Chapter 10

Morning arrives soft and familiar, draping the world in gold, the spark of sun piercing me deep into my eyes from a thin space through the curtain disturbs my sleep.

“It’s Morning. I have to be in the hospital. My internship starts today.” I had almost forgotten about my schedule for today. My internship is for a year or less before I can be permanently recruited as a qualified doctor.

I rolled to the edge of the bed reflecting on my experience for the previous day. It becomes a full dialogue with myself about how I rescued Richard from the pitfalls of Jason and his mom. I begin to panic again, because I’m aware of how much damage Jason and Madeline can cause to Richard, an image of Richard bowing in loyalty to my body to worship it as a goddess strikes me, there and then, I find myself smiling again with my body calling for him one more time.

“Will this image ever exist in my mind”

“Molly, sleepyhead, I don’t need a soothsayer to tell me you just woke up”

Cassy barges into the room, interrupting my moment of reflection.

“Cassy hi, you didn’t tell me you were coming over this early, what’s up girl?”

“Well, I called, but someone wasn’t responding, maybe she’s so exhausted from her engagement the previous night. Or maybe exhausted over something else” she teases flippantly.

“Well, yesterday was a long day, the part was ok, you decided not to attend though” I replied itching my hair with my index finger, trying to deviate from the question.

“Oh babes, I had some clients I had to catch up with, I’m so sorry. But trust me, I’d make it up to you, ok?”

She smiles, trying to brighten up my mood, maybe she realises my mood isn’t sparked.

She rests on my back tickling my chin which indicates she’s about to say something tricky, I have an idea, but I will give her a chance to ask plain.

“So tell me about every single detail that happened yesterday. You and Jason, did you????” She says winking her eyes jokingly.

“Please stop, the party was fine, and I wasn’t really with Jason, I was with..” as soon as I’m about to tell her I had an encounter with Richard, I declines right away

“I don’t think it’s smart to tell her about the moment with Richard”

Maybe she realises I’m hiding something, she stops and proceeds to tell me about her stressful clients.

Cassy and I have a fully blown conversation while I get ready for my appointment.

She drops me off at work and offers to pick me up at lunchtime. She always tries to make me convenient.

Work day is stressful, and I have to put in my all, in proving my excellence and how qualified I am to be recruited as a doctor.

While I strive for my dream with my tasks for the day, the figure of Richard didn’t escape my mind for a moment.

“I can do anything to be in that scene again, I wish he were mine” I sob vocally, but less audibly.

Cassy can't make it at lunch time, but she did make it at closing hour. She makes it up to me by taking me to a restaurant while we have some fun and share ideas. Soon, I receive a call from Jason asking for my location, which I wonder if he wants to meet up there.

Moments later, I get a message from a dispatcher, informing me about my package from one “Mr Jason”

Cassy

“Jason loves you so much, men like him are rare babe, I'm so happy for you, you won girl”

“Well, it isn't so special, it's just a gift”.

“Gift you say, Molly, whenever I speak about Jason you always nit to be interested in the conversation. Why? You should sing his praise with a butterfly in your Tommy when you hear his name”

“You know what Cassy? I feel Jason is masked. He isn't who he portrays himself to be, I don't know, I just feel so”.

Since I can't explain much to Cassy, I try as much to make her stop talking about him. When I'm with my parents and Cassy, I try to hide my disgust.

“Other women burn with desire to be in your shoes, I mean, who wouldn't want to be with Jason Cross, please Molly, this man is yours to value him. Don't take this opportunity for granted”

Cassy warns in genuine cluelessness of the situation on the ground and my awareness of Jason's unmasked face.

Cassy drops me off at home that night, while it's bedtime, I walk into my parents' room, conversing, which is weird. On a normal day, they would be in bed but this day they are intentionally waiting for me. Maybe to ask about yesterday's party.

“Mom, Dad, how are you doing”

“Molly my daughter, the universe has decided to use you as a tool to make us proud, go ahead, tell me about the party. Tell me about the number of dignitaries that were present. Everything”

My dad asks in enthusiasm, which for some unclear reason, the energy isn't innocent.

“Yes Dad, they were all present to witness us, it was a wonderful party for the elite, filled with class and courageous people”.

I explain to them while they both pay attention with so much happiness that it almost calls for concern.

I contemplate if I should tell them about my genuine feelings about Jason and his mom, “but why shouldn't I tell them? They are my parents”

“Mom, Dad, I don't think I want you to be in the Cross family, I don't feel comfortable being in their midst”

I watch the energy of the room go from thundered to zero as the sparkles from their faces suddenly disappear.

“You have to be joking, Molly, this has got to be a joke” my mom thunders.

“Jason is a young and awesome young man, every woman wants him, and here you are you have him in a platter of gold and you're joking with this goldmine opportunity”

It's always been about the money, anyway.

“But I don't love him”

“You don't have a dummy head. You don't have a choice, you must marry Jason.

My dad strikes aggressively, as he screams at the top of his voice with his veins bulging out of his neck.