CHAPTER ONE
DYLAN
It was yet another Monday morning, Monday mornings were the worst ever to me , well to any other person it was normal to hate Mondays, because it comes with hangovers and every other sort of laziness
I dragged myself out of my bed and headed for the shower. I had a few minutes before going to the shop.
I used to work as a waiter in a certain coffee shop just a few kilometers from my house.
I lazily got to the shower and proceeded with my morning routine
A few minutes later I was on my way to the shop.
I need bothered to take breakfast because they usually offered us free breakfast at the shop.
I had my classes fixed so I only had afternoon classes and would go to the shop in the morning hours.
At school I didn't get a chance to make friends considering the fact that I was from a very humble background, most of the guys in my School were from a rich background so they usually walked in pairs.
I mean where would you even get the chance to even get to know their names? Everything about them remained in their circle and I was good with that.
I had at least twenty minutes before my shift started so I decided to walk to the shop.
With my backpack, I walked steadily into the shop and I bumped into someone on her way out.
Her coffee spilled all over the place and she cursed
I don't know if it was my mistake, hers or the both of us but then I figured out maybe it was me because I wasn't careful enough to see another person coming from the other end.
We both bend down to pick the coffee tumbler and our hands met.
I never understood the chemistry between us but then I only felt some sparkles the moment our hands met.
We both hurried to mumble sorry at the same time and our eyes met in the midst.
Her gorgeous blue eyes, they reminded me of Ivanna, my ex girlfriend.
This stranger was exactly her replica; I was so lost and caught up in the moment that I didn't realize my boss calling my name
I couldn't read well between her eyes but I knew they spoke something to me
No one had ever made me feel like that, it was only Ivanna and speaking of Ivanna I remembered what had really transpired between us.
The ugly moment when she broke up with me in front of her bunch of friends just because I was a dumb ass, with no cash to offer to her, I made her the laughing stalk in her group so she had no otherwise than calling it quits with me.
Dylan! What the hell!"
"Ohm I'm sorry Sir" I mumbled under my breathe
How many times have I called you, what's wrong with you today?"
Im sorry Sir I wasn't concentrating and I bumped into her, it won't happen again"
Youre very clumsy this is not the first time you're saying that, I've slashed away your salary several times but seems you haven't learnt your lesson yet maybe I just take this job from you"
Sir please this is the only job I have, I have school fees and bills to pay please don't fire me'
Excuse me sir, I believe I'm the complainant and I should just say it was an accident don't fire him I'll just get another coffee"
Mrs. Stranger, my knight in shining armor had come to my rescue, I almost smiled but then I remembered the situation I was in so I kept my mouth shut and waited for Mr. Alistairs response.
Seems luck was on my side because he actually listened to the stranger and that's how I got my job back.
I wished to meet the stranger and actually apologize and thank her for saving my ass but then I never got the chance, I mean how would I have reached her when I didn't even have her number?
"Man that was close" Dan my workmate told me as soon as I joined him on the counter
Yeah I almost lost my job, but I thank God"
That pretty blonde girl saved you, you should thank her otherwise we wouldn't be here talking"
I know but then how would I even reach out to her and appreciate it's not like I have her number plus I've never seen her here before or have you?"
"No it's actually my first time, but from the way you guys were looking at each other for those few seconds someone would have mistaken you for an old couple"
Youre kidding me" I said back to him knowing well that what Dan was saying was nothing but the truth.
I had known Dan for the long time I was working at that coffee shop, I can't say he was my best friend but then I preferred calling him a brother. We were buddies ever since then although he took a different course from mine.
I was fantasizing about the stranger I met just few hours ago and that's something shocking to me because I had never been in such a situation.
After our shift, we headed out with Dan to School; I had one class while Dan had two so we promised to meet up in my place in the evening.
I walked into the lecture hall and sat at the back, my normal spot.
The rest of the lecture I was listening to nothing at all my mind was far away thinking about my life, my ailing mother back at home with my two kids sisters who were all depending on me, Ivana's issue and how she just popped out of nowhere and decided to call it quits with me, I mean everything was on a standstill.
By the time the lecturer walked out I had totally zoned out, the dragging of chairs and scrumming of feet brought me back to earth.
I hurriedly hurled my book in my backpack and proceeded out of the lecture hall.
Just as I was about to reach the main door to the lecture theater my phone started vibrating from my jeans Pocket.
I checked the caller ID and it was my mom's, I wondered why my mom would call me at such an hour or maybe there was an emergency, I pressed the receive button and placed my phone on the ear.
"Dylan"
That was Melissa's voice, she was talking amidst crying and I wondered what happened to her
Melissa why are you crying is everything okay?" I asked alarmed
"No yes"
What do you mean no yes!?"
Its about mom, she fall sick and was admitted at the hospital"
"When"
Today, just an hour ago"
“What hospital?"
St Mark's hospital"
Im coming" I said and with that I hurried out of the school gate towards my house
CHAPTER TWOI rushed in my house to pick some clothes before I went to see my mom at the hospital. I was already at the hospital in two hours time; it was on Thursday so I didn't mind missing the Friday class. I walked into the hospital and was directed to my mom's ward.My mom was a diabetic patient, with high blood pressure and had a brain cancer undergoing chemo therapies but she had stopped some few weeks earlierMy sisters never knew about my mom's condition only mom and I. About my dad's whereabouts no one never knew, even my mom too. I only remember the few times my dad spent with us; it was something I never thought would come to end.Before he left, he was very abusive, he used to beat up my Mom like every time he would come home late at night reeking of alcohol, at one time he never came home and that was the last never heard from him or about his presence, my two younger sisters kept asking about him but seems they got tired asking about
CHAPTER THREEMy mom's death was not only a big blow to me but my sisters too, they cried all the way back home, we didn't have a choice left with us. I had to act strong for both Melissa and Alicia they weren't supposed to see me crying it would have broken them.As we went home there was only one thing ringing in my head, the letter my mom told me about, I was wondering what was in the letter and at the same time my head was pounding, what was I going to do with both Melissa and Alicia, they were supposed to go to school, food clothing, basic needs and my school fees too. I was in my fourth year and I only had one semester before I was done with my degree, I was taking literature, my passion for books was just something else, I hoped I found someone to take care of my kid sisters so I would just finish my exams and come to stay with them at home that was my prayer before we arrived at home.It was almost in the night when we got home, I prepare something for u
CHAPTER FOURI rummaged through my mom's room and found the key to her safe, I slowly opened it and I car face to face with a dark brown envelope, I presumed it was the one containing the letter my mom told me about.It was sealed so I took a pair of scissors from her night stand and cut the top part of it.There was a letter nicely folded into another envelope. My hands were already shaking and I was super tensed, I mean, I was not sure what was in the letter and I was only hoping it wasn't something bad.As I opened the letter, my hands were literally shaking and sweating, it was a long well written letter from my mom.I chose to sit on the couch where I'd comfortably read it from, I made sure the door was locked from the inside.DEAR SON,Hello my dear son? I know by the time you'll be reading this will be long gone, long gone to the land of the dead, but before anything else I want to you know that I love you from the bottom of my heart, you
CHAPTER FIVE“Man, that is fucked up, I mean all this while I have known your dad as your dad but seems like he was only staying with you guys because of your mom, no wonder he left, I am so sorry man” Dan said as we sat in the living room, my aunt had not arrived yet and we were sort of still waiting for her to com so we would know the way forward, I dint have any cash with me, not any sort of money that could help me with my mom’s burial, so we sort of had to wait for her, it was a few minutes past ten and I was sure she was going to arrive sooner“I know man, I just don’t know to do with my two little sisters, they are the only family left and I am not old enough to take good care of them, I mean I don’t have a stable to provide for them, they are way too younger, I just don’t know and now the only job that I had, that stupid boss just fired me and it is not like it was my fault, I just missed going to job today and he fucki
CHAPTER SIX“Look Dylan! Aunty Sue is here, she brought us cakes and chocolates! Melissa shouted from the doorway with a bag full of chocolates, I stood up from the couch and walked to the door, true to her words, aunty Sue was in her car, she was still inside so I walked past Melissa all the way to the drive way Aunty, you came? I said as I walked to her car and she smiled Yes of course Dylan, dont be stupid, here come help me carry this she said and I walked to where she was, when I saw her, my mind traveled towards my late mom, Aunty Sue was a replica of my mom, everything in her reminded me of my mom and I found myself hugging her Oh my God Dylan, I am so sorry for your loss, Kayla was my elder sister and I loved her so much, I was saddened by the news and honestly speaking I dont know why she would stop going for chemo therapies, I was always ready to help her but she was stone she wouldnt listen to me and now she is gone, too early for yo
CHAPTER SEVEN“Hello girls? So I was thinking about something good actually it is something great I know you will like it” I said to my two sisters who were now seated in their respective beds, it was just a few hours after mom’s burial, aunty had left immediately to go book our flights to England, I didn’t know what to tell my sisters at the moment but there I was gathering enough courage to break the news to them, I did not want to tell them about the letter until the time was right, I just wanted to help them pack a few of their belongings because we were to leave early the following day, Dan had just left for his house and had promised to come back and spent the night with us“Hello Dylan? You look distracted, is something wrong? And where is Aunty Sue?” Melissa asked and I inhaled sharply, you know Melissa was a thirteen year old girl but she was very mature, she could sense when something was wrong and she would tell me bluntly,
CHAPTER EIGHT“Are you guys ready for the long flight?” Aunty Sue asked that night as we were seated in the living room, we were just chilling in the house, Alicia was playing with Gwynn, Dan’s kid sister on the couch with their toys, and I was on my phone lost in my own world“Yes Aunty and by the way are there kids of my age at your place, you know I am going to leave Gwynn here or can I travel with her now that she is the only friend I have here?” Alicia asked and I smiled, Aunty Sue’s mouth curved into a smile, Alicia was always social, she would fit anywhere, she was not a choosy kid and that is what I always loved about her, always social and welcoming“Not really sweetheart, Gwynn will have to remain here so you will always be coming to visit her here when schools break” Aunty said with a smile plastered on her face and Alicia just looked at her“But I w
CHAPTER NINE“Where have you been all these years? Are you not even ashamed of yourself why are you now showing p here now after mom’s death, you didn’t even show up in her burial, what makes you think that we are happy to see you huh?” I asked him and he just looked at me like I was some statue“Oh my God look at how you have grown into such a fine boy, you can even stand up for yourself, and the guts just like your mom’s the only difference is that she was a coward and didn’t know how to take care of herself and even her kids, she was a bitch who deserved to rot in hell I am glad she died by the way and I am not even remorseful for what I did, I am in fact glad I did, you remind me of her promiscuity, she lied to me all those dam years and I am not just going to stand here and watch you disrespect me” he said and I just chuckled, I might have been afraid of him when I was young but at that moment, I was re