He woke up again. Covered in sweat. He threw off the covers, kicking off the part that had entangled his foot as he had slept. It was winter but he could ill afford to heat his little room on his meagre earnings. Inspite of that he was drenched in sweat.. The temperature in his room could not have been more than 50F. The thin panes on his only window barely kept the temperature constant. The rust covered old radiator hissed intermittently beneath the window. The hiss of steam barely enough to keep the room lukewarm. He did not notice this. His anxious face seemed lost. He could still hear them. Baying like hounds. Baying for his blood. Banging on his door. He sat up, swung his legs off the bed. He stared for a while outside the window and then cradled his head in his hands. His hands covered his ears but he still heard them as clear as the night outside. Snow had started falling again. He did not like the cold. But he would have lived in the Arctic circle if only that would stop the voices. They were in his head, he kept reminding himself. And yet they seemed so real. He got up, walked to the door in couple of strides, threw open the door and glanced outside. The narrow hallways were empty. They would be at 3 in the morning. He closed the door and locked it. All three of them. He stood there for nearly an hour before walking to the bed and sitting down. He poured himself a glass of water and drank it in one gulp. Most of it spilled onto his old worn out t-shirt but he did not notice. Nor did he notice that the holes in the t-shirt had gotten bigger over time. None of these things mattered to him.
He looked at the window once again. He had begged his landlord to allow him to board it up. But Mr. Cohen refused. Would bring the price of the apartment down, Mr Cohen had said giving him a funny look. He looked around his tiny apartment warily. Was there any other place from which they could enter? His eyes overlooked the fact that his apartment, even though tiny appeared huge. A tiny apartment would if it was sparsely furnished. He had done the best he could though. An old discarded stained mattress rescued from the curb. It had a musty smell but still had a few years of use left. A broken alarm clock radio that someone had dropped and discarded as the screen had cracked. A bargain for a dollar at the second hand store. Still worked fine. A battered old side table missing a drawer. Another lucky curb find. He didnt need the drawer anyway. Afterall what did he have now that he could keep in the drawer. Nothing. His eyes drifted to the small canvas rucksack. His only remaining possession from back home. He looked at his meager possessions again. He had mobilised most of these from curbs and the second hand store. Very hesitatingly. People back home in Ghana would never do that.
Ah Ghana!!! How he longed to be home. He looked up at the window as it rattled by the passing of the subway train. The door shook quite a bit too. Would they stand up to people trying to break in? He shuddered at the though involuntarily. Then again, no one here knew of him. His past and reasons for a doctor living in such squalor. Nor did they care. They just continued with their lives. He started to relax. He had been here for a year now. Living in the city of dreams. New York. And yet all it took was a little noise and he was back at home. A home he had loved. A home he would never be able to return to given the way he had left. He did not like New York but it was now this was home. He looked at the clock again. 4:30 AM. He better get ready. He would need to be at work by 6 AM. He took off his wet clothes and placed them on the metal wire that he had suspended there. On it hung his work clothes too. He had brought them home to wash last evening. He checked them. They were still a bit damp but that was okay. He placed them on the radiator. That should dry them a bit more. Probably would take some of the wrinkles out too. He turned on the shower and waited. Past experience had taught him to wait for the water to heat up a bit. So different from things back home. He smiled at the thought as he corrected himself. This was home. There was no going back.No large 4 bedroom apartment. Nor the beautiful cream convertible Lexus. Even the medical practice he had helped established. Twelve years of hard work. All gone in one night.
His thoughts turned to his parents. The only son born after three daughters, his birth had seen a lot of celebration. If only he had known the responsibilities that came with the celebration. He had worked hard. His family could barely afford to feed them, let alone send them to school. Yes his was a story of success, oft times recounted for the benefit of others in his tiny village school. Recounted until they found out. Scholarships and working nights, he had helped put himself through school. He had also helped educate his sisters. One had become a high school teacher, the second a secretary and the third a nurse. Much better than they had expected. They had not hoped for much once they realised their family situation. An end of innocence. It is sad when a child gives up their make believe carefree world and adopts the truth of life they were born into. However, he had dared to dream. And dream big. It is said, only those who dare to dream big, achieve something. His family certainly had felt that he had achieved a lot. He had topped his batch in medical school at 22 and gone on to win the prestigious awards that let him enter residency as a cardio-thoracic surgeon. Five years later, he had graduated first among the five who had joined the program with him. Again at the top. He had joined the same department at 27, two days after his birthday as a lecturer. Four years later, he had become an associate professor. The youngest ever in the history of the university. Eyebrows had been raised when he quit the safe job to start in independent practice. His parents had berated him for his foolishness. His friends tried to dissuade him. Three year later the same people basked in the glow of his new found success. His medical practice had expanded from a three person operation to a team of fifty multispeciality team of physicians and surgeons. There were even talks of starting a full fledged hospital to rival the others in the city. They certainly had the talent. The capital they would get somehow. At 33, there was hardly anyone who wouldnt say that Dr. Adom Emman Baffour had the Midas touch. He had purchased a nice home for his parents and his sisters had married well. Things were looking good. They nagged him about taking a wife but he had put them off. He needed to focus on his career, he would say. His parents wanted a grandson. He knew how much they desired one from him. His sisters had obliged them with a fair degree of regularity. He could hardly keep track of their names. 11 grandchildren so far and yet his parents were not satisfied.
If only they knew. He knew they would not approve. How could they? It was still a crime. Ashley and he had kept it a closely guarded secret. Such things were not permissable. Heck inter-tribe marriages were still not quite common. Not in his small village at least. Blood would be shed for far simpler things. Young Aban had been killed for bumping into a woman from another tribe. The village had bled for a few days and the army had been called in. They would certainly never approve of Ashley. Ashley was another doctor. A year junior to him in medical school. They had bonded over long study sessions in the library. And finally one evening had given in to their baser desires. It had been 15 years now and still they had not found the courage to tell anyone. Clandestine meetings and coded messages that would seem innocuous to any other person. Ashley called him Adom Bond. Afterall Adom had devised the cipher and the methods. His apartment was in the heart of the town as well. If you want to hide something, hide it in plain sight, Adom had once read. And so it was. No one took notice of who visited him in the bustling capital city. Yes he had chosen well. Love is a strange thing though. He had forgotten how it can blind someone. Even one as smart as him. And so it came to pass. But he had not been the one at fault. Although he could hardly bring himself to blame Ashley for trying to surprise him on his birthday. Cake and wine. Adom had always had a sweet tooth. Brought up in poverty, these were hardly on the menu. Well not until, Adom had changed things. His family was not expecting him till tomorrow. They had protested but they had fallen silent once he reminded them that each day he was not at the practice, they lost a significant amount of money. That had quietened them. He had snuck out of the practice, hoping to get a bit of rest before he faced them. Adom loved them but they could be a handful. He knew the conversaton would inevitably be about him not having found a wife. They were persistent. No doubt he had been as well. Genes. He entered his flat to find the surprise there. Ashley was cooking in the kitchen. He sniffed the aroma emanating from the kitchen. He smiled. So much for an evening of rest. He called out to Ashley who popped out the kitchen and smiled at him. It was early still. Adom knew Ashley was scheduled to perform a surgery later that night. They did not have much time. And yet they enjoyed the excellent meal, the chocolate truffle cake and the bottle of red wine. After dinner they found they still had a few hours before Ashley had to return so they settled down on the couch. Adom put on a bit of music. As they sat on the couch, cuddling, they heard a gasp. Adom turned to see his family standing their. His sisters and his parents. Their arms were full of decorations. They had wanted to surprise him with a party. They usually stayed with him when they were in the city. But he wasnt expecting them. Not like this. He heard his sister Abla drop a glass dish of some sort as she walked in through the front door. His shirt was open. As was Ashley's. He hastily tried to button it up. Too late. He wondered how much they had seen. They would probably have guessed even if it were not open. Ashley hastily did the same and pushed past them before they could recover from the shock. Adom heard the ding of the elevator as his family recovered his senses. He barely heard them as they berated him. How could he? What was he thinking? Did he know the consequences of his actions? The commotion brought his otherwise non-interfering neighbors out. They saw Ashley climb into the elevator in a disheveled state. One went in and made the call. Adom had a clear view of Afram doing that. It was hard not to see it. Afram owned the flat across the hallway from him. Adom and he had had a bitter bidding war over this apartment. Afram had wanted this one. It was larger and more spacious. Adom had had the deeper pockets that had helped him secure the apartment. Now of course Afram would create all the trouble he could stir up. His family finally let him be and called it a night. They would, no doubt, start over in the morning. Birthday or no birthday. What a nice way to end his birthday. He was about to call it a night when the phone rang. Aban Al-Malick. The grateful father of a little boy he had saved. Again an only boy. Aban had 3 wives and eighteen daughters before his son had been born. Born with a rare congenital anomaly that would ensure that Abdul-Karim would not live past his third birthday. Adom had changed that. Aban had been very grateful and promised to repay Adom someday. Today.
"You dont have much time my friend." Adom heard the familiar voice respond when he answered the phone. Aban had helped him establish the practice.
"No names please. Do you recognise my voice?"
Adom reponded in the affirmative.
"Good. It has been reported. An hour ago. You need to leave the city. Immediately. They will come for you tomorrow. Early. Do you know what to do?"
Adom responded in the negative.
"No matter. I have made some arrangements. I wish you had confided in me earlier. We dont have much time. You better warn your friend too. Both of you must leave. Immediately. There is not a moment to lose. Pack as much as you can carry. No more. Money and a few clothes at most. Leave your car. Take a taxi to the local market. It will still be crowded. Its only 8 PM. Cross the market. A few times. Then leave from the east gate. Make sure you are not followed. Dress in common clothes. Come to my ...." Aban had given him the address of a warehouse that he owned. One of many. His business interests were many. And varied. It didnt come as a surprise to Adom that Aban knew. Very few things happened in Ghana without his knowledge. And yet to all he was a simple merchant.
Aban made him repeat his instructions to make sure that Adom had understood. When he was satisfied he said.
"Good. Hurry. May Allah protect and guide you, my friend. I shall be waiting. Hurry." Adom heard his say before a click.
Adom sat there for a few minutes before springing into action. He found his old school canvas backpack and packed a few clothes. He opened the safe and emptied the money from there into his bag. Not much but still better than nothing. He would stop at the ATM and draw as much as he could. He hesitated for a minute and then packed the gun and the deeds to his share of the practice and car. He left the house deeds there with a note willing them to his family. They would need the money. So many grandchildren to put through school. Besides he doubted even Aban would have enough to pay for that at such short notice. He stealthily took one look at his family as they slept in the other bedrooms and left his apartment locking the door on his way out. He called Ashley and recounted the events. Ashley promised to meet him at the warehouse taking the same precautions Aban had instructed Adom to adopt.
As he left the building, he could hear their voices in the distance. The lights from their torches were clearly visible. They were calling his name. Baying for his blood. Him. Aban had been wrong. They would not wait that long. Adom had no option. He would have to pass by them if he wanted to make it to the market. He steeled himself. They would probably not recognise him as he was not wearing a suit. He must walk slowly. Any sudden movements would give him away. With each step his heart beat faster and louder. He was afraid that his heart would give him away. As he neared the mob, he saw a burkha clad woman walking hurriedly in the opposite direction. No doubt trying to get indoors before the wrath of the mob manifest itself. He saw her disappear into one of the buildings. and wondered if he knew her. She was most certainly a neighbour. The other shops and windows on the street had been closed. The few that were open, closed quickly as the noise of the mob grew louder. He crept past them with his face down. He thought he recognised a few among them. His neighbour led the pack. Of course he would. Adom thought he saw a priest. He kept walking. Steadily.They did not give him a second look. Their victim was not expecting them after all. Besides they were looking for a doctor. Not one wearing the rustic worn out garb of a poor man. Suits were expensive and doctors only wore suits. The man hunt would begin later. He felt his cell phone vibrating. He did not feel it earlier in his panic. There were 10 missed calls from Ashley. He had forgotten to turn the ringer on. He felt the phone ring again but he hid it and hurried away. Away from the mob. Finally four blocks away once he had lost sight of the mob, he called Ashley. Again and again. Each of his efforts were directed to the voicemail. He had hidden in the recess of one of the buildings to make the calls. Finally he could wait no longer. He left a frantic message and then ditched his phone in a drain outside the building. The SIM card he ditched in another drain a few blocks away before rushing to the market. He would better walk all the way. Taxi drivers would remember him.
It took an hour before Adom was at the market. Another hour before he found himself knocking on the door of the warehouse. A small metal window slid open and he found himself gazing into the worried face of Aban himself.
"Were you followed?" Aban asked glancing in the street.
Adom shook his head. His throat was parched.
"Good." Aban said once he was satisfied. The window slid shut. Adom was worried for a few seconds until he heard the reassuring sound of locks being opened. A small metal door flew open and Aban nearly dragged him inside before shutting the door just as quickly.
Aban had made all the arrangements. A freight ship of his was due to leave in a few hours. They would be part of the cargo. Aban pointed to a wooden crate that lay open.
"Thats your way out." he said in a sad voice. "They decided not to wait. You better hurry. If I had more time...." Adom grasped Aban's hands in his own to convey his gratitude. Aban handed him a small bag of food and water.
"Be careful how you ration the water. Use the empty bottle to .." Adom nodded. He understood. There could not be any trace of a man being in that crate. Adom opened his bag and pulled out that deeds to his car and practice. He tried to give them to Aban. Aban was risking his own life and the lives of his family by aiding him. Aban shook his head. Adom forced them into Aban's hands.
"These are worth a lot more." Aban said. Adom shook his head.
They were worthless to him where he was going.
Aban handed him the stamped passport containing his picture. Lord knows how Aban had managed to procure that at such short notice. He opened the passport. Mustafa Al-Hakim. The American visa was perfect. Probably authentic as well. Adom had heard rumors of Aban working with the US Embassy. Aban took out a small polaroid camera and they took a picture. Aban worked on the passport.while Adom impatiently watched the seconds tick by. There was still no sign of Ashley.
"Here you are, my friend. It is time. We can wait no longer." Aban warned him. Adom tried to say something but Aban nodded.
"Dont worry. I have another passport waiting." Aban showed him the other passport. "The other crate is for your friend. But we must hurry. Get into that crate. I will ensure Ashley is able to get out too. Dont worry. Its the least I can do...Hurry. " Aban helped him into the crate and put the food and water bottles in with hm..
"Good. Secure the straps. The crossing will be rough. But others have made it. Do not say a word. Not even if someone calls your name. The captain is an old friend. Abubaker. He will help you off at the other end. The code word is Allah is my shepherd." Aban smiled at his joke. He had used a saying from the Bible and mixed it with his own god. "My men will be here soon. Take this. If Allah wishes it, we will meet again." Aban handed him a small envelope, shook his hand once more before sealing Adom into the crate..
Adom heard Ahan make a phone call. Sometime later there was a knock on the warehouse door and Adom heard a few men walk in. The crate was lifted and placed on a truck and he was away. He said a silent prayer for Ashley. He had heard the mob again as they passed through the market. Had Ashley managed to escape? Adom had his doubts. He tried to signal the men but they did not hear him over the noise of the mob. And then he passed out. The truck had bounced on a speedbreaker and Adom hit his head on the wooden reinforcement. When he came to, he could hear the sea and feel the roll of the ship as she made her way in open waters. He would have to wait.
It had taken a few weeks in that crate before he heard an old voice whisper those words again. He tried to respond but failed to do so. His voice was gone. Inspite of careful rationing his water supply had run out a few days ago. He had managed to keep himself hydrated using ...He closed his eyes trying to blot out that memory. No matter how many showers he took, he never felt properly clean. He stepped out of the shower and dried himself.
Abubaker had shook his head when Adom had asked after Ashley. The old man had placed his hand on Adom's shoulder and said no more. Abubaker took care of everything. Adom dimly rmembered the events since his release from the crate. It had taken a few days before he could stand upright again. A few more before he could move about unaided. He had lost a significant amount of muscle mass during his captivity. Abubaker had helped him gain entry into the city and also set him up with a local not for profit that worked with refugees. They had helped him get the job at the local hospital.
ENDING 1: RARE
That was a year ago. Adom glanced at the clock as he picked up his semi dry uniform from the radiator. 6 AM. He better hurry or he would miss his train. Ten minutes later, he barely made his train and was on his way to work again. Dr Adom Emman Baffour worked in a hospital once more. He worked on the same surgical floors that been a second home to him all these years. The familiar scent of Lysol filled his nostrils. The sounds of the machines beeping, and the familiar medical jargon being thrown about filled his days. Here he had found some semblance of peace. Only now he watched them perform the same miracles he had once himself performed. A silent unnoticed spectator. Afterall whoever noticed the janitor mopping the floors. Everyone noticed the stars. The doctors and the nurses.ENDING 2:MEDIUM
That was a year ago. Adom glanced at the clock as he picked up his semi dry uniform from the radiator. 6 AM. He better hurry or he would miss his train. Ten minutes later, he barely made his train and was on his way to work again. Dr Adom Emman Baffour worked in a hospital once more. He worked on the same surgical floors that been a second home to him all these years. The familiar scent of Lysol filled his nostrils. The sounds of the machines beeping, and the familiar medical jargon being thrown about filled his days. Here he had found some semblance of peace. Only now he watched them perform the same miracles he had once himself performed. A silent unnoticed spectator. Afterall whoever noticed the janitor mopping the floors. Everyone noticed the stars. The doctors and the nurses.Adom didnt mind that one bit. Afterall he had received so much attention back home that he had lost his taste for fame. He continued on his "rounds". Although these meant mopping and cleaning up after everyone else at the hospital, it was rewarding work. At 12 noon, he took his lunch break. Lunch was a small soup and half a sandwich. He brought these with him, quite unable to afford the prices at the subsidized hospital canteen. He ate alone on the grass in the garden. The other janitors had initially tried to include him in their conversations but had soon learned that he preferred to be left alone. They gladly obliged assuming that he did not speak any English. Quite untrue as Adom spoke seven languages fluently including English, French and Spanish. Adom didnt bother to correct them. He watched them as they say at their usual table chatting and eating. Oblivious to the issues outside their tiny safe world. They would never know or realise that indpendence that they took for granted came at a huge price. Soon he was done and went back on his rounds. Four hours later, he caught the train back to his home. On the way back he stopped, as he had for the past year amd lit a candle at the church altar. For Ashley. Ashley's soul. He had not had any news about Ashley in the interim period. Abubaker had died on the trip back to Ghana and so Adom had been cut off from all news back home as well. He hoped his parents and sisters were safe. They would not have hurt them. He had scanned the newspapers but not read anything of that evening. A small piece a few months later did mention of his tragic death in a car crash. He laughed and breathed a sigh of relief when he read of the survivors. His family had escaped the retribution. A few days later he read Ashley's obituary. He did not know if that was true. But he had his doubts. There was no "car crash" this time.
Time flew by. The years passed but his routine never wavered. The years had not been kind to him. His hair first turned gray and finally white. He looked like he was eighty even though he was only half that age. Whoever would have guessed how things would turn out to be. Weekends were worse. He missed Ashley even more. During the week he had work to keep him occupied but on weekends, he always found it hard to kill time. He laughed whenever he thought of that expression. Kill time. The church was his only solace since his arrival in the US. When he first started to frequent the church and the services,. the priest there had tried to include him and convince him to participate in the church services and events. Adom could not bring himself to participate however. The crowds reminded him of the terrors...He shut his eyes in terror as he found himself back there. Back amidst the blood thirsty mob. When he finally opened his eyes he saw the familiar face of Christ staring down at him. He would leave soon after these visions, doing his best to avoid the other church goers.
Thereafter he only went there when the church was deserted. Deep down he knew he was safe but he could not bring himself to forget those voices. A decade had not been enough.
As was his habit, he made his way to the church an hour after Sunday service. Most of the stragglers after the service would have left by now. He would not be disturbed in his prayers. He entered the empty church, and approached the altar. The quiet environment within might have bothered others but not Adom. He found the small candle in his pocket and lit it using the flames of one of the other candles already burning there. That one was almost about to go out. Adom said a silent prayer and placed the candle in the molten remains of another. When he was satisfied he bent his head in another prayer. Finally he made the sign of the cross and took his usual seat at the back of the church on the right side. The pillar behind him almost hid him from view. He preferred that. He fished out the rosary- a cheap one he had bought all those years ago. The beads had cracked and some were missing but they still served their purpose. He knelt down and started praying wordlessly.In his mind, he was back in Ghana. With Ashley. He replayed their happy moments together. Just as he had everyday since leaving Ghana, all those years ago. He could still hear her voice. Sweet and soft.
"Adom. Adom...." he smiled. So real and yet ...The hand that was gently placed on his shoulder made him jump. He fell to the floor. He turned to gaze at the face to whom the hand belonged. He had expected it to be the priest. He did this sometime. But the face that looked down at him shocked him. It had aged. Yes. Really aged. But he recognised it all the same. Ashley. Dear sweet Ashley.
And yet she did not seem to be looking at him. She seemed to gaze into the distance. He saw her hand searching for him in space.
"I am here. I am here, my love." He struggled to his feet. He hugged her as his eyse wept. He could feel her tears dripping onto his shoulder as well. Tears of joy. He hugged her and kissed her sweet face. They could not stop their tears. There were so many questions...and yet they did not matter. He had her. His Ashley. She was alive. Alive and...He peered into her eyes. Ashley had had the deepest blue eyes. Very rare in Ghana. But now they seemed gray. His eyes were going bad and so he took her hand and half dragged our out into the light. No they were gray. Then he noticed the stick in her hand. The thin white stick with a red end. Ashley. His Ashley. The gifted neurosurgeon was blind. He cradled her face in his hands. It did not matter. He would see for the both of them. They would do everything together. He smiled at what she had suffered.
Slowly they walked out of the church. Adom wanted to tell her so much. But that would wait. They walked together- arm in arm. Like they never could have in Ghana. Free for the first time. So this is what freedom looked like. He loved the taste of it. He took her back to his apartment. For the first time he was glad, she could not see how he lived now. Such a start contrast to his earlier apartment. The floors had been of white marble. beautiful reproductions had hung on the walls and expensive furniture had been used to decorate that apartment. Ashley would have been shocked. Or would she. He had escaped quite unscathed. How did she lose her sight? He could not contain himself and asked her. Nothing would have prepared him for what she told him.A tale more horrific than anything he had imagined. A swift death would have been merciful.
After leaving his apartment, Ashley had walked on the street towards their clinic. After speaking to him she had gone home and picked up a few things. As she packed, she overheard someone in her building talking. They were going to hunt them down and make an example of them. Him first. Make her watch and then her. Even if they were doctors, they had no right to bring shame to their tribes. How could a decent Christian girl fall for a Muslim swine. She fled leaving all behind. Fearful for her life and his. She tried calling him but there was no response. She directed the taxi driver to drop her close to his apartment. She would have to warn him in person. They could leave together. She spied the mob forming in the square. It would be a close call. Then using a had stolen a burkha from clothesline as it lay drying and doubled back to his apartment. She kept trying to dial his number but did not receive a response. She hoped she would not be too late. The mob had grown quickly. When she reached his flat, she had banged on the door till Adom's sister had opened the door. She was too shocked to stop Ashely from pushing past her and checking the apartment. Her shouts had woken everyone. His parents and sisters. The pinned her to the floor. Thats when the mob caught up. She was knocked unconscious.
Adom had only heard stories of mob lynchings. This was worse. Ashley had been beaten brutally for days. They wanted to know where he was. She had not given him up. Then came the rape. It went on for days. They took turns. She lost count of time. Beatings alternated the rape. Her eyes were too swollen to see who it was. Her body was just as swollen. Doctors were called to patch her up. Thats when they discovered that she was pregnant. They sent the doctor away before using a bamboo pole to rip her baby out of her. Adom wept as he heard of her treatment and that of their unborn child. They had ripped her uterus with their savagery. She almost died from the blood loss. But they were not through and neither was fate. They had the doctors remove her uterus and once she got better, the rape and beatings started again. If she was lucky it was one...most times it was two or three. Adom could not stop his tears. He hugged Ashley. But the damage was done. She stopped for a while and shut her eyes. Like him, she could neither block out the images nor the memories. Finally she was able to tell him. She had contracted HIV from one of her rapists. Without treatment she progressed to AIDS. Her blindness was a consequence of untreated HIV. Once that was discovered, they dumped her in a ditch. The gods they said had punished her for her crimes. Years had passed since her ordeal began. She had no one to turn to. She still remembered Adom's instructions and traced Aban.
It took her a few weeks but she was finally able to contact Aban without anyone noticing. He was most sympathetic. He tried to arrange for treatment but no one wanted to be seen in her company. He finally smuggled her to the US. She arrived 3 months ago. And with his help she had been able to track Adom down to this church. They did not know where he lived since he had moved and not left a forwarding address with the not for profit organisation. She smiled as she stroked his cheeks. She did not have much time. The doctors here tried to treat her but she was too far along. She had but a few months. Adom kissed her passionately. It did not matter anymore. They would be together till the end. He cooked dinner for them. A proper meal. Ghanian meal. He also managed to buy a bottle of cheap red wine. Ashley had always enjoyed wine. He knew she had a good palate and would know how bad the wine was but that was the best he could do. She did not let him know. For once they were happy. Their sad past did not exist. They had the rest of their lives to cherish each other.
And that was how Aban found them. Six months later when he came to the USA to trade. He had finished his work and thought to visit his old friends. Their neighbour told him everything. The sweet blind lady had passed away after a horrible illness. Her husband had cared for her till the very end. Even when his own health had begun to fail, he had not stopped caring for her. After her funeral, no one saw him. They were found by the landlord who had come to collect the rent. He had taken his own life unable to be parted from her. Aban tracked down the police officer, O'Malley, who had been called in by the landlord. Adom had left a letter. for him.
"Dear Aban,
My friend by the time you read this letter, I will be gone. Gone to meet my love in the afterlife. Allah forgive me for doing this. I really dont see a point in continuing. All this while when I knew she might be alive, the hope had kept me alive. With her passing, there is nothing more for me to look forward to. I have tried to live as a good Muslim. Allah does not discriminate and yet we, his children, do so and in doing so destroy innocent lives. My Ashley was as innoncent as they come. She never hurt anyone. But her innoncence too they robbed from her. And robbed her from me. A week ago, on a rainy morning I buried her. She loved the rain. God reaching down to clean our sins she called it. She always reminded me that it had rained when Jesus was crucified. I think she made it rain for me. To let me know of her love for me. Her love that had never once faltered. Even in those trying times. And letting me know that she still waits for me. I had tried to find solace in her faith these past years. Who knows, maybe her god was more forgiving than ours? If I could I would take all her suffering on my self. But I cant change time. Nor can I bring her back. She died in her sleep sometime in the early hours of the morning. There was a beautiful smile on her face. Maybe the angels came to take her soul away from her tortured body. As I saw her smile, I felt that last part of me die. A hollow life it seems now to live on in her absence. I tried. I tried hard these past few days. But everything reminds me of her. And her suffering. I know she would not want me to do this. She would have wanted me to live on...but I am finally broken, my friend. May Allah and Jesus forgive my last act. I had hoped to meet you someday and thank you for what you did for us. The grave peril risk you placed yourself and your family for our sake and for the sake of our love. Love is the only thing that binds us all. I had hoped we would meet again someday. I had hoped to return the gift you gave me. As such I will have no further need of it where I am going but I know there are others who would benefit from it. I spent a small part of it for her funeral. The rest I return to you. For the amount I spent, in lieu, I also leave you this ring. Ashley had given it to me. I have no need of this either as I shall be in her arms soon. May Allah forgive me my last act.
Goodbye my old friend.
Adom."
Aban looked up at O'Malley. O'Malley handed him a small envelope. He opened the envelope and found the money he had handed Adom all those years ago in the warehouse. Sure enough the greater part of the fifty thousand dollars were in it. Along with a ring. An emerald ring inscribed by the words- Allah and Jesus. Together. Dated ten years ago when he had seen Adom last. His birthday.
O'Malley placed his hand on Aban's shoulder as tears rolled down his cheek. They were finally together. Together forever more. Free at last.
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