CHAPTER I52

Ruth felt that Naomi was not in her right senses but yet Naomi felt that she was right. It was her right to protect her daughter. 

" Come! Please follow me my daughter" said Naomi.

" Where to mama? I am tired and I feel that I should rest" said Ruth. 

" Just follow me Ruth. Why is it always hard for you to listen to me the way you used to listen to your grandma? Is it because she was more intelligent than me?" Asked Naomi.

" Let me accompany you then mama. I have never wanted you to feel inferior to grandma. I am eager to know what it is that you have planned for me" said Ruth as Naomi left the room followed by Ruth closely.

They both went to the living room and found Nelly and Ryan seated there. She left the living room which astonished Ruth since she realized that Faith was not there and wanted Faith to be present for the sake of friendship that she had with Ruth. This was simply because Naomi was behaving in a different manner. 

Naomi arrived at Faith's room and entered without knocking. She found that Faith had already slept. Naomi decided to wake her up by pulling her duvet off the bed. Faith immediately woke up filled with lots of anger but reduced her anger when she realized that it was Naomi.

" Aunt Naomi! What do yo want?" Asked Faith filled with lots of anger.

" What happened to you while still at the closer gates? Who dared to hurt you Faith? Anyway, that is least of my worries. Would you please come along with me to the living room? I want to have a meeting on how we are going to support your sister during her wedding day. She is still your sister even though we have no idea if that bond will be there as soon as she gets married" said Naomi who left Faith's room.  

This made Faith to feel bad. She wondered how Naomi could speak to her in such a manner as if her own Ruth was going to die. 

Anyway, that was least of her worries, all she needed to do was to go to the living room and support Ruth. Faith left her room to the living room and found out that everybody was seated silently waiting for her. 

" I....I am sorry that I am late" said Faith who went and sat beside Ruth. 

" That's how you will be late for my wedding dear sister. Anyway, why should I worry? Your wedding take place soon like mine and I will also be late in it" said Ruth who wanted to tease Faith.

" What is the problem with you? Haven't I told you before that I will never get married? Can we please move on with the meeting? I am tired and I want to sleep at once" said Faith. 

It was really true that she needed to sleep since it was already night even though they had hardly took their evening meal. Lawrence entered at that instant and left to his room. He did not want to involve himself with the family's troubles. It was enough for him that his own wife Vivian was in jail. All he knew that he needed to do was to find out how he would save his wife from the claws of jail. 

This was simply because there was no good jail or bad jail. Every jail had their own characteristics just like the cell of hell. Mambo cell jail was therefore a jail of sorrow where the criminals were beaten three hours in a day. That was really a horrible nightmare being beaten up was really hurtful. Some people failed to survive and bled to death. That was what Lawrence felt as days kept passing by and felt that she should do everything in order to be able to release Vivian soon. 

" The reason why I called all of you here is because of the engagement party between Ruth and Ryan. That is what they have always wanted ever since we came to this town. We should plan all these in the possible way because I want my daughter to get married and have children of my own" said Naomi but as soon as she finished, she realized that Nelly, Ruth and Faith had already fell asleep. 

It was then that she realized the bruises on Ruth's body were still visible. That truly meant that Haggai and Tere had beaten her up badly and yet Ruth did not bother to go to the hospital. Naomi went towards Ruth and began to feel her bruises then realized that the reaction on Ruth's face all of a sudden meant that she was feeling pain. 

This made Naomi to immediately wake up Faith and Nelly which astonished Ryan who had not yet realized what Naomi had realized. It made Ruth to wake up too who was already in tears because of the pain that she felt all over her body. 

" Mama! I ...I want....milk. I want milk" said Ruth feeling lots of pain. 

Naomi rushed to the kitchen immediately and prepared milk for Ruth then brought the milk to Ruth who was already crying. It was as if she had become a little baby all over again. As soon as Ruth finished drinking, she asked for cold drinking water. This was due to too much sweat after crying and struggling with all the pains that she was feeling. 

Faith immediately rushed to the kitchen and brought cold water to Ruth who pushed it away unknowingly since she was trying to adjust herself from the pain. 

" Mama! Can't we all see how Ruth is feeling? She needs to go to the hospital" shouted Faith at everyone. 

She had even forgotten that Naomi was her aunt and went to an extent of calling her mother.

Lawrence arrived at that instant. He was filled with lots of fury. 

" Why are you making noise Ruth? Is it my fault now that you have bruises all over your body? You all can go ahead and blame me but remember the fact that I want a peaceful night" said  Lawrence who went towards Ruth and carried her outside the mansion with everybody following him at a distance. 

They all wondered what Lawrence was going to do to Ruth but we're astonished as Lawrence put Ruth in his car and drove off. They all entered Martin's car and followed Lawrence who stopped at a nearby hospital. He immediately got out of the car and decided carried Ruth inside the hospital to the emergency room and ordered all the doctors to treat her. All the doctors entered the emergency room and locked the door at once. 

" Where have they taken Ruth?" Faith as Lawrence as soon as they arrived to where Lawrence was standing. 

" Where you people would have taken her instead of her crying like a child at the mansion. I am leaving. I need to have a peaceful sleep because of the plans I have scheduled for tomorrow. Ruth is in the emergency room and the doctors are attending to her. I have only decided to tell all if you because I pity all of you. Remember to inform me if you all won't be able to Carter for the hospital bills" said Lawrence who left. 

They all looked at Lawrence filled with lots of anger yet they felt he was right. They should have taken Ruth to the hospital instead of sympathizing with her. 

" I am going to make Martin pay. It's been a long time ever since Ruth behaved like a little baby. It's what she used to do in the past when she was in a lit of pain" said Naomi feeling sad.

" There should never be any room for regrets. We all could have done what Lawrence has said. Oh! I think the doctors have come out of the emergency room. We should go and find out what has happened to Ruth" said Faith as she went towards the emergency room. 

Faith failed to enter as Ruth was brought out at that instant and taken to a single private ward as Lawrence had ordered. 

The doctors entered at that instant and injected Ruth with a pain relaxer injection.

" Doctor! What is really going to happen to Ruth? Is she in a terrible state?" Asked Naomi filled with lots of worries.

" Your daughter is on food condition right now and will recover from bruises but....." Said the doctor who seemed I be a little bit tensed.

" But what doctor?" Asked Naomi who was filled with lots of curiosity.

" She has leukemia and needs blood transfusion immediately. Her leukemia is not yet on the worst kind of stage which means that something should be done. She will need a bone marrow transfusion afterwards" said the doctor as they all looked at each other in deep state of confusion.

" Is this a new disease in town? And is it only found in this town? " Asked Naomi.

The doctor looked at Naomi and smiled. He felt he had a tight task ahead of him. He needed to teach them about blood transfusion and none marrow transfusion. He therefore invited them to his office for a few lessons needed .

MARRIED AT SIXTEEN.