Forgetting Dad Episode 7 and Episode 8

*FORGETTING DAD*

(EPISODE 7)

There’s just something unique and beautiful about this thing called ‘Genuine Love’; It hardly discriminates and does not keep records of wrongs. You have never truly loved until you find someone whom you are willing to let go of all conditions just to be with. When true love happens, it doesn’t seek for permission and certainly doesn’t need anyone’s validation before it gets two people to fall deeply in love with each other. If Dennis wanted to look at the odds of him being with Vera or focus on the negative side, he probably wouldn’t have fallen deeply for her; talk more of taking the bold step of confessing his feelings to her. At that point, it’s good to acknowledge that things were gradually falling into the right places for beautiful Vera.

After Dennis repeated those words to Vera, she was beyond shocked and didn’t know exactly what to say to him at that moment. Never in a thousand years did she ever think that she will find a man that would love her; not to talk of finding Love in the person that knows all her dirty secrets. It was a whole lot for her to swallow at once!

The once intimate atmosphere now suddenly became tensed. One look at Vera and Dennis could tell that she didn’t see all that coming. He smiled as he looked into her shinny eyes; “Say something, I want to know what’s on your mind” he gently said. Vera looked into his eyes and smiled faintly because she honestly didn’t know where to start answering from. Her palms suddenly became sweaty because she was nervous and tensed. After keeping mute for a while, she finally spoke.

“Why me?” Vera asked out of nowhere, “Why not you?” Dennis replied, “Well for starters, you know me too well to be in love with me. There are so many other ladies our there with less baggage, why not go for them?” She soberly asked. Immediately Vera said that, Dennis could tell where her insecurities were coming from and why she probably felt they couldn’t work out.

To be honest, Dennis actually understood Vera’s fears but immediately felt the need to change her mindset and assure her that he was completely into her. When Vera was done talking, he began; “Listen, I know you are afraid and in doubt of the authenticity of my love for you because you feel there’s no way I could possibly be in love with you after all I know that happened in your past. What you fail to realise is that I’m in love with you and not your past life experience. Those things were inevitable because you were helpless so why should I blame you for something that clearly isn’t your fault. I know this journey with you wouldn’t be easy because there are so many baggage you are carrying but I promise to go through it with you. I never planned to fall for you but it happened anyways. Since your first dad failed you, allow me to be your second dad so I can show you what love is supposed to be and feel like. I’m all in, just open the door to your heart and trust someone one more time. I promise never to make you regret any decision you make to be with me. Allow me to pick the broken pieces of your heart and fix it” He gently said.

If words had the ability to ascend a person to heaven, Vera would have been on her way up because Dennis words were next to non. The sad reality was that no one has ever spoken to her the way he did that evening. Every dead hope of ever finding Love awaken and it melted her heart knowing that the first man she had ever loved was the one professing his love for her. How blessed she truly was!

The two lovebirds were a spectacle for anyone that passed by. People kept staring at them in a good way as they felt it was just a display of affection between two lovers. Vera knew deep down in her heart that she wanted Dennis in her life too, so there was no need prolonging the answer he sought for. “I’m scared of trying but I’m willing to try with you because you have shown me what it truly means for someone to have my back. I trust you and know that you have my best interest at heart and will never deliberately hurt me. These past months with you have been the best times of my life. There’s no one else I’d rather give my heart to than you. I have searched my heart and have come to the acknowledgement that I truly want to be yours. I accept you!” She said.

At the mention of ‘I accept’, Dennis smiled and playfully jumped for joy. He couldn’t believe that Vera had official accepted him into her life as her partner. The fact that his happiness was extremely visible made Vera blush. They kissed passionately one more time before zooming off to their various destinations.

Their first stop was at Vera’s house before Dennis headed to his own. All through that night, both lovebirds were excited and barely slept all night. To be honest, Vera was more excited because she never saw it coming at all. While on the other hand, Dennis was super glad because he was now in an official relationship with his best friend.

Just when we thought life was beginning to get good for Vera, it got even better with the new ‘Taken’ tag in her relationship status. Vera began to top in school activities because she now had an extra and personal tutor in her life as a partner. Dennis was careful on how he handled Vera so as not to hurt her by bringing back any hurtful past memories. He was also careful with their intimate life so as not to do anything that might trigger hurtful memories.

Their relationship waxed stronger and they became almost inseparable. Vera was almost done with her academics and was headed towards being a certified Medical Doctor. Up until then, she was still not accessible by her parents or anyone else, with the exception of Dennis. Her mum was gradually drawing close to her but their relationship was nothing admirable because Vera hadn’t still forgiven her and was still keeping her distance.

Despite the fact that Vera’s parents were still footing her school bills, she wasn’t close to either of them. Just so you know, Mrs Jones had been away from their family house for over a year and wasn’t in talking terms with her husband. She had filed for divorce earlier but it was delayed due to one thing or the other; mostly due to settlement terms.

Through a little investigation, Mrs Jones was able to find out that Dennis and Vera were in a relationship. She had met Dennis twice since after the incident that happened the first day she met him at Vera’s house. Whenever Mrs Jones wanted to get anything across to Vera and she isn’t reachable, she normally got them across through Dennis.

Life moved on and reality began to set in for Mr Jones. He suddenly began to realise that he had lost everything and also his family. Guilt began to set in gradually and his conscience became a play ground for emotional trauma and torture. Most nights, he would cry out loud in his empty house with no one coming to his aid. Misery was his second name while guilt was his last name.

As the guilt continued, Mr Jones realised that he had to apologise to his daughter. He needed to see her by all means so as to work things out. Unable to reach Vera through phone and other means, he drove down to her house and shamefully headed straight to her door to knock. After knocking numerously, he went back downstairs to inquire of her whereabouts form the gateman.

When Mr Jones asked, the gateman told him that Vera wasn’t at home and usually came back late at night. Determined to see her, he waited just like his wife did the first day she came to that place. It was a long wait for Mr Jones because he was quit early compared to when Vera would return home. While he waited, tears couldn’t stop dripping from his eyes as he thought of how he ruined his daughter’s life.
Matter of fact, Mr Jones was also scared of the outcome when she eventually sees him.

In few hours time, Vera majestically walked into the compound and was about climbing the staircase when she heard someone call her from behind. She surprisingly turned to see who called her and Lo & Behold, It was the one man she hated more than anything in the whole universe and didn’t want to ever set her eyes on again.

Before Vere could utter any word due to the rage she was feeling, Mr Jones knelt down in front of her; not minding who was watching.
As he was about to speak, she immediately hushed him and said; “You will never get want you want so it’s better you leave my house this minute before I lose my temper”.

Mr Jones was a bit confused and doubted if Vera knew the exact reason why he was there. “I am here to apologise to you my daughter, can we please talk?” He soberly asked.

Before his words landed, Vera flared up and replied; “No we can’t, Get out now!”.

*FORGETTING DAD*

(EPISODE 8)

There comes a time in every wicked person’s life for them to reap what they have sown. A wicked person can never go scot-free because a day of reckoning must surely come; whether dead or alive. What on earth will make Mr Jones think that a simple “I’m sorry” was ever going to erase all the pains and agony he inflicted on his daughter for the past 19 years of her life? He was a big time joker to ever think that it was going to be an easy thing to receive Vera’s forgiveness after ruining her life and causing a lifetime mental damage. At that moment, Mr Jones could pass for a clown.

On seeing that Vera was totally furious and wasn’t willing to give a listening ear, Mr Jones shameful got up from where he was kneeling and tried to calm her down but only indirectly ignited the fire the more. Vera was at the verge of slapping him but held herself just because of the mustard seed respect she still had for him and majorly because of God.

“You disgust me, I hate you, you are a monster, a coward, a demon…Oh God! I just ran out of words to describe you. Don’t ever come close to me, stay the hell away because next time you show up uninvited to my apartment, I will get you arrested after disgracing the day light out of you. Get out!” Vera angrily said and stormed out. She hurriedly climbed the stairs and entered into her apartment; leaving her dad downstairs.

After that little show of shame, Mr Jones died double within and was numb all through. He managed to walk back to his car and shamefully drove off. With Mr Jones gone, the gateman who saw and heard everything that happened went upstairs to check up on Vera because he was close to her.

Initially, when the gateman knocked on Vera’s door, she screamed and shouted “Get out!”. It was after the gateman called out his name that Vera realised that it wasn’t her dad that was knocking. When she opened the door, the man could see the rage in her eyes and didn’t even know where to start calming her down from. “My friend, why you dey vex like this nah? Na your papa be that person u been dey talk to like that for downstairs? Chai e no good” he playfully said.

Before the gateman was done talking, Vera lost hold of her emotions and broke down in tears. She wasn’t crying because she felt bad for the way she talked to her dad, but was rather crying because she felt she didn’t say all that needed to be said to him. Her mind was overwhelmed with different emotions that needed to be expressed.

“You will not understand, that man is an evil man and shouldn’t be given another chance to breathe this air we are breathing. People like that deserve all the unfortunate things in this life. I hate him so much and please, don’t entertain his presence when next he comes to this compound” Vera said. The gateman tried to calm her down by advising her to take things easy with her dad. He told her that he wasn’t in good terms with his family either and that they were better ways to deal with family issues.

While the gateman spoke, Vera was absent minded and wasn’t processing anything that he was saying. The only thing that was on her mind was her regrets for not properly dealing with her father. They conversed a little more and said ‘Goodnight’ to each other.

After Vera’s friend left, she went back inside and was restless all through. She cried most of the time whenever she remembered the scene of her dad kneeling down. That scene reminded her of how he used to knee and suck her private part. The height of disgust she felt whenever those scary scenes came flashing in her memory.

To be honest, Mr Jones really dealt with Vera. Like what sort of a father will deliberately corrupt and spoil the mind of a 5year old child? I mean what sort of father will expose his daughter to erotic and corrupt things way too early before she got to the appropriate age to experience such lifestyles. Like how does this man sleep at night knowing that he was the one that deflowered his own daughter? Too bad that it took him over 19 years later to realise the magnitude of what he was doing and had done. Too bad!

Vera was now a full blown woman and in her mid twenties, so what kind of apology did Mr Jones think he would render that was enough to erase the scars he had inflicted in her life? It was going to take a Miracle for a genuine forgiveness to come from Vera to her dad especially. She was restless all through that night and couldn’t wait to be with Dennis the following day.

While Vera was filled with rage all night, Mr Jones was dying of guilt. His conscience kept pricking him because the magnitude of what he had done started to dawn on him. The painful reality of all the things Mr Jones had lost due to his abominable act, hit him very hard and broke his once stony heart. “My wife is gone, my daughter hates me, my wife’s family forbids me and might kill me if they ever set their eyes on me around their child, all this because I refused to control myself. How could I have molest my daughter? What was wrong with me all these years?” Mr Jones wondered as he drove home that fateful night. Everything still felt like a horror movie to him. Well, he better brace himself because the horror movie actually just got started. There was no running for him this time around because the torture started from within; which was his conscience.

First thing the next day, Vera went over to Dennis house and narrated all that happened to him. When she was done talking, he tried to calm her down by talking her out of the bad mood she clearly was in. “Babe, you have to chill out and take things easy so you can find peace and happiness. I know your dad did you wrong and deserve everything coming his way but please, don’t let him still find a way to ruin your current happiness by letting him get to your emotions this way. Just take things easy and follow your heart and I promise to support you in every decision you make” Dennis said.

Vera was indeed blessed to have somebody like Dennis by her side because the painful truth is that not every molested lady or man out there have somebody they can even share their secret with, talk more of being in a healthy relationship like that of Vera and Dennis. In our society today, alot of people are so quick to judge others without first trying to fit into their shoes. It’s so easy to hear a story of what happened to somebody and shake your head in disbelief, but the reality is that you may never tell how truly affected that person is no matter how much you try.

As time gradually went by, Mr Jones still haven’t stopped calling his daughter and trying to reach her but all his efforts was to no avail. He tried to contact his wife and have her beg Vera for him but Mrs Jones rained curses on him whenever he dialed her number. During Vera’s convocation, she didn’t invite any of her family members but her mum couldn’t miss it for the world.

Mrs Jones was present despite Vera’s refusal to personally invite her. Dennis was actually the one that kept Vera’s mum updated about everything that went on in her life. Mrs Jones didn’t joke with Dennis at all because he was the only link between herself and Vera.

During the convocation ceremony, Mrs Jones was very proud of the strong woman her daughter had become despite everything that happened to her in the past. Deep down, Vera was kind-of happy to see her mum but pretended as though she wasn’t. After the convocation, Dennis took them out to celebrate and they all had dinner together.

The atmosphere was a bit awkward because Vera wasn’t still in speaking terms with her mum. As they dinned, Mrs Jones tried her possible best to win her daughter’s heart and get her to forgive her but all efforts proved abortive. Vera was mute all through and only concentrated on her meal.
On seeing that Vera wasn’t trying to talk to her mum, Dennis gave Mrs Jones a sign that he was going to get up so they could have privacy to sort things out once and for all. When Mrs Jones caught the signal, Dennis excused himself and gave Vera a peck before walking away answering a fake phone call.

With Dennis gone Mrs Jones broke the silence; “Congratulations mama, I’m so proud of you my daughter” she said. Vera bluntly replied “thank you” and concentrated back on the food she was eating. On seeing that Vera wasn’t ready for a conversation, Mrs Jones continued. “I’m so sorry my daughter, how long do you want to hate me?” She soberly asked and Vera looked into her eyes; “As long as I can to make you feel just a little bit of the pain I have felt for the past 19 years of my life, how about that?” Vera said.

Unable to hold back the emotions, Mrs Jones started tearing up. Immediately Vera saw the tears in her mum’s eyes, her heart melted instantly. She moved closer to her mum and gave her a warm hug. Before Vera knew it, her mum burst into controllable tears. “I’m sorry my daughter, please I’m so sorry. Forgive me I beg you, the guilt is too much for me to bear at this my age, please I beg you!” Mrs Jones cried.

At that point, all Vera’s defence was broken and her heart was finally ready to give forgiveness to her mother. “I forgive you mum, I forgive you” Vera said with tears in her eyes. Immediately she said that, a huge burden lifted from her mum’s conscience and they cried together like little kids. Dennis had to come back in order to find out what was happening after one of the waiters alerted him outside that the two women he brought in were crying. On seeing that they weren’t going to stop crying soon, he paid the bill and took them away.

The ride back home was quite emotional for Dennis because he could hear Vera and her mum talk heart-to-heart in the back seat. It gladdened his heart that Vera now had someone by her side that she could also have a relationship with. He was concerned about his partner and wanted her to be totally happy.

Life as a medical doctor was great and fulfilling for Vera. She moved out from her previous apartment and stayed in town; closer to Dennis. Vera always visited her mum on weekends and their relationship grew a bit stronger and eventually became admirable.

At that time, Mrs Jones divorce with her pedophile husband had been finalised so she was now a free bird. Vera changed her surname and started answering her mum’s last name. The extent to which Vera took to have absolutely nothing to do with her father was extreme.

When Mr Jones learnt about the the fact that his daughter had changed her last name, his blood pressure began to rise. Months passed and Mr Jones health deteriorated with no loved one to take care of him. Though he had domestic staffs that worked in his house, there’s nothing like having your own family around.

Things got really bad one fateful day that led to Mr Jones collapsing. One of his helpers found him lying unconscious on the floor in his sitting room and immediately alerted the driver. In no time, he was rushed to the hospital and guess which one he was rushed to? The very hospital Vera worked in.

Fortunately that day, Vera was on duty and was answering a phone call when some nurses came to alert her that there was an emergency situation of life and death. She hurriedly went to the emergency ward to attend to the patient only to realise that the man lying helpless was the very man she hated the most and never wanted to see again in her life.

Immediately Vera came closer and saw Mr Jones face well, her mind took a quick trip down memory lane of the first day her dad penetrated her when her body parts where still fragile and developing. Unable to bear the pain and instant trauma, she turned her back and walked away.

The nurse who was there shockingly said; “Ma’am where are you going to? The patient is dying”. Vera’s eyes were filled with tears. She turned, looked at the nurse and said; “He’s my dad, get another doctor to revive him or let him die, the choice is entirely yours”.

Shocked and confused, the nurse screamed “What!”.

To be continue…