Raising Tasha

Jerry 2

Jerry's POV

I had seen a lot in this forsaken country but had never cared much about any of it. Till Claire and Tasha, just the thought of the mother daughter duo made my heart strings tug. I clearly did not know them but they got emotions out of me. Something I had looked up deep inside me, emotions were a sign of weakness.

I clearly recalled how panicked I had felt when I saw Claire go down with a baby still tied to her back. So many people had called me heartless, some had said I was a ruthless person. I had never been one for human interaction, in fact I loathed it.

I had rushed to protect the falling woman, I had not cared much when I had hit her in the first place until I gotten out of my car to apologize that which I had done just for formality, I did not mean any of that s**t

Claire had cursed at me relentlessly, in my circle no would ever dare to that. That was basically playing with the devil, even my father did not talk to me like that. I had stood there like a fool dazed in awe! The little woman was a spit fire even though she looked a little haggard and malnutritioned. Her clothes had seen better days, the fingers she had used to point at me while cursing me were very bony but despite all that the baby she had on her back looked better off.

I was a germaphobe, I was a neatness freak coupled with OCD. I could not understand why I had caught her before she hit the ground where as in the past I had always let people just fall. I had even refused help from volunteers in the crowd to help me put them in my car. Struggling alone I had driven off like a maniac to the hospital by now the little girl in the back had started crying. I maybe a d**k, as many people have said but I would never hurt or wish harm on children.

I had gotten to the hospital in less than five minutes all sweaty from carrying two people.

“Can I get a doctor?!" I had shouted really loudly at the entrance in panic.

“Shhhh sir! This is hospital!" a nurse had admonished me.

But I was not having any of it, this little b***h was testing my patience. “Then do your damn job!" if anyone would have asked me why I was angry I would not have given them an answer.

The nurse had not even brought a stretcher with her and she was acting like the damn librarian shushing me without helping, how unprofessional. My arms were trembling in both fatigue and fear.

“Check on the baby first!" I had ordered. I had no idea what there names were nor where they were from but in this moment both of them were my responsibility.

“How can the husband be so well dressed while his wife and child looked like this," a nurse had mumbled. She may have thought she was being quiet but I could clearly here her so I cleared my throat to remind her that I was still present!

The thought of my little lady having a husband made me feel a sense of loss. No that is not possible! Why was I feeling possesive over some dirty woman I had met on the streets?

“Uncle! Uncle!" a tiny hand was shaking me, trying to get my attention. It was the little girl that was with the woman. She had finally stopped crying and was happily sucking on a lolly pop. She still had tear streaks on her face but at least she was happy now

“Hello little lady," I coo smiling down at her. What the f**k was that? I can't even recognize myself. I did not do nice!

“I am not a lady! My name is Tasha, I am this year old." she said holding out five fingers. She was a smart child, I'll give her that but I was not sure about how calm she was being in front of strangers.

The nurse walked back in looking very judgmental, “sir, your daughter got food poisoning and is showing early stages of gastritis" she said passing me the medical chart as if that would make sense to me but I do note that the little girl was under weight for her age.

I teared up for a stranger on this day, a little stranger at that. Life had not been fair to this little girl. Somehow I convince her to go our for a meal while the doctor checked on her mother.

“Sir, I am sorry the nurse was mean to you. I know you are not daddy" she says tugging my hand. Were all kids these days this smart?

“Don't worry kiddo" I tell her earning a smile. ‘She is so precious’ I thought to myself. A plate of rice and beef later with a cup of fruit at the nearby hotel we head back to the hospital. I realise quickly that Tasha is not talkative.

A stop at the doctor's office tells me all I need to know about her condition and her room number. Tasha and I did not bring her back any food because I had no idea what she liked but listening to the doctor I wish I had, she had been starving herself probably to let her daughter get more food. She was clearly a good mother but the world had been unfair to her.

The scene that greets me when we get into her room was a mother in distress. The panic in her face was gut wrenching. She kept mumbling about finding Tasha over and over again then it dawned on me what the issue was.

No one had told her where her daughter was and she had panicked when she woke up and realized she was missing. The hospital and I were to blame for this miss understanding. I don't know why but I never wanted to see that look of pain in her eyes ever again.

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