Alone In the cold cell, the thoughts came rushing back. Taunting old thoughts, causing his dick to twitch in his worn-out jeans. Just the thought of her is enough to send him out of his mind. That day. That faithful day he had met her. His eyes swept over her, darkening and resulting in chaos. Big hands held her around the waist, tightening and making her uncomfortable nonetheless she had made him kiss her and even touch her but had the decency to stop him from going further. He cursed out loud for the abrupt change of mind but apologized immediately.

“Are you a virgin?” Amused at her reaction, he flashed her a cocky smile.

“It won’t hurt….just a little but I will be careful with you.” Looking at him to see a little bit of truth on his face, she complied but yet again, fell short as the pain was too much to bear.

Being an understanding young boy, he had let her go back to wherever hole she came from.

“You mean the girl has given birth?” These words had him standing on his feet. Abandoning the memories whatsoever that had taken over his mind.

Two cops, sipping a supposed cup of coffee behind a huge mahogany desk, spoke in whispers but not silent enough to keep ears from listening. A big guy and a fairly big guy. They hadn’t noticed the wide-eyed boy behind the cells.

Felix clutched onto the cold metal aggressively trying to listen to their conversation.

“I learnt she’s given the baby to the church after numerous accounts of persuading…hmm these young kids, I wonder how they think”.

The other cop chuckled, stamping his foot on the almost cracked concrete floor, resounding from the contact of his heavy boots.

Anxiety found rest in his heart.

“Sir…sir…!” His voice echoed within the walls.

They turned to look at him in awe, probably surprised as to how sharp his ears are.

“Yes, what is it?”

“I….I…want to talk to someone. Can I have a phone?” The cold metal bars pressing on his forehead seems to hurt but the occupied mind shut down the pain.

“Please…I want to see my child” he begged. Seeing no one budge, worry creased on his forehead.

One of the cops avoided his gaze. The other just turned and walked away.

“Please, man!” The bars shook aggressively in his big hands. He kept the act. Shaking, yelling and pleading. All went into deaf ears.

He had wanted to try. To try and be a father to the new baby. To experience fatherhood like his peers had. And enjoy it. To hear his child call him dada and see them walk for the first time. All in a moment is being taken away from him as a result of a selfish heart.

He sat dejectedly on the floor, still holding unto the metal. Anger, bitterness, betrayal. Nothing could really describe how he felt that moment. Where was that God, his birth mother had worshiped so much? Having thought that his mother abandoned him, he figured it wise to abandon his faith but now, some part of him wished he hadn’t. Some part wanted to kneel and pray for his child.

The large blue-painted gate opened just as he went on his knees. A middle-aged woman with her bag clutched around her shoulders, arms holding tight. He hadn’t bordered to raise his head but the familiar soothing voice had his head jolt up.

“Kwadwo”. The tear-faced woman called out again, this time, much clearer. The wiping of her face had not done justice as the tears continued to pour out.

He stands up, shocked by the presence of the woman in the cell. A face he’s longed to see, cried to see as a little boy.

It occurred to him that, somehow, his unspoken prayer has been heard by God but he never did pray to have a woman who had abandoned him back in his life.

Fighting to keep the rage in check, he turned, with his back facing her. Trying to calm himself down. Avoiding her gaze was doing the trick but not for long. The emotions came raining down on him as he covered his face with his palm and groaned out loud like a wounded animal. She’s brought out a hidden side of him, probably the effects of taking drugs. The cops opened the trap door to his cell, cuffing his hands up. His struggles were fruitless. He could only succumb to defeat.

“Get out!! Get out!!!” He barked.

Frightened, she hurried out, still sobbing and scared from the emotional outburst of her son.

She had no idea what was happening to him. Waiting for quite some time without moving an inch, she felt her feet begin to ache. She’d come hearing her son is in jail for a crime he had committed. She hadn’t believed it until she set eyes on the victim. Pale-looking and almost out of life was her sister. Throwing her off guard, she wept. Meeting her sister was overwhelming in addition to her son’s deeds. Mrs Mensa found it hard to believe that the young boy who had caused her pain is her own nephew. The boy who had lost her mother to an aggressive man. Taking custody of Felix and throwing her out the moment she came back for her son. Those memories of yesterday hit her like a hurricane, causing the woman to drive miles to see him.

“You should see your mother. She’s been out there for a while” a different cop persuaded.

He raises his head, staring at the door.

“That’s why your mother left you!!” The scary tone of voice from his father years ago still rang in his ear causing the tantrum a while ago.

 He’s missed his mother. The only reason that shed light on all the unfortunate he’s been trapped in.

The two talked for hours never once taking eyes off each other. His mum sheds tears each time he became too hard on her. But understanding his frustration, she never mentioned her sister’s identity for his sake, knowing how well Felix can beat himself up for something he messes.

“You’ve told me about a sister I know nothing about huh, how about you tell me why you left” Arms crossed. Deep down praying his dad was wrong about his mom.

Feeling suffocating, she released a button on her blouse and spoke in a calm voice.

“Kwadwo, don’t you want to see your sister?” Her sweet smile concealing the pain she felt.

“No mum, she’s all you’ve got. I doubt you ever wanted me. Why did you leave us for another man”  Feeling the sense of urgency to clarify the matter, she added almost suddenly.

“Son, I told you before. Your dad threw me out when I came to take you away. I was pregnant with your sister then but he hadn’t taken the news lightly, accusing me of sleeping with another man.”

The sincerity in her eyes hadn’t been a lie. She really did come for him from his deadbeat father to throw her out. He felt stupid for believing that bullshit story from him.

Wiping her face for the upteempth time, she hoped for a miracle. For her son to believe him.

“Can I see her?”

“Huh?” She hadn’t heard him right.

“Can I see her mum?” Wide-eyed, she felt a knot in her stomach.

Shoving her hands in her handbag and bringing out a picture of a young girl, she stretched out her hand for him to take it. Behind the picture is written “sixteen years”

He manages to take the picture. Staring at the pretty young girl, almost the age of Lisa. She looked exactly like him. His mum had really been pregnant for his dad.

“She wants to come to see you here…..”

“No, she can’t” The words rushed out without warning. He had probably felt the need to keep his sister from seeing such a place.

“How’s she like?” Raising his head up from the picture, he asked.

“You will like her. She’s respectful, kind…….”

She went ahead, telling him everything his sister is, clearing the tension that had formed between them and giving him the hope of a complete family except for the absence of his child. Panic rose in his heart. She sensed it and asked him about the problem.

“It’s my child,” his eyes darkening

“They have him. I don’t know… her. …” He continued after a long pause. “Mum you have to take my child from them”.

She listened keenly to everything which had happened before he was taken in. Hearing from his son that she had a grandchild made her heart swell. Not perturbed by the fact that he’s knocked up a girl her sister’s age, she assured him. “Hey…hey, calm down alright?… I will check in with the girl okay?…. If the baby is sent to the orphanage….we will surely get it back” These words had calmed his nerves. God has answered his prayer within a short amount of time. Thanking God in his heart, he begged for a picture of his child from his mum, supposed she sees him or her.

***

“What are you doing here?” Anger laced his broken voice due to her presence. He dreaded seeing her in the filth he lived.

The once big bump had reduced to nothing at all like she’s never carried a baby.

“This is not a place to be….why are you here!” He demanded yet again.

Fidgeting, she moved towards him, not flinching at his words.

A smile crept on her face

“I had our child……he’s handsome, just like you….”

“Where is he, Liza?” She stood still, not moving an inch at his sudden words. Did he know about it?”

“I…I…”

“Liza?” Eyes flared. He’d gotten quite cold living in the cell.

“He’s well taken care of by the church”

Scratching his unwashed hair, he punched the wall, hurting himself while he held up his hands in pain.  Wanting something to hurt, he had resorted to taking it out of the wall.

He hissed, not taking his eyes off Liza.

Her sobs had only pissed him off.

“Where is my son Liza!…he’s only a baby dammit..did you ever think before making the decision huh?” He barked

“I did it for our sake. For him and….”

“Oh get a grip. How many times did you feed him before selling him off? He’s got parents Liza. Why did you do that?”

“I think I should leave” she announced timidly.

The pain shot through his hands, groaning out loud and looking away from her.

“Can I see….”

“No!!…” Stopping her amidst the pain, Liza left quietly like she had first crept in.