Windy Valley Secondary
by Shane Connell 21.NOV.08
Previously: Ras tried to warn Miriam that despite her boyish disguise, someone would recognise her. Miriam refused to heed to Rasâ warning and went to see Susan in hospital.{{more}}
Ras ran. He ran all the way to the hospital, but he neither saw nor passed Miriam on the way. He decided to take the optimistic approach, and only hoped that Miriam had succeeded in getting to the hospital without being recognised.
As he walked through the corridor, he couldnât help but reflect on how selfish Miriam had been. All his family, including his reluctant brother Sel, had agreed to help Miriam by secretly hiding her at the family home. For her to be recognized now, in public, would mean the break up of the family, and a jail sentence for him, shattering both his dreams of holding the family together and becoming a doctor.
Ras reached Susanâs room. No one had bothered to stop him to enquire who he was or who he was going to see. Maybe Miriam had met with the same luck. He gently tapped on the door, and a faint voice told him to come in.
He entered hoping to find Miriam, but she wasnât there. It was just Susan lying in bed. She had lost a lot of weight, and there were deep dark shadows under her eyes. Her voice was faint, and every so often she would wince in pain. Ras was pleased to see Susan conscious again, but this was soon replaced by concern. Judging by the way she looked, it would appear that Susan would be in hospital for some time.
Ras tried to not make too much noise, and sat in the chair beside her bed. The question is: Where is Miriam? Had she already been to see Susan and left? Maybe she had been caught and the police were at his home arresting every member of his family? Too many questions were flying around in his head. He needed to put his mind at ease. He needed to know if Miriam had been to see Susan.
So he started the conversation âHas Miriam left already?â
Susan lifted her head to make eye contact with Ras. âMiriam? No I havenât seen her. â
Ras knew he had to tread carefully, he had to make sure not to incriminate himself or his family. âMiriamâs been in touch, she said she would come and visit you todayâ.
Miriam, Susan thought, visit her? Then she pictured all the trouble that Miriam had caused just by taking her boyfriend, Sharpie, away from her. If Sharpie hadnât dumped her, then theyâd be married, instead she got a good kicking from her mother which landed her in hospital. In a bitter voice she said, âThat bitch better keep away from meâ.
This is not what Ras wanted to hear. Assuming that Miriam hadnât been caught, she could walk through that door and Susan would surely cause a commotion. He got up from his chair. He needed to go and look for Miriam to warn her not to turn up.
âYouâre going to tell her not to come,â said Susan.
Ras couldnât lie to his friend. âYes, you donât want her hereâ.
âYes, youâre right. I want that bitch to die. I want her to feel pain, like the pain Iâm feeling now.â
âBut if you allow her to explain to you why…â defended Ras.
âWhat is there to explain? She ruined my life.â
Ras couldnât believe what he was hearing. âI admit it was wrong what she did, but this is Sharpie weâre talking about. He was never going to marry youâ.
Susan knew that Ras was telling the truth. Sharpie was just interested in the sex, and her mother was just interested in getting as much money as possible from Sharpie. She felt that she had been used by the two people she cared most about in the whole world. Susan needed to take her pain out on someone and she decided that someone was Miriam.
Just then there was a knock on the door.
Ras pleaded, âPlease, Susan, just listen to what Miriam has to say…â
The Windy Valley Secondary series is fictional. Any resemblance to real events, places or persons living or dead is purely coincidental.
Comments
