THE CRUEL TRUTH

The next morning, I went to Joanna and told her everything. I begged her to save me as I felt my life was dying and miserable.

Ding Ting! (Message received)

“Sorry, I have a message to read”

I opened the message and it was from Leslie, she wrote I got to tell you something but I do not have a chance. From the first day on the bus and in the hallway, I saw you were talking to the air which frightened me but after I heard the conversation between you and Mona. Out of curiosity, I searched for the news you guys were talking about the accident but the news written was different from the story that Mona told. Please click on the link. Https://accident.news.com. I feel your pain and I can’t help much but what I can do is tell you what I see. You need to get a therapist to help your current state. Mona seemed to hide something from you. That day I took the pill that you guys left on the floor and I brought it to the pharmacy to ask and found out that one of the pills in a bottle is vitamins and the other pill is Sertraline which is the treatment for people who have PTSD”

I couldn’t believe what I had read and showed it to Joanna. Joanna took out the testimonial and the newspaper to me. “This is the answer, if you want to know, you may have it”

 she continued “but the truth may be overly cruel for you to accept and it may hunt you for life”

I took it and I read it page by page and memories started to recall

“It is not entirely your fault. It is an accident”

“If I didn’t tell Mina that I was crazily in love with her and my heart feel like flying whenever I see her. She will always have a special space in my heart even though she accepted Johnny’s marriage proposal and I even hugged her goodbye. Johnny and Mona won’t see or hear it. Then the tragedy won’t happen. Johnny wouldn’t drive when he was drunk. Although we were able to catch up in the car but we were not able to stop him. Johnny drove on the wrong side of the lane while Mina kept on screaming wrong side of the lane. I tried to pull over to the side of the road but he pulled back the wheel that drove direct way to another car. I had no choice but to hit Johnny and take over the wheel. It was too fast; I was not able to stop the car so I turned the wheel in another direction which ended up hitting a tree. Johnny was ejected from the car during the crash as he didn’t wear a seat belt. We were sent to the hospital. Johnny passed away as he was badly injured and Mina won’t commit suicide after the death of Jonny and Mona won’t undergo plastic surgery to look, like Mina”

“If you keep on thinking that way, you will forever be in misery. All you can do is accept it and forgive yourself. You have suffered since the tragedy. I believe they won’t want to see you act such a way.”

“I chose to forget the tragedy, my guilt made me forget Mina’s look. I even cheated myself that they were still alive to make myself feel better and move on but this time, I going to make it right!” I stood up and walked out of the door.

“Gerrard!” Joanna shouted my name

#

I called Mona out for a talk at the First Dates Restaurant. I was so nervous so I ordered a glass of water and took my medicine. Mona walked in and she looked pretty but that was not her.

“Sorry for making you wait so long”

“It is not that long. I remembered everything and I’m truly sorry for the incident”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Why? “I took out the newspaper and showed a photo to Mona

Mona grabbed it and tore it off “This is not me”

“Mona, I remember everything. You went under the surgery to look like Mina. Why?.”

She splashed water on my face and threw food on me as well

The waiter rushed over “Are you ok sir!”

“It is ok!”

“Ms, If you still behave in such a way, we will have to ask you to leave”

I interrupted “I will pay for damage that was caused by her; can you leave us for a while? I promised she won’t act that way again”

“If there is any help you need, please let me know. I’m always ready to help”

“Thanks” I replied before the waiter walked to the counter.

“Mona, do you feel ok now!”

“ I’m Mina! You killed Johnny and Mona!.”

“ Mina is dead! you are Mona. Even you have undergone surgery to look like her. You will never be Mina”

Mona sat on the chair and her tears kept dripping

“I know I hurt you so deeply and I’m the main cause of the death of Mina and Johnny. No matter what, I will never be able to be repaid for what I have done”

She took the knife and pointed directly at me

“If killing me will give you relief, please do it. I owe you”

She stabbed my heart somehow, I felt relief. The waiter rushed over and put Mona down. I heard the police and the ambulance’s siren. Paramedics carried me on a stretcher into an ambulance. I was sent to the emergency. After that, I was rushed to the operating room where I heard to put me undergo a general anesthetic. Before I went unconscious, I saw Johnny and Mina. Johnny has turned back to the handsome man, who is no longer looking fierce and has no blood covering his face. Finally, I can see Mina’s face. They told me that they had forgiven me and would stay by my side forever.

When I woke up, my mom was by my side and told me luckily, I was rescued on time. How I wish the stab was deep enough to take my life. Then I will never have to live in the guilt. During my hospitalization days, I was no longer afraid of Johnny and Mina. I even have a good talk with them.

“Hey, I miss you guys so much”

Knock! Knock!

“You have a visitor,” said Johnny

“It is a girl “interrupted Mina

“Do you want us to go? leaving you two?”

“No, just sit here quietly. If not, later they will send me to Joanna then I won’t be able to see you guys”

“ok”

“You may come in” I pressed the head-up button of the bed. I was surprised and asked “Les, what bring you here?”

“I heard you are being hospitalized so I’m here to send healing energy your way” Leslie put a flower into the vase

“Thanks for the flowers”

“The flowers smell good” Johnny whispered in my ear

“She seems interested in you” Mina was looking at Leslie from head to toe

Leslie took a book and laptop off her bag “Oh ya, our business ethics assignment is expected to be due by today but is extended for a week because of you and Mona.

“How was Mona? Any news about her?” I asked

“Mona was diagnosed suffering from schizophrenia. She was hospitalized by court order due to her mental state and will be transferred to the civilian course of treatment as she requires additional treatment” She looked at me with sympathy  “So need to rush for the assignment! I have done my part. I will cover Mona’s part” Leslie passed her laptop to me

“I’m sick. Why can’t you cover my part as well?”

“You don’t look sick to me” she hit softly on my heart

“ouch”

“I’m sorry, wait! Aren’t your wounds on your heart? I hit softly on your right chest!”

“hahaha. When did you get so smart”?

“After meeting you”

Her smile is so sweet. Wait I need to control myself. Say no to casual relationships! I don’t want to her end up like Lena and Mona.

“WAH! Our Gerrard is back,” shouted Johnny

“Don’t talk so loud, later she will hear us” I whispered

“Pardon,” said Leslie

“I said I’m hungry. Did you buy anything for me?”

“Nope, I believe the hospital does provide breakfast, lunch, and dinner”

“The hospital food is too plain”

“You are sick! So plain food is the best”

“My brain is struggling with brain fog. Only food can fix me”

Leslie took out a sausage bread “I only got this”

“I want honey garlic chicken”

She pointed out my belly, laughed, and said “For breakfast? Stop feeding your tummy even if your tummy looks cute. The food is too fatty to consume.”

I looked at my tummy and squeezed it “Oh, my 6 pads become one, I have to say goodbye to my little tummy, Time to diet. Give me my sausage bread”

“Sorry, I thought you didn’t want so I ate it” Leslie was eating and then handed over another plain bread “You look great with your cute tummy”

“What! A plain bread? I thought is sausage bread”

“I already said I bought one only. Don’t be a picky eater!. Having plain bread can bring great joy too.

“Yes, Mom”

“Fast eat then start our assignment”

It was a great day, doing assignments with Leslie and accompanied by my buddies, Johnny and Mina