Chapter 41

"I think my water broke" I announced to the crowd in my room.

"What! Is that supposed to happen?" Asked a concerned John.

A nurse took my hand and led me back to the bed. She made sure I laid on my back. Dr Hellen lifted the gown covering my legs and stood between my legs. She seemed to be checking for something for a while before she covered my legs with the gown.

" Can we still take the sample?" Asked Marcus

" No sir. It seems the baby boy wants to come out ahead of time." She answered

" I can't have my baby now, it's still too early" I freaked out.

I grabbed her hand with mine and pleaded with my eyes for her help. I was totally unprepared for this.

" It's okay Zawadi, sometimes babies come out early. There's nothing to be afraid of. We will keep you here until you give birth" she assured me.

At least I will give birth in a clean and safe environment. I didn't where the other female pregnant inmates were taken to give birth but I will assume this place is better. A thousand times better.

" Thank you so much"

" Mr Marcus and Mr John a word"

They all left the room to talk in private. I knew they were going to talk about me. I also wanted to know what was going on, especially if it concerned me. And alot of things concerned me this days.

A strange pain started in my lower abdomen. It started as a dull ache but grew to an intense pain. It felt like a cramp but not really a cramp. A scream left my lips before I could control it. I grabbed my abdomen tightly and tried to breathe from my mouth.

When the contraction passed I was left panting like a thirsty dog on a hot day.

" Jesus was that how contractions left like?"

" Yes, they will get more painful as you get closer to giving birth" explained one of the nurses as she fixed a cannula on my wrist.

" What? They'll get worse! Oh my God!" I wailed.

The door to the room was opened roughly and two men rushed in like there was a fire ready to be extinguished.

" What happened? " Asked John

" Are you okay?" Asked Marcus

I took my eyes from my wrist and glared at him.

" How dare you!!"

" What?" He asked

His face showed concern but I was not about to be fooled by his fake emotions. He was the man who put me in prison for something I didn't do. He didn't deserve to be here.

" How dare you pretend that you care for me and we both know you are only pretending " I hissed

" I do care for you...." he tried answering

Another contraction hit me before I could speak.

"You...aaaarrrgggh!"

My heartbeat increased threatening to get out of my chest as my lungs felt painful each time I tried to breath. Something was wrong. I could feel it.

" Nurse! Nurse!" I heard someone scream.

My head felt like it was spinning. My eyes kept opening and closing without my permission. I wanted to be awake and see my baby be born. I had to wake up. I opened my eyes again and both John and Marcus were closer to the bed than before.

" W-what a..are you....d..d..doi.."

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Marcus POV

What the hell happened? One minute she was taking or was that yelling and the next she passed out.

" Can someone tell me what is going on?" I demanded.

The nurse holding on to Zawadi was clearly panicking. I don't know if it was from my tone or from the situation but I needed answers. Dr Hellen rushed in ,talked to the nurse for a few minutes before she faced us.

" We have to perform a C-section" she announced.

" What?" I asked dumbfounded

" Zawadi's body is weak ,she is dehydrated and malnourished. She won't be able to push the baby normally. We have to help her out" she explained.

" Do whatever you can doctor" said John

I didn't have anything to say. My mind was spinning with more than a thousand thoughts . My brain and my mouth were not cooperating, so I was left silent. I lowered myself on the couch and watched everything unfold as if I was a spirit houvering over everyone.

The nurses took Zawadi to prepare her for an operation. John listened to everything they said and approved of everything before he came to join me on the couch. He noticed my tired expression and preferred not to say anything.

We sat for hours and hours waiting for any kind of news from the doctor. At some point John left and came back with lunch but I didn't have the energy to eat. Besides I was not hungry.

Why did she look at me like that? With so much anger, contempt and disguist. Why did she look at me like I was the one wronged her and not the other way around.

When I first walked in the room she barely looked at me. She flat out ignored me the whole time until I talked to her. Was I supposed to shut up and sit pretty?

I wanted to find out the truth . After all the lying around me I needed a grain of honesty. If she came clean I would have helped her but she choose to be a liar. She choose to play her small games to try and manipulate me . However I was not one to be easily manipulated .

She looks thinner or was is it just me.

" Does she look thin to you?" I asked John

" She has lost a lot of weight from when we had her trial to now"

" Are they not feeding her?" I asked myself

" Probably not. She is in prison Marcus. What do you expect to happen " John answered me anywhere

" She doesn't look like the Zawadi I once met" I commented

" This Zawadi has gone through too much, she can't be the same person " he said while he typed away in his phone.

" I am worried something will happen to her " I admitted finally.

He stopped typing on his phone and sighed loudly.

" She was safe and sound until she met you. You ruined her life ,got her pregnant and sent her to jail. "

" I had to send her to jail she stole from me again" I retorted.

" You have no mercy at all"

I stood quickly and pointed at him " I did show her mercy, I didn't have her arrested the first time. This was the second time ,I couldn't let it slide"

" Keep telling yourself that if it helps you sleep at night, go ahead" he said with indifference.

His attitude towards me was annoying. He made it sound like I intentionally ruined her life. She forced me to take action. I wanted to let everything slide but I couldn't do it for a second time. I was running a business ,not a charity firm.

" I did what had to be done" I growled

" You know what Marcus," he took a step near me" I thought you were in love with her ,I thought you would see through this charade but you are too blind to the truth"

" What are you talking about?"

" The truth is right infront of you but you refuse to see it and everytime you do ,you hurt someone you love "

" Will you stop talking in parables and say what you want to say please "

" Check your people ,you will get your answers" he headed for the door " when this is over, you will realize your mistake and I hope it won't be too late"

He opened the door and left. What did he mean? What did he mean by check your people? Did I miss something? Has Zawadi been innocent like she has been claiming for years? I hope not because if I had made a mistake ,I am not sure I can fix it.

I needed to start from the beginning. I thought of everything from before I met Zawadi to after I met her. Everything that happened whether small or big. The clues were everywhere, I just needed to find them.