Karma - S01 E23

6 months ago

Karma - S01 E23

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 23

I've been seated alone at the dining table, with food on the table. The help comes over from time to time to check on me. My father has not left his room since my arrival, and I have not seen his wife or her son.

"Did you tell my father i am here?" I ask her for a thousand time.

She nods pitiful.

I refill my wine glass and finish it at once. I check my phone again like something magical has happened to it since the last time i did.

I grow tired of the entire situation and decide to go face my father, if he won't come to me, i might as well go to him. I notice that photos of Jenny and her son are missing. I should have expected that, he's so good at pushing people away. I might not have liked Jenny, but i loved that my father had someone.

"Dad i am coming in." I say as i push the door slowly.

It is dark and the room smells of sweaty bodies. I spot his figure covered under the blanket.

"Dad?" The term comes out like i am begging. That is how i feel whenever i am around him.

I take more steps towards the bed, and sit beside him. "I couldn't come the other Wednesday, i got a job as an assistant and my boss is mean." I just start saying random things.

As a child, I would sneak in at night and sleep between him and my mother in this once-colorful room. He wasn't expressive, but his actions demonstrated that he cared. There isn't a single memory of my mother in this house; the moment she left, all of her belongings were thrown away or burned, and the items she chose were replaced with items chosen by my father.

I stand and walk to his bathroom and check if he has been taking his pills. My heartbeat accelerates when i see several medicine bottles laying on the floor. I quickly rush back and pull the blanket away from him, shouting his name altogether shaking him.

Fear grips me as I consider the possibility that he overdosed, he then awakens and recognizes me. He quickly becomes irritated.

"What are you doing here?" He asks.

"Are you all right?" I inquire, and when he notices my concern, his annoyance fades.

"Why wouldn't i be?" He asks.

"I saw the bottles and it is clear that Jenny left." I conclude.

He snorts and shakes his head, "What are you doing here?" He asks the same question he does every time i visit him.

"What were you doing with all of those bottles in the bathroom?" I ask.

"I couldn't find my pills. Can you tell me why you are here and where you have been living?" He says.

The last question comes as a surprise, how did he know i moved? I thought he didn't care since i had chosen to remain unmarried.

"Have you been following me?" I ask, hoping i was wrong that Cassandra was the one following me.

"You stood up the guy i set you up with, at your age you should know games will only demotivate the few suitors in your life."

"I'm not dating or getting married again, Dad. And I'm leaving right now." I declare.

"You grandmother passed away and her funeral is tomorrow." He suddenly announces just like when he blankly told me, ′Your mother left to be with other men.′

I don't respond; instead, I proceed to walk away, stunned by the news. I'm pretty sure he's referring to my maternal grandmother. Unlike her daughter, she never gave up on me, but I did on her. I despised going to see her and hearing relatives chitchat about my mother and her new family. It was excruciating.

*******

"Where are you coming from?" It is the words that i am met with when i get back.

Mr. Thorne is seated on his sofa with his laptop.

"You are not my father." I reply.

"You are under my roof." He puts his laptop aside.

"Not tonight," I whisper, i have been crying since my father informed me of my grandmother. I should never have stayed away, i wasn't there in her final days yet she fought for me. I don't have any energy reserved to fight with him.

"Are you from your lover?" He asks.

I get annoyed by his accusation and why he would care if i were.

"I said not tonight." I repeat with a raised voice and that gets his attention.

I watch him contemplate what to say to me, "Is everything alright?" He asks.

I have to stay strong when he asks me that and maintain a flat look, "I just want to sleep, it has been a long night." I answer. I don't suppose we are at a place were we share our personal lives and how we are feeling.

"You look sad, what is it?" He insists and i can't tell if he actually cares or he just wants me to open up and use it against me.

"I just found out my grandmother died." I finally give in.

He is surprised that i actually told him, "I am sorry for your loss. Were you close?" He asks and now i have to sit and think about his question because towards her last days i don't know where we stood.

"We weren't in her final days, and I feel so evil for that." I judge myself.

I hear his feet shuffle as he stands and walks to me. He sits beside me and wipes a tear on my face, "I am sure she doesn't hold that against you." He says.

"But even so, I do hold it against myself." I mutter.

"Well, you shouldn't." He answers and i just break down and he lets me cry on his shoulder. "Take some days off and only return to work when you are fine."

"Thanks." I reply and i feel his lips on my forehead. I try not to overthink by his action. It is probably part of the game to fool his wife.