Chapter 5

...Rhoda ran after me. She finally caught up with me at block four.

" You killed Simon," She said more out of fear than anger.

"Am sorry". I cried. I didn't mean to he tried to rape me".

"Marvel, you are a liar"

"I swear believe me". "please don't call the police.

"You know what.....". She began, wiping her tears. "...Let's go back, he probably isn't dead"

And so we went back and found Simon in his own blood. I wanted to scream but Rhoda signalled to me to keep quiet. She checked his pulse from his uncut wrist.

"He is alive". She said. "probably unconscious".

We hired a cab and took him to the hospital.

" What happened to the young man". Someone, probably a nurse, asked.

"Home accident". Rhoda said quickly.

"Emergency". A young nurse screamed.

Around the past two in the morning, the doctor came and told us we could go and see him.

"Are you sure it's a home accident"She questioned curiously.

"Ehm.....uhm" I stammered.

"Of course," Rhoda said with so much confidence. "Why do ask?"

"Nothing, it just seemed intentional to me, that's all"

"Oh, you see Marvel here and Simon are step-siblings and I must add that they are the closest step siblings I have ever seen. Simon just happened to scare Marvel from behind while she was making a fruit salad for me and so she accidentally injured him"

Rhoda is such a clean liar am not surprised though. I mean, I have met her.

"Be careful next time, you can not always get so lucky. Well, thank God the knife didn't cut through his veins" She started to leave but then turned back. "We detected a large amount of alcohol in his blood. Anyways he has undergone detoxification and should be fine soon. you can go in to see him"

" OK doctor, thanks," We said in unison.

We went in and met Simon half sitting, half lying on his hospital bed.

"Am sorry Marvel". "I was wrong about us". He held his wrists and yelped in pain.

" That should be a reminder never to mess with me". I said trying to make light of the situation.

"I am sorry Marvel, am not usually like that. Let's just say it's upbringing coupled with bad company"

"Have seen your good side Simon and about the upbringing thing,I'll be worse if grew up with a dad like Mike. No offence of course"

"When you said bad company,I hope am not included?". Rhoda said peeping through the door.

"I didn't know you came "

"You would have bled to death if I didn't"

"Don't be so dramatic Rhoda, I was only scared" I said, rolling my eyes.

"It is good to see the most important women in my life getting along so well" Simon chipped in.

"What are we, Fifty? Am nineteen and she's barely even sixteen" Rhoda replied.

"Your point?". I asked not getting what she said.

"What she meant is that you're ladies not women"

"Thanks, Simon".

"Do we all promise to let go and pretend this never happened?" I asked.

"Promise?"Simon said.

" Cross my heart" Rhoda said.

I knew from the look on their faces that they needed some alone time to talk so I excused them.

Rhoda met me at the reception at exactly three A looking quite distraught.

"What happened?"

" We broke up"

" Am so sorry".

" No don't be sorry Marvel, it is not your fault. I broke up with him"

" But why Rhoda?"

" He said he was sorry and all but I don't think I will ever look at him the same way anymore. Not after what has happened tonight. I told him I needed some space....." she paused.

"And?".

" He took it in good faith. We both decided to give each other a break in order to be free"

"Is it a temporary break?"

"I don't know"

"Time will tell?"

"I guess" she sat down. "The break is just to find who we really are. We have been dating since high school and now that we are out of school,am at the state university studying medicine and he's here in Duncan helping his parents run a brothel. I have tried to get him to apply for a course at the university but he doesn't want to. He thinks am trying to decide his life for him and ever since I came back for the holidays he has been different and has always accused me of going out with the guys on campus every time he gets the opportunity. We will probably find someone else now that we broke up or..."

"Or?" I said encouragingly hoping she would say what I wanted to hear.

" Or will probably love each other more and decide to get back together. Whatever happens Simon and I are still friends and I'll still keep in touch with you too"

I sighed inwardly.

" I need to go and pay the bills, are you coming?"

" Sure"

We went to the cashier and paid the bills.

" How come you have so much money in your account"

" Hello?. My dad is a senior policeman and my mum is a top-class magazine editor and photojournalist. Plus am the only child. Does that answer your question?"

"Leaving no iota of doubt".

After the bills were paid we discharged Simon. We had to sign some official documents because the doctor said he was not fit to go home. Rhoda had that covered since she was a legal adult. There was no way we could explain what happened that day to our parents.

"We should hang out soon" Rhoda said to me in the sitting room after we had put Simon in bed.

" Yeah we totally should"

" Good night, my regards to your parents and Makaela"

" Sure"

Wait where is Makaela.....oh no. The drama in my life made me forget my own sister, my blood. I can't blame myself, can I?

We lived most of our lives apart. I will make sure to ask mum when I see her.

Wait have only seen her twice since I came.

Why can't I have a normal uncomplicated life?.