Dear Michael,

I do not know where to start. I’m leaving, going far far away. To a place where I and my story are not known. I will tell our child about you, I will tell her you were good and kind and the best man there ever was and I will tell her I loved you, and I like to think that for a time you loved me too. For if everything was a lie, that I loved you was not.

Good bye, Michael.

*"*"*"*"*

Michael sat on the stool in the mini bar. It had been six months since he sent her away.

The glass in his hand was half full and little drops of the liquid fell out of it as he swirled it around, some landing on the her letter, if it could be called that. It had been delivered months back, without a return address. Everyday he would read it, then stow it away. The next day he would do it again.

He did not seem to notice that some of his drink had landed on the note, the expression on his was blank and his mind had wandered far away from his body.

Martha had been right, he truly was not the only victim in this. sure he was hurt, but they were all hurting. Precious more than he. Her father had turned his back on her, she had no friends save the one and now he too was doing same. If he was being truthful he had known who she was, the signs were there, and they were clear. But he had ignored them, he told himself that she only changed, and was not a different person. She was all that he never knew he wanted, and because  of that  he had chosen to ignore the differences.
He was just as guilty as she was. Now a baby was involved, further complicating matters. It was much more than just the two of them now, an innocent child was now a factor in the equation. The child did not have to suffer for the mistakes  they had made, it did not have to live a life that was less than ideal. The child was his, a child conceived by a lie, true, but a child created out of the love two people had for each other. He would not let this child of his grow without a father, he would not let this child suffer because he was too stubborn to realise that the opinions of others did not matter.

He threw back his head, and in one go poured the drink down his throat, then he set the glass down. Wincing as the liquid burned his throat. He fished out his cell phone from his pocket, turned it on, and picked up the card on the table. Typing in the number.

“Hello, Martha?”

“Yes?” the voice over the phone answered.

“This is Michael”

“I know, how can I help you?” the voice said, sounding uninterested

“Martha, I know we didn’t agree the last time, but I see things clearly now. I’m sorry about the things I said.”

“Okay,” Martha said.
“So, can I have the address to where she is?” Michael asked.

“Where who is Michael?”

“Precious. your friend,” Michael answered, doing his best not to let his temper colour his voice. She had every right to act this way, he deserved it for not listening to her, and for rudely sending her out of his home. But this was not the time for her to be vengeful.  It was also not the time to point that out to her either, so he remained calm refusing to rise up to the bait.

“Why would I want to give you her address  Michael, and that’s assuming I have it,” she said.

“I know you have it Martha,” said Michael.

“And why would I want to give it to you? If I remember correctly, and I do. You told me you didn’t care about her nor the baby. She can go to hell. Those were your exact words.”

“I remember,” said Michael.

“You suddenly feel the urge to visit her in hell?” Martha asked.

“Martha, I’m sorry. What I said was wrong, I know that now and I’m sorry. I really need to see her, so please tell me where she is.”

There was no response, he looked at the screen, and saw that she had disconnected the call. He dialed the number again, listening to the ring back tone for what felt Like an eternity.

“Yes?” she answered finally.

“Martha please. I’m begging here,”

“You better beg,” she said, then “Africa.”

“What?” he asked.

“Africa, that’s where she is.”

“What is she doing in Africa?”

“Don’t ask me questions, when you see her you ask her."

“Yes, yes of course. But Africa Is a very big place, the second largest continent, Fifty four countries”  he said.

“I’ll text you the address,” she said.

“Thank you,” said Michael.

“Smart Alec… second largest, like I didn't already know that,” he heard her mutter before the line went dead.

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