A long walk to nothing episode 1

~A LONG WALK TO NOTHING~

episode 1 &2

“Honey I’m late, hurry up”

“Ok Darling, just a few minutes and I’ll be done….your breakfast will be served”…… Alexia responds from the kitchen downstairs as her husband descends the stairs with his briefcase in hand……it’s been twenty years into a lovely union that was ordained in church and blessed with two wonderful children, a boy named Edmond, 19 years of age and Celine who is now 3……Alexia Peters is a very beautiful young woman who is married to Donald Stevenson, a very rich business Man, she loves her husband so much and would do anything to keep him that’s why she has always gone extra miles making sure he’s comfortable and Happy in this beautiful union called marriage forgetting herself in the process, they met twenty years ago, it was just an Innocent encounter when she accidentally spilled coffee on him at a certain hospital and the rest is history, they never really dated for long because she got pregnant for him after few days of seeing him. He was in his late twenties and she was only 17……she gave birth to their son Eddy shortly after their wedding but it took forever for her to get pregnant again, she thought something was wrong with her and visited so many gynaecologists but she was always told she was OK, Donald has never complained about her inability to give him another child but she was always bothered, she prayed, fasted, cried and did all sorts exercises but nothing, she had even given up when she realised she might be pregnant that was when Celine came about…… Eddy is now in the university but she’s having a real tough time keeping up with the role of this new motherhood, and other house chores, these three years have been hell, she no longer has time to even take care of how she looks, she rarely visits the salon, rarely does shopping for new clothes, the latest designs but that doesn’t matter to her, all that matters right now is her family, she just has to take care of them and she’ll be fulfilled…. Just like this morning, she woke up at 4am leaving her husband to sleep and prepared little Celine for school and drove her to school, she came back cleaned around the house and now it’s coming to 8am and she’s preparing her husband’s breakfast, she was hoping he comes down when she’s done but now he’s here

“I have to be on my way” Donald says once he gets to the kitchen door and Alexia comes to meet him at the door

“Good morning” she greets him with a k-ss and all smiles

“I’m running late sweet”

“I’m so sorry it took me longer to get your breakfast ready”

“Never mind…..I’ll grab something on my way to the office” she makes faces, the last thing she wants is for her man to eat from outside, it’s not good…. Her husband must have seen through her face that she doesn’t like that so he shuts her with a k-ss

“I know what you want to say sweet but ssssshhhhh!!!! I’m only doing this because I’m running late, I’ll make it up to you”

“Love you”

“Not as much as me woman” she adjusts his neck tie and grabs his bag and coat

“Shall we” she asks

“Right after you baby” she leads the way and he follows as they laugh all the way outside to where his car is packed, he sl¡ps in and leans for the last k-ss, pulls out of there as she continues waving after him
*

Edmond and his friends from the university sit outside the tall workout building waiting for the owner and also the only instructor, they have an appointment in a few minutes time and he had said he would not take long to get there……they look his direction and she a car drive in
Liam pulls up the car at the packing lot and comes out of it, grabbing his dark shed and wearing them…..

“He’s here” she says and the rest of his friend stand up, they watch his handsome self walk towards them

“Good morning Sir”

“Morning guys….how are you all”

“We are fine….Hmm!… My name is Edmond Stevenson, and these others are my colleagues”

“From the university right?”

“Yes”

“You’re all welcome….come with me please” they follow him in the big building where they find so many people in,side…..

“Welcome Sir” the people in,side all echoe

“Thank you” he answers as he proceeds to his office with the students following behind

“Such a Nice place you have right here” the lady speaks as they get to the big office

“Chabela right?” Liam asks smiling

“Yes sir….Isabel but I prefer Chabela”

“I thought as much, I normally prefer calling all the Isabel’s I meet as Chabela….well, make yourselves comfortable”

“Thank you” they all say and the four of them answer

“I was told you needed my help…so what can I do for you” Liam asks looking at Isabel but she turns to Eddy who clears his throat

“Hmmm….actually Sir, it was me…..I’m the one looking for a Job”

“Excuses me?…. Are you not supposed to be in school…that’s what I was told”

“Yes I’m a student but this is what I’ve always wanted to do”

“Being a gym instructor?…so you guys lied about who you really are”

“We are so sorry Sir but it was the only way to get to you and yes,…….this would mean the world to me, I just want to help some one, and the only way I can do that is if you allow me do this every evening and fulltime during weekends and holidays”

“Must be someone so special”

“More than that….. She’s my mother, she has lost herself just to see us happy….it’s time I pay her back and besides, I’ve always wanted to do this”

“But why don’t you just register her here……..I personally can help her out”

“I know you can but I’m also aware you were looking for someone to be of help here”

“But I wasn’t looking for a student hahahaha….jokes aside, I love the fact that you’re doing this for your Mum, if I’m giving you this job,it’s because of your mother”

“Is that a yes?”

“Hmmm! What do you think?….you have it already, and you can start anytime Edmond” Eddy can’t believe his ears, his Mum will be delighted

“Thank you Sir”

“Please just Liam would be fine” the four of them shake hands with him, it’s a deal…..

Just as Alexia thought she finally has a free time at last to have something to eat, there is a knock at the door

“Now who could this be?” She thinks to herself as the knock continues

“Coming” she gets her heavy self off the couch and goes for the door

“Goooooood morning!!!”

“Look who we have here……Cecilia…is this some kind of joke?”

“No baby, in flesh and body….come here” Cecilia turns around flaunting her beautiful body, they give each other a hug at last

“Come on in…..when did you pop up?”

“Just yesterday”

“And I’m just getting to know?…. Anyways you’re not looking bad”

“I know…..unfortunately I can’t say the same thing about you Darling…. You look terrible….look at you”

“You don’t have to say it twice….join me for breakfast…..I’ll just get you a cup” Alexia dashes to the kitchen to get her friend a cup, Cecilia has been her friend for the past five years after returning from Canada, she got to know her from a party she attended with her husband and they have been good friends ever since but Donald has never liked this relationsh¡p, she visits here when he’s not home…..she comes quick with the cup

“How are my children doing”

“They are great, it’s been two weeks since Eddy visited but we do talk a lot everyday…..and Celine is super good and demanding…she’s still a child and also the only one in the house”

“And Don must be another burden to carry too…your second baby”

“Don’t even mention it…. But I’m not complaining”

“Hmmmm!… Did you just hear yourself say that Ale?…. Which woman in this era thinks like you?”

“I don’t understand”

“How would you when you don’t know what your worth is……you’re young and beautiful, you’re 37 and I’m 40 but look at me, I’m way younger than you’re….. You no longer take care of how you should look, you don’t have a life and a mind of your own, I mean look at you…..”

“You’re not in a way insulting me right?”

“Look girlfriend, you’re my friend and you have been for the last five years, this wasn’t the Alexia I know back then when I just returned….she wasn’t this reckless, she wasn’t this fat and ugly oh yes!….forgive me for saying babe but you’re” now Alexia is quiet, she no longer has appetite as she pushes her cup and plate aside, she looks away

“Truth hurts right?…… I’m telling you this as a friend….” Before she could continue, Alexia gets up and walks away

“Where are you going” Cecilia asks as she also gets up and follows her….Alexia gets to her room and stands in front of the dressing mirror taking a very Long look at herself for the very first time, she should admit that she’s not looking her best…she has added on a lot of weight, she has lost her once beautiful shape, her tummy is bigger and it looks like it’s not gonna stop any time soon and he face looks so ugly, she touches her face but she sees her reflexion behind her

“Now you see what I was saying right?” Cecilia asks

“But Donald is not complaining”

“So you’re going to wait till when he starts right?…. Men are savage, they aren’t loyal, they love good things and once they don’t find it in you, they look else where and if he’s not complaining, it’s because he’s eating in the palm of another woman’s hands so open your eyes before it’s too late my friend” Alexia turns and faces her friend

“Are you insane?….. Donald can never do that”

“Hahahaha…..look how naive you’re, you make me laugh…. Donald can never do that…. well take this from me….you can’t find any faithful man any where…..Donald is not an exception, how many time has he ever taken you to all those parties with him, how many times?….. When was the last time he happily took you and the children out and happily introduced you as his lovely wife to his friends and associates huh?” Alexia now walks away from the mirror and sits down on the bed and her friend follows her and sits besides her touching her shoulder

“Don’t be deceived sister…..what if one day Donald wakes up and says he no longer wants you?… That he now wants a divorce, what are you going to say?”

“God forbid”

“Yes….he can say that, after all what’s there in this relationsh¡p to fight for?…..Eddy is now a grown up and very ready to start his own family, Celine is three but can definitely survive without her mother right now…… Stop living for these people, I’m not saying they are less important but you should do something, be independent, you are educated and very beautiful, start something for yourself and live your life, live for yourself and you will thank me later” Alexia is just so speechless and all that her friend is saying is all true but no…..this is her life, this is what a mother has to be like, she has lived her life and now all she wants is to see her family Happy, this is a mother’s sacrifice, a happy family comes at a price because you have to give it your all…….. She looks at her friend and wants to say something but her phone rings….she gets it

“It’s my son” she says with her face lighting up with a smile

“Mum”

“My son finally you called you Mum at last today…… How are you doing”

“Very fine Mum…. I have a good news….I have a job now”

“A job?….. I didn’t know you were searching for one son….since when”

“That’s how guys at campus do it, I know you don’t like this but I know what I’m doing, I’ve always wanted to do it”

“Does Dad know? ”

“I will tell him….. But first I need to talk to you, not like this though…..”

“So when are you coming home”

“Tomorrow….”

“I’ll be waiting……. Take care son”

“Thank you Mum….. I’m doing this for you remember that always…..and I love you” they hang up and Alexia turns to her friend beaming with smiles

“Don’t tell me I have nothing to gain from this marriage because I have so many, twenty years to start with,…….my children are my benefit and my husband is my everything” she gets up and walks out of the room leaving her friend so speechless…….

To be continued.