Say Hello to the Broken-Hearted

by Dervan Brown

  “I need my hat!” John uttered, looked to the ground then instantly realized that there was a handy enough boulder right at his feet.

  The window glass shattered. The splintering sound triggered a shocking ‘aww’ in her disposition and before she could gasp for air, he lifted her into his arms and electrified her body with kisses to her lips. The prince gently laid her against the bed, flung the hat to the ground, and removed her silk attire.

  “Let’s do it all again.” John subtly demanded with a smile.

  “As if it never happened.” She delighted.

  “As if it’s our last….”

  Chapter 17

  The dusk poised a sincere tranquility. The twilight rays refracted the glass window and below the rainbow the two lovebirds chattered away.

  “You are the best John, E-V-E-R”

  “What are you talking about Karla?” He flattered, “That was nothing.”

  She laughed, “You are so cocky. I am going to have to take you off your high horse.”

  “I am the high horse--real stallion here baby.”

  The pep talk and laughter transcended into a prolonged silence after which Karla finally opened.

  “John--”

  “Yes?”

  “I am worried about the baby.”

  “What’s bothering you?” He asked, “Is something wrong?”

  “It’s just that we are cousins--what if…”

  “What if it comes out retarded?” John finished.

  “It’s not impossible. I heard somewhere that when a child is conceived by close relatives the chances of deformities are higher.”

  “Honestly, I have thought about it too,” John replied, “But don’t worry about it. We are only second cousins, the baby will be fine…trust me.”

  “I trust you John.” She sighed, “I have faith in you and I. Everything will be ok.”

  “That’s my baby.” John encouraged.

  “I think it’s a girl John.”

  “No way, it’s a boy and we are going to name him after me--John Steelburg Junior.”

  “More like John Steelburg the second. Since we are acting like the English Bluebloods. Karla jeered and he laughed.

  “Good one. A royal family, how about that?” John alluded.

  “Very farfetched,” Karla asserted, “Besides I am positive it’s a girl and her name will be Katherine Steelburg.”

  We will see….we will see.”

  Beep--beep---beep.

  “What’s that?” John asked.

  “Oh, that’s my alarm snoozing.” Karla affirmed.

  “I promised my mother I would come by the house.” Karla confirmed, “I have to go John. It’s already six o’clock and it’s only getting darker.”

  “Sure, no problem, you want me to drop you around there?”

  “No, I am fine, besides I wouldn’t want another--you know what.”

  “Confrontation?”

  “Yeah, that.”

  “Ok, I understand, so I guess I will see you tomorrow then?”

  “Yeah, most definitely.” Karla affirmed.

  “Ok, call me…Later.” John replied as he opened to leave.

  “Hey! Don’t forget your hat.”

  “Yeah thanks…How could I forget my hat…”

  Chapter 18

  Karla Steelburg arrived at the door of the wooden house that she spent most of her adolescent years. Suddenly flashes of memories of being raped reconciled in her head. It felt like it happened yesterday.

  When Karl died, life for Louise had taken on a completely wrong direction. The sufferance had become a miserable ordeal which toppled the distress in both their lives. They were in the depth of despair when Louise started to get close with Steven Richards. A friend of Karl, who was just another small time farmer in the remote civility. He had been generous enough to take them into his small but suitable two bed room studio.

  Karla gazed at the withered orchids in the flower bar hanging by the window panel. She remembered when they were young and had purple blossoms.

  “Life goes on, things change, sometimes we lose our essence but we keep walking anyway.” She thought.

  Before she could knock, the door went open and a five feet three inches, one hundred and twenty pounds woman with a face carrying wrinkles of a sixty two year old that had more than her fear share of hardship approached her.

  “Hey!” Louise gave out in a semi-excited tone.

  “Hey… I am here.” Karla struggled and managed a light smirk.

  “I never thought you would.” Louise continued, “It has been so long since you left.”

  “I know…For a long time I convinced myself that this house doesn’t exist, that it didn’t happen.” She walked pass her mother, went to the center of the living room and sharply stared at the walls and furniture.

  “The wall was still painted blue, the shattered mirror was still hanging below the broken clock…The burgundy couch, and the loud screams were miles away from open ears. The tears were dried but the pain was still an unbearable agony.” She was still feeling sorry for what had happened.

  “Let me get my stuff that I left in the box under your bed. I can’t stay here.”

  “I...I thought you were staying the night. So that we could talk and catch up a bit.”

  “Talk about what mother!” Karla exclaimed, “I have nothing to discuss, really!”

  “Karla, you need to end this nonsense! Abort the pregnancy.” Louise reiterated in a higher pitch, “You are ruining your life, your cousin has nothing to offer you, and you’re making the biggest mistake of your life! Kill the child before it’s too late…please I beg of you.”

  Karla looked at her from the corner of her eyes. The bottled up hatred had just exploded inside of her.

  “You just couldn’t manage but to go there huh…you couldn’t help yourself?” Karla replied, “You make me sick! You are not my mother, as a matter of fact how could you call yourself a woman? By the way, I’ll have you know, whatever I do and whoever I decide to be with is none of your fucking business!”

  “How could you say that to me? You are my daughter Karla!” Louise replied.

  “Oh! I am your daughter, so that makes it your business!” Karla exclaimed in heightened furiousness at her provocative utterances, “So tell me this, was I your daughter when my stepfather, your man, raped me! Raped me!! On this very couch! You covered for him. You chose him over me and called me a liar! Was I your daughter then?”

  “Karla don’t go there!” Louise pleaded.

  “No! No! You listen to me and listen to me carefully.

  I have been alone for years. Facing the struggles by myself. I had no father and no mother, no one to run to for comfort! I was abandoned.” Her hard loud proclamation descended into a sympathetic cry. Tears fell from her cheeks. “But I…I faced my fears, my fears…and pulled through the dirt on my own. And now that I am starting to see a little light, now that I am learning to be happy again, no one and I mean no one will take that away from me!” She clinched her left fist and hardened her face as she stared right into her mother’s eyes, “I will stand, stand for what I believe in! Whether if it’s right or wrong. I am ready to be forsaken.”

  “Karla, sometimes love is not enough!”

  “You are wrong…His love is all I need.”

  Louise stared at her with scornful disapproval. There isn’t much sense in arguing further with her. She was ardent about pursuing a life with John. It was already sealed before she walked through that door. It was already decided when they kissed and said hello.

  “Goodbye…You may never see me again. Take care.” Karla proclaimed and walked to the door.”

  “Karla!” Louise uttered.

  “What!” She replied bluntly without looking behind her.

  “I am sorry.” Her mother uttered in a fragile genuine voice.

  Without responding or even having a thought that her apology was sincere she slammed the door behind her and walked away…

&nbs
p; Chapter 19

  Two days until summer ended. There had been more rain the past week than there was since the start of the year. The chill weather had certainly dampened the fire sensation. Where did all the excitement go? Maybe it’s time for a change. This small village is no place for big hearts.

  As the raindrops splattered against the shingles, the hard cold dilemma of his forbidden love affair preoccupied his thoughts as he lay flat against the white furry carpet lining his bedroom floor.

  “Is this a test…hmmmm,” John sighed, “Why me…why not my brother…Is it possible that there is someone else out there going through this? So many questions yet so few answers. There I was on a sure path in life. I had everything figured out for my own life. In pursuit of a good education, wonderful friends, and a great family. Everything down to the last detail was orchestrated. Then I met her, and now my entire life is taking on a whole new direction. It’s no longer about me, it’s about us. I have to take in consideration her future, mines and the baby’s. This is where I become a man…I swear I will always love and care for her, nothing less…I swear.”

  The cell phone on the floor next to him vibrated, and in the instance he realized that the rain had stopped, for now.

  “Hey what are you doing? I need to talk to you. I am about to come see you. The text read.

  “Is it urgent? I mean, outside is wet and it looks like it’s going to rain again.” John replied.

  “Yes it’s urgent. I am leaving out now. Meet me at the bottom of the hill, by the road.”

  “Ok then, I’ll see you in a little while, be safe Karla.”

  “Maybe it’s the baby or things didn’t go well with her mother yesterday. Whatever it was, it sounds serious.” John thought.

  Thirty minutes later.

  “Hi, you must be freezing.” John noticed. She was shivering in her cotton brown boots. “Here, put my jacket on, it will make you comfortable.”

  “Thanks, John,” Karla responded with a smile, “You are a great guy, you know that.”

  “I care about you girl, you already know.”

  “I care about you too, and that’s why I am here.” Karla proclaimed.

  “Is something wrong babe?”

  “No, no, nothing is wrong John,” Karla assured, “Everything is almost perfect.”

  “Almost!” John stressed.

  “…John, I am growing weary of this place. I am sick of people gossiping about us and staring with a scornful eye. The hypocrites can’t even lie. Let’s get out of here for good.”

  “Karla wait…Did something happened between you and your mother yesterday?” John questioned, “Where is all of this coming from?”

  “Well it didn’t go so well, we got in an argument about my relationship with you. She rejected the baby. I slammed the door and left.”

  “Oh…ahh, I am sorry it went that way.” John remorsed, “Is there anything I can do?”

  “Yes! Let us leave, get out of this hateful town, away from all the resentment. They don’t want us here, and we don’t need to be here.” Karla pursued, “Think about it, your mother hasn’t talked to you in God knows when. Your brother despises both you and me. My brother doesn’t even look my way anymore, and my mother-- Well she is not important, but I am sure you understand. Who would want to raise a family around people such as these? Nobody will miss us John!”

  “Karla I do understand all that you have said, but where are we going to go?” John emphasized, “Cuz, I am tired of hiding. I am tired of not being able to hold your hand because of fear of what on-lookers might say. I do not want to watch you dance with someone else anymore.”

  “That’s exactly what I am asking of you baby!” Karla persist, “Let’s go to a place, where we can dare to be ourselves, where we can love in due audacity!”

  “Karla, wherever we go, how long you think it will take them to find out that we are cousins?” John asked.

  “I don’t know…” She replied in doubt.

  “Karla it won’t be long until the ridicule and the out-casting starts all over again. Wherever we go, it won’t be any different.”

  “But John, who gives a rat’s ass what strangers have to say!” Karla stressed, “John, I am concerned about the relationships with our family and friends here. To be honest it has taken an over bearing toll on me, and I am not contented with the recent break downs in our families. It’s not becoming John!”

  “Ok, ok…I understand where you are coming from…what exactly do you want us to do?”

  “Well, I was thinking that we could move to another country. Another small island maybe. Make a fresh start you know. Find an ample neighborhood to raise our child in. After a while you and I could go back to school part time. Work our way up, anything is possible baby. In addition, absence makes the heart grows founder, you will never know, our family and friends may come around to accept us, someday.”

  John took a deep breath and smiled. He saw the passion in her expression. She was alive. It made him happy. He couldn’t disagree that the entire idea was captivating. The man follows where the heart goes.

  “Ok, I agree. Let’s do it, let’s get out of here.” John excited.

  “Yes! Thank you so much.” She braced him with hands rapped tight around his neck, “I love you John.”

  “I love you too baby.”

  “So where are we going?” John asked.

  “I am not certain, I was thinking Trinidad or Barbados. I heard Grenada is wonderful.”

  “I say we go to Trinidad. I heard it’s beautiful there and it has a nice economy. I’ll be able to find a job with ease.” John replied.

  “Ok Trinidad it is.” Karla excited.

  “Great…When do we leave?”

  “ASAP, Ill book the tickets out of the savings I have.” Karla said.

  “Ok sure. I have a friend in Trinidad that I met in college. I’ll get him to arrange accommodations for us there.”

  “Wonderful!” Karla supported, “Everything is going to be grand. This is so surreal.”

  “I actually have a good feeling about this. I am delighted.” John expressed.

  “Super! So now we just have to inform our families and friends.” Karla softly mentioned.

  “Yeah, let’s ask for their blessings. It’s the appropriate thing to do.” John affirmed.

  “Right…”

  “So how is my baby today? You haven’t thrown up or anything, have you?” John inquired.

  “No, today have been smooth but yesterday, My Lord! I felt like I was about to vomit my entire intestine.”

  “Aww, I am sorry for causing you all that pain.”

  “She laughed, “I’ll manage, and don’t worry.”

  “Yeah, you bet!”

  Chapter 20

  Jennifer Williams sat blankly with her legs crossed at the kitchen table absorbing the mystic serenity of the blossoming sun shiny day over a cup of tea that filled the atmosphere with a vivid scent of cinnamon and ginger. Despite the heavy concentration of the morning regular, it did an acute job of relaxing her nerves and distracting her thoughts from the repugnant ordeal that John had found himself enslaved by.

  “Jesus please deliver my son, deliver him now Lord.” Jennifer incited out loud. Loud enough to reach John’s ears as he strolled into the kitchen still dressed in his pajamas.

  “The smell of cinnamon woke me up. May I have a cup?” John opened. Jennifer shrugged. Efforts for a verbal conversation were only futile endeavors. John fixed his focus on her as he stirred the sugar to dissolution. He watched her gazed into the window without blink or twitch. His presence in the quarter was less relevant than the space he occupied.

  “Tell her that I’m leaving, I bet that will grab her attention…right.”

  John took a sip of the lukewarm tea, placed the cup on to the counter, mustered his voice and with due bluntness caressed with an unapologetic tone, blurted, “Karla and I have decided to leave the country together. We are making a fresh start. We leave in a couple of days.�
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  Jennifer said nothing. She didn’t even budge or turn to look at him to see if he was serious or insane. Or maybe it had gotten to the point where if the patient doesn’t care, then why should the doctor?

  “I thought you should know. We are kindly asking for your blessings.” John declared and made his way to the exit door of the kitchen.

  “How can a son ask a mother for her blessings to pursue a God forbidden relationship with his cousin of blood, and to add insult to injury, have a child out of the bonds of wedlock with the said Delilah?” The pain staking frustration and disappointment was real and vivid in her tone.

  “I am sorry mother. In this, I have renounced the bible. We love each other dearly, and I pray to God, it is more than enough.”

  “My blessings have escaped like the tears that have been shed from these eyes. I have none to be bestowed onto you.” Jennifer replied. Her song was a rendition of heavy waters streaming a narrow river, cold and unforgiving.

  John held his face to the ground. A sense of indifference short lived in his head.

  “I have made a commitment. I can’t turn against her now. Besides she is having my child. She needs me and I need her. Life without her is unimaginable.” John ascertained himself.

  “That’s unfortunate, but it won’t dissuade us. It will only serve as a motivation to prove you and everyone else wrong.” John proclaimed, and started to walk away.

  “John!” John’s mother called for a last grip of his attention.

  “What!” John replied furiously, “I had enough of your poison!”

  John’s mother stood and walked to his face, stared hard into his eyes and in a stern unrepentant high pitched voice declared. “When you leave, stay away. Don’t ever come back, not even to visit. You are no longer welcome here.”

  John Steelburg walked off without responding. He heard the words and he would heed them well.