakly.

"Guess what? It's frigid, you might catch a cold. Do you think Viviana knows how you are? Or that she is thinking of you?"

" I try hard not to long for her, nor think of her, but it feels like I'm being suffocated each time I try to erase the lovely memories we shared. "

Darci looked into Fabio's eyes wondering how to diss him. She didn't want to stay with him any minute longer, all she kept thinking of, was running off. She felt like a bird kept in a cage.

Fabio stretched his hand to her hips, and Darci abruptly sprang to her feet. Feeling astonished, Fabio looked at her with a tight frown.

Tears welled up in Darcy's eyes. "I just can't. Please don't force me." She shrugged her shoulders, "I don't want to indulge you." Her voice was cracking. Tears threatened to obstruct her vision.

Fabio looked at her with eyes of pity and rose to his feet. He stretched his hand to her cheek. Her tears trickled down her cheeks dropping on his finger.

"Okay, I'll permit you to leave. I didn't know you are a virgin, I wasn't informed." He pulled out a bundle of a thousand US dollars and handed it to her.

Shocked was Darci. "Is he just gonna let me leave? Am I free to walk away from this place?" She thought, staring at his face as if scanning him.

Darci was frozen, she didn't realize when Fabio placed the bundle in her palm until he spoke, "It's my gift to you."

She was mum for some minutes debating in her mind if to accept the cash or not. She knew deep within her, the cash will be of great use to her.

Her lips curved into a smile. "Thanks." She left the room heading outside.

It was starting to rain. Although, there had been a husky wind, which was a clear signal it was going to rain.

Darci was always nervous about rainfall

ever since the time she took ill drenched by heavy rain last year October, she has been frightened to catch a cold or even a slight fever.

Her legs swiftly hurried to the roadside, her arms wrapped around her chest shaking as the rain was dropping on her. She looked side by side at the road trying to halt a cab but all the cabs were swiftly driving past her. She was feeling bad and tears were streaming down her cheeks as she felt sorry for herself.

The breeze blew, she could feel the cooling wind freezing her. She shivered like a leaf as if the wind was swallowing her.

"What am I going to do? How am I going to go home now?" She fidgeted staring in despair.

Darci could no longer feel the rain on her, she got confused and curiously turned to her side to see Fabio's guard hanging an umbrella above her.

"My boss wants you to come to join him in his car." His voice sounded stiff.

Darci looked at Fabio's Lamborghini truck, and she replied curtly, "I don't want to."

The guard abruptly gripped her elbow wearing a menacing stare. Darci was taken aback. "My boss wants you to come with him."

Enraged, Darci screamed pulling his hand away, "I said, I don't want to!"

She had a very firm look.

The guard deliberately rolled his jacket hanging by his left pair of pants and Darcy's soul hopped at the presence of the pistol in his trouser.

"You better come with me."

Panic grasped Darci completely, she huffed, her eyes expanded. The guard sneered with the appearance on her face reckoning she would calmingly come with him.

Darci gawked at the gun in his hand surmising how she was going to run off without being shot. Courage streamed through her, and she whacked him with her handbag, swiveled swift and skedaddle.

The guard was irked, he indicated his gun at her screaming, "Stand down!"

The guards in the car were watching them and saw when Darcy whack the guard. They got apprehensive and got down seeing Darci darting.

The guard shot at the air expecting the echo of the gun would unnerve her. Darci seals her ears at the pitch of the gun hastening her stride breathing hard.

Darci jostled up the parkway. She was visualizing the guards in her psyche getting closer to her, her heart started pounding wildly.

She was having briefness of breath, she slothfully strode. Lingering to snag her breath, she looked back inspecting if the guards are still on her track, and she blotched two of the guards walking, peeking around the lane at any unnoticed areas, fully determined.

Darci ignored her tiring lungs and strived to flee, her pair of heels wrecked, the brooches were losing and rolling off. She nearly slipped and was striding unsteadily like she was tipsy, trying to regain her balance. Her feet slipped off the heels.

The sodden floor smooched her feet affectionately, its chilliness was frosting her feet and she huffed loudly.

The tone of raindrops was accumulating and so audible deafening to ears. The raw wind shrieked through the air breezing through her doused dress. Darci quivered to sheathe her arms around her chest tightly.

Darci swooped the road deflecting to an intersection with no soul. The street appeared rather murky. The street lamps had a few drawbacks, the illumination flickering every five seconds.

Darci looked around inspecting the road for any conceivable area to hang around but with the lights flickering, everywhere seemed so foggy.

She gave attention to some footsteps and she was frightened. In an endeavor to steer, she sprawled stumbling flatly on the ground. She screeched and tears shredded on her cheeks.

The thunder growled and the lightning winked only to vanish.

Darci heard the hums of the guards and felt that they were close by. She tried getting up from the floor, but her leg ached badly. She crept weakly towards a bin for support. Her arms were getting scratched the more she pulled. She was moaning loudly.

The guards trudged to the bottom of the road and looked carefully around to catch a glimpse of her but the flickering lights couldn't make them concentrate.

Darci was standing behind the huge bin staring at them, her heart racing anxiously. She bit her nails like a child. She could inhale the horrendous whiffs from the trunk.

The guards felt wearied and were almost striding away when one of them spotted Darci behind the bin and he halted.

Darcy's heart skipped. Her hands trembled slightly and she was thinking aloud, "Gosh! Hope he did not see me here."

The guard was walking towards the bin, when the other guard said, "where are you going?"

The guard hesitated to deliberate if to search the bin but the flickering lampstands wouldn't make him look at the bin. He couldn't feel convinced, he turned around and they walked away.

Darcy sighed and walked lamely from the bin. She was covered in splashes of mud.

Darci felt so bad for herself, she managed to walk to the next street and spotted a taxi parked next to an old store, and she was approaching it.

The taxi looked quite old, its tires and the doors seemed to have had a few repairs. Darci was fidgeting boarding the taxi.

"What if it stops in the middle of the road? What if the driver is a drunkard which is why his vehicle looks spoilt?"

She pondered about her safety and the frigidity of the weather, and her uncertainty regarding the taxi vanished.

She stood by the front door of the taxi. She stretched her hand to the window, her hand was trembling slightly. She knocked on the window and it lowered down slowly.

The driver turned and looked at her. His face looked strict. The firmness in his eyes can scare off anyone but Darci's eyes were heavy to notice his countenance.

"I want you to take me home. Take me home." She sounded like she was whispering. Darci exhaled, crossed her arms together shivering like she was going to pass out.

The driver noticed how pale she seemed and he felt bad.

"Go on in."

Darci weakly opened the car door and sat in shutting the door.

She was sighing loudly clattering her teeth, shivering like a leaf.

The car smelled of ham, Darci noticed a snack sack lying underneath the seat with disposed cans of beer. Darci assumed he was an alcoholic, and untidy person. She kept her observations to herself.

The driver started the car driving off. "Where are you going?"

"James Street 49."

"Alright, here we go!" He said energetically and turned the radio on. A loud fast beat of the music was drumming against their ears. The driver nodded his head to the rhythm.

Darci tried to relax properly in the seat feeling perturbed. She firmly shut her ears, and she felt more uncomfortable. She whimpered as her head was aching badly, she leaned against the chair shutting her eyes, and slowly fell asleep.

"Vida! Vida..." She murmured and was moaning, " Vida! Vida..!" tears were trickling down her cheeks in streams.

Flashes of an enormous fire were appearing in her mind. She saw the fire spreading out through the walls and roves.

Flashes of her running towards the building appeared in her mind.

"Vida. Vida." She murmured.

"Oooh... Oooh yeah!" The driver sang loudly taken away by the music.

He drove up the highway, at quite a speed.

Jacob walked away from the bridge, approaching his car. Ry felt confused, and was walking towards him, "where are you going?" He yelled.

Jacob ignored him and walked to his car. He pulled the door open, got in, and shut the door. Ry followed him, he banged on the window yelling, "Jacob! Jacob!"

Jacob started the car engine, and he drove past him.

Jacob felt a tinge of sadness in his bones recollecting January 25th his birthday two years ago when he arrived at Maya's condominium at around 2:09 pm.

Jacob was seething in rage, he increased the car's speed limit, and the car drove as fast as the breeze.

He recollected feeling curious and anxious about Maya not being at his party. When he arrived at the entrances, he was surprised to spot the doors opened, he walked in and he didn't find Maya in the living room."Maya!" He called, he didn't hear a response, and he walked upstairs approaching her king-sized bedroom. The door was slightly opened and he sighted Maya kissing his best friend Raul. Sorrow and shock gripped his heart firmly, his chest tightened, he tried to breathe. Tears like a cascade poured out of his eyes, streaming down his jowls, and he stormed out.

The noisy honking of a vehicle driving towards his car banged loudly in his ears, and he jolted out of his thoughts realizing that he was going to hit the car. He stepped on the brakes immediately, and he swerved his car from the truck. His car carelessly swiveled from the road heading towards a huge tree by a forest. Jacob's heart drummed loudly against his ears and was repeatedly stepping on the brakes, but the brakes were out of control, and the car crashed against the tree.

It was 11:45 pm. Bea, Jacob's mother was wearing a white silk gown and was approaching her king-sized bed to lie beside Henry, her husband when her phone bussed. She walked to the bedside table, stretched her hand to her phone, and picked up the call.

"Hello, son?"

"Am I speaking with Bea Alonzo?"

"Yes, why are you with my son's phone?"

Bea could hear a loud siren in the background and some voices.

"I'm a nurse. Your son is in a bad condition, he met with an accident."

Bea felt astounded, and gasped loudly, "where...which hospital is he?" She panicked, tears started building in her eyes.

Henry felt quite confused wondering why Bea seemed anxious, and he sat upon the bed.

"Saint Kelvin's Hospital." Replied the nurse, and Bea immediately hung up.

She turned to Henry, "Henry, we need to hurry right now, Jacob is in a critical condition."

"What!" Henry exclaimed, he threw his blanket off him, and he slipped into his pair of shoes and scurried to his wardrobe. He widely opened the wardrobe sorting out a shirt and Bea was sorting out for a nice dress in her wardrobe.

Jacob was prep-up on a stretcher bathed in blood. An oxygen mask was cast on his face. The paramedics pulled the stretcher with him from the ambulance, and people were giving way as Jacob was getting rushed inside the hospital. He was brought to the I.C.U.

At around 12:30 that night, Bea and Henry arrived at the hospital. They seemed restive and anxious. They approached the information desk, three nurses were at the desk.

"My name's Bea, and this is my husband, Henry. Our son Jacob was brought here."

"He's the one who had a terrible accident?" asked one of the nurses.

Bea nodded, "yes nurse."

"He's in the I.C.U."

"Where is the I.C.U?" Henry asked.

"At the fifth floor."

Bea and Henry approached there. They reached the I.C.U and sat down in the reception room. Tears poured out of Bea's eyes, "Jacob...." Her voice was cracking.

Henry wrapped his arm across Bea's shoulders and pulled her to his chest consoling her.

After fifty minutes, the doors of the I.C.U opened, and the doctor walked out. Henry and Bea immediately sprang up to their feet, and they approached him.

"Doctor, how is my son?" Bea looked into his eyes.

"He sustained several injuries."

Bea gasped and whimpered, "is he going to be alright?"

"Yes."

Bea sighed, and smiled wildly, "yes, thank God!"

Henry's cheeks dissolved into a cheerful smile.

"But, his left leg is going to be numb temporarily."

Bea shook her head muttering, "no-no doc. Not my Jacob."

"His paralysis is only temporary, and, his right arm..."

"What is it about his arm?" Bea curiously asked.

"His right arm is dislocated, so he'll have to wear a sling always till he recovers."

"Can I see my son?"

"Sure you may. He's out of the coma. He can be discharged anytime soon. Excuse me." The doctor walked away.

Jacob was moved from the I.C.U to award.

Bea and Henry stepped into Jacob's ward wearing a blue apron, a nose mask, a blue hairnet, and a pair of hand gloves.

Tears uncontrollably fell from Bea's eyes seeing Jacob's leg wrapped up, and gashes of bruises on his hands and face.

Jacob feebly turned his head and looked at Bea, the sorrowful look she had made him feel bad, he shed tears.

Bea and Henry advanced to Jacob and stood beside him.

"Jacob," Bea muttered staring into his eyes. She held his hand which lied like a log of wood.

Henry tried to fight back the tears building in his eyes. He felt awful.

"Mum. Am I going to be alright?" His voice sounded weak.

Bea felt jittery, she nodded and said, "yes son. You will be okay."

"Don't lie to me mum. Be honest to me, I wanna hear the truth. If I'm okay, why can't I move my left leg and my other arm? I can't move my neck either, it hurts a lot."

Bea whimpered, "sorry son, sorry. I wish I can take the pain away, I hate seeing you in this state."

"So I'm not okay." Jacob bitterly furrowed his eyebrows gulping down his tears.

Henry softly said to him, "your mum and I are gonna hire an expert private nurse for you so you can recover quickly."

"I don't wanna stay here. I don't wanna stay here any minute longer, take me out of here, take me out of here, I don't wanna stay here..." He was hysterical, Bea leaned forth wrapping him in her arms patting him on his back, "it's okay son.."

"I don't want to stay here mum, I don't want to..... I don't...." Jacob shed tears on her neck like an inconsolable child.

The rain quietly stopped. Darci reached her home. It's a one-story edifice. From the exterior, the outmoded fences, and porticoes seemed unappealing. The building is quite spacious.

Darci weakly pulled the door open, she quietly shut the door meticulously so no pitch will be stimulated and she turned from the door noticing her foster mother Roella sleeping uncomfortably on the sofa. Her right arm was stretched out, and her neck bent on the headrest.

Darci felt awful seeing the tired look on her face and was urged to lie to her in her room.

"Mama!" She exhaled.

The floor was getting wet as her dress was dripping. Staring at Roella, her eyes drooped. She turned around to leave and limped

to her bedroom. It was quite small but comfortable. The bed was sitting in the middle of the room, the mattress strawberry colored, and the pillows velvety.

Darci trudged towards the wardrobe and pulled out her pink towel from the hanger drying herself up.

She switched from her clothes to a warm fluffy nightdress and returned to the living room.

She stood leaning by the entrance door staring at Roella with smiles tilting the corners of her cheeks.

She limped towards the sofa and sat beside Roella. She parted the strands of hair off Roella's face and held her hand.

"I'm sorry. I'm sure you waited throughout the night for me to come home. You're always thinking of me."

Tears rolled from her eyes streaming down her jowls as she reminisced when she was six years old roaming on the streets.

It was a scorchingly hot Tuesday afternoon, Darci was standing by the intersection of a city mall at the lane ransacking a pile of bins tossing aside disposed of garbages like a squirrel digging up a hole. The bin was exuding a foul odor and her raggedy gown was getting soiled by the dirty stains around the bin. Spatters of mud stayed on her face and strands of her hair

Darci did not care much, her tummy was aching terribly, but she couldn't find even a snack.

Roella was dropping off a bus after visiting the supermarket. She was holding a sack of fresh vegetables and fruits wearing a pair of britches, a cheap pair of shoes, and a pink scarf was wrapped on her head.

The street appeared busy and occupied. A fleet of flashy cars drove by.

Roella was approaching the sidewalk to flag down a taxi when she spotted Darci. She stood staring at her feeling flummoxed wondering why a young child was tackling the bin.

She approached her and dropped the sack.

"Little girl." She said softly.

Darci moved aside from the bin and turned to her furrowing her eyebrows as the streaks of the sunstroke her face.

"What're you doing with a bin? Don't you know you can catch an infection?" Roella angrily said.

"I just wanna eat something. Please let me be." Darci's voice sounded feeble.

"No kid, it's unhealthy. Ew!" Roella covered her nose. "You stink like the bin. Where is your family? Why are you all by yourself?"

Darci was to hurt to speak. Roella held her hand. "Come with me, you need a clean and thorough bath."

Darcy got anxious, pulled her hand from her grip, and screamed, "No, I wanna eat. I wanna stay here, maybe I'll find something even if it's just a piece of donut." She sobbed.

Roella dipped her hand into her sack and pulled out a fresh plumpy mango and handed it to her.

Darcy's lips curved into a smile. "So yummy! I love mangoes." Darci said energetically.

Roella chuckled. "Let's go."

Darci jolted out of her thoughts and caressed Roella's hand.

"Thank you momma for saving me that day. I wish I had the chance to save Vida as you saved me."

Darci wiped the tears on her jowls gently with her thumbs and sniffed. She sprang to her feet and walked to Neo her foster dad's bedroom. She looked at him sleeping in his bed with his walking stick lying beside him. He looked old, with creases on his face. His hair was grey likewise his beards. He has innocuous pair of eyes that can melt the coldest hearts.

Darci motioned towards him, snuggled him softly, and moved from his arms. "Poppa, I'll always be grateful to you and momma for raising me."

She kissed him on his forehead, picked up a blanket from the bed, and exited the room. She returned to the living room and advanced to Roella covering her up gently with the blanket. She kissed her on her cheek and exited to her bedroom.

It was a hot and luminous dawning after two days. Bea arrived at her home with Henry and Jacob. Jacob was discharged from the hospital.

They got to the entrances from their Benz jeep. Jacob was getting pushed gently in his wheelchair inside the spacious living room. Jacob's face was firm. He was wearing a sling, his neck was wrapped around with a soft drape.

Henry and Bea proceeded inside the living room walking behind Jacob.

"Jacob!" Bea called.

The maid wheeling Jacob halted.

"Jacob, I will serve you shrimps and carrots. You love that a lot." Bea smiled.

"I'm not hungry."

Bea and Henry looked at each other wondering what to do. The maid continued wheeling Jacob towards his king-sized bedroom. She nudged the door open and wheeled Jacob inside the room.

"You can leave."

The maid nodded. She walked out of the room and shut the door.

Bea turned to Henry, her eyelids drooped, tears welled up in her eyes, ''Henry, I'm anxious about Jacob. I know he is traumatized, I don't want him to fall into depression, I wish that accident did not happen."

Henry held her arms and he looked into her eyes, "don't worry, he will recover."

"It will be hard and painful for me to see him in that wheelchair."

Henry pulled her into a hug consoling her.

Jacob wheeled himself to his wardrobe, he widely opened the wardrobe and pulled out a photograph of Maya from his box. He held the photograph tightly glaring at it. He hurled the photograph at the floor, and it broke, the shards spilled over the floor.

"This is all your fault! You broke my heart, and now I am in this condition because of you. I wish I died instead of feeling this discomfort." He screamed at the top of his lungs. He stared at Maya's picture lying on the floor, an image of Maya grinning flashed through his mind, and he pulled out his legs to pick it up. Standing up from the wheelchair, he fell on the floor and he groaned loudly wriggling in excruciating pain.

Bea arrived at his bedroom. She thought of persuading him to have some meal.

Bea clasped the doorknob and pulled it open. She stepped in.

"Jacob I..." She paused feeling astonished seeing shards of glass lying on the floor. She looked away and spotted Jacob lying on the floor moaning. She panicked and scurried to him. "Jacob!" She yelled and knelt beside him. She held his head and laid his back on her thighs.

Tears poured out of her eyes, "Jacob. Jacob..." She leaned her chin on his hair, her tears were dropping on his hair.

Bea spotted Maya's picture lying across the floor and she imagined he was thinking about her.

Darci sprang up from her seat at the dining table wiping her lips softly with a napkin. She left a morsel of pasta on her plate and she moved from her seat towards Neo. She kissed him on his cheek, "I'm leaving now dad."

Neo sipped his glass of water and nodded, "okay dear."

Darci advanced to Roella and embraced her. She moved from her arms grinning wildly, "bye mum."

"Your body is quite hot. Are you sure you can go to work? Why not rest at home."

"No mum I'll be alright." Darci grabbed her handbag from her seat and walked away from the table heading to the living room and approaching outside.

Jacob was brought to his bed, he was held by the male servants. The maid swept up the shards on the floor.

Jacob sat up on the bed staring blankly, tears were building in his eyes.

Bea sat beside him, she stared into his eyes, and tears were filling her eyes.

"Jacob, I saw Maya's picture lying on the floor."

Jacob sniffed trying to fight back the tears.

"Do you still love her? Are you reminded of her which is why you had the accident?"

Tears uncontrollably rolled out of Jacob's eyes, he brushed his cheeks glaring tightly. Bea sat closer to him, held his arm, and looked into her eyes, "Son, I want you to know that I'm here for you if you feel lonely, " she sniffed, "I love you so much, son." She hugged him, Jacob stayed stiff.

It was 9:06 am. Darci arrived at Saint Kelvin's hospital where she works over four years as a nurse. Most of the patients and doctors admire her greatly because of how industrious she works. A young 8-year-old boy who is asthmatic and used to be a patient of the hospital, nicknamed her Angel because she was always attentive to him in his ward and provided him his nebulizer when he struggled to breathe.

Darci was walking through the hallway heading to the Senior Doctor, Sana's office. She exchanged pleasantries with a few nurses passing by.

Darci reached Sana's office, and she knocked on the door. She heard a response and gently pushed the door open and walked in.

Sana looked at her walking in.

"Doctor Sana, I was informed that you want to see me."

"Sure, have a seat."

Two leather chairs sat across Sana's table. Darci moved toward a leather chair, sat down, and sighed.

Sana pulled her glasses from her face, "Darci, I am posting you on a medical mission for a month."

"Medical mission?" Darci reiterated.

Sana nodded, "you will continue your services at Alonzo's mansion. I am entrusting the care of Jacob Alonzo to you since you are very efficient."

"Alright, Sana." Darci sighed.

It was 11: 25 AM. Darci arrived at Alonzo's mansion. She walked in through the entrances. Bea spotted Darci walking towards the living room, and she immediately sensed that she was the nurse.

Bea dropped the glass of juice she was sipping and walked to her grinning from ear to ear.

"Darci right?"

Darci nodded grinning wildly, "yes I'm Darci."

"Well, I'm Bea the patient's mother." Bea stretched out her hand to her, and Darci shook her hand, "nice meeting you Bea."

"Jacob is upstairs in his bedroom. Darci, I'm imploring you, to ensure that he improves."

Darci noticed tears building in her eyes, she felt quite bad, "you don't have to worry, I promise to take good care of your son."

Bea nodded and smiled wildly. "Come on, I'll take you to my son's room."

"Okay."

They walked towards the hallway.

The hallway flows into a large, wide staircase that provides the main means of egress from the entertainment area of the house to the private rooms on the second floor. Four formal rooms with sixteen foot ceilings, pocket doors, fireplaces and tall windows form the main block of the building.

Bea and Darci reached Jacob's bedroom. Bea knocked on the door, "Jacob, son!"

They didn't hear any response, and Darci stared at Bea. Bea noticed through the impression on her face that she was curious.

"Just go in. He is often quiet. I will leave now.'' Bea walked away.

Darci clutched the doorknob feeling impatient to know who Jacob is for acting impolite.

She pushed the door open, and walked in. The dashing neat curtains grabbed her attention, she gazed at them smiling wildly. The room smelled of sweet chocolates, that she was starting to feel ravenous. She noticed a plate of fruits sitting besides two full cups of chocolates on the center table. She approached the table and picked up a cup of chocolate gobbling each scoop.

Jacob stared at her, and he felt irritated. " if you want, I can get you a huge bowl of chocolate."

Darci felt slightly embarrassed, it dawned on her that she was in the patient's bedroom. She tried to apologize, "pardon me chocolates are my favorite snack, I couldn't help but take some."

She slowly turned to him, and she felt quite surprised seeing Jacob.

Darci recollected the rainy night when she was at a club with Fabio. An image of Jacob brushing her off, and exiting the club flashed through her mind. She jolted out of her thoughts and she shyly dropped the cup of chocolate and moved a few steps to him. She was feeling jittery, her palms were getting clammy.

Jacob felt surprised seeing her realizing that she was the girl who he brushed off at the party. A frown settled down on his face.

"Just what are you doing here and in my room?"

"I am Darci Steve your nurse." She covered her face looking away from him.

"I hope he does not fire me for what I just did." She muttered.

"Wait, you're the nurse assigned to me?"

Darci was silent.

"I guess that the hospital made a mistake picking you to be my nurse cause I think you lack experience since you go to clubs. What does a club girl know about taking care of a patient? And you just ate my chocolates."

"I am sorry for that, I did not mean to. I do not attend clubs, I was just out an date. I'm a responsible decent nurse."

"How is he going to believe me when he met me at a club and I just took his drink. I'm so silly." She thought wildly.

"I can't trust you. I think that I'll be better off without you."

Staring into his eyes gave her shivers, "you can trust me. Well, you are my duty.

"So, I'm your duty? What if I don't wanna be taken care of by you? What if I resist?"

"I promise to take great care of you. I know how to make you start to use your legs. With some exercises you'll be just fine and I will put my best in it."

"Okay, I'm offering you a chance to prove that you're really a good nurse."

Darci's lips curved into a smile, "thank you so much." She noticed the plate of meal on his bedside table and she said, "um, your mum Bea told me that you have not taken your food yet so I'm gonna feed you.

Jacob sighed and shook his head, "I don't wanna eat. Take the food away. The smell makes me want to puke."

Darci opened the plate of macaroni and cheese placed on the bedside table. She dipped a fork into the meal and munched a bite. She rolled her lips, and smiled, "it's really tasty you should try it."

"I want to be left alone. Leave." Jacob furrowed his eyebrows.

"I am not leaving you. You are my duty. Where you are is where I should be. You need to eat so you can be healthy for the exercises we will do later. And you need to take your medicines."

"I did not beg for your help did I? I did not compel you to stay here with me, so why should I listen to you?"

"You did not compel me but I can't leave your side till you eat so you can then take your pills." She said softly and she firmly the plate and she fetched a scoop of the Mac and cheese and stretched it to his lips.

Jacob furiously grabbed the plate from her hands and hurled it to the floor screaming, "I said, I don't wanna eat!"

The plate smashed and some sharp pieces flew towards Darci's hand and pricked into her arm. She shivered feeling startled by the deep sharp pain, she gasped, and moaned.

Jacob felt bad seeing blood streaking from her arm, he said apologetically, "I'm sorry Darci."

Darci was still stunned, she was gaping, "If you want to be left alone, I can give you some space." She dabbed the tears on her cheek and she was approaching the door.

"Darci! Darci!" He yelled.

Darci halted by the door and she turned to him holding her arm. Jacob saw the blood streaming on her arm and he was speechless.

Darci cried, "are you still upset with me that's why you hurt me? I don't blame you for your anger. I promised that I will prove to you to be a responsible nurse and I will. Excuse me." She gently pushed the door open and she walked out.

Jacob bowed his head feeling bad.

Darci skedaddle towards the stairway. She spotted Bea approaching, and she paused staring at her. Bea stared at her wondering why she looked flustered, and she noticed tears dropping from her eyes.

"Darci.." She called.

Darci didn't want to answer any questions Bea might ask her, and she ran to the stairs hurrying outside. Bea felt quite confused and walked to Jacob's bedroom. She pushed the door open and walked towards Jacob's bed. She spotted shards of plate lying by Jacob's bed.

"What happened here?" She looked away from the floor, "What happened? I saw the nurse leaving in tears."

Jacob was silent.

It was a breezy frenzied morning the subsequent day. Darci was all dressed up in a pair of ash trousers and a pink blouse. Her lips was shone with colorless lip gloss, and her hair was styled in a French ponytail.

Darci walked towards Roella from her bedroom to the living room. She leaned forward hugging her. "Mum I gotta leave." She kissed her on her cheek and moved from her arms, "tell papa I'm gone."

Roella nodded her head, "sure dear." She glanced at the plaster cast on Darci's right arm and said,

"Darci you have not still explained to me what happened to your arm."

Darci slightly curled her head guessing what to say, "I...I slipped in the bathroom."

"Be careful next time okay?"

Darci nodded her head, "I will mum."

Darci walked out of the room approaching outside. She walked towards the gate, and she stepped outside. She walked a few strides from the gate to the roadside waiting for a cab to pass by, and she spotted two young girls walking at the sidewalk holding a cotton candy giggling to each other, and an image of her and her sister Vida playing hide and seek at the playground sixteen years ago, flashed through her mind and she let out a chuckle.

Vida's laughter was echoing in her mind, and an image of an enormous fire engulfing Darci's home flashed through Darci's mind and she jolted out of her thoughts trying to fight back the tears welling up in her eyes.

She sighted a cab driving towards her direction and she flagged it. The cab parked close to her, she trotted to it and immediately clasped the door, pulled it open, entered in and shut the door and sighed.

It was 9 :25 AM. Darci arrived at Alonzo's mansion. She stepped out of the cab and shut the door and the cab drove away.

Darci stared at the building hesitating to go inside. An image of Jacob flinging his plate of meal to the floor flashed through her mind. She felt jittery and she swerved from the gate. She hesitated at the sidewalk and thinking loudly, "I need this job I cannot quit because of Jacob. My life depends on it."

Darci reached the front doors, they were widely opened, and she walked in. She noticed Bea and Henry in the living room. They were all dressed up for work.

Bea and Henry noticed Darci and stared at her approaching them.

Darci scratched her hair in nervousness. "Bea, Henry..." She exhaled, "I wanna apologize for leaving my work really quick yesterday."

"It's okay." Bea smiled wildly, "what matters is you are here again."

Darci smiled back at her.

Henry furrowed his eyebrows, "it's not okay to me. I thought you were gonna stay all day looking after my son, but with how you left, I think that you are not a dedicated nurse."

Bea noticed that Darci was starting to feel uncomfortable, "Henry..."

Henry glared tightly at her, "cause I just want my son to get better. So let me know if you are not prepared to work."

Darci felt jittery staring into his eyes. His glare gave her shivers, "it won't happen again."

"It better not!" Henry firmly said, and he walked away heading outside. Bea picked up her handbag sitting on the couch, she gently touched Darci's arm smiling at her, "don't get nervous Darci. Uh, bye." She kissed her on her cheek and walked away.