The FLIGHT.

The mid morning caught Angela and her sister in the lounge. Claire was at her high spirits and unusually happy for this journey in spite of her condition. She paid little attention to the fact that she was going to undergo a surgery. Sitting next to her sister, Claire admired the opulent environment of the airport and the somewhat formalities that it presented . She knew she looked just perfect in her pink velvet skirt and a matching pink blouse. She was however not sure if her footwear was just okay with her. She encouraged courage in herself and concluded that she was at least a trim of beauty after all .

Angela was totally the opposite of Claire. Her mood was unspeakable. She did not understand what exactly was troubling. If it was as the nasty memories of Harrison she didn't want want to imagine. If it was the whole saga about her and George she still couldn't comprehend. If it was the condition of Claire and the fact that she was going to undergo a life threatening procedure she still was not sure. In any case she was wholly troubled. Minutes later they were on board.

" Angie! Angie! why are you like this today? " Claire nudged her when she spotted the hostess who had served them. She realized that Angela hadn't taken her juice and her tumbler was still full to the brim. Angela was in deep thinking. "Oh! today? " She replied absent mindedly not being certain of what Claire had said.

" What are you thinking?" Claire quizzed with care. " How can one stop thinking of a life threatening procedure that's going to happen on one's sister. You think I cherish your predicaments Claire?"

" No you don't but Angie everything on this earth is almost impossible without hope."

"What are you speaking about Claire?"

"Yes I'm serious. I know it's a matter of life and death. I'm the one going through it but I'm finding ways to build hope." Claire counselled. Angela was amazed that she had turned out to be the one to be advised by her younger sister. Seven years apart is a huge age gap to think of the Claire being her adviser. She tried to bring back a grin on her face as if to affirm with what Claire said. Almost like accepting her advice.

Of course Claire was right to allude that hope always break every problem that is impossible. She valued how Claire viewed herself and her level of optimism and wished she could emulate her. But Claire is still too young and perhaps has a less congested mind to speak of. Had she not known that it was because of her health that She had to lower her reputation to the level of sleeping with her boss? Harrison was almost unforgettable. His figure still loomed in her mind menacingly. She still remembers that day at work.

It was just a few days after Claire had been discharged from Meflon Referral Hospital. A gloomy day at work as she thought about the outcomes of Claire's problem. She remembered every bit of what the doctor said and was terrified. Just at that moment the bank manager, Mr. Harrison Otieno , passed by her desk after the line of clients subsided. He meant to ask her something about a customer's CDSC account that was not activated but shifted his attention to her cleavage. Angela wore a light blue blouse that was designed with a collarless wide neck. One could see the curves of her brassieres through the light fabric of the blouse. A conspicuous cleavage of her tender skin was something a lustful man could not resist at first sight of her .

He lowered his head close to the desk and certainly smelled the fragrance of perfume she wore. Angela did not realize it until she noticed his steady gauze on her full bosom. She felt embarrassed and a touch of fright took the better part of her. She had never expected this from her boss. She slid her fingers across her chest in an attempt to cover whatever was drawing this awkward attention. Harrison fumbled with the document in his hands for a few seconds before dropping them on her table. He was unsure of what to tell her . The important message that he had had been swallowed by the turn of events here.

"Activate that and don't leave for home without calling at my office today." He said while blundering around the door as if he was not sure of leaving. Angela stared at the document on her table for a minute and tried to figure out if it was really her job to work on it. She went through it , worked on it and was done in almost five minutes. She then thought of Harrison. Why he was behaving absurdly of late. Why she caught his gaze at her chest and why he found a handwritten note and a bunch of flowers some weeks ago in her office.

It sounded strange to her and the fact that he asked her to go to his office that day.

If there was a possibility that Harrison had a lust on her or was falsely in love with her , Angela Could not tell. She loved George dearly and dared not to play on his back. George was her man that she wanted. She momentarily thought about the proposal when she glanced at a lustrous ring on her finger. She reminisced the event at Allgrace park . George was serious. He really wanted to marry her. This was not the time to beat around the bush about whom she wanted. Harrison was always there with her in the bank since she was employed three years ago and she had never thought of him in terms of love rather than her boss. How could he just wake up and think that he loved her? This behavior only started weeks ago and seemed to be confusing her.

Some minutes before she packed her belongings to close her work, her phone biped unusually as a message showed up on the screen. Mesmerized, she stared at the message not sure what to do about it. It was Harrison . He had just blasted her account with Ksh .30,000. She figured what that amount meant but failed. She convinced herself that perhaps he had sent it by mistake to her number. She hurried up and closed the door to her office and passed by his office to make things clear about the mysterious money in her phone.

"Harrison I'm shocked!" She started off after entering his cosy office. "Have you sent some money to my phone?" She asked yet feeling foolish for showing childish loyalty in a time that she needed money badly. He did not answer for a moment while his fingers played with a ball pen in his hands. He tighten his lips as they formed a thin line of his captivating grin. He tilted his head and sent alluring eyes throughout her body then broke the silence.

" Yes I sent. Do you need it? It's just a token for your kindness."

"Kindness? " she wondered

"Do you need it or you want it to back to me?"

" I need it. I have ... Okay I need it Harrison!"

"You have what? "

She did not intend to let him know about it. Her tongue just slipped and she found herself saying it. She tried to control the urge to tell him but failed. After all she concluded that perhaps he may be of help.

"Harrison I have been in a big trouble and I badly need money." Her voice was wavery and that cought his total attention. "My younger sister has been terribly sick and needs a surgery. I'm completely stuck.I don't know where to secure the treatment cost." She felt strange to have let out this secret.

" I'm sorry for her. That's so sad. Look I'm going to help you. "

" I'm very thankful I don't know what to say."

" But first of all give me a chance! "

" A chance!" she was confused.

"Yes this night. Only this night Angela."

" I ... I cannot do ..."

" Sister is sick you need money right? " He interrupted almost immediately ignoring her watery eyes. He stood up walked by the other side of his office to close the windows. He stashed the few documents that lay on his table in one of the drawers, picked up the keys and brushed passed her towards the door before he whispered " I'm going home. Think about that if you wanted to save your sister." Angela turned to look at him and wiped out her tears. "It's okay Harrison. I need the money." She shook her head as if to confirm it was herself who had just muttered those words. Harrison had just bursted out. " wonderful!" before she pulled her hand out of the office to lead her into his car.

All this Angela could remember and still finds it difficult to let Claire know. She was wondering if Claire is old enough to bear that in her fragile mind. She turned to her sister and wrapped her arm around her shoulders then whispered to her. " Your big sister is Okay don't worry." She grabbed the tumbler before her and made several gulps of the juice. She turned her head through the window to see the thick clouds outside that seemed to bring tranquility to her mind. She vowed to herself that if things would go back to normal, she would surely let Claire know this!