5. I lost the child

Braden began smiling more often and he stopped being rude to Alicia. He was also curious to know why everybody didn't like Patricia but he couldn't remember anything at all. He tried calling his friend but the line didn't go through. He decided to ask Patricia about how their relationship had been in the past and why she wasn't around during his accident.

Patricia's expression changed immediately he asked, to that of fear, as she avoided his gaze. She didn't know what to say. "Tricia is everything okay?" She nodded her head and wore a sad expression on her face then looked up at him. "What is it? You look sad." he said.

"The memory makes me sad." she sniffed in, pretending she was sobbing. "Sorry. But what really happened? I need to know why everybody doesn't like you anymore." He was too curious to let it go. She sniffed in again and wipped invisible tears from her eyes. She then took in long breath to calm herself down and took both his hands in hers. "We were going to get married and we were so happy..." she paused, "hmm hmmm". He urged her on. "I had a modeling contract around the same time then I found out I was pregnant..." he raised is gaze to stare at her. "You were pregnant? How come no one tol_" "I didn't tell anybody, not even you." she said and he squinted his eyes in confusion. "Why?" he asked and letted go of her hands.

"I was confused and I needed to think things through before I told you. You've always wanted children and I didn't want you to influence my decision." she said. He sighed to ease the anger knot forming in his stomach and shut his eyes. "What happened? Where's the child?" he opened his eyes and asked.

"I went away without telling you my whereabouts, to sort my thoughts out. I couldn't breach the contract and I needed to find a way to handle everything before telling you. Ike was helping me out with it and your mum found out she was angry and said a lot to you." she paused for a while and watched for his reaction then continued. "You refused to see me or answer my calls. I was under a lot of stress due to your rejection and lost the child." she ended in sobs. "What? You should have told me you were pregnant or have lost_" "I couldn't face you after I lost the baby." she cut in while sobbing. He rose up from his seat and picked his clutches. " I'm sorry Brad." she held his elbow and weeped. His back was facing her and he was deep in thought trying to recall all she had said but his mind was blank and nothing came. "Braden, I've been meaning to tell you everything since I came back but I didn't know how you'll take it. Please forgive me." she went on her knees and wept bitterly holding his leg. He turned his head to look at her for a while and gazed up trying to calm his racing heart. He was battling more with the fact that it was his rejection that caused her to lose the child than the fact that she didn't tell him about it.

He turned around, put the clutch under his armpit, held her, and helped her up. He embraced her and consoled her. "I'm also sorry. It's partly my fault." He said staring into her teary face. He wiped the tears from her face, "Let's put the past behind us and move forward." he said and embraced her. She showed a cunning smile behind his back.

They sat back down, this time in the couch together and chatted heartily, reminiscing about how beautiful their past relationship was.

Meanwhile, Esther entered the living room from outside, looking very tired. She sat in the double stuffing chair and called Ruth to bring her water then took off her shoes and massaged her toes one after the other. Ruth brought her a tray containing a bottle of water and handed it to her. She gulped the whole content of the bottle down to Ruth's surprise, "You're really thirsty." Ruth smiled. "You can imagine. the sun is too hot and my AC decided to go off today." Esther stated and placed the bottle on the tray.

She heard her brother laughing in the study. "Is that my brother?" She asked and Ruth nodded her head in answer. Esther smiled widely, "That's wonderful. He's chatting so heartily with Alicia now? What happened?" "It's not her." Ruth said and Esther looked up at her curiously. "He has a visitor?" She asked and Ruth nodded her head. "But is he allowed to?" She asked more like a question, rose up from her seat and walked to the study door, she opened it slightly and peeped in. Her smile vanished immediately from her face and she shut the door angrily, "What's that wretch of a woman doing here?" She inquired angrily. Ruth only shrugged her shoulders. "Where's my sister-in-law?" Esther inquired and Ruth pointed to the hallway.

Esther charged into the hallway, shouting Alicia's name. Alicia came out of one of the rooms, shut the door behind her and leaned against it, "What's it Esther?" "Were you sleeping?" Esther asked.

"No. I was reading." Alicia replied and, "When did you return?" she asked. "A while ago, but I'm regretting it already." "What did I do now, Esther?"

"What did you do to my brother. Do you want to kill him?" Esther interrogated her. Alicia rolled her eyes, folded her arms across her chest. "Finals is just around the corner." "Is that why you brought that cheap thing into your matrimonial home to seduce your husband?" She yelled. "The doctor recommended bringing Patricia. At least he's happy." Alicia informed her. "Are you happy?" Esther asked looking at Alicia who looked away. "Patricia can't be trusted. Go and see how she's making out with your husband in the study." Esther blurted out and Alicia stared at her. "Making out? She breached the  contract." Alicia headed towards the living room but Esther followed her swiftly and held her before she could reach the study door and dragged her back to the hallway, "Where are you going?" Esther asked. "To kick that wretch out." Esther smiled and chuckled. "In Nii's presence? You're joking." Alicia's eyes welled up with tears, "You now realize your stupidity? How long has this been going on?" Esther inquired. "Two weeks." The tears trickled down Alicia's cheeks. "Stop being pathetic, I can't console you." Esther said, "I'll handle throwing her out. Go back to your room." Esther said and walked towards the door of the study room.

***

In a hospital somewhere, a nurse was attending to a patient who happened to be in a deep sleep when another nurse came in. "Jane, how's he today?" the new entrant asked. "Still the same. Except for his sleeping and waking up pattern." Jane replied. "Hm. It's such a shame." Tina said and helped Jane clean the patient up. "His family will be in anguish all these years waiting for him to wake up, if they've not forgotten about him." Almost done with the dressing of the patient, Tina spoke again. "I don't think they have. Or how will Doctor Bannerman and the other doctors here put all that effort into trying to revive him and also bring in experts from all over the world to examine him if someone is not looking out for him." Jane explained. "Hmm you're right but all the specialists who come and go, haven't they discovered anything yet?"

"I heard Dr Bannerman and the other doctors discussing that his persistent vegetative state has improved." Jane informed her. "Really? So there's a new diagnosis?" Jane nodded her head in response and checked the life support machines to ensure they are all in good working condition. "Minimally conscious state is the new diagnosis." Jane informed her. "Really? His condition has improved that much?" Tina was surprised. "Then that's good news. His family will be very happy with this news."

"Very. But they will be if we can get in touch with them and give them the good news." Jane said while checking the patient's BP. "You can't reach his family?" Jane shook her head in response and wrote figures on a paper in a file. Then took the BP equipment from the patient's arm and put a smile thermometer under his armpit to check his temperature. While Tina checked his sugar. "I've been calling the number but it's not going through." "There's no address too?" Tina asked and also wrote a figure in the file. "Nope." "But the medical bill is paid on time?"

"Yeah on the last day of every month." Jane changed the drip needle injected into the back palm of the patient's hand. "Then trace the transfer to its destination to find the family." Suggested Tina. Jane thought carefully about it and agreed with her just when the thermometer beeped. "You're right. I'll inform Dr Bannerman and chief matron about it." She said as she removed the thermometer from under his armpit. She read and wrote the figures into the file.

They quietly checked all his vitals and recorded everything then left the ward.

------------------------------------------------------------------------