Chapter 23
7years later…
The prison gates creaked open and like a baby learning to walk, I stepped out carefully, embracing my long-lost freedom. I couldn’t believe that after seven years of being locked away in this shit hole and treated like an animal, I was finally a free woman. The feeling was overwhelming. As a result, I covered my mouth with both my hands, unable to contain the rush of emotions swelling inside me as tears of joy streamed down my cheeks.
After the trial, I was found guilty and sentenced to seven years imprisonment. Robert and his family hired some of the best lawyers in the country to argue the case. They did their best to see that I got a death sentence. But as fate may have it, I didn’t. Due to my lack of criminal history and a strong alibi the night the murder was committed, the judge reduced my sentence to seven years imprisonment. My attorney really did her best. From the way she defended me in court as if her life depended on it, it was obvious she was passionate about her profession and believed I was innocent of the accusations. I was forever grateful to her.
The sun which was almost too bright and unfamiliar shone on me, warm against my skin which was now parched and shrivelled from malnutrition and the poor living conditions of the prison. We only ate like once a day and were fed undercooked, low-quality or served food portions that wouldn’t even be enough for a five-year-old. Not to mention all the violence and aggressive behaviour from the prison inmates. I learnt to defend and stand up for myself the hard way, sustaining a lot of bruises and scars on my body. While in that prison, I had to keep looking over my shoulder because something kept telling me Robert or any member of the Wilson family might hire someone to kill me since their death sentence wish for me didn’t come to pass.
I could hear the sound of the bustling city again, making little outbursts of joy break out from my mouth. I breathed in deeply the air of my new surroundings. It was clean and fresh unlike that of the prison which always smelled like a million rats died in there.
Someone blew a hand whistle, clapping and cheering for me. Then I heard voices call, “Mummy! Mummy!! You’re finally free!!”
Before I could say a word, my twins, Liam and Lila rushed at me and thudded me with a hug that made me lose my balance. I didn’t expect to see them so soon. I didn’t think Jane would bring them this early.
“My babies…” My joy knew no bounds as I dropped to my knees and held them very close and tightly to my body, not wanting to let go, the tears that ran down my cheeks soaking into their clothes.
“I have missed you two very much…” My voice was thick with emotions. I could barely get a hold of myself in their midst. I had dreamt of this moment for seven years, but nothing could prepare me for the flood of emotions that hit me right now.
Seven years ago, after the doctor made it known to me I was pregnant with twins a boy and a girl, I found it hard to believe. The hospital where I had initially done my pregnancy test never mentioned it to me, making me believe I was pregnant with only one baby.
It was good news but I was worried. Worried about their safety. I was worried I wouldn’t get to experience motherhood I wouldn’t get to experience the joy of nursing and watching them grow under my care and guidance as I knew they would be taken away from me after birth and I wouldn’t be treated any differently than the other prisoners because of my condition. Worse, I worried greatly that they might die along with me if I was given a death sentence. During that period, I fell into a deep depression. But the need to survive for the sake of my babies and prove to Robert and Scarlett that I wouldn’t be broken so easily kept me going. I even had to be placed under therapy in prison to cope.
After I gave birth to Liam and Lila, I entrusted them to the care of my best friend, Jane. I owe my world to her. Despite the huge cost and the recession that overtook the economy at that time, Jane helped me train my babies without complaining while keeping them a secret from Robert as I told her to. She brought them to always visit me regularly so they’d grow fond and attached to me, knowing I was their birth mother. She also brought me food and other personal items I needed and helped in see that my mother’s corpse was identified and moved from the hospital’s morgue to where she was buried.
Liam and Lila clung to me, not wanting to let go as if afraid I might disappear on them again. “We thought you’d never come back,” Liam said quietly, his voice thick with emotion as he buried his face in the side of my neck.
“I’m here now,” I said, stroking his fluffy hair while still holding Lila tightly. “You two are my whole world, my all, my everything, the only reason I’m still alive. I’m never leaving you again. No one will take me away from you ever again!” I said as I tightened my jaws defensively while holding them protectively. They were mine. My babies. An important part of me.
“We love you very much Mummy,” came Lila’s tiny but passionate voice which only made more tears stream down my cheeks.
Liam said the same.
“I love you two my babies,” I kissed their foreheads, their cheeks, every part of them my lips could reach, my voice shaky with emotions. “I love you more than everything in this world.”
For what seemed like an eternity, we stayed like that, silent, just holding each other as our breaths and emotions mingled.
“We have to get going now,” I said as I reluctantly got up, taking both their soft hands in mine.
I couldn’t take my gaze off them, unable to believe this moment was real. We were reunited as a family and nothing will separate us ever again. Not even Robert. I will keep them away from him for as long as I can. He will never find out about them. Neither will my twins. There is no way I can let them learn of the man who wanted me to get rid of them when they were only but seeds growing in my stomach. Never!
Jane was leaning on the bonnet of her car, an affectionate smile on her face as she observed us. She was dressed in a casual but stylish outfit, with a flowy blouse, jeans, a wide hat and sunglasses. She was supposed to pick her child up from school this afternoon but had to ask her husband to do it just so she could come along with my babies to witness this important moment of me leaving this shit hole of a prison for good.
“Mummy,” Liam called, looking up at me.
Liam had Robert’s dark chocolate eyes and sharp features. He was like a smaller version of him. I wished Liam looked more like my late father because anytime I looked into his eyes, I couldn’t help but remember Robert. It was as if Robert was beneath his eyes, waiting for the right time to manifest again. It was fearful as it was hard. The last thing I wanted was to remember the man who had hurt and broken me beyond repair and wanted me dead. If he finds out about them, he might want to take them away from them and right now, I didn’t have the means or resources to fight for their custody. That is why I must do my best to keep them away from him and stay clear of him for as long as I live.