Sins Of The Father

“And to my lovely wife Bela Armani…” He paused as he scanned the crowd with his incredibly charming eyes and as soon as they fell on me, the corners of his lips curled into a satisfying smile.

“...you are the finest, loveliest, tenderest, and most beautiful person I have ever known, and even that is an understatement. I know there are times when I'm not always easy to live with. Thank you for loving me still." He concluded, his eyes beaming with enthusiasm as the crowd roars its approval with thundering applause and a standing ovation.

Even though he has just been named the new CEO of McMahone Teaching Hospital, it was obvious that his greatest achievement was having me as his wife, and for the first time in three years, I felt a sting of guilt in my heart for not being able to reciprocate his love.

If perfect was a man, it would definitely be Donovan McMahone. He was handsome, wealthy, and most importantly, the best husband any woman could wish for. His only flaw was his father, Dr. Hudson McMahone, the current Commissioner of Health and the most possible candidate for the upcoming election for the Minister Of Health.

Most people think of the Commissioner as a demigod who does nothing but save people's lives and even my family and I were once one of those people.

My earliest memory of him was when I first learned I would be having a younger brother. At that time, we lived in a very small village in Marklesburg.

I remember feeling so betrayed and angry that I would run away from home and wander about the small village, most times daydreaming about the biggest mansion in the village and all the good life I could live only if it was ours.

One day, I finally met the owner Dr. Hudson McMahone who turned out to be very nice and we immediately became friends, not considering the age gap...The biggest mistake of my life

As months went by, I found out my mom had complications in her pregnancy and needed a very expensive surgery to be performed by an expert surgeon.

My dad was just a 9 to 5 worker and obviously didn't have enough savings for such complicated surgery.

I decided to tell my new friend about it since he was a surgeon and the owner of the only hospital in our village and fortunately for us, he agreed to do mom's surgery himself, that too for free. Ever since then, he became very close to my family as mom became sickly after childbirth.

On seeing how his single act of kindness saved my family, I knew what I had to be. A doctor!

My parents tried to give me the best life they could afford but despite their effort, I didn’t appreciate them because I hated the idea of having a sibling and this made me distant from my family as studying became my new haven.

I hated little Diego so much that I would sometimes deny him as my brother in front of my friends.

Once my mentor left the village, I decided the best way to be free from my family was to join a boarding school in the city at just 16. My parents hated the idea and tried to change my mind about it but I was too determined to leave. Diego, who was always too scared to speak to me, walked up to me just as I was about to leave the house.

“Aunty Diana, would you have stayed back if I hadn’t been born?” He asked, his puppy eyes filled with tears and for the first time, I felt guilty for how I have treated him for the past 7 years since he joined the family but it was already too late to change my decision. I have already been enrolled in a medical high school in Washington DC and it would only be a waste of the money we lack to change my mind.

Instead of showing my regret, I shoved his hands and ran out of the house with my luggage. That night, I cried my eyes out in my new hostel as the realization of my loneliness hit me. I thought it was great to live alone but when I was finally alone, I realized how much I hated it.

Just when I thought I understood what loneliness meant, true loneliness hit me because, in my freshman year at college, I received a call that changed my life forever.

“Your parents and younger brother were involved in an accident. Though we couldn’t save your parent’s life, your brother is recovering at the McMahone Teaching Hospital, Washington.” A sharp manly voice intoned the horrible death of my parents to me in a voice devoid of any emotions.

As soon as I arrived at the hospital which was just about an hour's drive away from my college, Dr. Hudson showed me to the morgue where my parents' lifeless bodies were lying on a table.

A foul odor welcomed me as I entered the cold room. The lighting was stark and the only sound I heard was that of my shaky breath.

Of course, the dead don’t talk.

My legs immediately went numb and as I fell on all fours, I felt a sudden tightness in my chest.

My vision blurred as I fought back the tears.

I left the house that day without even saying a proper goodbye. I only phoned them when I needed money and I never went back home after that day even when I missed them.

“I will go back home once I’m very rich and successful…” I consoled myself with those words all for the three years I spent without them.

Even if I become successful now, they won’t be here to enjoy the fruit of their labor.

“Mom, Dad, please wake up! I’m going to become a doctor soon and we will become very rich.” I bawled out, my throat aching with misery as I crawled towards the table.

When I finally got the courage, I tried to reach out for mom’s hand but a small scarred hand grabbed my wrist, preventing me from touching her.

I slowly lifted my head to make eye contact with the small figure of my brother standing in front of me.

“They didn’t need your money. All they ever wanted was your love and presence. You have no right to touch a single hair on her head.”

His stare was intense and cold and his eyes were red from crying.

At that moment I realized how much I’d failed as a daughter and sister.