CHAPTER 5

Mother's unborn child, my expected sibling had died that day due to Mr Facy's heavy prescription. He didn't hear her clearly when she had faintly pleaded to be handled carefully, because she was pregnant, she just woke up for some seconds oblivious to the fact that dad was no more.

He intuitively thought she must have inhaled smoke too, I can still visualise vividly how he plunged a syringe full of yellow liquid into mom's hand, she was so weak that she couldn't ask him what substance he was injecting into her.

It was after we had gone to Mom friend's place the next day to stay for a while that we found out mother had miscarried. The sick pain I felt in my head when I saw blood, tickling down her legs as she writhed in pain is one I cannot forget.

I was too weak to stand up and go call for help, the lady of the house was out. I tried, but collapsed right before I got to the door. The next time I was awoken, almost a day after, Mother was all fine and tending to as if nothing had happened. I could not ask questions because I felt guilty, so I kept quiet and hopefully waited for her to tell me how she got treated. She never did, didn't even mention dad, not once.

It took eight seasons, eight whole season before she deemed me grown enough to talk about it. I also had to promise never to feel like I caused whatever happened. She even went on about how happy she was to still have me by her side.

I took my time to make sure she got the right treatment owing to the fact that this was her second miscarriage; the first was supposed to be my elder sibling. I really couldn't handle her ghosting on me - I swear on the higher being I serve I would follow suit.

The fact that she didn't blame or even make Mr Facy pay for his actions puzzled and annoyed me. He might have been oblivious to the fact that she was pregnant, but no professional administers drugs without critical and tactical questioning.

Heaven knows I would have made sure he carried the guilt for a lifetime if given the chance. She had concluded out loud once saying the pregnancy was still very early that even a doctor would have missed it, she said that to take my mind off it and I believed her - how foolish and childish - I know better now.

Mr Facy, however, was lucky and gained from what almost took my mother's life and the town praised him for saving our lives after the fire incident. He didn't! I would never believe that, my father died, my sibling died, for heaven's sake I almost lost the only family I have got today! The town can think whatever they want of him, but not me. He is a murderer, he killed my family. He killed my little one.

No one dared talk about Dad whenever Mom or I was present, but I know for a fact his name was whispered in every corner where people stood in our absence, I feel it in my soul. They have no respect for the dead.

Today, mother had complications with breathing and we were out of her medications. I had rushed out in the evening to get her dose; Very expensive I must say, but losing her would leave my life without meaning.

" Get well soon, boy!" The pharmacist had wished.

I nod at him, only because I didn't want to come of as rude. There was no time for extra pleasantries anyway, I needed to get home on time. Yeah, Mother kept her health issue a secret no one knew she had breathing complications and it was because of the negligence of a certain being - every spite intended by the way.

Everyone, even the shithead pharmacist believed that the ton of drugs we get every two months were for me, Tom, the child he had "saved from the clutches of death" and it was kept that way. Whereas the only drug I always use to sustain my health was my inhaler.

I fortunately just got stuck with mild asthma, an extremely small price to pay for amount of souls I have ripped from the face of the earth - two when associated with other things seem minute till you attach killing to it.

Mother never corrected it and she always acted along whenever it was brought up, she had no problem with the mix up, she believed it was the best to prevent people from being too inquisitive and possibly finding out the truth.

I respected her wish and kept it a secret. The one thing apart from gossiping the people of this town were good at was how to kill a human being with the words from their vinegar-laced mouth. Even if she had cloaked her grief well, I know the mere thought of a lost child hurts her deeply.

I had almost gotten home when I heard drunken voices aligning my direction. I didn't need to confirm before I immediately found my way into the bush to hide. The voices of the town`s bullies was imprinted on the minds of everyone in town. Heaven knows I wouldn't have gotten past them if I had wanted to act all bravado.

Their drunk state would escalate whatever menace was coming from their deadly crew. They would beat me to a pulp, owning no tangible reasons to their actions.

Getting delayed while trying to be safe seemed like a far better option as opposed to attempting to make a run for it and being caught and dealt with, plus I really had to look after mama's drugs, they cost a bitch ton of money and money isn't what my family can boast of right now.

I found a fair space to wait and sit in a corner I considered secluded. They'll pass by soon and then I will make my way home in peace. I didn't calculate the fact that they were drunk - this might take a wee longer than expected.

" Believe me, Jack. I sense someone." Stanley notified.

Fuck!