A PAGE OF THEIR LIVES: DEMI

 

“I’m sorry for keeping this from you all these years. Everyone told me to inform you about our son but knowing the kind of man that are; I chose to raise him alone. Don’t even think about judging me, you are no saint yourself. I did not write this letter to seek your forgiveness, I wrote it to warn you. Even though I do not regret raising our son alone, I do regret not telling him about you. Whenever he asked, I’d tell him that you were dead because in a sense, you are dead to me. He now knows about you and wants to meet you. It’s your decision whether or not to meet him but know that our son Demi, is ill and doesn’t often do well with rejection… ”

Before he could finish reading the letter, there was a knock on the door. His Secretary walked in and informed him that he had an unscheduled visitor. Trying to get a grip of reality, he motioned on her to let the person in.

A young, lanky –looking man walked into the office. His head was hung low and his gaze avoidant. He sniffed a little and wiped his nose with the back of his hand. Josh motioned on him to have a seat and the young man sat, his head still hung low. Something about this visitor made Josh’s stomach turn but he proceeded to introduce himself to the young man.

Later that evening, while Josh ruminated over the letter sent by Anita his very old flame, his insides began to heat up. She always had that effect on him. He recalled the first time he had seen her; it was almost fifteen years ago. The smell of her perfume was the reason he talked to her that night in the club. She had a strange yet defying aura that captured his attention and tempted his ego. Her strides and gestures were so graceful and attractive that he could not resist. The night ended with them becoming more than acquaintances.

Josh took another sip of water and wondered how it could have been possible to have had a son without knowing; how could she have hidden the boy from him all these years?

His phone rang. “Joshua I need you home now!” his wife, Elly commanded and dropped the call before he got the chance to say anything.

*

“I knew you always bragged about being your father’s son but I never thought you would take it this far! Who the hell is Demi?” Elly said to him in a cold yet scared tone. Her eyes were wet with tears and her left hand folded against her chest while the other hand held out a torch. She walked away from him and sat on the sofa.  Josh stood there trying to understand her, his world was spinning and he had no clue how to make it stop. He tried to turn on the living room lights but the power was out. He walked towards her and just then he spotted a dark figure in the corner of the living room and his heart skipped a beat.

“Hello dad. It’s so nice to finally meet you after all these years.” The figure voiced.

Joshua was scared but he tried not to show it. What was it Anita said about her son being ill again? He tried to recall and realised that he hadn’t gotten enough time to finish reading the letter.

“No hugs for me?” the figure said emerging from the darkness into the dim lighting of his Elly’s torch light.

“Who are you young man?” Joshua ventured with fists clenched by his side.

Demi chuckled. The torch died and Elly screamed.