I sat there wondering if life could ever be better. Maybe when I return as a new Paige but not Paige Kam. I'll return as a tender fairy princess in a billionaire's home. Grow up with my mum a renowned reporter and writer, beautiful as I am. I'll be the highlight of high school and everyone's crush. But I'll meet my Damien and stick to him for the rest of my life. He will introduce me more to his Jesus and we will live happily forever... when I die by hanging and come back to this world probably...
No! Enough of my daydreaming. God, I don't want to die! But tomorrow I'll face judgment and there's no one to defend me. Ever since Kyle visited me the last time I haven't heard from them. Did they give up on me? Or is it something I said? Yes, I made it clear that I was done with living a wasted life and I wished so much that it would end, but not this way. Did I make that clear? I don't want to die. I'm not even sure of a second life. God, do you even exist? Are you really up there? I've prayed so much over the past year and ever since I got here I haven't ceased to beg you to help me. I may have killed Jude Kam, hadn't he deserved it? He was such a cruel man. Would you be on his side now? He killed me every day of my life for almost twenty years. God, I am all that I am now because of him. How come you never punished him for his sins? How come I'm still the one being hung on the gallows? I'd rather die in the prison than die so shamefully in public...
"Paige!" My name echoed across the hallway as footsteps approached.
"You have a visitor." He said as he unlocked the cage they had me in. My limbs were sore from the cold concrete I had sat on. You know sometimes I wonder why these warders smell like they are the ones who should be imprisoned. I almost choked from the smell of cigars all over him as he led me to the visiting room. There was a man at the table. I was a little excited when he said someone had visited me. I longed to see Hope or KLe her husband but no, it was this strange ma. He had a clean shaved face that spelled out his age, he must be in his late twenties at most. His Afro cut convinced me the more that he was a fresh college graduate. What the hell brought this one to see me?
"Sit!" THe warder commanded as if helping to tame me before my guest. As soon as he left, Mr freshman began to talk.
"Good day Miss Kam, I'm Kelvin Duo. I'm here as regards your court hearing tomorrow." He unpacked the file in his hands, so unprofessionally, and retrieved a notepad from it. Unprofessional? Yes. This is not what Hope would do. I watched him quietly.
"Your previous lawyer is currently indisposed and I have been asked to represent you in court."
"indisposed?" I had promised myself not to say a word to him but I had to, not when he said Hope is indisposed. She's my only Hope. She's the only one who believes in a Paige Kam like me. What must have gone wrong with her?
"Yes ma'am"
"What happened to her?" I fought back tears. Something told me I had reached my end and my fate was sealed. Another mentioned that Hope Dickson is not very well because of me. Maybe the trouble around my case weighed her down. Maybe she did find out about my mum but got attacked. By who? Isn't the major culprit, JUde Kam already dead? He died in front of me. What is going on?!
"She is..."He hesitated.
"Speak on!" I banged the table with the cuffs in my hand. Soon warders were around us to warn me.
"If you bang that table again, I will tell him to leave and you will sleep on the field tonight." One of them threatened. I hissed.
"Answer me Mr man, What happened to Hope Dickson?" The young lawyer who had the face of a sacred lamb sniffed. Did I scare him that much?
"She is missing. She went missing two weeks ago and the police are still trying to find her." He said. "I was told not to tell you but..."
How come she's missing? Who else wants me dead? Who is against my lawyer? Who would try to hurt her for defending me?
My head was blank, yet filled with so many thoughts, and questions, I could not place my hand on any of them.
"I'm sorry Miss Kam." My tears were already a flood on the table. I eyed the tissue he offered and watched him nervously put it back.
"Maybe I should go straight to the point." H said, "I was told that you confessed to the police that you stabbed Jude Kam. He had died after a successful surgery in the hospital. Do you have any other thing I need to know about?"
No, if Hope is someone missing, I don't want to die again. No, someone else cannot be in danger because of me. She must be found at least before I die.
"Do the policemen have any leads as to who the kidnapper is?"
"I think we should focus on..."
"It's my fault she is missing. The last time she came here I gave her an address. She might have been kidnapped there. Something must have gone wrong there. Check the company, there might be someone who is still working for Jude Kam. Check the house... Search her emails..."
He buried his head in his palm. I was blabbering. Yes, this man knows nothing about all I'm trying to explain. I don't think his brain can even hold it.
"Are you okay?" I asked, desperate for his attention.
"I don't want to look like a fool tomorrow in court, will you tell me something reasonable?"
"Are you more concerned about how you will look? What?! Do you know what is at stake here?"
"What is at stake?" He said nonchalantly."All I see here is you about to face the dire consequences of your sins."
His words like arrows pierced into the heart of my soul. How dare he?!
"I think you should leave," I said.
"Miss Kam..."
"now!" I banged the table again and the warder that once threatened came to us.
"Okay, that is it. This meeting is over." He yanked me off my seat and pushed me to move. "Pray that mosquitoes favor you tonight!" He spat.