Chapter 42

I opened my heavy lids to see the refreshing sight of light. I was tired of being surrounded by darkness. I didn't know how long I have been trapped in the darkness but the experience was the worst I have ever endured. Being trapped for hours or maybe even days alone with nothing to see except darkness for miles was lonely and depressing .

I didn't get that feeling when I was sentenced to stay in prison for twenty years. For the first time I truly understood what it meant to feel lonely and alone. When I started seeing flashes of red I knew I had to force myself out of this depressive and lonely state.

Red might mean danger but in this instant it meant hope. Hope that I will see the bright colors again. The bright white light that irritated my eyes was the first thing I saw. I welcomed the irritation like a thirsty man drinking water. It was better than darkness.

I looked around the room and it seemed I was back in the same room from earlier. What happened? My hand reached for my belly instinctively but was met by a flat surface. What the hell? Where is my baby? A flat belly meant I gave birth but I don't remember pushing or even the process of giving birth .

Did my baby die? Is that what happened? I sucked in gulps of air and tried to come down but I failed terribly. I was hyperventilating and the monitors started beeping loudly but from what felt like a far.

In a split second the nurses and doctors rushed in checking my BP, temperature and the rest.

" Breath Zawadi. Breath" a doctor said

I tried breathing but it was not working. My nose and mouth came up with nothing.

" Take a deep breath" she said while I followed " hold one, two , three ,four . Then exhale and do it again"

I followed her instructions and within minutes my breathing was back to normal. She gestured for the rest of the staff to leave the room .

" What is wrong Zawadi?" She asked

" I touched my belly and I can't feel my baby. Is he okay?" I mumbled.

" Yes you're baby is fine. He is in a nursery at the moment "

" How come I don't remember giving birth?"

" Well...that is because you didn't exactly give birth. We performed a C-section " she explained

" But..but I didn't want a C-section " I said with a frown.

" We didn't have a choice Zawadi but for your safety and the baby's we had to perform the surgery "

" I suppose when you put it like that there's not much to say. What happened has already happened "

" That's the spirit "

" When can I meet my son?"

" I will bring him right away. Do you know what you'll name him?"

" Yes I have an idea"

" Okay give me a few minutes, the child will be brought to you"

"Wait- is he healthy?"

" Yes, he is very healthy and ready to go home"

" Okay thank you"

Once she left I heard a knock on the door. I had a thought to ignore it but what was the point.

"Come in"

The door opened wide and Marcus and John entered the room. Those two ,are they best friends now or what. Why do they keep following each other?

They sat on the same couch like they did the first time. They gave each other a look before they both stared at me. There stares were making me nervous.

"What?" I asked annoyed

" Nothing" they both said at the same time.

Something fishy was going on. I glared at John but he looked away.

" How are you feeling?" asked Marcus

" You. What are you still doing here?"

" Just answer the damn question for once" he retorted

" I am doing great, alittle pitchy but that is to be expected"

" If she can be sarcastic then she's fine" he told John

" Why are you talking like I am not here. Assholes! "

" Look at her insulting us when we have been here for two straight days" Marcus grumbled

" I am insulting you because you brought us here. You made all of this happen!" I yelled

" Come down Zee " asked John who had preferred to be quiet until now " and you shut it" he commanded Marcus.

Marcus crossed his hands on his chest and started pouting but he remained silent. Finally.

" Have you seen the baby?" I asked John

" Yes, he is handsome. He took after you"

" How can he be handsome if he took after his mother? He took after me obviously " mumbled Marcus

" If you want us to say you contributed then you did. He is handsome because of you" I said sweetly.

" I don't like this" he commented

" What don't you like?" I asked sweetly fluttering my eyelashes.

" You being sweet. It's unsettling"

" What do you want now? Do you want me to insult you again?" I said annoyed

" Can you two stop it. Your bickering like a married couple. Sheesh! If I knew this would be my job here I wouldn't have come." He rubbed his temple to relieve stress.

" Poor John caught between two raging bulls. Nkt! I will stop if he stops" I pointed at Marcus

We both glared at him at the same time and he rolled his eyes at us.

" Fine. I'll stop " he conceded.

" Why didn't you name him?" I directed my question to Marcus

" I wanted us to do it together "

Although I scoffed at his suprise consideration ,I felt like it was sweet thing to do. That is if you turn a blind eye to everything he has ever done. That man has issues.

" I was thinking of naming him: Chaka meaning King" I said

" That is a beautiful African name Zawadi" agreed John

" I like it. Chaka . " Agreed Marcus.

With the name situation sorted the next thing to discuss was the partenity.

" Did you do the partenity test?"

" Yes"

" Are the results out?"

" Yes but we were waiting for you to gain consciousness" explained John " I actually have it here. I will open it"

He removed an envelope from his bag and started ripping the edge. I was scared for the results. My eyes landed on Marcus but he was in a world of his own . His expression hardened while he waited.

He opened the letter and signed. Does that mean it's bad or good? I couldn't tell. I was on edge and I needed to know desperately.

" What does it say" asked Marcus.

I could tell he was no better shape. He was nervous. This test meant alot to him.

" The child is yours" answered John

" Let me see that" he grabbed the letter from John and scanned it quickly.

I clapped at the good news. He called me a liar before but now he can't refuse the baby is his with this evidence. Finally he has discovered the truth. Damn ,good people can win sometimes.

His heart broke when he looked at me but I glared at him. He deserved to feel like shit for everything he put me through. This was barely a scratch of the things he has wrongfully accused me of.

" Now you have your answer. Will you abandon you son again?"

" Never! I wish- I knew" he stuttered

" You could have given me the benefit of doubt but as usual you judged me before you had evidence" I announced.

Our meeting was cut short when our son was brought in the room. Tears filled my eyes as I watched him move his hands and feet. I made that. We made that and for a moment I looked at Marcus.

The baby was placed in my arms and I was holding him for the first time. My heart felt full seeing him outside my body. My little warrior.

" Hey, hey Chaka" I whispered caressing his black hair.

He was handsome.

" I am mommy" I talked to him

I know he wouldn't understand me but he loved my voice. He grabbed my finger and shoved it in his mouth. That meant he was hungry, it was feeding time. John left to give us some privacy as I fed him. It was our time to bond.

When he was done feeding I burped him . I watched him for what felt like a long time. It might have been minutes or hours it didn't matter. I was in love with my boy.

" I will take care of him" he announced and I shifted my gaze to him

" What do you mean by you will take care of him?"

" You are in jail or don't you remember"

" You put me there! And now you want to tell me I won't be able to raise my child." I yelled

" I didn't make the rules" he tried defending

" Like hell you didn't. All you did was send me to jail when I was innocent" I paused " if my baby grows up without me I will never forgive you Marcus. Never!"

"I-i" he tried to explain

" No! Don't you dare say anything. You ruined my life and you ruined this family. " I cried out