CUSP
24

I wake up panting, the place where I was sleeping is dripping wet and Obrien is looking at me with worry. My palms are shaking and I can still see everything from the dream, it’s as clear as day and if not for what I know now I would have believed that it was just some scary stuff but I know that it’s real.

‘Babe talk to me.’ Obrien says with worry written on his face

He has turned on the light and he is looking at me waiting for me to speak.

‘I had a dream.’

‘A revelation.’ I correct after shaking my head

‘Want to talk about it?’

‘My parents.’ I say feeling tears roll down

He pulls me close and holds me in his arms.

‘How long has this been going on? What sort of person is my brother for crying out loud?’ I ask more tears falling

Obrien doesn’t respond, instead he just continues to lovingly rub my back as if assuring me that all is well.

‘He left that life behind.’

‘It doesn’t change everything he has done.’ I say wiping away the tears

He kisses my forehead in silence.

I excuse myself and go to the bathroom, I lock myself there because I just need some time to myself. It is still bugging me how my life has taken this twisted turn and no matter how much Obrien and Astridah try to explain it will never sit well with me.

I look at myself in the mirror, my hair is smooth and long and very few strands of black are remaining because the gold is dominating.

After washing my face, I unlock the door and join Obrien in bed.

‘I am sorry about your brother.’

I scoff

‘I guess he had to do what he thought was right at the time, but he has changed and that is what matters right?’

‘That is what matters.’ He responds but he says it in a way that makes me question him.

‘Why do you sound like that?’

‘The problem with doing evil is once you are enticed into an easy way out on account that you do wrong you can always go back.’

‘For his sake I hope he doesn’t.’

‘Yeah.’

We stay in silence for close to twenty minutes, I block out everything that might come to mind. I will be going back home and I am not sure my life will ever be the same and this might be the end of my relationship with Obrien.

We both look at his phone when it starts ringing, it’s his wife.

‘Won’t you take that?’

‘And then what?’

My eyes widen as if they are about to pop out of their sockets.

‘Are you hearing yourself?’

‘Babe I don’t want to disrespect you by picking the phone right now.’

‘Obrien are you sure you are okay?’

‘What are you talking about?’

‘This is your wife we are talking about, why don’t you want to pick her call.’

He looks away but then I make him face me.

‘I don’t care if you two are from two different worlds, and just because I am pregnant for you doesn’t mean that you will disrespect her like that. I know nothing decent will come out of my mouth because I lost decency when I decided to start sleeping with a married man but this is still not okay, call her back.’

I don’t wait for him to respond, the sun is already out so I decide to go to the bathroom where I take a long relaxing bath. When done I dress up and go into the kitchen to make breakfast, I have just realized that the pregnancy makes me eat more than usual.

‘I called her.’ Obrien says walking into the kitchen

‘You really don’t owe me an explanation you know, she is your wife and your loyalty lies with her.’

‘Babe.’ He says coming to where I am standing

‘Obrien the sooner we deal with this the better.’ I say walking away

‘What are you talking about?’

‘We are done, I don’t want anything to do with you. My family will want to know who is responsible for this child and imagine what that will do to them.’

Silence

‘Claudia is my best friend, I am about to lose her too and your wife will never forgive me for this. It’s best we end things whilst we still have good things to say about each other. This is it, we are done.’ I say without even blinking

I was hoping he says something but he chooses to keep quiet, I finish off with making breakfast and we both eat in silence. When done he takes a bath whilst I pack up and in twenty minutes we hit the road.

‘Keep me updated on everything, I need to make sure that everything is okay with you.’ He says immediately we get to my place

‘Okay.’ I respond before he pulls me close and kisses me

‘Bye Obrien.’ I say pulling away even though I want him

‘Later.’ He responds

I get out of the car and get my bag from the back, when I enter the house Caleb quickly stands from the couch where he was lying.

‘Good morning brother.’ I say

‘My God Wane.’ He says coming to hug me

This is not the reception I expected, I had thought he would be mad at me or something.

‘I have been worried sick about you, God knows I was losing my mind.’

I smile and pulling away, he has been squeezing me.

‘I am sorry I ran off like that, but I am sure you know why.’

‘Forget it, I should be the one apologizing for what I did.’

I raise an eyebrow.

‘I am really sorry, tell you what, how about you go inside and freshen up then we can talk about everything.’ he says

‘Okay.’

I have walked towards the corridor when I stop to look at him.

‘What happened to your face?’

‘It’s nothing.’

‘Alright.’

I walk to my room and for the first time in years it doesn’t feel like it, I walk over to the mirror and that is when I see it. My hair is back to its original length and color.

..

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Winnie

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