Charming Duty

4. In Which He Gets His Orders and Obeys

Son,

If you are reading this, the news of my death has already reached you.

You are hurt, confused and I hate to imagine this, but upset with me too. I allowed myself to wither away in silence without forcing the burden of watching your mother die on you. I, however, have no regrets, my boy.

I chuckle to myself, "You never did, ma."

It wasn't long after your father's passing that I received news of a cancer too advanced to treat. I struggled with the idea of letting you into it all, but I refuse for you to be orphaned in such tragedy. You had to watch your father die slowly and I would never allow you to go through it twice. This disease was mine to handle and would do nothing but traumatize and break you. Watching you look at me helplessly and struggle to care for me would have been too much for my fragile heart to bear.

I do not expect you to understand any of my decisions right now - that will come with healing and time. This does not mean I feel that you are not strong enough to face this life's difficulties head-on, it is instead, a mother's instinct to protect her son at all costs.

I swallow the lump in my throat and read this section of the letter over and over again, this time pacing the perimeter of the rug on my bedroom floor. The first few times I was overwhelmed by the explanation surrounding her sudden absence from my life but now, I feel bitter and upset, just imagining what my mother endured, deteriorating wherever she was, all by herself for all this time. It is unfair and I should have been there to take care of it all. It is my duty as a son, damn it!

I take a deep breath, sinking into the sofa beside me, just holding onto the letter - my mother's delicate words... Words I could have heard out loud if I had been a good enough son to keep my phone on or to at least have answered the calls from the hospital sooner.

Taking more steadying breaths, I so desperately wish to release this emotion and redeem myself somehow. I run a hand through my hair, before continuing with the rest of the letter.

My boy, you must know that there is a young woman - Bayede Ncube. She, in fact, is the one instructed to hand this letter to you. She cared for me, cried for me, and treated me, without any knowledge of who I am, what I am worth, or anything at all - just an angel God sent me in my undeserving state. How special!

I ask of you to look after her, son. Protect her and show her kindness. God does not make mistakes, Akihiro, and I feel that this is all in his plan.

You are my son, Akihiro. My treasure and blood, my pride and honor, all that matters to me. The legacy I leave behind with a clean heart, for I know that your father and I raised a virtuous and strong man in you. Don't you dare let that change now that I am gone. Stay strong and hold onto the love your father and I have for you instead of the pain that will come with our departure.

The lawyer will be in touch with further administrative arrangements so I will leave all that to both of you to discuss. Be nice to him too, he always gives me office candy.

I love you so much,

(Mom)

I take a silent moment, acknowledging my mother's wishes. At least I know my feisty Angel's name now. 

"Bayede Ncube." I test out the exotic-sounding name on my tongue and immediately take a liking to it.

"Bayede."

Looking back at our two encounters, the way I was treated was obviously not the best, in terms of first impressions and it will make looking after her more challenging now. I had no way of knowing that things were going to pan out this way, though, I just needed her out of the way so I could handle my mother's arrangements with a clear mind, she's such a distraction!

I decide to get to work the best way I know how and grab my phone immediately dialing Smith.

"Hey man. I have heard about your mother-"

"Smith. Drop everything for now and focus on this new subject. Bayede Ncube," I paused to spell out the name for him, having no patience for even more of the sympathetic messages and looks, that had already flooded my way throughout the day of funeral arrangements and notifications.

"Yes, sir."

"Start with her contact number and then a formal report on everything there is to know about this woman by the end of the week."

"I understand, sir."

"Good." I hang up the phone. I then take the time to read the letter a few more and soak in all the details, making sure to leave nothing unexplored.

[Smith]

23:56

Find her phone number, workplace, and address in the document I'm sending below.