Chapter 23

I walked into the hospital with tears blurring my eyes...I went straight into his hospital ward and looked around

" Good morning K.C" I turned around and saw Natalie smiling at me

" Why are you crying??" She frowned

The bathroom door flew open... I looked at him, dressed in the hospital gown holding the side of his head

"Miss Natalie, please who is this??" He walked to the bed slowly

I could feel my heart break into a million pieces as I sat on the chair

I looked at him closely as tears started welling up in my eyes

I walked up to the bed and stared at him for a while, holding his hand

" Jamal??" He looked up at me and raised his eyebrows

" Natalie what happened??" I turned to her

She shrugged...I looked back at Jamal and smiled

" My name is K.C" I smiled at him and brought out my phone

" See??" I showed him a picture of the both of us together

" I'm your very good friend" he looked at me and squirted his eyes

" I know" I looked up from my phone and left his hand

" Jamal??" He started chuckling I stood up and looked at Natalie

She started laughing

He grabbed my hand and pulled me in for a hug, I pulled back and frowned

"I'm sorry" he smiled and pulled me in again for a hug

" You have strength for someone waking up from a coma" I could hear him chuckle again

" I missed you" he pulled me back and pecked me

" I didn't" I looked at him closely and chuckled

" I waited for so long" I pouted

" And that's what brought me back" he hugged again

" I thought I was never going to see you again" I held him tighter

" Where were you anyway??" He pushed me back and looked into my eyes

" On a date??" I looked at my hands

" He's a friend really" he looked at me closely and frowned

" I'm sorry" I mouthed

" Nothing serious??"

I nodded

I'm so happy.....

" What about Aunty Jane??" I smiled

"She's fine"

" My dad??" He held my hand, I frowned

" What happened to him??" I looked away and stood up

" You need rest" I pecked his forehead

" K.C, what happened to my dad??" He held my hand tighter

" He's in a better place now" his face changed

" What do you mean in a better place??" He sat up

" He's dead" I lowered my head

" We had no idea he was going to do that" I looked to the door and noticed Natalie was gone

" I'm sorry" I looked up at him, he was quiet, his face looking confused yet surprised at the same time

" I'll come back, you need to rest" I got up and picked up my bag from the ground

I closely the door behind me and looked back through the transparent glass, he sat in the same position

I sighed and walked out to the parking lot

******************

I walked into the house that evening and found Aunty Jane in the living room watching TV

" Good evening"

" Evening how are you??" She looked back, she's regaining herself slowly since uncle James' death

" He's awake" I sat down

"Theodore??, No I just put him to sleep"

" No, I mean Jamal" she looked at me

" Seriously??" I nodded

"Then why are you here??" I sighed

" He asked about his dad" I lowered my head

" Oh."

" The burial would be in 3 weeks time" she continued watching her program as I walked up the staircase

*****************

The next day I took a cab to the hospital

Everywhere was rowdy but I walked straight to his ward without stopping

" Jamal??" I looked at the empty bed and went towards the bathroom

I opened the door and looked around

"Where is he??"

I ran to the reception

"Please where is Nurse Natalie??" I asked the nurse who was obviously frustrated looking through different files

" Today's her day-off" I scratched my head

" The patient in this ward" I pointed at the door

" Where is he??"

" You mean Jamal Murray??" I nodded

" He's been missing since this morning"

"We've been trying to locate him" she picked up the telephone to make a phone call as I took a step back in confusion

" Missing??!!"