Catching Flames

I sit on the grass in the middle of a dreadful night, counting stars upon me. I found no comfort in sleeping as nightmares are lingering inside my mind, playing tricks into thinking my deceased mother is here with me whereas she died giving birth. Its a warm beautiful night. Moon is pale and full. The sky is clear. I become dehydrated, source of water is far. I stand choosing from different alternative of trees on which to climb; we have mango trees, pine trees, apple trees. The rest I don’t even know, not that I bothered to do research on them. My index finger points at the pine tree, I summoned myself a command to climb it. My eyes meets target that is on the tip of the tree. All these trees I’ve mentioned are closely knitted together. I hear sound of branches motioning from the apple tree, I focused my senses in the general direction of the sound. Green apple hit my jaw “Ouch!” I scream. This laughter can only belong to Mark. I’m outraged to an extent I skip all the branches, hurling myself to the ground level. Mark is still laughing, his body lying on the grass, gnawing apple. Small teeth are barley exposed. Pale face as if he’s living in East Coast. Frail body is deceitful to think he’s 16 Years whereas in reality he’s 19. I tackle him down, climbing on top of him, clenching my predator hands on his neck. He roll, tossing me aside to be the one to climb over me. “How are you Katherine?” he kissed my fury lips. “Is your Dad home?” he pull my arm, forcing me to stand.

“No, he’s not. Its that time of the year which he spent night at church preparing his sermons and all the church stuff,” I said, staring his amber eyes that everyone seem to admire. But Mark never takes any interest in girls. If he’s not with me then he’s studying. If he’s not studying he’s at work, having to be a breadwinner at home has not been easy on him. Supporting his mother who suffered major mental breakdown and his 12 year old sister. “Lets get inside, Katherine Jones,” Mark says, grinning.

“What are we waiting for?” my father always despise his often visiting odd hours, that led him to be banned into seeing me. All hell will break lose the day he learn that I’m no longer a virgin as he claims I am in sermons of his church and in youth meetings. Mark broke my virginity at… if my mind serves me correctly I was 15, now I’m about to reach 17. “If my father finds you here!” I slightly shake my head to not even wonder what he’ll do.

“I can disguise myself.” I hate the fact that I cant think straight when his unfathomable eyes deep with love look at me, then they whisper calling me to bed. I grab his hand, running upstairs. We burn the house on fire when he starts to tear my upper top. Mark exits the double storey mansion through the window, leaving no evidence that he was here. Few minutes later, my father knocks at my door to check up on me. He doesn’t say a word, avoiding to wake me up.

I’m prepping myself to go to school. “You look beautiful,” my father says. I take a moment to look myself in the mirror and I see nothing beautiful here. I see a girl with squint blue eyes. Plump face and long forehead. The most attracting feature in me is my long blonde hair flowing over my shoulders. “You think so?” I ask for reassurance.

“I know so,” he says, assuring me. “You’d better go, you know, you walk like you stumbling in snow. I always suggest transport.” My father is right I’m a tortoise when I walk. I tag Mark along, everyday walking together henceforth we are on the same school, same biology class. We all know that he excel in biology has even received numerous awards. “Today we’re doing practicals.” I remind him as we enter. In course of his life he has never made any friends. In biology class he’s highly respected if not feared. We are given microscope to identify process of DNA replication thereafter we proceed in cycle of Protein Synthesis. “You’re not happy that you once again grasped the award.”

“I am just that I have lot on my mind. I might have to dropout of school-”

“Whoa!” I stop him right there. “Why would you do that?”

”What else? My mother needs medication. I have to pay for my sister’s education. Being a part time packer at grocery store has many disadvantages than advantages. That is why reconsidering to apply for the vacant post in the magazine company.”

“I don’t know what to say but whatever you decide I’ll support you,” I said, although I will never support the idea of dropping school. I’m saying this because its what he wants to hear. “I lack words to thank you, for years you’ve been there for me. Stealing from your father to make sure my family and I don’t go to bed ravenous.” I end up agreeing with him just for sake of peace, ‘cause I know once he puts his mind onto something there’s no reasoning even if I try it would be futile.

5 weeks later

I’ve been obtaining A symbol in all my subjects, of course thanks to Mark. I go outdoor to catch fresh air and to feed my olive skin with Vitamin D. I suddenly experience my stomach cramping, this feeling makes me abhorrent. “It must be allergy or something!” I convinced myself not to go to hospital ‘cause I despise them. I don’t know how my father saw through me that I’ve been acting strange. “You didn’t eat the whole day,” he says, taking his car keys. “I’m taking you to a doctor. Ain’t taking any chances with my one and only daughter.”

“I goggle the symptoms- its an allergy.” I assure him that all is good. Sometimes I wonder is it the title of Pastor or this is his nature that makes him so bureaucratic? I guess I’ll never know. “We are going that is not up for discussion, Katherine.” I drag my feet to the car, mumbling insults.

A doctor run some tests and plead us to wait a little while longer. She is so beautiful. Her skin is rich with melanin pigment. Short boyish fade is mesmerizing. “The results are back,” she grins. “Congratulations Katherine, you are pregnant.”

I swallow my saliva hundred times, my heart pounding abnormal as I digest these shocking news. “What!” my father took off his biconcave. “You little ungrateful brat…!” he grasp my arm firmly heading to the car. I know harsh punishment awaits me. I’m quiet like a corpse my sight widely open as they cant seem to get off my belly. I lose consciousness as his whip me with a scourge. I don’t cry no much harder the beating gets, that seem to piss him off. Mark’s instincts are Godly. He knocks at the door then i immediately start to scream my lungs so as to hear my agonizing scream that I’m being tormented. He barges in “Pastor Jones! Whats’ going on here?!” he asks, seeking answers.

“You ask me whats’ going on after you impregnated my daughter!” his right fist found a place to stay on Mark’s jaw, then the left on his nose. Mark doesn’t fight back. He shove him to teeter “I’m not gonna fight my elder! But if you dare touch her I swear to God…” Mark is exasperated and I’m afraid what he might to do my father. “Come, lets go,” he said, getting me back on my feet. I swiftly hide behind his back. I hear my father blurting in a melancholic tone, “Consider yourself disowned! I don’t ever want to see you again!” his words hurts deeper than a spear. They replay in my mind, then I find myself gushing tears. Dusk approaches. It starts to drizzle without giving warning. “Lets go to my place,” Mark suggest.

“Me going at your place while your family is there. I don’t want to be a burden to anyone,” I say, shaking my head as gesture of disapproval. “Come to think of it, you live in one room. No.”

We find ourselves under the bridge, at least its conceals us from the downpours. Its cold. I’m shivering. Mark piles cardboard on the ground to create comfortable sleeping environment. i bury my head on his sinking chest down to his heart where I hear his heart calling my name out loud. He whispers words of endearments till I fall asleep. I wake up about an hour or so. He hasn’t got any sleep. “Its freezing here,” he demonstrates, “Pride aside, we’ll never survive this we have to go home.”

“But-” I begin .

“No buts! You are putting this child’s life at stake. Please listen to me for once in your life.” He become emotional and I know I don’t have other choice but to surrender not to object. His mother is actually welcoming and kind towards me. She remains mute but really glad that she’s going to be a grandmother. I feel guilty that I wanna crucify myself as to think I’d meet deranged woman with mood swigs all over the place. One thing I learn from this experience is to never believe a word from a human being. Rumors are circulating all over this city that this woman abandoned her children and that she’s crazy. Yes, she suffers mental breakdown but that doesn’t make her deranged. She hands me bowl of warm soup. She’s so quiet. Feeble. Broken. “Elizabeth.” its the first time I hear her voice. She sleeps on the floor with Rose while Mark and I share single bed. I don’t have a problem with Rose, just her cantakerous attitude stinks which I have to endure. Eventually we become close, learning she had to accept me I’m not trying to replace her.

It has become public knowledge that I’m expecting a child, my belly serves as a proof to those who cannot believe it. The sun hot. Despite being pregnant I still attend school. Mark makes sure that I’m fed, clothed. Each day my love for him grows rapidly no words can explain nor describe it. I leave him a message telling “Lets’ meet at the hospital at 17:00.” i arrive at the biggest hospital of the city. Its height is about 30 feet. Fatigue is taking over my body and soul, sitting for minutes doing nothing. I’m on the top floor when its my turn to enter the room. I try to call Mark to rush over here his presence is essential. It goes straight to voicemail. All doctors received notification that a basement is on fire. On the top floor there were three of us including doctor. She tries to assess the situation, reassuring us that the fire brigades are on their way. I’m petrified as I inhale smoke. I cant tell who is who. The voices are gone, people are escaping. The first floor is burnt to ashes. The fire gradually reaches the top floor and the entire building is demolishing. I’m all alone, screaming for help. My grasp is trying to locate direction ‘cause my eyes are itching. I step on the burning object. The excruciating pain I feel! “Katherine!” I know its Mark. “Where are you?!” he yell.

“This side!” I shout like never before. “I’m here!” I wave.

He finally finds me, extinguishing my entire body. My sight comes back. “I’m relieved you and the baby are fine. Okay, lets go,” he says, maintaining my wobbly body in position. We are about to reach ground level when a ceiling drop upon us, flames creating barrier. “Come!” I attempt to seize has arm. He’s not moving. I examine the cause. His leg is trapped in a hole. “Go, Katherine. I’ll never make it,” he says, taking off his watch.

“No, I wont leave you here to die!” the fire is closer to him and I’m running out of options.

He throws his favourite watch at me “Tell him his father never planned to leave him.” I retrieve the extinguisher, extinguishing his burning leg. With the little strength I have I pull him by arm, freeing his trapped leg. We both fall to the ground. Crawling to the exit. Few seconds later the entire building collapsed nearby us, fire taking over.

We are rushed to another hospital due to the severe injuries and bruises we suffered from. Few days later we are both discharged. Mark is given a certificate if heroin and prize money worth of $225. “I’d do it all over again to save you,” he says, brushing my belly.