Set me free - Episode 17

Dawn:

"Dawn, just look at you. You look too pale and rail thin."mother cries out as soon as she sees me lying in the dilapidated hospital room.

This was not a place for any daughter of hers.

"I should have known this was going to happen as soon as I found out you were pregnant. I should have know your heart condition wouldn't be able to take it. I should have dragged you to get that baby taken out." she laments.

"mom, William needs to know I'm here and his baby is in an incubator." my voice sounded weak even to my own ears and I'm pretty sure mother could hear it as well.

"This is too much, baby. You are too young for all these."

"mom please. Inform William." I manage to get out with the pain in my chest. A lone tear falls down my eye at the pain even the pain medications couldn't dull out.

"dawn, I'm so sorry. I could have stopped all these from the start. I should have stopped your father. He pushed you into this." mother sobs as she hold my hand a little too tight. I could feel my breath leaving me as my breathing turn harsh.

"I tried to send news to him in prison but they said he's in isolation for beating two of the prison's warders." william's mom finally speaks from where she was standing. My congested chest feels so much worse

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/set-me-free

. I grab onto the tiny hospital gown and squeeze as hard as my weak fingers would let me all in a bid to alleviate the pain in my chest.

"Dawn? Are you okay?" Mother cries out. Is the pain visible on my face? I try to smile but end up grimacing.

"Aurora." I say after some time.

"Aurora? What are you saying dear?" Williams mother asks.

"my daughter. Her name."

"it means Dawn as well." my mom eye me suspiciously.

"I don't want to leave Williams without a Dawn." I smile wryly.

"What are you saying!" my mom snap at me.

"Your mom's right. You shouldn't talk like that. You will be fine and so will aurora."

"I-I- don't think I'll be able to be a mother to Aurora." I say sadly as I try to hold my tears at bay.

"Dawn--" mom sobs.

"Tell Williams to forgive me. I won't be able to look after our daughter while he's away." this time the tears don't stay away. They come in a storm.

"dawn!" mother yell brokenly.

"It hurts mother." I finally show my pain as my mother envelope me in her arms.

"I missed you so much. Too bad we can't be together anymore." I cry into her bosom.

"my baby. No, please. We have all the time in the world. You're still so young." mother cries.

"I'm afraid my time has come. You know this as well." mom pull away to stare into my pained eyes.

"please, no."

"I'm sorry. Tell daddy I still love him. Tell him I missed him even after he kicked me out. I'll still miss him after I'm gone."

"Don't talk like that Dawn. Williams need you now more than ever. Aurora needs her mother." Williams mother says with teary eyes and I shake my head.

"I'm sorry." I sob as both women cry. I'm such a failure. I destroyed Williams life. I push him into this marriage. I pushed him into this fight that killed his father.

"Tell him I loved him even till my last dying breath. Tell him I never wanted to leave him now that he needed me. Tell--" the chest contractions get worse and I swallow hard against the pain.

"Baby, are you okay?" mom shake me as my tired eyes flutter close for a few seconds.

"Dawn? Dawn! Please open your eyes! Please don't let go of us. I'm so sorry my child. Dawn!" mom's voice was starting to fade and my eyes were getting heavier.

"There's a paper under my pillow. Give it to Williams for me." I say then pause when my mom starts wailing.

"Please take care of Au-ro--" my words hangs as a sudden sharp pain seize my chest.

"Ahhhhhh!" I scream in excruciating pain as I grab my chest and writhe in pain.

"baby!"

"Dawn!"

"Doctor!" All the voices start to sound distant as I finally let my eyes close.

"I'm sorry, Williams. Aurora please forgive mommy for leaving." I say in my head.

"1!"

"2"

"clear."

"Dawn!"

"Clear!" my hand slip out of mom's as I take my last hard breath.

*******

"Hey! A letter for you." one of the prison warder spits as he reaches my cell and throws a piece of paper at me.

"Your mother brought it a few weeks ago I think. I must have forgotten." He says offhandedly as I hurry and grab the piece of paper. It must be from Dawn. I've not heard from any one of them since I was forced to sign that paper. They weren't even at my last hearing when I got sentenced to eight years in this hell.

"Who sends letters these days anyways?" the callous man mumbles as he walks on to the next cell.

 Dawn's wavy handwriting at the back of the paper is enough to put a little smile on my face as I pull the paper open. Oh how I've missed her.

  Dear William:

I'm sorry that I won't be able to deliver this letter in person. Remember the day we matched to the altar, that was one of the happiest day of my short life.

Read " To Hate Emmanuel Johnsons " by the same author ( Ameh juliet )

. I was living the life of a heroine. Marrying the guy I've loved for years and fighting for love. Thank You for giving that to me my love. Even now as I take my last breaths, I feel happy that I was able to fight for you and give you the best gift ever. Aurora, our daughter. I'm sorry I'll not be able to watch her grow or watch you be set free but know that I'll always love you. Even from the other side.

All I'll ask is that you never forget me, my love.

                Yours always,

                 Dawn.

 I don't realise my sobs until I'm almost blinded by tears. A body wracking sob assails me as I scream out my pain.

"No!" I yell out as I'm brought to my knees in pain.

"will you shut up!" my fellow inmate awakens from his sleep and throws a dirty pillow at me. I dont pay him any attention as I start shaking the iron bars locking me away from my love.

"let me out of here! Get me out! I need to see her! Please! She needs me!" I scream for anyone that would listen as I shake the gate violently.

"I said quit it!" the angry man yells again as a fist is slammed into my side. I fall flat on the dirty floor but continue yelling to be let out while i get pounded by the huge inmate I’m sharing the cell with. Why can’t I feel anything?