Ten
Annabelle's last daysChapter ten
*Mthokozisi*
It's been two weeks since I last saw Annabelle and somehow my heart is not at peace, Liv organised for me to talk to her about a week ago but since then it has been quiet. A couple of days ago I started working for a guy who lives opposite Liv's house. He owns a fleet of taxis and I just gathered some courage and asked him for a job, after her adviced me to get a PDP I started working in hopes of saving enough money to one day buy my own taxi.
As I'm about to drive out, Liv parks at the gate, she has never bothered me since she gave me this place except for talking about Annabelle but the past week she has been unreachable. She climbs out of the car and so do I.
"Whose taxi is that?"
"Bab Nkosi, he lives across the road." She nods.
"I'm sorry to disappear on you, Mrs Jones found out about the calls and she almost fired me," I heave a sigh.
"I figured, how is she?" She looks down.
"Liv?"
"That's the reason I'm here Mtho, Anna suddenly became ill and was taken to hospital," my heart races.
"What?" She nods.
"We thought it was her usual infections and it will clear in a few days but she was getting worse and the antibiotics were not effective, we had to rush her to the hospital. Her mother begged me to come get you," she says wiping her tears.
"Let's go," I say already leading the way.
At the Sandton clinic.....
"Oh my son you're here, the doctors are still busy with her now but you can see her as soon as they're done with her," Mrs Jones says as soon as I appear. I just nod and sit on the bench.
After a few minutes the doctor comes out and tells us that only one person is allowed inside.
"You go my son," I get up shaking my head at how quickly she has changed is amazing, really.
I walk inside her room and I frown when I see all the machines hooked to her, I walk closer and I become overwhelmed with emotions when I see her looking so sick, her Rosey cheeks are now pale.
"Miss Annabelle," she opens her eyes and we stare at each other for a while. Tears well up in her eyes and my heart instantly breaks.
"Mtho," she says in a low tone before moving the nasal oxygen.
"You look beautiful," she lets out a weak chuckle.
"Don't play with me Mtho, I look a mess."
"Never," I say taking a seat and taking her hand into mine.
"I guess our deal is off," she says smiling faintly.
"What do you mean?" She draws a deep breath.
"You promised to help me go home after six months but it seems to me heaven can't wait that long," tears fall shamelessly from my eyes.
"Don't cry for me, this is what I wanted and I'm glad it happened this way because I know you lied, you wouldn't have done it."
"I'm not the only one who lied. You promised me six months," she lets out a chuckle.
"I wish I met you before," I shake my head.
"You wouldn't have given me the time of day," she tries to laugh but coughs instead.
"Hey take it easy," she smiles.
"I love you so much," I say and she smiles.
"I know, I love you too but ours was not meant to be, you were just meant to make my last days beautiful and beautiful you made them but Mtho, Liv loves you. Give her a chance." I try to swallow the lump in my throat but I fail.
"Promise me something Mtho," I nod because I can't trust my voice anymore.
"Promise me you will travel the world, I want you to visit all the places I told you about and carry my spirit with you, think about me laughing and running around care free on the oceans shore." I just nod. I will have to work my fingers to the bones to be able to go to all those places but damnit I will fulfil my promise to her.
"I promise miss Annabelle," I get up and plant a long peck on her sweaty forehead and we sit in silence as she slips in and out of consciousness.
The next day.....
*NARRATED*
All the efforts to fight Annabelle's infection were in vein, during the night she had a fever and they couldn't break it until she gave up and died in the middle of the night. Mtho arrives to a screaming Mrs Jones and he realises that his sweet Annabelle is no more. Liv walks up to him and engulfs him into a tight hug as he fights with his might not to cry but fails dismally.
Mtho unable to hold himself cries in Liv's arms for a while propelling Liv to cry too, all he kept saying was that it was too soon, the time he spent with her was too short.
"Mtho, I would like to apologise for everything I did to stand in the way of my daughter's happiness, I thought I was doing what was best for her but I didn't realise that you were what's best for her. She really loved you and you gave me daughter what she needed right until the end and that is true love. You are more than welcome to come to her funeral and pay your respects." Mtho just nods void of words.
A few days later....
Annabelle was laid to rest next to her father, she had a beautiful send off with a few people from her father's company, the workers at her home and Mtho who was given an opportunity to say a word or two about Annabelle Jones.
"Miss Annabelle was all about her past life, the life she had before tragedy struck and no matter how much I tried to show her that she can still live her best life, she was not of this world anymore. I fell in love with her smile, I have seen many smiles in my 24 years of being alive but never have I met a smile that enchanted my very soul. As heartbroken as I am about her passing, I'm also grateful that I got to meet her, I got to know her and dislike her at first until I liked her then fell head over hills in love with her. I wish she could see how she left me open, I hope she gets the eternal rest she so craved. I will never forget you miss Annabelle and thank you for spending your last days with me however short they were."
A month later....
Mtho has been working as a taxi driver trying to keep his head up, not a day goes by without him thinking about his miss Annabelle but instead of feeling sadness he feels overwhelming joy and peace whenever he thinks about her. To his surprise Mrs Jones called him over to the mansion saying she wants to discuss something with him so after dropping a load in Alex, he went straight to the Jones mansion.
He is led by one of the helpers to the living room, memories of the first day he met Anna come flooding in and he can't help but smile.
Walking into the living room he is met by an elderly white man in a navy suit and Mrs Jones. After greeting they show him a chair.
"Mtho this is our family attorney Mr Michael," Mrs Jones says with a smile.
"Now that everyone is here, this is the last will and testament of Annabelle Marie Jones, I Annabelle Marie Jones of sound mind leave half of my assets including 50 percent of my shares at Courtyard tobaccos to my friend Mthokozisi Ngwenya and ten million dollars in my offshore accounts." Mthokozisi's eyes pop while Mrs Jones smiles.
"Miss Annabelle also instructed that you use the potion of the money to travel all the continents in the world and has already pre planned different destinations you should visit," the lawyer say before continuing reading the will which the rest of the company she left to her mother and donated all her clothes and gadgets to the workers in the Jones mansion.
After Mtho signed all the necessary paperwork on his way out Liv stopped him at the door.
"Hi," she greets shyly before handing him a pregnancy stick.
"I found out this morning," she says tearing up.
"I know you and I didn't work out and we always used protection, I don't know how it happened. I'm not asking you to commit to anything but I am keeping this baby," she says wiping her tears.
Five years later......
"Daddy tell me the story story again," Mtho heaves a sigh.
"Annabelle, you are in Disney land why don't you enjoy yourself like other kids? Daddy will tell you the story when we get back to the hotel," she nods sadly.
"Okay mommy," she runs off and Mtho chuckles.
"She loves hearing about Annabelle," Liv says smiling and Mtho pecks her lips.
"Thank you for her and him," he says brushing her cute little bump.
"Are you certain it's a boy?" He nods.
"Boy or girl I'll be happy," she says smiling.
********The end********
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