chapter 3

I left my grandpa's compound with tears in my eyes. I made sure I looked composed, as I didn't want my mum to sense any weakness in me. With my head held high, I walked towards the bus station and waited for the bus to arrive.

I became absent-minded and lost track of when the bus passed me but luckily for me there was a tall blonde-haired girl who had stopped the bus a few miles away from me, so I quickly ran to where she was, entered the bus, and swiped my card.

I sat at the third seat close to the window and thoughts began to flow through my head, "Do I accept the offer or decline it" I don't want to lose my mum, she has labored a lot for me and my sister (Amelia). Then a thought struck my mind that I hadn't informed my lover "Drew" about my mum's condition, he could be an escape from this life I never planned for myself.so I decided to go visit him before I went back to the hospital since his house was just a few walks away from the hospital…

The bus got to my location so I stopped and walked down. I started walking towards my lover "Drew's" apartment. The weather was very scorching, I could melt in it if I was in a jacket.

I arrived at his house and began to knock on the gate. I knocked effortlessly at his apartment but to no response, but suddenly a young short man came out of the apartment and I immediately said "Please I'm here to see Drew, who are you"?.

I'm the one that lives here, I do not know of any Drew or whatever name you called "The man said". But sir my boyfriend lives here I said in curiosity staring at the man's face.

"The man replied angrily"I don't know of any Drew, I just got into this apartment "3 days ago, so no Drew lives here. He went inside and shut the door in my face, at this point I became more frustrated not knowing what to do so I immediately called my lover to find out what was happening before my eyes but he didn't pick up my calls.

Then I decided to walk out when a lady friend I had in the compound stopped me and asked if I wasn't aware that Drew had moved out of the country; in disbelief and confusion that my new fate had become an inescapable one for me, I walked lifelessly out of the compound and held over to the hospital to check on my mum.

After a few walks, I finally arrived at the hospital and walked inside the reception but to my surprise my friend was panting, breathing like the world was going to end this made me worried so I ran directly to where she was and called her "Luna what's the issue, why are you so disturb"?. She kept a furious face and sighed "Luna I'm talking to you, where is my mum?" I yelled at her. I was so curious and scared because my thoughts had driven me crazy and I didn't want to believe anything I had thought.

Mum went into a coma last night and I haven't heard from the doctors until now "Luna said shaking"

On hearing this I collapsed and was rushed by some nurses and was given supplements to make me feel better, but some minutes or more I wasn't myself and didn't know what happened. I woke up having a headache and my eyes kept doubling at things but I could manage to see my friend Luna and the only thing I wanted to know was where my mum was and I asked weakly Luna where is my mum? I want to see her now I said looking at Luna."just rest a few more minutes I'll take you to her, Luna said"

I fell asleep immediately after I heard this, and woke up a few hours later feeling much better and I requested to see my mum "Calm down Natalie I'll take you to her " I wanted to see her now I shouted at her, seeing my reaction she immediately asked me to come with her.

We walked out of the ward I was in and held on to the theater where my mum was. I wasn't allowed to go inside but I could see her through the window of the room and I found my mum lying down on a white cotton-covered bed with oxygen in her nose to enable her to breathe. My heart shredded as I broke down Into tears and ran outside the hospital, my friend Luna came after me immediately.

"Calm down, everything will be fine"

I dried my eyes with my hands and yelled at her how everything would be fine when my mum was dying slowly on that sick bed. How will everything be fine when my boyfriend is nowhere to be found? How will everything be fine when my grandpa refuses to help if I don't agree to his condition? Luna, I'm talking to you tell me how will everything be fine ??

I understand Natalie," Luna said" and what condition are you talking about?

My grandfather has requested that I marry a man I don't love, and I don't even know where to get his help. How on earth do I do something like that? Why is everything happening to me? My boyfriend has moved out of the country.

So what do you plan on doing now that all this is happening "Luna asked"?

Luna has always been a straightforward person so she hates to panic and always loves being direct and straight.

"I replied to her saying", I don't know what to do, I don't see an escape to this bondage and chain that has cut up with me. My grandfather's company has gone bankrupt and investors are on his neck and the only escape I had was to go back to my boyfriend for help, but he has left the country and he didn't even inform me about it….so there's no way for me, I have to accept the condition my grandpa gave, I can't watch my mum dye.

So you have to marry a man you know nothing about? How do you cope with him ?"Luna asked"

What else do you have me do? I have no other choice than this. I'll go over to my grandpa's house tomorrow since it's already late now and accept my fate of going into doom and something I'll regret all my life ….