'Please, do you know what happened and how I ended up in the hospital?'

'And I just asked you if you were married?'

'No, why do you ask?' she asked him before remembering that she had been at the hospital and the doctor most probably had checked her and found out the truth about her and told this man about her pregnancy. But she was not going to reveal anything until she was sure what he knows and what he does. She was not going to reveal anything to him at all. Afterall, she owed him no explanation except thanks for helping her though how exactly he had come to help her was still what she could not fathom.

'You have my answer. I am not married at least, not yet. So would you kindly tell me what happened to me that I had to be hospitalized?' She said and flinched as she felt a wave of pain shoot through her head.

He was at once sorry that he had made her talk too much when she should have been sleeping or relaxing.

'Its okay. I shall tell you all about it later, just rest your head on the chair and see if you can just relax. Don't speak and don't think. Well, until you tell me where your house is. She gave him directions to a roll of tall buildings before her real place of residence..

As they neared the place, She became fidgety. She hoped he would allow her alight there and not insist on going in with her, now that she had foolishly told him that she was unmarried.

Not that she thought him capable of something as perverse as rape but because she did not want him knowing the condition of where she lived.

'You were walking listlessly as though you were fed up with Life and in the middle of the road as well. A lot of cars had been honking their horns at you but you were just not there, and I coming from a curve hit you before I could apply the brakes. You hit your head on my bumper and passed out.

Everybody thought that you were dead. We checked your pulse and found a faint beat and I rushed you to the hospital. Luckily, the doctor was able to treat you and here we are'.

'I guess that I should be grateful then that you had not abandoned me to die on the road but had the courtesy to take me to the hospital'.

'But there is something I don't understand. Why did you feel the need to end your life? What problem is it that cannot be solve except if you take the way you may consider the easiest way out? Which I'd death?'

Nancy was shocked. She hoped that he had not been able to read her and her situation correctly. She decided to be harsh with him so that he would quit disturbing her and mind his own business.

'Oh ho. Look who's talking. You just told me that you came round a bend a d before you could hold the brakes, you hit me and you are accusing me of wanting to take my own life?' she asked in an incredulous tone.

'What do you suppose would make me want to do that?'

'Your pregnancy?'

Nancy was shocked. She had forgotten that she had just surmised that the doctor must have discovered her pregnancy and told him about it drawing the wrong conclusion that they were together since he brought her to the hospital.

'My pregnancy?'

'Yes, your pregnancy. Oh, don't pretend you were not aware that you were pregnant!' he said and she kept silent. The fight had gone out of her before she even began.

'You could take care of yourself at least for the sake of the baby in your womb'. he advised.

Nancy just kept looking straight ahead.

'I do not want you to speak much so that you don't come down with a headache. But please do not try this again. It is not just your life that is involved here, your baby's is as well'.

He gave her some wades of currency. It was really very tempting and Nancy nearly took it but she remembered that she did not want charity from anybody and her pride reared its head.

'What's all these?'she asked.

'What does it look like? I am giving some money to help you take care of yourself while you go around for a job. It will help sustain you'

'I do not take charity!'

'What do you mean Charity?'

'Exactly that. I do not take what I have not earned. If you really want to help me, then find me a good job so that I can fend for myself and not depend on you or on anyone for that matter'.

He had thought about that. She was in no condition going round looking for a job. She looked malnourished, which was why he had offered her the money she was rejecting. He admired her courage but he felt that she was foolish to reject it.

'Of course. I had that in mind but for you to start there, you have to transport yourself to the place and I doubt that you have the wherewithal for that and you have to take more nourishing food and fruits so that your baby can be healthy. I am not offering you charity but just being realistic and I suggest that you swallow your pride and be as well at least for the sake of your baby'. he said looking at her with pity.

Nancy could not dare to hope that he was serious about his promise about getting her a job. Something good seem to be coming out of the accident afterall.

She looked at him and seeing an expression she interpreted to be sincerity, she stretched forth her hands and collected the money

What he had said was the truth. She needed the money more than he needed it and she was not going to allow her pride to stand in the way.

'Thank you for the money but how are you going to get me the job?'

'I now know where you are living, that was one reason I wanted to take you home. So, I shall get in touch with you. I have to speak with my friend and see what vacancies he has at this firm. I shall call in a favour he owes me and get you the job. But he is a perfectionist. He likes his employers being dedicated to duty. If you are lax with your work, then he just might relieve you of the job and I would be unable to do anything about it'.

'You do not have to worry. I shall not disappoint him. He will never regret giving me the job and neither will you for getting me the job', she gushed out excitedly.

The excitement on her face was something to behold.

'I have not spoken to him yet. You don't have to thank me yet'.

'No matter what his response is, that you have thought of it is enough for me and I am sure that even if he does not have a vacancy, you would find another place for me, I am sure of that'.

'So much confidence. I hope that live up to your expectations. But I have a question, is there any skill that you learnt or if you went to college, what did you study?' He asked so that he would know how best to help her and what job would best suit her.

'I went to a nursing school, so I have idea of medicine and nursing. I am also very good at typing, so any secretarial job would not be difficult for me', she supplied hopefully.

Jason nodded. He thought as much. Her speech was polished and showed that she must have acquired some form of education.

'What is your name?'

he asked realising that since they had met, he didn't know her name and neither did she know his.

'I am Nancy. Nancy Jones'. she said looking at him questioningly.

He saw her look and smiled

'I am Mr. Jason Campbell'.

'Well Mr. Campbell,I must say it has been a pleasure meeting you irrespective of the usual circumstance of our meet'.

'The pleasure is all mine, Miss Nancy. Well we are here.' He said as he applied the brakes and got out of the car and went round to open her side of the car.

She alighted and said goodbye to him. She found that she was hungry and dizzy and just wanted to get to her room as soon as possible and eat some of the stale food that she had kept there.

'Bye, I shall expect your call' She said, remembering that she had given him her number while still in the car with him when they were talking about him visiting her to tell her of the outcome of his discussion with his friend about the possibility of getting her employed.

'No,no. You are forgetting that I need to know exactly which of part of this buildings you stay in, so that I don't need to start asking questions when I come to visit for any reason. And you are dizzy and weak, I need to assist you to your room or apartment and ensure you ate asleep before leaving It is my duty,you know'.

Nancy was in a state of panic. What was she going to say to him to make him change his mind about going in with her? She couldn't possibly allow him get in and find the horrible situation she was living in. She had too much pride for that.

'Could you not mind your business for once? I have already given you my number. If you come here next time and cannot locate me, could you not call on the phone? I am not in the mood to receive visitors no matter how indebted I feel towards them and my apartment is unkept at the moment

So please go. We shall be in touch'.

Jason could not understand why she was being so secretive but he saw that she was not in the mood for argument and he would have carried her into the apartment but it was clear that she didn't want him in her apartment that day and wondered if her boyfriend was in there and if that was the reason she didn't want him entering her room.

'It's okay. You don't have to get so worked up. I shall not come in if you don't want me to but I shall remain here till you get in. This is just to ensure your safety'.

'Thank you very much but that will not be necessary. You have done the important part which is to take me to the hospital, foot the bills of my treatment and giving me a lift home. The rest isn't really that important and I am not a helpless woman no matter what you might think'.

He nodded. She was not helpless and that was why she had wanted to end her life just this morning, he thought to himself but he just waved bye ,got into his car and drove off.

He was not really interested in her other than the fact that he felt extreme pity for her and her plight.

He wondered if her boyfriend had really been in the apartment, why he had not called her even once since she had been away because he could not remember hearing her phone ring.

Anyways, that was their problem If he could get her employed, then he would have satisfied himself that he had done his part in making life a little better for a fellow human being and preventing a further attempt of hers to commit suicide for that was what she had intended this morning and nothing could convince him otherwise.

He forgot all about her as he drove not to his house but to the office.

He was surprised to find that his personal secretary was not at work. This was quite unlike her. He asked his other employees and they told him that Mrs. Amos had had to go back home because she was not too strong. She had come to work but could do nothing and had had to go back home but only several attempts to reach him had failed.

Jason Campbell was a divorcee who was dedicated to his work or anything he set his mind to do.

He had decided that he was not going to get married again after his divorce. His wife Rebecca who he had loved dearly and had done everything to satisfy in every way had run away with his best friend.

He could not believe it at first. They had all been so close that even when Brian had visited his wife in his absence, he had not thought much of it.

Of course he had come home unexpectedly a few times because he had forgotten something and had met them together chatting and laughing and he had thought nothing of it and had also left them alone and gone back to work. Little had he known that they had been having an affair.

When Rebecca started acting funny, it was his best friend Terry that he had gone to.

'Terry, did Rebecca complain about anything to you?'

Terry had been shocked but when he realised that it was just an innocent question, he had said, 'What is the problem? Are you having problems with Rebecca?'

'I won't say we are having problems exactly but she is really acting wierd. I do not know what the problem is'.

'Have you tried to find out? Have you asked her?' Terry asked.

'Yes, I have asked her to tell me what is bothering her but her response has remained the same'.

'And what is that?'

'That there was nothing bothering her and that there was nothing wrong with her. She said that she is okay and that she is as fine as she has always been. But you know, I don't believe it. I feel it in my guts that there is something terribly wrong. Something that I should know which I am missing'.

Terry quickly said, 'Don't overthink the whole thing. There may really be nothing the matter and it is all a figment of your imagination. You know women with their mood swings. Who knows if she is pregnant or her hormones are acting up. But if you really want, I could speak to her on your behalf'

He had been very grateful that he had offered. He was normally not one to share family secrets but he was just bothered and if sharing it with Terry would bring about a solution, then why not and Terry was not really an outsider. He was still family.

He didn't know how or when Terry had spoken to her but he had called him some days later, asking him to give Rebecca some time and that she would come clean with him but that it would be wrong to force anything from her at that stage.

It had been difficult because he knew how it had been between them. Now, she didn't even want him to come close to her anymore.

He missed her terribly.

On one occasion when he had told her that she was denying him his rights as her husband and that he was missing her terribly, she had allowed his roaming hands to continue exploring.

He had thought that it was alright then but their coupulation that night had been a disaster. She had not been her usual responsive self. She had laid as a log, allowing him to have his way with her. He had tried all the skill that he could possibly muster but all had been in vain.

He had regretted the act and had decided since then not to make any more sexual advance towards her untill he was sure that she wanted the same thing as he did.

The situation had escalated and Rebecca had started hinting at divorce.

'Rebecca, our marriage has always been based on trust and lack of secrets between us. What is it you are keeping away from me? What have I done that you have found it impossible to reveal to me? And if it is not me, then what is it that is troubling you so much that you feel there is no need for you to share it or them with me? Don't you know that seeing you this way is breaking my heart? I have been in perpetual agony since you started giving me the cold treatment. I have gone through our time and life together but I can't seem to get it - what the problem is or where I have gone wrong.

Is it something you needed that I have been unable to satisfy?'

Rebecca had looked at him with irritation, stood up and left.

Though the next day, her behaviour had been more civil and she had apologised for her short temper the previous day.

'Just leave me be for now. If there is anything I want you to know about, then I shall definitely tell you at the right time. But please do not force it out of me'.

He had thought that there was going to be progress from then henceforth but that was not to be because, he got home the very next day with a bouquet of red roses that had been grown in a hot house, since it was not the season for roses,only to find the house empty. He asked the servants and they told him that the madam had called a cab and had asked them to carry her suitcases down into the cab and had driven away.

'But she left this letter for you', the kitchen help said.

Jason took the letter with trembling hands and was about to tear it to find out what was written inside. What had made his wife. A woman he had loved for so long and had been married to for about four years, to feel the need to leave him.

He wanted to find out what he had done wrong and see how he could make amends for it but he became scared and put the letter into his pocket to be read at a later time.

He tried calling Terry to tell him of the latest development but he did not pick his call and even disconnected it after sometime.

Jason was shocked. Terry never disconnected his calls before. He always picks his calls eagerly. They were best of friends afterall.

But maybe, he was in a meeting or with someone and did not want to pick his call yet because it was not convenient. He decided that that must be the case and decided to wait for sometime, say an hour before calling him again but in the meantime, he was going to sent him a short message to call him as soon as he was free of his engagements.