19
To her, the scariest thing was the fact that a gun was in his right hand and he was even caressing the tip! Who is he? Is he here to blow her head off? But she hadn’t troubled her late husband’s family to see her only son even once since she was kicked out. All these years without seeing him were like a needle in her heart. She always knew when he was sick due to the pain she always felt when her late husband was alive. If she was far away from her son and he got sick, she’d feel it. This has helped her know how he is all these years. Recently, she hasn’t felt any pain in her heart and so she knew he is doing well wherever he is. To her, that was enough; no need to ask for more!
So now back to current situation, what should she do now? Walk past him? Turn around and flee? Could she escape his bullet? Should she walk to him and ask him questions like: ‘Are you lost?’ ‘How are you doing?’ ‘Who’re you here for?’ ‘What’s ya name, my son?’
Nah, she had no such courage.
“What to do then? Think, think” she was still stunned in place not daring to move. A second later, the young man left the wall heading towards her. Every step he took made her heart drum so hard. She never knew her heart could be this lively ever!
She couldn’t do anything; just had to wait there for him to get to her. When he finally did, he smiled and tucked the gun in his shorts.
“Are you Dorothy Jane Greek, widow of late Morrison Tyler Hills?” he asked.
“…” her eyes went wide with fear. He said everything so accurately, was he really here to send her off to the earth? What about her husband? What about… she snapped out of her thought as the young man touched her feeble shoulders. She wanted to tremble but couldn’t. Surprisingly, his big hands felt warm and she almost relaxed. But recalling he had a gun, the thoughts of relaxation fled.
“Yes or no? Don’t be afraid, ma’am. I won’t kill you” he tried to reassure her but she began to shake and sweat appeared on her forehead.
She just recalled something. That youth who handed her a gold card in the afternoon, maybe this was someone he sent to kill her?
“Yes… or… no” he repeated, dragging his speech.
Sighing in defeat, she nodded in admittance.
“Yes… Yes, I am.” she bowed her head, trying to prevent the tears welling up in her eyes from racing down her cheeks. So this was it; the end to her life. She had regrets: not seeing her husband, not seeing her daughters and her son. She couldn’t get to say goodbye to them. Just they say ‘Life isn’t balanced’.
“Goodbye, world” she cried in her heart.
Hearing her authenticate the truth, the youth’s eyes twinkled and he straight away, hugged her tight and kissed her right cheek three times stunning her so much her mouth was agape and the buckets and hankies fell from her hand. She was afraid to blink. What was happening? Why was he hugging her? Was it to make her feel fake warmth before sending her off to the netherworld? And did he just kiss her right cheek 3 times? What for?
“I’m sorry, really sorry” he started to sob shocking her even more.
“Why… why are you crying?” she managed to ask. A million things were going through her head; she didn’t know what to think.
“I’m so sorry” he muttered and continued to cry, wetting her back with his warm tears. Yeah, despite the fact that he looked evil but his hug and tears were warm. She felt his heart beating quickly.
Was she his first victim to die? Was he feeling guilty about what he was about to do or was he forced?
“I’m so sorry” he kept on apologizing and even kissed her left cheek once, sniffing.
She decided to just hug him back.
“It’s…” she closed her eyes and sighed “It’s okay, dear. Don’t cry anymore. I won’t make this hard for you. Go on with your job” she patted his back.
He suddenly broke free and looked at her like he was seeing her for the first time. To her, maybe, he wanted to recall her face before he killed her.
“I just couldn’t help it after seeing you” he confessed and took out the gun from his shorts. Contrary to her expectations, he actually threw the gun to the ground.
“It’s a toy gun” he forced a smile. She felt it hard to believe. Just because, she’s a pauper doesn’t mean that she doesn’t know anything about guns, alright!
“Stop trying to look nice and guilty. Just do your job and kill me” she yelled. This time, the youth seemed stunned.
“No, why would I want to kill you? Why would you think that of me?” he yelled back, hurt was clear in his tone.
“You… aren’t sent to kill me? Then… what are you here for?” she asked.
“I’m here to see you and show you something special” without waiting for her reply, he turned around and lowered the left side of his black shorts which revealed his white briefs. He also lowered it too and there it was- a love shaped birth mark.
At once, her eyes widened and she stared at the youth in shock.Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.
“Andre… Andre?” she called. Deep inside her, she wanted this youth before her to admit it. But there was also a chance that he might not be, right?
The youth let go of his briefs and shorts, keeping his left butt covered once again.
“Mummy.” he called out with a nod. “It’s me, Andre. Your unfilial son has come to see you” he said with a low emotional voice.
“Andre, my son. My son” she rushed to him and hugged him tight. Tears from them both began to flow as they cried their hearts out.
“Mommy, I’m sorry for scaring you. I’m really sorry. I’m so sorry” he kept muttering.
“You did nothing wrong. You just wanted to see mummy. Now mummy is now hugging you, see?” she managed to speak. Her heart was very heavy at this moment. Her wish had come true. This very youth was her son- the one she yearned to see all these years but couldn’t. Ah, the world is really small. They tried to separate her and Andre forever. But look! Here he is with her. Hale and hearty. This is the best day of her life!
“My little boy has grown so tall and big. You’ve become a man… a handsome man, just like your father. I’m sure he must be very… proud of you. That you still remembered mummy all this time,” she spoke and gently patted his back.
“Mummy, I missed you. I missed you so much. I missed you”
“I know. And mummy missed her beautiful boy even more.” she reassured him with a whisper and kissed his left cheek three times.
“My darling son is back. My boy is back!”
“Yes, mummy. I’m back for you. Can you sing me that lullaby,”
“Andre, I will sing you the lullaby” she agreed immediately and started to sing. To say the truth, since the time her husband died till now, she never opened her mouth to sing anything. Today, the barrier is broken by Andre.
Soon, he joined her in singing too and happy tears continued to flow.
“I love you mummy” he declared. He always wanted to say this for a long time. Now the chance was here along with million more chances.
“And mummy loves you even more” she replied and kissed his cheek again. For the first time, she laughed heartily in years.