Roses and Thorns – Episode 18 – 19

Roses and Thorns – Episode 18
By Jennifer Godwin
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Ezenwa clutched his school result close to his heart while Okenwa his brother showed his own result to their father who was all smiles. He watched with sadness as his father praised his younger brother because he took the first position as usual, Ezenwa made to leave when his father’s baritone voice called him back.
“Come back here useless child, where are you going to? am sure you came last as usual, can’t you borrow a leaf from your brother?” the man shouted.
“Am sorry Dad” Ezenwa said almost crying.
“Don’t sorry me you dullard, i waste money on your education but yet, you don’t want to learn anything, are you not tired of being a failure?” he barked.
“Dad, at least check my result this last time, i didn’t take the last position as usual” Ezenwa said wiping his tears.
“Let me see” the old man said snatching the result from him, he opened it and scoffed “35 out of 40 students, is this the best you can offer?, your best is not enough young man” he howled.
“But Dad, i used to be the last, am trying my best, who knows? i might be among the first 20 by next term” Ezenwa said with a glint of happiness and hope evidently written on his face.
“And i said your best is not enough, you can never be like your brother, you will always remain a failure” he thundered chasing the young lad away from the parlour.
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The stalker gritted his teeth and closed his eyes in anguish, he poured wine into a class cup and drank all of it.
“Who turned me into a beast?” he asked himself drowning another glass full of wine “You did dad, you have never treated me like a son, you dehumanized me everyday with your words, i tried my best but you always chose my brother over me” he stood up, went to the window, drag the curtain to the side and then grinned.
“And am glad i killed you old man” he laughed out loud.
Episode 19
Joel walked towards Melody’s room with his heart beating fast, on his hands were a blue jean trouser and a big white polo, he was taking them to Melody to wear when they go out later in the day. He steadied his breathe before knocking, who was he kidding? he knew he wanted to see her and not because he was taking the clothes to her. She didn’t respond to his knocks, he opened the door and stepped into the room, she was still asleep, he dropped the clothes and turned to leave the room when she winced in pain. Joel turned around immediately and rushed towards her.
“Hey Melody? are you okay?” he asked concerned.
She didn’t respond, Joel watched her face as she slept, he looked on admiringly until she twisted her face like she was in pain.
“Melody?” Joel called shaking her slowly. Her eyes flew open, she wiped the tears that already formed in her eyes but not before Joel noticed.
“You were crying, are you okay?” Joel asked again.
“Good morning sir” Melody muttered
“Morning. you have not answered my question though” Joel said.
“Am not feeling too well, but i will be fine” she replied carressing her stomach.
“What do you mean? if you are not feeling fine then i should take you to the hospital” Joel said placing his palm on her forehead
“I will be fine, it’s just cramps” she said covering her face shyly.
“So does this cramps not have a cure?”
“You don’t know what i mean by cramps?” Melody asked surprised.
“No, i don’t, but whatever it is, we can get you some drugs from the pharmacy” he explained.
“Am having menstrual cramps” she finally said bitting her lip as the pain sliced through her stomach.
“Oh that? i can get you a pain reliever then, there is a pharmacy down the street” Joel said getting up from the bed.
“Thank you very much, i will also need a sanitary pad” Melody said scratching her head, she felt awkward discussing such thing with a man.
“How will i know the one to get?” he asked
“Just tell them to give you virony”
“Alright then, i will be back” Joel said leaving the room.
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The stalker banged the door with force when he stepped into the ward, he stared at his sleeping brother for some time before removing his belt, he walked close to him and lashed him with the belt. His brother scre-med as the pain burned through his back.
“What is it Ezenwa? what have i done to you?” he asked as the tears gathered in his eyes.
“Where did you keep dad’s doc-ments?” the stalker asked swinging the belt from the left to the right.
“I will never tell you, that is the only thing you can’t have in your life.” he grinned.
“Okenwa, you are biting more than you can chew, just think about it, i kept you here for a year and six months, do you think there are other things i can’t do?” he asked.
“You can do whatever you want to do, but you see those doc-ments? you are not getting them,” he smirked.
“Okenwa don’t dare me” the stalker shouted.
“Am sure Dad will be turning in his grave because of you, he was never wrong in calling you a useless child, i curse the day i became your brother” he said spitting on the floor.
“You think you are a true Akueze? you must be a joke, am sure your father didn’t tell you that you are not his biological son, he picked you up from the road side where your useless mother dumped you” the stalker said laughing in mockery.
“That’s a lie, you are lying”
“If you know what is good for you, ready those doc-ments before i come here next time” he said as he wore his belt and left the room.