Half life

You're Very Bitter

The drive from the hospital back to the house was a quiet one with Dad focusing on the road and me lost in my own thoughts.

When we got home Dad pulled up at the parking lot and we both got down and began to walk towards the house.

If there was anything I'm feeling now it's definitely going to be nothing but tiredness and exhaustion. I was extremely tired and my throat was burning with thirst and so it didn't take me up to a second to skid to the kitchen to get my thirst quenched with some water the very moment I stepped my foot into the house while Dad walked straight to his room.

When I was done drinking water, I walked out of the kitchen and as I approached the dining room I saw some covered dish on the table.

I guess that was suppose to be our dinner. I sighed and plodded to the sitting room.

Scouting left and right with my eyes in search of Aunt Mena, I sat down after recalling that she wasn't even in the sitting room the very first time we walked in to the house. I guess I was so thirsty to have thought I saw her sitting on the sofa when we walked in to the house.

I was still laughing at myself for being such a fool when I began to hear footsteps approaching from the staircase so I turned towards the stairs to see who it was then I saw Aunt Mena meticulously climbing down it with a gloomy face.

I really hope all is well with her. Alot have happened already and I can't stand seeing another person sad. Perhaps she just woke up from a nap or something that's the reason for the sober look, I chided myself and flashed her a quick smile while she let out a chuckle when our eyes met..

"Hey Amanda how are you?" She asked weakly when she got closer

"Fine Aunt Mena. Good evening" I replied

"Evening dear.Where have you been?" Aunt Mena asked and sank in to a sofa nearby

"I have been at the hospital"

"Hospital?" She asked in surprise

"Yes Aunt Mena" I replied with a smile

”Doing what exactly?

I thought your Dad asked you to stay back home?"Aunt Mena asked further

" Yeah he did but I still managed to go with him" I said with a shrug

" Really? and you really got me worried. I thought you got missing or something because after waiting for you for some minutes after Dad left to come inside and you didn't, I came out to beckon on you to come inside but I couldn't find you so I became a bit terrified"Aunt Mena explained

" Oh sorry about that. Is that the reason for this gloomy face you are keeping?" I asked

" Well to be honest, yes. I was really worried and kept thinking about how to tell Dad that you mysteriously got missing" Aunt Mena said while I let out a wide grin.

"Aww... I'm so sorry Aunt Mena. It won't ever happen again" I said in a sober tone

" It's ok" Aunt Mena said

" Thank you Aunt Mena I love you." I said

"You're welcome sweetie and I love you more" Aunt Mena replied and blew me a kiss.

"Aww...I feel loved" I exclaimed happily, covering my eyes with my hands while my cheeks burned hot with excitement as I blushed

"Don't tell me you are being serious here" Aunt Mena said sarcastically

" I am, Aunt Mena" I replied still covering my eyes

"Oh wow. Now take down those hands" Aunt Mena said

"I won't" I replied

" Take them down before I use force on you" Aunt Mena commanded, standing up

"I insist. I won't" I replied

"Now watch me do it for you" Aunt Mena said and ambled to my direction then began to make attempts to take my hands down but I wouldn't bulge until she began to tickle me and overpowered me then she bursted out into a hysterical laughter of victory.

"I told you I was going to take them down for you and I did!" Aunt Mena boasted still laughing wild

"Well you did because I allowed you to" I sneered breathing heavily

"Nah. You didn't, I did that by myself" She countered, flexing her muscles in a comic way

"It is not true. You won by tickling me and that is cheating." I retorted irked

" I didn't cheat. I won you. Wow I won again" Aunt Mena jeered triumphantly

" Nah. You cheated" I replied

"Whatever" Aunt Mena said and walked back to her seat

"Did you come back with Dad?" Aunt Mena asked after sitting down

" Yeah" I replied

" So where is he?" Aunt Mena asked

"He is upstairs in his room" I replied

"Ok. Resting I guess?" she asked peering at me

" No, actually he went to get something." I replied

"Ok. How is she now?" She inquired

"Well she is still unconscious but the Doctor assured us that she will be fine after he gave her some injections. She actually twitched twice before we let for home but unfortunately I was the only one that saw her twitched" I said softly

" Wow. I never imagined this whole thing could get this serious" Aunt Mena said admittedly

" Well it is. The doctor said she was suffering from stress all along before the slap aggravated it and caused her blackout" I explained calmly

" Wow. I see" Aunt Mena cooed

" You guys will be going back then. Aren't you? " She asked

"Well . Yes but after grabbing some meal. I'm famished you know" I replied with a grin

" You have no cause to worry then. Your meal is on the dining table" Aunt Mena said with a smile

"I have seen it already. " I replied

" Really? When was that? " She asked in shock

"Well minutes ago when I went to get some water from the kitchen" I said

" Wow. i shouldn't have bothered telling you then" Aunt Mena said

" Yeah. But thank you so much" I said sarcastically

" Whatever" Aunt Mena retorted

We were still talking when Dad walked unannounced to the sitting room and tapped my shoulder and said

"Are you set?"

"Huh" I muttered and flinched in fright while Aunt Mena stopped talking

"No I'm not Dad" I replied, turning towards him

"And why is that?" Dad asked walking towards the table then placed a parcel on the table

"Well that's because I... sorry we haven't eaten yet" I replied

"I'm not hungry. You can go and eat while I wait for you here" Dad said coldly then returned back to his seat.

"Ok sir" I said and headed for the dinning table while Aunt Mena greeted him and he muttered a reply.

When I was done I walked back to the sitting room and announced,

"Dad I'm through"

"So fast?" Dad asked looking up flinty

"Yeah." I replied confidently

"Ok then. Get that parcel let's go" Dad said as he stood up

"Ok sir." I said then walked to the table and picked up the parcel then started for the door

"Mena we may not be coming home tonight. So make sure you keep everything in order and take care of yourself" Dad said as he turned back

"Ok sir. I'll do that." Aunt Mena replied humbly

"Good night Aunt Mena" I said

"Huh" She exclaimed perplexed

"I didn't mean any harm. I just wanted to tell you good night in advance just in case when come back home and you are already fast asleep" I said with a smile while Dad walked away.

"Oh. Alright then good night too dear" Aunt Mena said while I heard Dad horn sounded

"Get going already Dad is waiting for you" Aunt Mena yelled

"Ok bye" I said and ran to the car.

Hardly had I sat down before Dad set the car into motion and sped off to the hospital.

"Why did it take you ages to come out?" Dad asked, driving slowly as we got close to the hospital

"Well nothing. I was just saying good night to Aunt Mena" I replied tugging at my seatbelt firmly strapped across my chest.

"Oh really. I guess if I hadn't honk you will still be there till world war 3 saying goodbye" Dad said with a chuckle

" Probably yes." I replied calmly and took my gaze to the other vehicles moving in the opposite direction till we got to the hospital

"Hey give me that parcel" Dad said as he pulled up and I got down from the car

"Ok Dad" I replied and gave it to him in the driver's side

"Thank you. We won't be needing any of these for now so let's keep it here" Dad muttered quite inaudibly and opened the cabinet on the dashboard before placing the parcel in it then closed it and stepped out of the car after heaving a sigh.

"What is the parcel Dad?" I asked as we walked into the hospital

"Some documents we will be needing later dear" Dad replied with a smirk plastered on his face

" What documents?" I asked quite curious

"Don't worry dear. You will get to know when I bring them out" Dad said then I nodded then we walked over to the elevator.

Fortunately there were only a few people in it so we got

in and headed for the 6th floor.

On reaching the 6th floor, we came out and headed right till we got to Perrie's room.

Leading the way, I got inside only to see Perrie wide awake with her back turned to me, the oxygen pipe lying on the small table beside her bed and her gaze fixated on the wall.

"Wow. You are awake finally" Dad said happily as he saw her as well.

" Well yes! I didn't die just as you had planned" She replied and turned to face us

"Really? " Dad asked in shock

"Yes. You wanted me dead so that you could go on freely with your life since my baby and I were going to ruin it for you" She said calmly

"Don't be ridiculous Perrie. When did I ever wanted you dead?" Dad asked giving her a quizzical look

"Stop the pretence already. You and I know the truth. If you didn't want me dead why would you dump me here like a log of wood and just go home with this thing you call your daughter" Perrie said rolling her eyes then glared at me

"Well if you want to talk, just talk to me and stop dragging my daughter into your foul tongue" Dad cautioned

" I'm sorry. I have heard you" Perrie said calmly

"And who told you I left you for dead?" I asked

"Where were you when the Doctor came and saw me battling for life? because he said you were all together in the office before you left for my room" Perrie retorted

" We I'm sorry. Yes I left for home to get some things and I'm back now. You were just twitching your body when we left and then I thought we would quickly make it home and return back before you finally gain consciousness. " Dad explained softly

" Oh really? " she asked while i folded my hands across my chest and listened quietly

"Yes Aunt. We were all here before we left to get something and come back" I added pleadingly

" Just shut your mouth. I'm not your Aunt besides I didn't ask for your contribution" Perrie thundered glaring at me

" Perrie stop it can't you be friendly for once? must you be bitter at all times?" Dad said irked

" I don't care whatever you say to me. Just make sure you tell her not to interrupt especially when her opinion isn't needed" She retorted

" Oh I see. Amanda just stay calm and ignore her ok?" Dad said then I nodded.

"Now where is doctor Henry?" Dad asked ignoring her incessant rants

"I don't know and who is Doctor Henry? she asked

"The Doctor that attended to you in my absence" Dad replied casually

"I don't know he just took off those things from my body and then walked away perhaps to go get some things" She replied nonchalantly

" Ok" Dad said and sat down

"Amanda dear come sit with me" Dad beckoned after some minutes have passed and I nodded then walked over to sit with him.

"Aren't going to go call the doctor Dad?" I asked trying to strike a conversation after some minutes of awkward silence

"I don't think there is a need for that. He will be back very soon" Dad replied looking away

"Ok sir." I replied also looking away

______

We kept waiting for Doctor Henry to show up but he never came so Dad got up and said,

" Perrie let me go and call Doctor Henry. I'll be back soon"

But Perrie didn't say a word instead she glared at Dad for a few seconds before Dad walked out.

Sitting in silence, I stood up and began to walk back and forth in order to kill boredom.

"Hey stop that! You are distracting me and I'm trying to think so stop it here is not your home." Perrie thundered with a loud voice which caused me to shudder in fright.

"Well I'm sorry. I never knew i was disturbing you" I said calmly after regaining myself.

"Sorry for your self. Obviously, you have lost your sense of sight so I won't blame you for not seeing me in the first place" She retorted and I stood transfixed at one spot by her outburst.

I wonder what I have done to deserve all of these insults. I was only trying to be apologetic about my initial action.

But it seems like she doesn't deserve any of it anyway.

On a good day I'll show her the stuff I am made of and that day is fast approaching.

"So how is your health now?" I asked casting her a glance

"And how is that your problem. Can't you just mind your business

and stop talking trash" She blurted out but this time I walked out, leaving her still barking like a mad dog.

Walking aimlessly around the doorway, I kept tilting my head left and right to read inscriptions on doorposts. I kept doing that till I got to the tail end of the doorway where I saw a large empty hall with no inscription on it so I walked into it to see for myself what this part was used for.

The room was dark as only bleak sun rays were able to penetrate through the polished windows used.

Consumed with intense curiosity, my legs plodded loudly towards the right corner as my iris widened in an attempt to feed it with a clear view of the hall then suddenly I tripped and fell face down.