Salvation (An Arranged Marriage ll) - Episode 45

 

The tang of blood on my tongue alerts me to the fact that I've bitten my lips too hard, my body remains trembling and my eyes can't stop darting from one point to another.

The door bursts open and a sobbing Linda enters with a worried looking Kane.

He's eyes immediately comes to me and I rise from my seat.

"How's he? Is he going to be fine?" I ask refusing to recall the memory of Maurice heart slowing beneath my hands.

I clench my fist, precious seconds wasting as Kane tries to make a decision whether to tell me or not.

My heart breaks, my eyes going to Linda.

This can't be right, Maurice will be okay.

I begin to shake my head, taking steps backward but Kane is there, taking me into his arms.

"Maurice is fine Ani, Maurice is fine, he's a little banged up but he will survive"

"Are you sure? Are you telling me the truth?" knowing fully well Kane will lie just to protect me from the truth.

My eyes finds Linda and hers are cold but not with grief but blame.

I'm sure she hates me for calling out her fiancé.

I sob in relief burying my head in Kane's shoulder, acutely aware of the dried blood on my hands and my clothes.

I feel like throwing up, I want to throw up, I Caused this, I almost sent a man to his death.

I begin to heave and my hand goes to my bulging stomach where the life inside me Is kicking profusely.

I Suddenly can't seem to breath in enough oxygen, the waiting room begins to spin.

"Anadia!" Kane's shout Intrudes the web of guilt in my head and I vaguely hear him yell at Linda to get a doctor.

I try to form words, I try to...

"Maur.. Maurice.." I hyperventilate before darkness takes me.

***

A hand on my wrist pulls me awake and my eyes flies open to see Maurice lying in a twin bed beside me.

I seat up immediately.

"Are you alright?" I ask,my voice sounding dry and hoarse.

"Careful there Mrs King, don't stress yourself out" He whispers but I grip his hand, looking intently into his eyes.

"Please Tell me the truth, tell me you are fine" I say, my already mangled lip going beneath my teeth again.

"As you can see Mrs King, I'm fine, just a slight graze, nothing big" he says and my eyes take in the bandage around his chest, I know he's lying, I saw the bullet hit home, I know he's lying.

"This is all my fault, this is all my fault" I begin to chant and I feel my hand trembling again my eyes go to them and I vaguely notice that someone must have wiped the blood off them, that someone must have put me in the same room with Maurice.

"Calm down Anadia" Maurice calls and the shock of him calling my first name is enough to jolt me from my thoughts.

"I'm fine, I'm glad whatever happened was me and not you, I'm more than glad Anadia" He says and I stare into his eyes before nodding.

The door opens and it's obvious Kane has been standing there.

He looks worse for wear and it's obvious he's been thinking.

Another flood of guilt fills my chest as my hand gwies to my stomach, waiting for the little ball in me to announce its presence.

"Are you okay?" He asks and I nod, he bends his body to kiss my head and my eyes falls close.

"How's our baby?" I ask, another wave of guilt slamming me for the stress the little ball inside me must be going through. 

"He or she is fine, all I care about now is how you are doing" He says and I nod. 

"I'm okay" I whisper, my hand going up to his face, he looks beyond tired and I know the thoughts giubg through his head. 

"I though you would like to stay close to Maurice" He says, looking decidedly uncomfortable.. 

"Thank you baby" I say, knowing fully well the reason why Kane is not looking towards the other side of the room. 

The door opens and Linda enters, she looks sick and I recall Maurice telling me she wasn't fine. 

She walks to him, sliding her hands around his waiting ones and my body stills, waiting for whatever is giubg to happen next. 

"Linda..." Kane starts. 

"This is all your fault" She whispers and Kane's body waves, my hand slips into his for support. 

"If..

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. If you had.." She doesn't finish before burying her face in Maurice's neck. 

"I'm sorry Linda" Kane whispers softly and. It's the second time regret shines in his words, the first time was long ago. 

Linda doesn't reply and I know it will be awhile before the animosity goes away..