The light was finally fading outside the large windows from my bedroom. The day hot for March, for the sun seemed to have other plans for the creatures on Earth. Its rays were so scorching that it felt like the melamine in my skull was bouncing violently against the walls of my head. I went to the kitchen.
While in the kitchen, I noticed one of the triplets troubled. I wasn't sure whether to ask or just let her be. I reached into the double-sided fridge and pulled out a jar of milk, feeling the cool glass against my fingers. On focusing on her again, I realized she was crying.
'Nanny! Nanny!" I yelled while pouring my cold milk in a crystal-clear glass.
"Yes ma'am." She storms in the kitchen.
(Freaked out.)
"Did you see a monster, aah wait you are the monster."
(laughs wickedly)
"Check on her, clearly you aren't doing your work properly."
I left her and went back to my room to freshen up as I await Michael.
Several hours passed when Michael drives in with my G-wagon Mercedes. I slipped into a black-and-white sundress, tied my hair up in a messy ponytail, and adorned my five ear piercings with small, gold-coated studs. To finish the look, I perched a pair of black sunglasses atop my head and stepped into floral-patterned open flat shoes. I heard a knock.
"Yeah, yeah get in."
I stood by the wave-shaped mirror on the wall besides my wardrobe. Another knock came.
"Nanny is that you? Come on in or do you want me to spell it out?"
I said sarcastically with a smirk on my face. No one got in.
I went to the door and opened it. One of the girls sat there motionless. I looked at her wondering what to say, browsed by eyes in search for the nanny or maybe she just liked seating on the cold.
I just opened the door for her to enter. she got in, climbed on my bed and sat legs crisscrossed.
I stood by the mirror not myself but her reflection.
"jeez child am not 'Frieda in the Happily N'ever After"
She didn't respond.
"So, which one are you?"
"…. El…. Ella" softly.
As I sat down next to her, my fingers instinctively reached for the necklace around my neck, fiddling with the pendant in a nervous, unconscious gesture.
"Aaaa … .. am I your child?" frightened as if I was to hit her or something.
"Why are you asking me this? Did nanny put you up to this? Where is she??"
"NO… no no , she doesn't know am here, am sorry for asking."
She was leaving. I stared at her, at this time I was already on the door with the intention of looking for nanny and questioning her.
"Wait, wait.' Fiddling with the pendant again. 'It's not you, it's all me.'
I moved closer to her and squatted down. My hand hovered uncertainly, debating whether to reach out and touch her soft, wavy hair. Concern was etched across my face, desperate to convey my sincerity.
Takes in deep breathes.
"no….. am sorry for the…."
Ella gazes at me tears running down her chubby cheeks.
"I mean, yes you three are my kids. why do you doubt this?"
"At school every once a month we have parent-student fun day and events but nanny Natasha is the one who comes instead of you and daddy(sobbing). Everyone in class makes fun of us calling us orphans. I don't know what your reasons are but remember you have girls to care for as a mom." She leaves.
True to say, she really touched me there. I realized what a bad and selfish mother I had been to my kids since their birth.
I cascaded down the flight of stairs when I collided with Michael.
"oh jeez, you startled me cuz."
"For a moment I thought that wagon was yours. You aren't driving me, call an uber."
I went into the kitchen and grabbed and apple. My mind wasn't at ease since I had the heart-felt speech from my four-year-old daughter. I grabbed an apple from the fridge, but as I turned away, a sudden, piercing headache brought me to my knees. The pain was excruciating, and with it came a flood of fragmented memories- snapshots of memories long buried, a woman's voice urgently warning me about something. I staggered and fell onto the hardwood floor, the smooth, cool surface suddenly feeling harsh against my skin. A glass on the nearby table shattered as I collapsed, the sharp sound drawing everyone's attention.
'Mummy mummy' went the triplets.
'Yoh cuz, you, ok? … the uber has arrived.' went Michael.
"Uuuuum Am …. Am fine," struggling to get up with the help of Michael and the nanny. "My head is killing me." I grabbed a packet of ice cubes from the freezer in the fridge and followed Michael to the car.
"To Kimathi Street Sir."
Michael stated and shut the door.
It might have taken twenty minutes to reach thankfully there was no traffic, my head cooled.
Outside a tall building besides KFC, Kimathi chambers was the name. We took the elevator to 6th floor.
"We are her cuz."
The offices were presentable and cool. A young lady welcomed us and dressed me by my name.
"Morning Tattiana, nice to see you again, welcome sir. Please this way she is expecting you."
I followed behind gazing at the young lady, shifted my eyes on Michael who was besides me but his attention was on the lady's ass. Infront of us was a middle-aged woman standing all smiles.
"Welcome, am sure you don't remember me but am your therapist since before you got married."
She stopped Michael from getting in and shut the door.
"Please do have a seat."
As I settled into the plush, overstuffed chair, I couldn't help but take in the room's serene ambience. The walls were painted in soothing shades of pastel blue and green, adorned with calming artwork depicting peaceful landscapes. Soft lighting filtered through the large windows, casting a warm, welcoming glow across the room.
My eyes drifted to the name tag perched on the edge of the desk, reading 'Ms. Mia.' The desk itself was a picture of organized simplicity. A neatly arranged stack of notepads sat beside a sleek laptop, and a ceramic mug held an assortment of pens and highlighters. A small, intricately designed hourglass rested beside a vase of fresh flowers, their delicate fragrance subtly perfuming the air. Everything seemed to have its place, radiating a sense of order and calm that mirrored the room's tranquil atmosphere.
Everything wasn't making sense from the reception to here. How do they know me and yet I don't know any of them? I searched for clues in my heard but nothing. Probably Michael mentioned a little about me and the receptionist must have read my file from her boss.
My mind wasn't at peace.
"Please relax, all you need to know, every question that bothers you, ask me but after our session?" she said continually.
"Well, what do I owe this visit?"
At first, I wasn't sure how to begin but as minutes passed, I opened up to her.
The clock showed about two hours of our chat, she asked me a very worry question, .... 'Are you still in touch with Moses?'
He has been looking for you for about three years now, actually he will be passing by any time now.' She glanced at the wall clock, watching as the minute hand crept forward, almost imperceptibly, tracing a silent path around the clock face. Each tiny movement marked another fragment of time slipping away.
"Who is Moses?" I asked.
Suddenly, a sharp knock echoed through the room, drawing her gaze to the door just as it swung open. I gazed at her.
"Why don't you ask him yourself Mrs. Oscar." Mia stood beside her high-back reclining office chair.
"Wait what!! AM MARRIED?"
A tall, light-skinned gentleman stepped into the room, exuding an air of sophistication. He was dressed in a finely tailored, navy-blue suit that seemed to be made of the finest wool. The jacket's slim fit emphasized his broad shoulders, and the trousers were perfectly hemmed, breaking just above a pair of polished, black leather Oxford shoes. The suit's subtle sheen hinted at its expensive pedigree, while a crisp white dress shirt and a silk tie completed the ensemble.
As he walked with a graceful elegance, the subtle scent of Creed cologne wafted through the air, carrying a complex blend of salty, sweet zest and a hint of royal musk. He approached with a confident stride and extended his right hand to greet me. On his left wrist, a luxurious watch caught the light—a classic Rolex, its face adorned with diamonds that sparkled subtly. An expensive, gold ring with an intricate design adorned his left hand, while a simple yet elegant sterling silver cuff bracelet encircled his wrist, the word "Tatty" boldly engraved on it.
His right hand, which he offered for the handshake, was soft and impeccably manicured, a sign of meticulous grooming. My eyes were drawn to the bracelet on his right wrist, its understated design contrasting with the rest of his attire. As I looked up, my gaze lingered on his meticulously styled blowout hair and his well-maintained Garibaldi beard, which framed his face with a touch of rugged sophistication. When he finally spoke, his voice was deep and coarse, sending an unexpected chill down my spine.
I felt like it was a déjà vu, I knew this man. I have dreamt of him, had visions of him but still couldn't figure out from were. I knew I interacted with him in my past.
"Do I know you?"
"Let's have a seat; first things first pookie. Please." He spoke gesturing me to go back to my seat.
I stood by the window looking at him then back to the therapist. I knew something wasn't right. My head was spinning.
'I need to go home'
I walked towards the door to leave when he held my wrist firmly, 'please give me a chance to set things straight."
My head was now banging for me to let out my brain, I couldn't take it. I was on the floor having this insane head ache and dizzy. His presence made me have the headaches. I couldn't bare the pain any longer. I scream, Michael came in. I tried grasping him when I collapsed.
For how long I had been out is what I don't know but on waking, Michael was sleeping next to me. The door flew open and the same guy was there staring at me.
"Stop, s ... stop right there,' I dizzily instructed him, 'until you explain why I get headaches whenever you are close to me.
I looked at him, my right-hand shaking Michael to wake up when I suddenly dozed off.
The next moment I came to, Michael wasn't around, nobody was but a huge bouquet of flowers stared at me from the far left. I slowly walked towards them and retrieved a note.
'Dear Mrs. Oscar, I send my regards. Do get well soon." Yours truly Mia.
Mid-day came and still Michael was nowhere to be seen. I waited. A nurse came in and checked my vitals, smiled and left.
Evening came and there was darkness. I wondered where Michael was the whole day.
A different nurse came, gave me some pills to swallow and added another on the drip, she closed the curtains went to the switch, 'on or off' I was dizzy due to the drugs and she answered for me off, then she left.
I struggled staying awake as long as I could. Suddenly the door knob shook, someone was getting in I could hear it but my vision was blurry. Someone got in, I could feel their gaze on me. It must be a man; I saw his figure but who was he? Why didn't he say something? I slept the whole night.
Morning came and I told the doctor all about what conspired, he calmly responded that was the drugs effect and I shouldn't be worried. He then adds that it was my cousin that stayed the whole night, with a smirk on his face he checked my vitals. Come to think of it, Michael didn't stay for the night, am sure since I was awake before the drug stuff.
''uum doctor, am feeling much better now, I would love to be immediately discharged."
"Let me call a nurse to help you with the discharge process. Good day and take care."
A nurse came shortly after, helped me get dressed and fill out a discharge form then helped me find my way to the reception where I met Michael talking with one of the nurses and clearly, he was hitting on her.
I stood staring at him, disgusted and angry for a while until he noticed me. When I realized he noticed me, I walked by him towards the reception.
"Yooh cuz, hold up would yah. Life isn't that serious loosen up a little bit."
"Give me my black card, before I demolish your pretty face."
He wasn't willing to give me the card, when I turned towards him the nurse who helped me with the discharge informed me everything had been sorted out. I asked who but it was anonymous, as if I would fall for that.
Michael stretched to give me a hand when I slapped him on his right cheek, for no reason but it felt good. I felt a gaze. Someone was watching me. Looked around but everyone was going on with their businesses.
On getting home, the kids seemed to have camped in the sitting room for there were sleeping beddings. Being led by Ella the triplets excitedly came and hugged me. I felt their joy. I knelt down and hugged them but excused myself and headed for bed.