Little Rose – Chapter 11 – What happened 6 years ago
Father was listening quietly to Bob and looking at Keith distressed state. It was very obvious to father that Keith was in a shock state. Everything was left to Bob and it then hit father that both cousins shared a bond deeper than blood. There was pin dropped silence and only the sniveling of Keith and Bob could be heard. Finally father said, looking intensely at Keith. “I found Rose on a dark heavy gloomy night. It was raining heavily like this. I was a distant away from my car, in the wilderness looking for dead animals for my experiments when suddenly a car drove past me in such a fast speed. I told Barry, my Labrador to follow the muddy tyres marked before the rain erased them off. You see I trained Barry personally to hunt for animals and things. He ran off in front of me and started barking loudly at an open grave. When I shone the light, there laid a badly battered girl in an unconscious state, with the rainwater flooding her grave. I quickly tied a thick rope to a tree trunk and jumped into the opened grave and lifted her out.
When I pulled myself up from the grave with Barry’s help, I smelled acid and that’s when I noticed that the young lady face was badly damaged beyond recognition. I quickly lifted her in my arms and with Barry as my guide; I put her in my car and brought her to my old run down house, hidden away from the world.” Clearing his throat, father continued and said, “Rose was in a terrible state. She was in that condition (pointing his finger to the bedroom where I lay). She was in and out of consciousness for many months that I lost track of time, weeks and months. I was afraid I might lose her for she was barely alive. I live a secluded life after the death of my wife. I slowly nursed Rose back to life. Barry grew very attached to her since he was the one who found her. I told Rose about her condition. Luckily for her, her eyes were not damaged. There was nothing on Rose. Everything was taken away from her. Being a well-known plastic surgeon, I had faith in my skill and ability and gave my daughter the most beautiful face. I promised Rose a new identity and a new name, Daffodil Watsons, daughter of an eccentric professor and sister of a cardiologist.
As she grew stronger day by day, my daughter started confiding in me. I know all about your courtship with her, Keith. I know all about you too, Bob. I also know Angela. My daughter used to sit for hours and days in the dark, caressing her tattooed on her upper left chest. Sometimes she would smile with so much of fond memories and sometimes, she would be crying, shedding silent tears. I encouraged Daffodil to go out for visit. To build her confidence, I brought Daffodil to the orphanage, to the small cottage left to her by Sister Cathy. I even brought her to her old working café and to the place she used to rent with Angela. I promised my child that no one will ever recognise her and none of you did. Daffodil, however did inform me that Angela did mention that her eyes, voice and mannerism reminded her (Angela) of her dead friend.”
Father’s conversation was interrupted by my loud painful scream, calling for him in agony. All three gentlemen rushed in to my room. Someone rushed over to sit next to me. Thinking he was father, I grabbed his hands, pleading with him to save me from death. I heard father’s voice telling someone to pin my shoulders down and I felt a gentle needle pricking sensation in my arm. I heard Mrs. Smith’s voice in my head. Someone was gently wiping my face and sponging my body. An animal perhaps a wild dog was at my feet was whining away. I tried to get up with all my might. I could not move. I need to survive and be alive for Keith and for myself. I tried to open my eyes again but they were heavy with sleep. Finally in my nightmare, total darkness took over me and I went into deep slumber. Footsteps faded away and a door closed with a gentle thud.
My nightmares refused to leave me alone. I saw Grey Wolf and Mad Dog beating and punching me. I was fighting with them with all my might. I heard one of them saying the word ‘acid’ and I screamed for father again with all my might. I heard the door opening, followed by footsteps. I opened my unfocused eyes and grabbed father’s hand. “Father, save me. Save me father please. They are going to kill me again. I don’t want to die in an unknown grave, father. Please. Please save me father. I heard father’s voice again telling someone to hold me and lay me down on the bed. The hands I grabbed, held my hands tightly while another pair of hands laid me down gently. I tried to struggle and sit up again but in vain. My eyes were unfocused and filled with fear. Tears were rolling down from my fearful eyes. I felt another needle in my right arm the third time and went limp. I heard Mrs. Smith gently voice telling me to be brave and fight my nightmares. I felt her gentle hands sponging my body. I heard her voice telling me that Barry has not left my bedside and had to be cajoled to eat and drink. Other times, I heard Keith voice, calling me “Rose, my sweetheart” and begging me to come back to him.
I was oblivious to my environment, fighting with my inner emotions and trying to get back my strength. I wanted to say lots of things to father, Tim, Mary and Keith. But I could hardly say anything. Someone was always wiping tears away from my eyes and talking sweetly to me. I don’t know how long I laid unconscious in my own nightmare and refused to open my eyes, preferring to stay in that dark secluded environment.
Everyone took turn to keep a vigilant eye on me. It was Mr. Brown’s turn and father saw him sleeping on the big single couch near the fireplace and slowly went over to turn the heat down. He asked Mr. Brown if he needed anything else. Mr. Brown on seeing father, stood up and apologise and enquired about me. Father assured Mr. Brown and told him to rest and not to worry as everything was under control. “I think her fever will break soon and I am praying for my daughter Brown. You need your rest too, Brown. Please if you need your bed, you can go to your room.” Mr. Brown shook his head and said, “I will stay here with Miss Daffodil.” With these words, father proceeded to the private study room, where both Keith and Bob were waiting for him.
Keith was crying and Bob has hugging him. It was a pitiful sight to father. Seeing father, Keith wiped his tears and looked at father and asked, “Is she always like this whenever she had her nightmares? I thought only I had suffered from mental illness. I was locked up in the mental institute. I was going mad with grief and was in solitude for many months. Bob was by side all these while. If I did not have Bob with me, I would have gone mad and forever locked up in that mental institute in France. I did not know that Rose suffered so much for me and for our love. I all along had thought that Rose was dead and blame myself for not being able to protect. Bob was very silent too. He too had tears in his eyes. Finally looking at father, Bob said, “We suffered the loss of Rose and I blame myself too for I could not protect Rose when uncle’s henchmen overtook over our car and pulled Rose out from the car. But sorry Sir, we needed to know as much as we can about Rose for we need answers too.”
Father stood very still, looking at them with so much of compassion. Swallowing his saliva and getting hold of his emotions, father went over and engulfed both Keith and Bob into his embrace. At last father said, “Look here boys. You both suffered equally as Rose. The rest of Rose history can be seen in her resume when she applied for the job in your company, not knowing it belongs to her friends.” Father pats both Keith and Bob shoulder and stood up. “You both should know that Rose has a brother and his family in London. Even Tim is aware of Rose past. She used to suffered from nightmares too whenever it rain and Tim had to sedate her. Rose stayed with me for more than one year and stayed in London for about five years. She was sick of London’s gloomy weather and was missing home and insisted that I bring her back to America. When Rose left for London to study, I sold my old house in the old rustic town and moved to New York. God has fated for your guys to meet again after six years and who am I to interfere in God’s will. Lets pray for her recover and keep a vigilant eye on her. The last time when she was in this bad state, it took her four months to recover.
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