Beneath The Surface

Chapter Three

I slowly opened my eyes, grogginess clouding my mind. A faint light stung my eyes, and I winced. Where…? Mom’s face hovered above me, tears streaming down her cheeks.

“Fate, oh, Fate!” She whispered, her voice trembling. “You are finally awake!” My head was on her laps, she wiped the tears that were flowing freely on the side of my face.

“It’s all my…fault.” My voice croaked similar to that of a frog, My head throbbed with each pulse. I used my hands to act as a shield for my head but it wasn’t working. “I killed mom.”      

     Still shielding my head, my mom bent over, resting her forehead on mine, “It is not your fault, Fate.” Tears were still flowing freely, she kissed me on my forehead.

“Everything is going to be alright Fate.” I tried responding, I tried telling her how I wished I had died with my mom that day, how I wished she hadn’t rescued me so that I wouldn’t put so much burden on her but I couldn’t.

It was like I was struggling to swallow a still beating heart. “I am going to get paracetamol for your headache.”

She lifted my head gently, placing a pillow under my head as she got up, my head sinking into the soft pillow, the bed that felt hard as a rock is now back to its’ comfortable state.

‘How did she know I was having headache?’ I stared at her as she walked towards my wardrobe, where my medicines were.

“Have you been taking your medicines?” She asked with her back facing me, the wardrobe making a squeaking sound as she opened.

I did not say a word, I am sure she took it as a no. “Fate, you need to take proper care of yourself.” The wardrobe made a jam sound when she closed it, she turned around, a black purse in her hand, which was filled with medicines.

“I know you are busy,” She sat beside me, her face was laced with worry. “But you need to take good care of yourself.”

I heard a zzzz sound which was coming from the medicine purse my mom opened.   

     She gave me the medicine I was suppose to take, I sat up, relaxing my back on the bed’s frame – she poured water into a plastic cup and gave it to me.

I couldn’t help but gaze at the medicine with revulsion, the smell of the medicine already made me feel like vomiting, my eyebrows were up and my face squeezed.

In one swift motion, I tossed the pills into my mouth and chased them with a swallow of water.

Haaaa, I gave out a sigh of relieve. “Just have a good rest, okay?” I nodded, fear crawled into my body as soon as she left and the sound of the door being shut echoed in my room, silence creeping into the room as usual, but this time, there was light in the room.

I turned my head to the left, staring at the mirror, wondering if reality had slipped away. I am sorry mom, I know it is all my fault, I wished I had died, maybe I wouldn’t feel this much pain, maybe I wouldn’t have to give my adopted mother so much heart ache…I succumbed to exhaustion, escaping into dreams.

The aroma of beans and fried plantain wafted into my nose, reviving all my senses.

My eyes opened wide quickly scanning the room till I saw my mom placing the food which was on a small grey tray, on the bedside table.

“I knew it!” She declared as soon as she placed the food down, “Beans and fried plantain would do the trick!” I giggled, a snort escaping my nose as I sat up.    

Mom sat beside me, and handed me a glass of water. I took a sip, then set it beside my food tray.

Taking the tray, I placed it on my lap as the aroma filled my nostrils, entering my lungs.