C4: A Life for A Life

⚜️ ⚜️ ⚜️

In the  present, Ysabelle pressed a cold towel over the palm prints on her cheeks and sighed. Shanice Wilson’s “Fall For You” played from the phone’s radio.

“This will take a while to go away,” she mumbled.

Looking up, her eyes fell on the picture of her late son.

He had been a chubby and cheerful baby. Her only source of joy.

Rising to her feet, she took the framed picture down. Her long fingers traced over his face.

Tears stung her eyes.

“Mummy misses you so damn much with each passing day. I wish you had never left.”

Back then, the death of her son had numbed her.

She didn’t care for the abuse anymore; it bounced off her, nor did she give a damn about her family.

To her, they were even. A life for a life.

Vernon, from the moment they had moved in together, had changed. He had projects out of town that lasted as long as six months.

He never bothered to keep in touch with her, only with his mother. Even when their child had died, he had not been there. Soon after the burial, they drifted further apart, but she had fought to keep her marriage, for it was all she had.

While she was still mourning her son, she began to suspect that he was having an affair, even though he denied it. His days of being the assistant builder’s boy were soon behind him as he landed a managerial job at a construction company. The family’s financial woes were finally over, much to the joy of his family.

Little had she known that the construction company was owned by his mistress. He had feigned being tired and wouldn’t touch her, and the naive woman she was had believed him.

Then, when she found out about the affair, he didn’t even bother to deny it. She had confronted his mistress and tried to fight for him, but he had taken the other woman’s side. That had been a real shocker.

Not long after, she learned the two were expecting a child. He had left home for months. She had gone to his workplace, and he had her turned away time and time again.

Five years after losing her son, Vernon and his mistress had two children and one on the way. For the longest time, since their first child, they had not met as man and wife.

Constantly, his family teased and taunted her, even going to the extent of inviting the mistress over.

And today was no different. Her mother-in-law had gone out to pick up the children from school to spend the weekend. It had become a habit of late.

She was expected to cook, clean up after them, and play the happy stepmother while bearing the thinly veiled insults from her in-laws.

Ysabelle looked around the room sadly. So many years spent in one place, yet the bad memories outweighed the good.

She felt drained and at the end of her journey. The decisions had been made for her a long time ago. She had held on, hoping for that tiny silver light at the end of the rainbow.

But the ray of light never showed. Had she wished too much, or had she foolishly believed in a dream that was never meant to be?

The shrill sound of the phone ringing penetrated her thoughts. She snapped out of her reverie and reached for it.

The screen read: Grandpa Bowa.

He was a chauffeur at one of the mansions in the newly built gated community.

Her friendship with Grandpa Bowa was as old as her marriage to Vernon. The old man and his wife had always taken care of her.

Stuck in a marriage where money was scarce, she had decided to look for a job. She had run a vegetable stand and a kiosk, but time and again, despite meticulous financial planning, the businesses had failed.

If it wasn’t her in-laws borrowing and taking from the business, then it was her using the money and stock to feed the family.

She reached for the cellphone beside her. The phone, which had seen better days, was held together by a rubber band. The dialing pad and keyboard were worn out, and in some places, keys were missing.

Ysabelle cleared her throat and took a deep breath before answering.

“Grandpa Bowa,” she answered, her breath held and fingers crossed.

Months earlier, she had asked Grandpa Bowa if he could help her get a job as a maid in the affluent gated community. She hoped to move out once she had saved enough money.

Grandpa Bowa usually called once in a while to check up on her, but just for today, she prayed it was more than a friendly greeting.

She needed this now more than ever. She had no idea what the future held, but she prayed the call would be the first step toward something better.

“Issy, my grandchild, how are you?”

She smiled despite her sadness. He called her his grandchild, and it always made her forget her troubles.

He and his wife were the closest thing she had to family now, other than Vernon’s extended family.

“I’m doing fine, thank you. How is Granny Amy?”

Old Man Bowa harrumphed.

“Don’t talk to me about that grumpy old woman. You know, I haven’t had a cigarette in almost three months now.”

Ysabelle chuckled.

Even though he was complaining, his loving tone whenever he talked about his wife was unmistakable.

Issy sighed, envious of their relationship. Even after so many years together, they were still in love. Once upon a time, she had dreamed of having that with Vernon.

“You know she means well. I hope you don’t make her worry too much.”

Old Man Bowa chuckled.

“Of course. Eh, Issy, about that job… are you still interested?”

Ysabelle shot to her feet.

“Grandpa?”

There was a pause before he spoke again.

“I found one.”

Her heart hammered against her chest.

“But there is one condition.”

Ysabelle furrowed her brows. What condition could have the old man worried?

“The owner of the house is a bachelor.”

What did that have to do with the job?

“I know you’re a married woman, and your husband may not agree to such an arrangement, but maybe you could come to some agreement with the owner?”

She wanted to laugh at the statement. Even if she disappeared from the face of the earth, Vernon wouldn’t give a damn.

She was quiet for a moment before speaking.

“I will take the job.”

“You will?” Grandpa Bowa asked, his voice filled with excitement.

She would have to be an idiot to say no to such an opportunity.

They talked for a while before hanging up.

⚜️ ⚜️ ⚜️