Chapter 42: Chapter 42
YES, TO LIVING
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CALEB’S POV
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I was surprised that Sophie invited me to her party considering our last run-in with each other. I wasn't keen on going but I realized that avoiding her and her family was not beneficial to my plans.
As I contemplated on whether to go or not, Angela came into my mind and I decided to invite her. It has been almost a few weeks now since I last saw her as she traveled to see her parents. I decided to call her to know if she was back in New York or not. She didn't pick her call on the first ring and when she managed to pick she sounded off and this scared me a lot.
I didn't understand what she was saying at first as her words were slurred and she was hysterical as she was crying while trying to talk.
“Calm down,” I said into the phone, trying my best to pacify her. She had always looked calm and collected and I wondered what reeled her up so bad.
“I want to end everything now,” she replied to me. Her voice suddenly became calmer.
“Please stay calm and don’t do anything stupid. Please.”
I was in my penthouse when I called her, I ran towards the elevator that took me to the down floor and drove to her house. I was panting by the time I got to her flat and knocked. When she didn't open the door I turned the knob and found it open.
“Angela,” I called out, dashing from her sitting room to her room, no sign of her. I called out her name again, afraid that the worst had happened.
“I’m here,” she said her voice was barely a whisper
I followed the sound of her voice and found her curled up on the floor of her bathroom, a knife was beside her.
I took the knife far away from her and sat beside her, before lifting her from her curled position and wrapping my hands around her.
“It's going to be okay,” I said and she started crying again, when I did not hear any sound from her again I looked at her worried, and it turned out she had slept off.
Lifting her from the floor I took her to her room and laid her on her bed. I turned the light on and was baffled at how disoriented the room was. The luggage at the door was moved into the cupboard as I nearly tripped on it when I entered the room. I opened the curtains to allow the morning light to stream as it was almost dawn. I went to her kitchen and brewed some coffee, filling up a mug with coffee. I took it to the room and sat on the bed beside her and drank my coffee while I waited for her to wake up. I watched her sleep and she looked troubled even in her sleep.
“Caleb.” I felt a cold hand on mine and woke up
I must have dozed off when I finished my coffee. I looked at my watch and found out it was almost ten in the morning.
“You are awake,” I said to her worried at how she looked, her eyes were swollen and red and her voice croaked from too much crying. It hurt me so much to see her in that state, she had always looked strong and never vulnerable and I wondered what got to her like this.
“Yes, I am. And thanks for taking care of me.'' Angela replied.
“Let me get you some coffee.'' I made to stand up from my seating position but she held me back.
“No, thanks. I have a splitting headache.”
“Have you eaten anything?'' I looked her over and her eyes looked sunken and she had lost some weight. What was going on? I wondered but didn't say anything to her.
“I'm not hungry.”
“I will make us some breakfast.” she started protesting but I didn't bulge.
Her fridge was empty, just some cereal in the cupboard. It confirmed my suspicion that she had not been eating.
I made a call to my driver and he came back to the flat thirty minutes later with some groceries. I made some toast, fried the bacon, and used the oils from the bacon to fry some eggs, reheated the coffee, and dished out the food in two plates. Angela joined me in the kitchen after she had bathed and was wearing an oversized blue cotton sweater with black shorts. I smiled at her when she walked into the kitchen and she smiled back shyly. Angela was a strong woman and I knew she was not too happy that I had seen her in her vulnerable state, but I won't risk her pride or any other person's pride against helping them when they fall low. It would haunt me forever if I ever did that.
Passing her plate of food to her “Eat up.” I said and waited till she shoved some eggs into her mouth before I ate. We ate in silence and from the corner of my eyes I observed her. She ate slowly and was absorbed in her meal and from the way she was eating I could tell that she was very hungry.
I did not want to rush her so after the meal I asked her to rest in the sitting room while I cleaned up. She had herself wrapped in her blanket on the couch when I came in and sat beside her.
“How do you feel now?” I said looking at her
“Better, thanks,” she replied without looking at me.
“Do you feel like talking about it?”
“No.”
“Okay.”
There was total silence before she made the statement that shocked me to my marrows.
“I have a few months to live.”
“Pardon,” I said wide-eyed as I stared at her confused.
“I am dying Caleb, my doctor said I have just a few months left.”
“You can't give up just like that, have you gotten a second opinion,” I asked my head reeling from the news
“No need for that, my doctor is the best in the field. My time is just up, I guess.” she sounded so bereft of hope.
“We could try again,” I replied refusing to accept what she was saying as the last resort
“Caleb, there is no need for that. I was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme almost five years ago and I had different opinions from specialists in the field then. The results were all the same. It's a miracle I'm still alive.
“Let's get a second opinion, Angela, just say yes and I would make an appointment with the best neurosurgeon in the world.” I was so filled with hope, and I wanted Angela to see it too.
“I just want Caleb to die.”
“Don't say that, please.” I held her closer and she lay her head on my chest. I wanted so much to be a superhuman and take away the pain
“What's the point in living when I know I'm about to die.”
“You are not dead, yet, angela.”
“But I will die anyway.” she hissed
“Won't we all die?”
“But I will die soon.”
“No one knows when they will die, Angela.'' I shook her a little. “Even the doctors' reports sometimes don't come to pass.”
“But!”
“No buts, Angie,” I called her fondly, she had taken a special place in my heart and I couldn't imagine life without her.
“You have to live first before you die.” I continued
“What do you mean?” she looked up at me her eyes glittered with tears
“No one knows when they will die, but we all still go about our lives and activities. But the doctor has given you a time frame and you want to stop living and anticipate death.” drawing her closer to me, I continued. “Even though you have a short time, live the best of it, enjoy yourself, have fun and be merry.”
“You make it sound so easy and you know it's not.” Angela countered
“True, but I will be with you every step of the way.”
“Promise?
“I promise, cross my heart,'' I said and she laughed for the first time since I came in.
“Would you be gracious enough to join me for a party at my in-laws, next week?” I said and she jerked her head up. A million questions were written over her furrowed brows.
“In-laws?” she interjected
“Yes, in-laws. A very long story and since we have nowhere else to go today, I will tell you about myself and how I became the CEO of the Delacrioux empire.”
“I'm all ears .” angela grinned
“A long time ago….when the earth was without form.” I began
“Stop Caleb, be serious.” angela said laughing
I joined in the laughter and cuddled on the couch. I told her about my past and marriage and Angie also talked about hers. I spent the weekend at her place, both of us finding comfort in each other's company.
One day at a time, Angie came out of the darkness that wanted to choke her and learned to live again