The Mirror of Tragic Marriage
June 15, 1948…
“I regretted the day I got married to you!” Tom shouted at Cynthia, his wife of seven years.
In response to Tom’s words, she yelled: “you are total disgrace to manhood! I’ve been accommodating your excesses for years! It’s time for me to rage because you’ve pushed me to the wall! You are an idiot! You are a never do-well! You are an infidel! In fact, you are hopeless!! I’m still married to you because of my twins-Sophia and Cindy!!!”
In the heat of altercation, Tom took laws into his hands by beating Cynthia to a pulp. It took the intervention of neighbors to bring to a halt the uproar. To add insult to injury, Tom didn’t bat an eyelid as he, in the presence of his tears-shedding twin daughters, was beating the living daylight of Cynthia. Alas, the damage was done as Cynthia was second to dead; she hardly could breathe. As a result, she had to be rushed to a hospital; a stone throw from the residence of the couple.
Tom and Cynthia have been lovers since their days at the Washington-based University of Kimberly. As easy-going lovebirds, they became the cynosure of every Tom, Dick and Harry who came in contact with them. After completing the stipulated academic sessions, Tom and Cynthia qualified as medical doctor and accountant respectively. He got employed at the prestigious Stanford Hospital as Residing Medical Officer and after a while, she was employed as Chief Accountant by the renowned Paterson Accounting firm. It wasn’t too long that they decided to tie the nuts. Many months after the one-in-town marriage ceremony, Cynthia was delivered of a set of female twins, whom they later named Sophia and Cindy. Both Tom and Cynthia were enjoying their professions.
The passion, intelligence and success philosophies edged Tom and Cynthia over their colleagues in their various endeavors. Work went on as usual for Tom until a fateful Friday morning... This would be most red-lettered moment in the life of Tom.
It was reported that there were missing medical equipment worth millions of dollars. This, according to audit report, showed a huge imbalance in the hospital’s account summary. Concerned the management was, the attention of Tom was urgently sought for. They inquired of him as to why the equipment were missing, since it was his onus as Residing Medical Officer, to ensure their safety. Unknown to him, there was a conspiracy against him by his colleagues who envied his progress and excellence.
However, this would not necessarily matter as he was given matching orders by tendering his resignation with no pay-off, despite his five years of service. His explanations were blurred as naivety took the best of him. The management reasoned that Tom’s weight of excuse for not been responsible for the missing equipment and a consequent need for exoneration didn’t hold waters. It wasn’t too long after his resignation that Mark, the chief conspirator of his misfortune, was appointed to fill the position previously held by him. Although Tom would be justified and compensated heavily in a distant future, his life assumed a U-turn.
From pillar to post, Tom job-hunted. He went the extra-mile of contacting his friends who were top guns in their fields of recognition. Yet, it all ended in a wild goose chase! Frustration so possessed Tom that he retired to incessant drinking, smoking, womanizing, keeping late nights and lazing around. Cynthia, now shouldering the weight of the family responsibilities, had to stretch her working limits. She engaged herself in entrepreneurial marketing after the close of her eight-to-four working hours, daily. She did all these to ensure ends met.
“The once-upon-a-time happy family is gradually becoming disunited, bit by bit”, she said to Tom.
Still, her observation went to the deaf ears of Tom. Making matters worse, Cynthia’s nagging disposition towards Tom’s lifestyle assumed cats and dogs scenes. She became his punching bag. This was usual until when Tom, who was under the influence of alcohol, took laws into his hands by beating Cynthia to a coma- it took the saving grace of close neighbors to alert the attention of a team of Standford paramedics- after she was hurriedly rushed to the hospital.
The severity of Cynthia’s state of health meant she’ll be admitted for two weeks. Calls were made to Ken, Cynthia’s lawyer, to initiate a divorce suit. At this time, Tom hasn’t recovered from the alcohol intoxication that made him go gaga on Cynthia. Not moneyed at all, on realizing what he did, Tom hurriedly went to the hospital where she was rushed to and see for himself what he inflicted on her. It took a kind gesture from Ken to foot the medical bills. Getting to the hospital was another drama- he was led to the ward where his wife, recovering at the time, was receiving medical attention.
As he got into the ward, Tom heard the greatest embarrassment of his life from the bed-bound and angered Cynthia: “get out of here, you infidel! You’ve gotten what you wanted; beating me to a coma! But guess what? I’m not dead! I’m going to divorce you!” The sadness on the face of yet-to-be-fully-recovered Cynthia left Dr. Mike with no choice than to see Tom later. A divorce suit and helpless state of joblessness would make Tom’s life change from the frying pan of hardship to the fire of continued struggle!
Two weeks after Cynthia was discharged from the hospital, she avoided the arms of Tom and comfort of her three-bedroom apartment she once enjoyed with him to seek the hands of Attorney Ken, her childhood friend, for a divorce. Three months later, a letter was sent to Tom by Attorney Ken, stating that he must come to the court for a divorce suit by Cynthia. As anticipated, Tom turned up but with no lawyer; guilt was read all over his face. Cynthia and Attorney Ken were on hand to ensure Justice was administered to Cynthia’s advantage. Without much ado, the case was taken seriously by the Presiding Judge, Gary .B. White. His final verdict, considering all evidences leveled against him with respect to his pathetic financial state, was that both Tom and Cynthia legally separate and a Certificate of Divorce be issued:
“This is my verdict: under section 1, sub-section 2 of Washington’s marital law, I hereby declare Tom and Cynthia divorced. As they both wish, they can take in each other’s custody ONLY one of their twin daughters. Either party can visit his or her twin daughter at least four times in a year. Both Cindy and Sophia must be under the custody of their respective parents until the age of maturity as provided in the constitution of this great state”. Soon after he made the verdict, he left the court room, housing a number of Tom’s and Cynthia’s family members with Tom, Attorney Ken and Cynthia were conspicuously present. One thing was obvious; Tom felt the world had come crashing on him!
Their lovely daughters, Sophia and Cindy had to part ways with Sophia under Tom’s custody and Cindy under Cynthia’s care. Sophia and Cindy, 5, had to be separated by the decision of the court and by their individual consent. Sophia was Tom’s favorite ‘girl’ while Cindy was Cynthia’s ‘special kind’. As expected, Sophia clenched to Tom while Cynthia held onto Cindy for care.
“Tom, I know you prefer Sophia over Cindy. Now, let me have Cindy while you have your Sophia” Cynthia requested.
“Why are you irrational, Cynthia?” Tom asked
“For the past five years of their lives, I watched you give special preference to Sophia. You really don’t show any love to Cindy. She’s to you not your daughter. But as for me, Cindy is my other half. Not only does she have my physical looks but my character. Sophia is just your replica. She has your looks and general characters. I hope in future, she will not take to drugs and become a whore!”
“Mom?!!!” Sophia shouted
“Shut up, Sophia!” Cynthia yelled.
Cindy joined her mom’s chorus: “Mom is right. Dad, I hate you! You’re such a wicked man! Why would Sophia be your girl instead of me? Dad, I agree with mom…you are indeed pathetic!”
“She won’t shut up, Cynthia!!! Cindy, shut up!!! You’re indeed irrational. In the presence of your daughters, you are voicing out words they ought not to hear. Look at you! Listen to what your daughter just said. No thanks to your training! Cindy thinks it’s the right thing been with you. Because you’ve always fed her with lies! If not for what happened to me at the place of work, I would have taken care of them properly. But because you fed her lies, she is now what you’ve made her be. Cindy, you mom isn’t telling the truth. She is just…”
Cynthia interrupts, raising her voice: “Look at pot calling kettle black! Tom, you have the nerve to say to me that I’m irrational. Wasn’t it you that beat the hell out of me? Were you not the one that took all kinds of women to the house, smoked and drank incessantly while I plead in tears for you stop to the habits? Tom, you forgotten so soon that it was you that beat me up to a coma. I’d have been dead if not for the help I got from neighbors. I thank God I’m free from your bondage! I thank God you’ve cease from being my husband!”
Feeling embarrassed, Tom reacted: “why would you expose my shortcomings to the hearing of Cindy and Sophia. They still young for this! They shouldn’t be around when matters like this are discussed. But now, you have brought to their remembrance what happened in the past. Why are you so unfair, Cynthia? You know you’ve also had your can of worms. But I covered them up for the sake of the kids. Or is it because we are divorced you have the effrontery to say what you like?”
“Yes”, Cynthia replied. “This is the happiest day of my life. Tom, to be frank with you, it’s been a long walk to freedom from your marital bondage. I now would have the time in the world for myself and my daughter. I’ll be able to take proper care of her until she’s ripe for marriage! I know you’d like to beat me up. But hey, am I your wife? No!!! Remember, in a couple of weeks, Cindy and I will be out of your life for good Point of correction, Tom, I want you to know that your daughter, Sophia and my daughter, Cindy are 5 years of age. They are old enough to know what’s happening!!!”
Tom instructed: “Sophia, go to your room and have some rest. You look so worked up! As for me I’ve decided to keep my anger to myself and walking out of the house. Cynthia, you could stay in the house with your daughter. Have the whole place to yourselves!!!”
“Okay, Dad!” Sophia replied, heading straight to the room while moving her head in utter disappointment.
“Mom, we have the whole house to ourselves! But you seem not happy! Why?” Cindy asked excitedly
“This isn’t your home. In no time, you and I will be out of here soon! So, don’t feel free because he’s not here to do what he does beat; smoking, drinking, beating me up and womanizing” Cynthia answered.
The identical pair of Sophia and Cindy attended Middleton High School, situated in Ipswich town, three hundred miles from Boston. Although they were selective on the kind of company they kept, Sophia was friends with Daniel while Cindy and Stacy were good friends. Daniel was fond of confusing Sophia with Cindy and Cindy with Sophia. He had to call the attention of the pair of the identical twins, if he had anything to do with either or both of them. This would affect him in many years to come.
What made their peers more fascinated about them were that they both had the same physique and talked exactly the same, except for one thing: Sophia was more generous, kind-hearted and intelligent while the reverse was the case with Cindy. Daniel and Stacy were on the same page as Sophia and Cindy, attitude wise. Ironically, Sophia was the victim of Cindy’s crafty acts, in and out of the classroom. Cindy would carry out hurting acts to their classmates during class and break hours and cunningly put the blame on Sophia. Sometime in future, worlds apart this time, the similarities and differences coupled with the influence of their friends would change the lives of Sophia and Cindy forever!
A month after the verdict was made, Cynthia, a mulatto Jamaican-Colombian, who had resigned her position as Chief Accountant for Paterson Accounting Firm, a week after her discharge from the hospital, went into Tom’s three-bedroom apartment and took Cindy to out of the house. Tom couldn’t hold his tears as he watched his daughter helplessly leave his grip. Before eyes could bleak, Cynthia boarded a first-class ticket to Jamaica where she believed a larger part of her life would be spent without the knowledge of Sophia! Tom, Irish-American, took time to seek rehabilitation.
After a hard nut to crack experience of getting over with the trauma of divorce and losing the custody of one of his twin daughters, he was struck again by an uneasy-to-swallow reality by Justin, a friend of his, since school days. He came from Jamaica without seeing first his family but checked on Tom at his residence and started a discussion when he said:
“A day before my departure to United States, on my home to get prepared for the journey which was the next day, Linda, a good friend of mine and a close relation to Cynthia, confided in me that Ken is married to Cynthia. At first, I didn’t believe what she said until I saw the wedding pictures in her possession. I felt you deserved to know what your Ex is really up to. I will have to go because I have a number of issues to settle with my family in New York. I heard about your situation. I will see what I can personally do when I come around. But for now, bye!”
Shortly after Justin left his house, Tom could not believe his eyes! Yet, he was poised to move on with life, especially when he had to Sophia to cater for.
Three weeks after, Tom heard over the news on Boston TV that a man and his family who were on their way home from a holiday resort in New York got involved in a ghastly motor accident; all members died on the spot. This ugly development aroused his attention that he went to the necessary government and media quarters to make inquiries as to whose corpses were deposited at the morgue. Tom suspected the corpses to be that of Justin, his wife, Rebecca and their two children; Rebecca (Jnr) and Jason but to avoid being too sentimental, he made the inquiries.
He traveled by air from Boston to New York for this sake. There, he was directed to the New York State Morgue where the corpses were deposited. Tom’s suspicion was right afterall! It was in the morgue that he saw the lifeless bodies of Justin, Rebecca, Jason and Rebecca (Jnr).
Tom could not hold his tears as the childish sound of crying was heard all over the Morgue premises. “This is a man who promised to see me soon!” he said, pointing at the wrapped corpse of Justin. ‘”He promised to assist me as soon as he was done handling matters involving his family!’ Tom continued, bursting out uncontrollable stream of tears from his eyes through his cheek, nose and to the floor. “But the cold hands of death stole his assistance from me! What the hell I’m I leaving for in this life?”
Some members of staff of the morgue had to console the raging Tom and ensured that he was comforted throughout his two-day stay in New York and safely taken to the local airport where he would fly to his native Boston. Tom was indeed in a world of his own.
After this unforgettable experience, he decided to call quits smoking, drinking and womanizing because Sophia was fast becoming of age. He had to carter for her needs physically and emotionally. His attention would be needed. He made a promise to Sophia that he won’t marry any lady till his dying day as a proof of his love to her. He also made a tough decision, immediately after he was ‘forced’ to tender his resignation letter, never to go practice medicine again, since the inconsiderate Stanford management had a Jaundiced Eye approach to what happened:
“Sophia, I know I’ve been on the down-side of life. Instead of me helping myself to be the best I should have been, I decided to let the world know how frustrated I am. In regret, I watched as your mom leave you and I with Cindy. This is one moment I’d never forget in my life! Because I wasn’t able to handle the pressures that came, I took to smoking, drinking and womanizing, neglecting my duty as your father over you.
To make matters worse, Justin and the rest of his family members all died in a car crash. I saw their bodies deposited at the New York State Morgue. I saw them myself! This is a man who had been away for a while but now, he’s no more! I have lost a true friend indeed!
Sophia, I’ve been thinking … At this stage and age of my life, I have decided move on with my life. More importantly, I owe you two promises! I’ll never marry any other woman again until my dying day and I promise to perform my duty as a father to his daughter. I want to let you know how much I love and how you the mean the entire to me. I sincerely apologize for all the wrongs I’ve done to you in the past”
“Dad, this is the greatest moment of life!” Sophia enthusiastically replied, hugging him. “I’m the happiest girl in the world! It’s rather unfortunate things have to happen this way…the death of Uncle Just and his family, mom leaving the house with my twin sister, Cindy. I promise to love you and always be the girl you’ve always wanted me to be. Dad, I love and will always love you” She hugged him, shedding tears.
“It’s okay, Sophia! You need not to shed tears any longer. Dad’s here to take of his baby! I am here to protect you. Nothing is going to happen to you, even if it means shedding my last drop of blood for you. I believe in you” Tom lovingly replied, hugging, and then helping her wipe away the tears from her eyes.
He did keep to his promise! Though he was not financially capable of meeting up with demands as both parties were under the provision of the government’s welfare scheme, he had this peace on the inside that all will be well someday. Of a truth, all was becoming well.
Five years later, Mark, a big-time Residing Medical officer at Stanford, and his partners in crime thought their conspiracy will be lasting until nemesis caught up with all of them. He had a plan. But he wanted a reason for the plan be carried out. During the break-time, the conspirators, Brian, Alvin, Peter, Grant, George and himself agreed to meet at Mark’s office. This was his arrangement. He reasoned that he was given some preferential treatment as Mark promised. All seated, Mark began the conversation:
Mark seated at the center: Brian, you have to understand that I call the shots here! I am the current Residing Medical Officer of this hospital. Therefore, in this authority, I can’t grant your leave. I’m sorry.
Brian left of where Mark sat: You and I know how you got this position. Remember, Peter, Grant, Alvin and George did the dirty work to set up Tom over the missing equipment used at the Surgery Unit. Should I expose us all to the management?
Peter seated at the right side of mark: You know the consequences, Brian. Would you like us all to be disgraced and get sacked?
Alvin second left: I think Peter is right. We all did this to together. Therefore, we must enjoy and suffer the consequences of our actions. I must admit I regretted ever being involved in this conspiracy!
Grant second right: Hey Alvin! You were the very one who wanted Tom out. And why are you regretting your action now? Shut Up, Alvin!
Alvin quickly responded: Don’t tell me to shut up! I want to make my opinion count and Grant is telling me to shut up. I’m saying this in our best interest!
George, third left, calmed the noisy atmosphere: Let’s don’t attract any suspicion from outside. Let’s learn to reason like men, not boys! Don’t you know that other junior medical officers may eavesdrop us? Let’s be mature for once!!!
Mark agreed: “You’re right, George. Don’t you think it’s time we closed this matter?”
Brian angrily objected: “No! No!! No!!! I called this meeting to let Mark know that he’s not fulfilling his own side of the bargain. Yet, you all seem indifferent. Since you have decided to remain indifferent, you’ve left me with no other option than to report all that we did to the management.”
Mark clapped his hands. Alvin, George, Peter and Grant murmured. He called for silence.
“Brian, I want to believe you are trying to joke with us. But please, I wouldn’t entertain such jokes anymore! If you’re dead serious, then, get ready to go down first! Come to think of it, a person like Brian is nothing but NOTHING itself. I laugh at your very stupid resolve. You can see that all others are in the same fate as you. Why complain in the first place? Do you think the management will ever believe your lies? I am laughing at you now…hear it…Ha! Ha! Ha!”
Brian, despite realizing others were also laughing, spoke to their hearing: “Mark, you think you can eat your cake and have it. Now, read my lips: you can eat it and have it, no doubt, but it’ll never be the same it was before you eat it. Mark, get ready for what lies ahead of you and your partners in crime. Soon, you’ll realize this!!!”
He angrily stood up, took to the door and slammed it hand against their hearing. Still, they all laughed loudest. They had no idea what Brian had in stock for them all!
Information exposing the can of worms of Dr. Mark and his conspirators to set up Tom by Brian, one of his conspirators who had a rift with Mark over the issue working-hour shifts, was leaked to the very listening ear of the management. Brian was dissatisfied with the way Mark treated him most times. Brian would want off days but Mark would object. Brian promised Mark he will give him a taste of his medicine soon. As a snitch for the management, Brian decided to deliver to the best of his ability information that will indict Mark and his fellow conspirators. Brian did deliver as the plans by Mark and his cohorts to ‘wipe-out’ the management team members were on the way. Brian, pretending to be a part of the orchestrating team of conspirators to end the management team of the hospital, had won the trust of the entire staff of Stanford management and successfully updated them on their evil strategies.
In time, the management summoned Dr. Mark and his other co-workers who he worked with to debunk evidences that they were the ones who not only set up Tom but also stole the million- dollar worth of medical equipment. Later, Dr. Mark and his fellow conspirators pleaded guilty. Their lives would never be the same; they were relieved of their duties; immediately sacked and weren’t given any form of compensation; as the only available means of paying for the missing equipment. Brian was greatly rewarded. He got an instant promotion as Residing Medical officer, with a well-furnished duplex and an official and a personal car to work with, not to mention other mouth-watery incentives given to him.
There was still a problem-getting to Tom. Calls were made to Tom by the management to ensure he was handsomely compensated with the offer of being a member of the management team. Tom was compensated with colossal sum of forty million dollars together with other things to resuscitate him totally. Though he declined to the offer of being a member of the management team, he was satisfied with the compensation. This would turn the lives of Tom and Sophia around but leave a dent to Tom’s health-the yet-to-be-known Leukemia
His financial status instantly changed from being a pauper to a man of opulence. After a couple of months, Tom and Sophia moved from their three-bedroom flat to a bought duplex building in Washington D.C. From being a trained medical doctor to an established business tycoon, Tom’s influence so grew great that the attention of the United States government was attracted. Because of his wealth, he sent Sophia to the prestigious University of Washington, the best in north of the US at the time. Her fame would be noised abroad to the listening ears of Cindy, Attorney Ken and Cynthia in far-away Jamaica.
Inspite of his attained fame and acquired fortune, Tom had problems battling for years a life-long mental scar; the way Cynthia divorced him. Each time he remembered the regrettable experience, he was always fond of saying to himself, at times, in the presence of Sophia, “Cynthia is the most inconsiderate woman I ever married”.
This repeated infuriation touched Sophia, 18 years of age, to the point that she had to pull the bull by the horn to ask her father on a fateful Monday morning, just as he was about setting out for work, “what made you and mom had settle for divorce and took Cindy away from us? Will I ever live to see them again? Are they dead? Did you try finding out where Cindy and Cynthia were after divorce?”
Out of an outburst of uncontrolled rage, Tom responded: “Cynthia, your mother, is just an unjust element who will stop at nothing to destroy her marriage. As for finding out where they were, I saw there wasn’t such a need! The last time I heard of her was that she and her daughter were both involved in a car crash that claimed their lives. Before their deaths, Justin told me that they lived in Jamaica and Cynthia married Ken, with Cindy leaving with them. What I now know is that they are dead! They are history! I don’t want you to talk about them again! This is over ten years this sad event occurred. That’s in the past. I wouldn’t want to be reminded about it. And please, don’t remind of what I have decided to get over with. I’m sorry if I have to sound this way, Sophia! ”
With tears rolling down through Tom’s eyes, Sophia couldn’t help but reciprocate the tears Tom shed. This was actually false. But Tom, out of sentiment, made the statement which he really didn’t mean. This, however, after the ‘pseudo’ mourning of her mom and twin sister, would change her mindset regarding the existence of her ‘other family members’ until the time came.
Meanwhile, Cynthia, a cancer sufferer, living in Queens Town, a slum in Jamaica, had raised Cindy single-handedly under the watchful eyes of poverty. She had spent her hard-earned money treating herself but to no avail. Instead, the ailment kept getting worse. Already, she had legally separated from Attorney Ken due to undisclosed irreconcilable differences between them. His whereabouts are to this day unknown.
On her deathbed, with her hands wrapped round Cindy’s, she said: “My little girl, I’m about reaching the very end of my life’s chapter’s. I know I’ve been through a lot. Undergoing the pressures from your father while in the States to taking care of you in the absence of Ken, I know it’s not been easy for you and me.
I realized that since I was diagnosed of cancer, my end coming. Slowly but steadily, I saw life disappear from me. Having spent all I have in this world to treat myself of this ailment, I now know that this is how I have to die. Well, it’s a good thing that I die in your loving arms. Suffering had been my very culture. I have to leave it because that was my fate. And I suffering I have to die.
I hope that in future, that you, Cindy, will not end up the way I did. As I pass on to the world beyond, please, ensure that you take all that had been denied of you by Tom and Sophia, They’re your right!
Please, kiss me”
As Cindy kissed her, she noticed Cynthia was lifeless. She shouted: “Mom, you can’t die now! Please wake up! Doctor, nurse, my mom is dead! Please, wake her up for me! She’s all I have!”
The doctor in charge of wrapped her with a piece of cloth twice her size. Cynthia’s corpse was taken to the Queenstown Morgue. A week later, Cynthia was laid to rest at the Kingston Cemetery. Immediately she was laid to rest, Cindy said to herself: “This is the last day I’ll shed tears for any man born of a woman again. I’ve have grown to witness sadness all through my life. My life has been sadness all through! But I have to teach Sophia a lesson of her life. And if she is married, I’ll teach her husband the same thing. My mind has been made up. No Jupiter can stop me! I wouldn’t mind spilling my blood for this cause!!! Stay will be instrumental to my achieving this goal. Yes, she will!!!”
Cindy was an exact opposite of Sophia. One thing still tied them together: Stacy. Very skilled in impersonation and coupled with her ability to speak exactly as Sophia, her world of riches and awesome opportunities she dreamt of that would have been hers but were denied would come to pass.
In the fall of the year, after intense screening of new in-takes, Sophia was finally admitted to the prestigious University of Washington to study Sociology, a course she dreamt of studying since her high school days. Stacy and Daniel enrolled in the Washington School of Arts to study Creative arts. The Washington School of Arts was some blocks away from the prestigious University of Washington. This would give Stacy and Daniel the opportunity to ‘cement’ the already-existing decade-old relationship. Alas, this would afford Stacy the privilege to orchestrate the evil that would come in no time. As for Daniel, time revealed his weakness.
Throughout the schooling years of Sophia, she had it all rosy; good academic grade points, comfort, security, and easy access to anything she wanted.
There was a one striking change in the life of Sophia: the day she set her eyes on a charming young man; Dash. She saw true love in him. “I can find my destiny in him’, she reasoned. “He is a man after my heart”, she continued. Moreover, Dash would be her only love until…
Dash had been a very good friend of Stacy for many years. Their friendship was so strong that they confide in each other their topmost secrets! Another turning-point in Sophia’s life was that within the first two years of their meeting, they were engaged and to make matters more interesting, her father and his father, Michael Walters, a renowned inventor, approved of their relationship and subsequent marriage. After the completion of their studies, Dash and Sophia continued their relationship.
Dash, a fresh graduate of the University of Washington, was employed as a Graduate Assistant in the Department of Philosophy while Sophia handled the businesses of her father, who was unknowingly showing signs of Leukemia. They still kept the burning candle of true love between themselves, despite the winds of the busy work schedules they were occupied with and distance that separated them. Stacy’s ‘pseudo’ friendship got a grip of Sophia that she was employed as Managing Director in one of Sophia’s partly owned businesses, Hendricks and Associates. This would give Stacy the advantages of letting the cat of the bag between Dash and Sophia to Cindy, carting away with misappropriated money from the business she was managing on Sophia’s behalf. Stacy, regularly being informed by Dash on their relationship experience, was in constant contact with Cindy, updating her on the intended wedding plans, venue and date of the wedding and where they intend spending their Honeymoon.
The strategies on how to make Cindy take Dash away from Sophia by both partners in crime were on the way- a red beeping alert ahead!
The news that her father was lying critically ill at the St. Bath’s Hospital reached Sophia at the time she was having a filled day with Dash at his place in the night hours. Shocked with great anxiety, Dash and Sophia rushed out of the apartment, not well-dressed, got into the car with Dash at the Driver’s seat and drove off to see the ailing Tom at the hospital after long hours of been on the road. What made his condition deteriorate to this pathetic state and how did it get admitted didn’t matter to them!
St. Bath’s hospital was a household name in Boston where all kinds of world’s recognized illnesses especially Leukemia were treated. But this time, as seen by the couple to-be, Tom’s rare disease condition defiled all remedies administered as he was unable to speak and see clearly; he could only move some parts of his body slightly; his hands and one of his feet. Dr. Milton, a long-lost friend of Tom, the man in charge of Tom’s case, was left with no choice than to tell Dash and Sophia the ugly truth when both of them got to his office:
“Tom’s condition is so critical that the only solution is to watch him die slowly. I have done my very best to ensure he stayed alive but all have proven abortive. He had been suffering from this condition for twenty years, going by our medical records. Unchecked this had been, the ailment has so worsened that his chances of living again are very slim, 1 out of 10, say. He got admitted by a set of good Samaritans who claimed they were his neigbours where once he lived in Boston. They said he was at his former neigbour’s place on a visit when he suddenly slumped. His then close-door neigbour-friend alerted the attention of others. He was rushed to this hospital. I’m afraid; he has less than two weeks to live. Sorry! I have to attend to other patients”.
Dr. Milton’s statements was indeed the last the straw that broke the Carmel’s back to Dash and Sophia.
Intuitively, Sophia knew her father was about passing on. But she made it a point of duty to see her father daily, even at the expense of her busy schedules. Dash followed suit. They showed the best care Tom had ever experienced in his life; bought him all kinds of gifts, passionately sang his favorite ‘I’ll be there’ song and ‘the day I die’ and kept him company for hours on his dying bed.
30TH March, 1966 was the day Tom knew his time to say ‘good bye’ to mother earth. Fortunately, Dash and Sophia were on hand to keep him company when his countenance changed; he held their hands together.
“I’ve lived a life of happiness and sadness and learnt to smile and frown in the midst of favorable and stormy weathers of situations. In all of my years on earth, I’ve realized that death is the only consolation to the woes we experience in this life. As for you and Sophia, I give you my blessings. Be fruitful and multiply. Go ahead with the marriage plans. Just bury me in my native Boston home. In my will, I have written that you take ninety percent of all my properties. Paul.J.Peters, my attorney, will give you the documents to all of my properties. As I get ready to journey in the world beyond, I want you, Sophia to know that I love…”
He didn’t utter the word “you” before he gave up the ghost! Dash and Sophia broke out in uncontrollable tears. Arrangements were subsequently made to give Tom what he request before his transition. He was buried in his hometown beside his paternal fathers. What was next? The wedding arrangement!
Stacy, one of Sophia’s senior executives and regular informant to Cindy whose mom died of cancer, a month before Tom, was on hand to prepare for the wedding ceremony on the 18th of June, 1967. Daniel, the would-be Dash’s best-man, wasn’t left out. He was involved in the organization of the men’s wing to ensure the marriage became a success. After much search, Dash and Sophia chose Jamaica as the country where the marriage would take place and Montego Bay as a place for their Honey Moon. This decision fell in line with the plans Cindy and Stacy orchestrated to enable Cindy have her pound of flesh for Sophia not remembering her all through the years. Already, Stacy had given Cindy a perfect description of Dash with pictures, his attitude and other personality traits. Being a good impersonator, Cindy would achieve her aim. Meanwhile, Dash never knew Sophia was a twin. Cindy’s and Stacy’s orchestrations became as visible as white light! Danger was about to loom!
Three months to the wedding, Sophia, a direct owner of the ninety-percent will, was able to foot the expenses Dash would incur to secure the venue for both the wedding and Honey Moon. On the other side, Stacy had informed Cindy ahead what to do. Stacy and Cindy would do their parts to ensure the realization of their two-year long plan. Stacy was on the verge of absconding with over a hundred million dollars to an anonymous destination without the knowledge of her boss, Sophia. As the days came closer, their plans became more visible.
The marriage plans intensified. Four weeks to their wedding, Dash and Sophia would arrive in Jamaica from their base in Maryland and lodge in the prestigious Five-Star Hotels, situated in Montego Bay, their eventual Honey Moon attraction. Then, begin the church wedding at the Point of Truths Ministries, about twenty miles from the hotel. After which, they would retire in the hotel to begin Honey Moon activities. In the next three weeks, Dash’s marriage to Sophia would be a success but something happened.
A week before the wedding, Stacy arrived Jamaica to update Cindy as to what to do. She came along with Dash’s pictures, recorded videos of Dash’s conversations with Sophia and Sophia countenances to Dash’s decisions on matters concerning their relationship. She provided Cindy with information concerning their intended lodge at the Five-Star Hotels and the church where the wedding would take place. She footed the expenses to be incurred and secured Cindy a hotel room throughout their Honey Moon period. Stacy had to leave for the US to inform her on the plan; set up a make-believe meeting that would involve an abrupt abduction of Sophia for months(to be released at a time when it would be too late to cry) and absconding with the siphoned hundred million dollars to place where nobody would figure out. Everything was set!
On the 17th of June, 1966, Sophia and Dash hit the shores of Jamaica and lodged in the hotel when a call suddenly came to Sophia’s phone. On returning the call, she heard a voice who claimed to be Miss Michel, her branch manager in Kansas, asserting that she will be needed to clear the air of policy rifts between the company and Major James .A. Smith, a life-long client of Tom and SC Limited and family friend, her owned company that had branches in over twelve states of the federation. The address was given as: 2206 Upper Room Road, Ka 2347-the supposed place where Sophia could meet her and subsequently move to his apartment to resolve the impending misunderstanding.
“It won’t take much of time”, it said. Stacy at work!
Out of curiosity, Sophia had no choice than to attend to travel to Kansas without letting Dash know. She thought the issue would be resolved and return soonest to make apologies for delays in the wedding arrangements, if there be. Worst still, she hurriedly left with the key stuck to the room’s door. What was fascinating was that no one saw her leave the hotel premises! This would be Sophia’s biggest mistake! At this time, Dash was with Daniel at the Points of Truth making arrangements for the wedding ceremony with the Resident Pastor and Daniel’s foster father, Michael Winters. Cindy, who, at the time of the lodging in of Dash and Sophia, was lodging in a room adjacent to where they lodged. She meticulously followed the situation of things and as soon as Stacy left, she sneaked in and became ‘Sophia’.
Sophia got to Kansas to locate the place where she would meet the so-called Miss Michel. She got to the place only to be held bound and kept mute by four hefty men who took her to the upper part of the building, bounded her to a chair with chains all over hands and legs, connected to the edges of the seat. Her mouth was covered with a strong glue paper. Stacy, the so-called Miss Michel had partly paid the guys to do the job; she wanted the job completed before the full payment could be made. She was positioned her location some kilometers away from the building and kept close watch of what was going on. After she saw that the job was successfully done, she paid the guys off. They were gone forever! Stacy absconded with the hundred million dollars to place where the world knew not. Sophia would be bound to the chair for days, food-starved and all alone until a Good Samaritan ‘miraculously’ came to her rescue at a time too late.
The wedding arrangements were already concluded between Dash, Daniel and Pastor Michael Winters. Dash headed back to the hotel and saw his ‘Sophia’ giving him a warm embrace. Like Sophia, she couldn’t wait for the D-day event. 18th of June 1966 was the day when the lives Dash and ‘Sophia’ would never remain the same as they both tied the nuts.
The ceremony was conducted by Pastor Michael who joined them in Holy Matrimony. From the close of the wedding to the reception and to the hotel where they would spend the rest of their Honey Moon, all went well as planned. Dash decided to spend a couple of months with ‘Sophia’ in Jamaica while Daniel, after weeks of not meeting the newly wedded couple, decided to move to Missouri for business. Dash extended his stay in Jamaica and with some of the property documents willed to him by Sophia, he was able to secure a magnificent edifice in Montego Bay. He also made a blunder. He set up a joint account with ‘Sophia’ and gave some of his properties willed to him by Sophia to her.
Meanwhile, Reverend Michael, as he was fondly called, told Daniel all he knew about Tom’s family. This information would be useful to him in years to come…
Sophia barely found her way to Missouri but never had a clue that something was about occurring-a heart attack. For the sake of safety, she went to a rehabilitation center and after weeks, she went back to normal life. As fate had it, Sophia met Daniel who was shocked but excited seeing her. “You ought to be with your hubby in Montego Bay, enjoying the Honey Moon. But you are here in Michigan. Business again?! Anyway, congratulations, Mrs. Sophia Walters! Good to see you again!” remarked Daniel who couldn’t help but express his euphoric state.
Contrary to what he anticipated, her countenance took an ugly dimension when she replied: “why are you making jest of me?! Didn’t you notice how I look?! Did you know that I was abducted by some men whom were discovered to have been paid by Stacy?! Did you also know that Stacy had absconded with hundred million dollars belonging to my company?! I guess you weren’t aware that a day before my wedding, a couple of hours Dash and I arrived Jamaica and lodged in that hotel, I received a false call from Miss. Michel that I come over to settle a rift between my company in Kansas and Major James. A. Smith. Though Dash was with Pastor Michael Winters at Point of Truth Ministries, discussing our wedding plans, I left immediately without his consent with the hope that I would return as soon as I was done and apologize for any inconveniences that would be caused. I was wrong! When I arrived Kansas located the address where Miss Michel gave to me via text only for me to be abducted by four giant-sized men, bounded me to chair with chains all over me and a glue paper to seal my mouth. I was left stranded for days! I was in that condition for days; food-starved! It took the miraculous help of a well-meaning individual to unchain me. If not, I’d have been dead! After that, I went to a rehabilitation center, got rehabilitated and went to the Kansas branch office where there was a reported case of a hundred-million-dollar impropriety. I had to cover up for the bad debt because no one could trace where Stacy fled to”.
Daniel could not believe what she said! “Oh! That must be Cindy who took your place. About a month ago, Cindy, who claimed to be you, got married to Dash. How she went about it I wouldn’t know! There must be a set up somewhere! We must…”
Daniel reasoned but was interrupted by Sophia.
“What?!” she asked, with disbelief written all over face, “Did I hear you mention Cindy is alive?! How did this happen?! But my dad told me both Cindy and my mom were dead! Then, why the imbalance?! Why would she be unfair to me?! Daniel, do you know where they both live in Jamaica?”
“Yes I do’, replied Daniel, who was utterly perplexed with the turn-out of revelations by Sophia. ‘What’s more important is for us to leave Jamaica right now! I can’t think of anything less!” he hastily concluded.
Although they both left for Jamaica and got to where Dash and ‘Sophia’ lived, Sophia’s heart problem would heighten and claim something most precious to her.
Luckily for both of them, they got the place where Dash and Cindy lived but there was the huge shocker- Sophia never believed what she saw-seeing her long-lost look-alike sister snatch her husband. Dash felt like letting the floor open to swallow him up! Daniel became more confused, as usual. Cindy, instead of showing regard, didn’t bat an eyelid as she returned a sadistic smile to Sophia. Sophia wasn’t permitted to utter her state of disdain and surprise as the cold hands of cardiac arrest took hold of her breathing. Before she could bleak her eyes, she found herself slumping lifeless on the floor. Without much ado, she was rushed to a near-by hospital. At the time they got to the hospital, Daniel received a message that his father was caught up in a fire accident in his house which later claimed his life. He left just immediately he got to the hospital to his father’s house. Dash, Cindy and the hospitalized Sophia were left to handle the present conditions challenging them.
Unfortunately, Sophia’s inner-self checked out of her body. Dr. Hughes confirmed that she was medically pronounced dead. Dash, a totally confused man, was in between the devil and red blue sea as to what to rightly do; to ask Cindy what brought about this ugly event or explain why Sophia, his true love, had to die this way. Somehow, they made it home and Dash received the biggest shocker of his life!
Being a crafty person, Cindy, standing few steps away from the center of the living room and seeing that Dash positioned himself at the center, took out the pistol she hid in her bag and pointed it at Dash’s fore-head who was already shedding Children’s Tears from his face to the fall: “Fool, I never loved you. I am Cindy, not Sophia. I only connived with Stacy to get at Sophia. Unfortunately, you are the victim I’d have to eliminate in some minutes. I dreamt of this day and must live to actualize it! Sophia and her stupid father thought my mum and I were dead. Sorry, I’m not dead, though my mom died of cancer. I shed my last tears on the day I paid my mom the last respect. I made up my mind never to shed tears again over anyone-including you! I was raised under the auspices of poverty by my mom whose hubby, my step-dad, separated from her for no solid reason! I grew up angry all my life. So, I decided to have my pound of flesh on Sophia. Now, she is dead. But this time, I would have to kill! But before that, I want tell you I have the documents in my possession and the account all in my name. Right now, I want you to say hi on my behalf to Sophia in hell! Goodnight, Dash!”
The sounds of bullet sprays on his body alerted other residents the present danger. The Security Residents, ten of them in number, gather their arcs together and putting under siege the building.
“Guys, did you hear the bullets at Dash’s place? The Lead Security Resident asked.
“Yeah I heard a couple of bullets”, “Of course, yes” and “Yep” were responses from other residents.
“I want to believe that we’re all armed. With me is a stainless pistol carrying some cartridges of bullets. I’m good to go. Are you all with your guns?”
“Yes!!!” The rest shouted.
“Now the building is under our control, let’s wait for the first criminal before we open fire” The lead resident instructed.
Soon, after Cindy left the building, pointing the gun, with a few bullets left, at the men who, was surrounded her at some distance, she was instructed to put her hands on head.
“Where are the rest of your of your members?” the lead Security Resident asked Cindy who wasn’t panicked by their numbers.
Unmoved by their presence, though, with her hands on her hand but still carrying the gun on her right, she confidently replied: “Are you guys daft?! Don’t you realize that this none of your business?! I came here to carry out my mission which is nothing more than revenge. Have you ever lived all through your life in abject poverty, knowing that your father was a rich man?! Have you ever watched your mom die in your presence because of what your rich dad caused her?! Have you ever witnessed when your parents divorced at a tender age?! Have you ever grown up only to see that you have been deprived of what you ought to inherit?! Have you all been in a situation where you have to struggle to make ends meet?! Now, you have the guts to point your guns at me! Do you think I’m afraid of death? Never!!! You pea-sized, never-do-wells, you think you can have me arrested over this necessary evil I just committed? Well, you could see for yourself the man who’s lying in his blood!! See it for yourselves”
As they moved some steps into the building, while monitoring her position, a bullet from Cindy’s caught of one the residents and killed him instantly. But they were sharp to reply several rounds of bullets in her fragile little body. Cindy was gone forever! They thought Cindy was lying at first-they believed she had other criminals inside hiding. But as they went into the building, they met only the lifeless body of Dash lying in the pool of his blood!
Three hours later, Daniel, who was done with the burial arrangements of his deceased father, hurriedly rushed to Dash’s residence to meet a number of individuals looking on the corpses covered with clothes. As he pressed towards the building and on seeing a great number of people, including the now 9-man Security Residents gathered at Dash’s residence, all taking charge of the scene, Daniel asked one of the neighbors: “What’s going on?”
“Dash was shot dead several times. One of the Resident Security men died. Of course, no thanks to power behind the trigger! But the trigger user met her dead end!! ” The neighbor answered, while she looked on.
“What?!!! This can’t be!!!” Daniel went on, pushing aside individuals who blocked his view from the scene. He was allowed entry because he was known by all and sundry in that area.
When he got into the building, he saw the blood-stained corpses of Dash, Cindy and one of the residents killed. In tears, with his eyes looking at the corpses of Dash and Cindy unclothed, he shouted: “What happened?! How could this be?! What went wrong?! I should be the very one to be blamed! It was in my position to avert this tragedy! But my ignorance led to this mess! Dash, I wished I were your very corpse.
I was friends with this lady whose corpse lie here looking lifeless right in my face. She happened to be an identical twin. Sophia happened to be her twin sister who died some years ago! The female corpse is Cindy, the evil I never knew since childhood. I was always fond of confusing Sophia and Cindy. Along the line, Cindy manipulated her way into Dash’s life by capturing Sophia. It’s a long story. But Cindy had done more evil than good!
However, I have made up my mind to write the story and keep it in my diary. This will be what will be remembered for the rest of my life. I’ll tell my children about this tragic event. I will go the length to knowing the genesis of this story!! That I promise the world! I’m sorry you have to go this way, Dash. As for you, Cindy, it is good you left this world…you’ve been a thorn in the flesh of everyone, including me!” After being consoled by the residents who were witness to the event, Daniel drew the well of courage to move on…
He called for the ambulance and followed it to the morgue. Daniel was assisted all the way by all and sundry. One of the morgue attendants found a recording device in Dash’s pocket and gave it to Daniel. Daniel played it and heard all the messages Cindy said. He was man enough to hold his tears because he realized that it was too late to cry when the head was being cut off from the body! His appreciation to all who helped him was heartfelt: “It’s my greatest pleasure to acknowledge the very help I got from you all in the morgue arrangement and burial plans. During the process, I was able to get a recorder from one of the morgue attendants. With this, I would able to write my account of the story which I title: The Mirror of Tragic Marriage. I want this account be read by all and sundry in Montego Bay, Kingston, and the United States and throughout the world!”
This sad event took place on the 23rd of September 1969. He held this date to his heart to his dying day. With deep sorrow and tears, he wrote his side of the ordeal in a diary he titled “The Mirror of a Tragic Marriage”. This was the very promise he made to the world. Daniel lived it! On the 15th of April 2013, Daniel passed on to glory on his bedside in his native Pennsylvania home with his wife, children and grandchildren all present, while resting the diary on his belly with his two held hands on it.