Pim! pim! pim! The machine kept beeping; the room was quite hot and the smell from the air was inescapable, it had the aroma of bodily fluids, and the faint, sweet smell of medication. It was a hospital.
Avaelyn had collapsed the previous day and was rushed to the hospital. A long, slim, transparent line that released small, consecutive drops of liquids was connected to her wrist. She was still unconscious and laid on the hospital bed breathing with difficulty. Mrs Loly was present there, with two other staffs from the orphanage.
"Avaelyn's vitals are poor" it was the doctor speaking to Mrs Loly. She needs enough rest and food. She also has a low fluid intake, he continued. She will be discharged but she has to take enough rest, the doctor concluded as he exited the room.
Avaelyn! Mrs Loly exclaimed immediately Avaelyn opened her eyes. How do you feel? She asked.
"I feel tired, my head aches and I am in severe pains Mrs Loly" Avaelyn replied. What happened to me? She asked. Why am I in a hospital? She questioned further.
When Mrs Loly didn't give a reply, she turned and laid on her side. Facing the wall, several thoughts raced through her memory as tears flowed freely from her eyes. She was distressed; she didn't want to cry but she couldn't control it either so she let the tears fall freely.
Avaelyn, everything will be fine, Mrs Loly said emphatically as she stroked Avaelyn's hair. You will be alright, she added.
The doctor came back soon with a white sheet of paper on his hands. He handed the paper to Mrs Loly. It contained a list of drugs.
"Try to get these drugs to enhance her quick recovery and get supplements if possible" the doctor advised.
Mrs Loly took the list from him as she headed for the chemist counter.
I will be back soon, she said to the two staffs and Avaelyn before leaving.
Back at the orphanage, Ava bullied other kids, she took their stuffs from them, making them cry. They were all afraid of her. The staffs at the orphanage were fed up with Ava as well but they couldn't do anything about it. Mrs Loly was bent on retaining the two girls; she loved them and had accepted them as her own.
At the hospital, Mrs Loly returned with the drugs that the doctor had recommended. The doctor discharged them and they left the hospital.
You survived? Ava asked with a mocking look. The question was directed to Avaelyn as she returned to the orphanage with Mrs Loly.
What? Mrs Loly exclaimed, shocked by Ava's statement. They all stood rooted on a spot. Avaelyn was dumbfounded. Her sister wanted her dead; she didn't believe her ears until Ava's voice came again, this time, clearer.
I hoped you would join our parents at the other side but it seems you are more strong willed than they are.
Ava! Mrs Loly shouted angrily; she wouldn't tolerate this. Get me the whip. She had kept the whip away for a long time after a tragic incident at the orphanage; a child had fainted and fallen while being flogged, he got a rupture and died afterward. That particular incident made Mrs Loly suspend the use of whip at her orphanage.
One of the staffs had happily rushed to get the whip as Mrs Loly lashed it out all over Ava's body. She was obviously fed up and felt the need to use the whip. The other kids cheered happily, their desires was finally being satisfied by Mrs Loly.
Ava kept screaming and running round as Mrs Loly chased along; she wasn't going to spare Ava on this particular occasion. They had just arrived from the hospital and that was what she had to utter. Her expression was fierce, she was dealing mercilessly with Ava. Despite the severe beatings, Ava refused to plead. Instead she cursed at her sister.
Avaelyn was crying as well. She kept pleading with Mrs Loly to spare Ava. The staffs pitied Avaelyn and joined in the pleading. Finally, Mrs Loly gave in to their pleas. She stood, sweating profusely as Ava kept wailing at the top of her voice. Mrs Loly wasn't satisfied but she just had to stop. Ava ran out of the orphanage but was caught by the security guards at the entrance. She bit hard into the guard's arm as the man screamed out. He gave her a heavy blow as she passed out. Obviously everyone wanted to deal with Ava in different ways; they had all waited expectantly to mete out their fury on her. She was wild and they had all tolerated her till that day.
She woke up some minutes later, soaked in sweat. The kids were not happy that she was back. They wished she would sleep forever. To them, Ava was the nuisance. When she woke up, she looked hard into the faces that stared at her. They all thought she was possessed. How could a child say such words to her sister who had just recovered.
Mtcheww.... The sigh was long, Ava hissed as she stamped out from the room. She became quiet for the next one week.
Everyone was happy and glad that she had changed. They were grateful that Mrs Loly had picked up the whip that day. The orphanage was now peaceful. Avaelyn recovered quickly as she took her medications as instructed by the doctor. Ava didn't speak to her throughout that week and she didn't bother to speak to her either. She was more focused on recovering. She still felt guilty but avoided Ava by all means. To her, avoiding Ava was avoiding trouble for oneself. All the kids avoided her as well. Ava was alone; she had always been alone so it didn't bother her at all.
Her change had shocked everyone; they all expected the worse from her but she remained calm some kids even tried to make her angry but she didn't budge. She behaved like a repentant person; a saint.
Avaelyn was happy, her sister was finally letting go of the past or so she thought. She saw Ava close to the gardens sometimes either playing with the leaves or watering them. Ava was quiet and calm now but one thing she never did was to talk to any one at the orphanage. She only exchange greetings with Mrs Loly and the staffs. The guard which she had bitten some days ago was now her close friend. They were always seen discussing and laughing together in the garden.
Everyone was happy; the once sad and moody Ava was now jovial and free.
Mrs Loly was surprised as well; she thought about the phrase " spare the rod, and spoil the child". I am glad I took the bold step to deal with Ava, Mrs Loly said to a staff.
The staff nodded happily too.
Then it happened one day. Avaelyn sat by the balcony, reading from a chart. She was so engrossed in the activity that she didn't notice when someone walked in steadily. It was Ava. Avaelyn, Ava called out. Avaelyn raised her head. She was shocked to see Ava standing before her. Ava was smiling broadly; wide eyed. Avaelyn couldn't believe her eyes, it was the first time in a long while that she has seen her sister smile that broadly.
Yes, Ava, what can I do for you? She asked almost enthusiastically. Within her, she thought "Ava must be here to apologize". Avaelyn, Ava's voice came again as she moved closer to her sister, maintaining her broad smile.
Then it happened, so quickly that no one noticed how exactly it happened.
Ava had pushed Avaelyn off the balcony... everywhere grew silent; the silence deepened the more until Ava's mouth flew opened, wide eyed, and then she screamed...
Ahhhhh!!! That was a mistake, I swear, I didn't do that intentionally, I was only here to...a..p..olo..gi....,she started stammering and before she could finish her statement, she burst into uncontrollable tears or so she feigned. Everyone was in shock; no one could believe Ava would go to that extreme.
Mrs Lolyyyyyy, one kid screamed. There's an accident, the kid called out as all the staffs rushed out. Mrs Loly came out of her office as well, towering over the balcony. She was confused. What happened? She screamed as she looked at Ava and the other kids. Ava was still wailing " I didn't do it Mrs Loly, I didn't", she said amidst tears. I didn't do it Mrs Loly. The tears was real, everyone believed she had changed but what sort of accident was this!
Mrs Loly didn't question further. She rushed down the stairs with the speed of lightening. The security guard downstairs was confused, he kept looking up at Ava, his little friend whom he had spent the past few days with. He didn't want to believe that she was guilty.
Mrs Loly scooped Avaelyn into her arms as she ordered the security guard to open the gate. Placing Avaelyn at the back of her car, she sped out of the compound.
Everyone still stood, rooted at a spot with Ava wailing at the top of her voice. No one believes me, she cried out in a pitiable voice.