shadow of love episode 57

I called the police inspector immediately and told him the message I had got and the constant banging on my door.
He promised to be there with his men soon.
I went downstairs and went to my door. I had to keep her there, I had to keep her busy so she won't leave.

Me: Claire what do you want from me?
I shouted at the top of my voice so she could hear me.

Claire: Oh! You decided to come. Open up before I blow this fucki'ng door open. You won't like it if I do.

Me: I know. I know. But tell me what do you want? You can't come here in broad day light knowing you're wanted by the police.

Claire: Screw the police. I want to end it all here. If I'm going down, you're coming with me.

Me: But I've done nothing. All I've ever given you was love Claire.

Claire: Fucki'ng open this door. What stupid love are you talking about?

Me: Claire let's talk this thing through. You can't act without thinking.

Claire: Says who? I should have killed you long ago but no, I thought Eddy was over you. But then, you showed your ugly face around and I lost my cool and accidentally shot my husband, my one true love.

Me: What are you saying? Did you ever love Tobe?

Claire: Yes. Till you came around.

Me: No Claire. If you loved him, you wouldn't have killed his dad or tampered with the burial. Love is not ruthless. It's ........

Claire: Don't school me on love bit'ch. All you've ever done is take people's happiness away. It's time to end it all now. I'm coming in.

I felt a kick on my door and my breath started coming very fast. What do I do if she kicks the door down?

Me: Claire wait. Let me call you let's talk better please.

She started laughing, laughing so hard I thought she'll ache her throat.

Claire: You're scared right? Don't worry, I'll make it quick for you.

Me: Claire!

I heard a gunshot and I froze. Who did she shoot? God! I hope it's not Lois.

Me: Claire don't shoot. I'm opening the door now.

But there was no response. That was when I heard the sirens and I breathed out.
I looked through the peephole and there they were.
I slowly opened the door and saw Claire lying in a pool of blood. She was clutching her tummy and her eyes turned to me with hatred and rage.
Blood trickled down from her mouth and she coughed weakly.
I squatted beside her and she spat on my face.

Claire: I ....... ha...... hate you.

I wiped her blood stained saliva off my cheeks and a tear ran down my face.

Me: You're dying Claire.

I looked at the policemen who were standing beside us, waiting to see if anything would happen. Claire's weapon had been picked up and bagged by the inspector.

Me: Can't we take her to the hospital?

Claire's cough brought my attention back to her, cutting off the policeman from giving me an answer.

Me: You'll be fine Claire.

Claire: Smoo..... smooth sai..... sailing aiyee o.

And she breathed her last.
I sat on the floor and kept on staring at her face. Her eyes were open and staring at me.

PM: You'll have to put yourself together madam. Thank you for ringing us as soon as she came to you. We'll have to take her body away now.

Me: No please. Not yet.

Why was I crying? Why do I feel pity for her?

PM: Why if I may ask?

Me: Let me call my friends please.

He nodded and I started dialling Lois' number.

Lois: Hey babe. What's with the commotion that side?

I had not noticed the crowd that had gathered and watching what was happening.

Me: They're about taking Claire's body away.

Lois: Has she been caught? Are you safe? That bit'ch. Wait! Did you say her body?

Fresh tears ran down my cheeks and I nodded.

Me: She's dead Lois.

Lois: Jesus! Wait. I'm coming.

I dropped my phone and continued looking at Claire. Finally, she died unrepentant. Even in the face of death, she still trusted in her cultism? What kind of bond was that? The policemen were stopping the crowd from getting closer. The first person by my side was Harry. I think he had flashed his badge and they allowed him. He pulled me into his arms immediately and I let my tear gland loose.

Harry: You're safe now. Bring it together.

All my friends in the estate came around and said one or two things to her corpse.
When the police finally took her away, I already got a grip on myself.
Lois, Amber, Leonard and Harry followed me inside, each one of them talking like Claire was my sister except Leonard.
William came an hour later and the first thing he did was to pull me into a hug.

William: You're safe now baby.

I nodded my thanks and sat down.
It was over now. No more running or always watching my back. Claire was gone, Tobe should wake up now.

Lois: Home to Bestie.

I looked at her and smiled.

Lois: Leo is suggesting we all go to Tobe's resort for a week's vacation. What do you think?

Amber: It'll help forget all these. It'll be nice if we go.

Me: I'm not interested. Tobe isn't awake yet so I'm still incomplete.

William: Incomplete? You mean you're still in love with him?

I eyed him and stood up, making for the stairs. I've got a friend who's in coma, how do they expect me to go and have fun knowing that this friend doesn't have a chance to survive? He's a part of me, just like everyone of them seated there so I'm incomplete without any of my friends.
William can go to hell for all I care if he thinks I'm still in love with Tobe.

William: I'm talking to you Pamela.

Me: What? What do you want from me?

William: Tell me if you still love him.

Me: Why? What does it mean to you?

William: Everything Pamela. It means everything.

Me: Forget it William. I'm incomplete without any of you sitting down here. You all are a part of me, a part of my existence. Everyday I meet someone new but it takes being like all of you here to get that person into my heart. Tobe is also one of us, just that he's not sitting down here right now. How do you expect me to go and have fun when he's lying down there just with the help of machines? What does that make me? It could have been me or Lois lying there but he took the bullet for one of us. So William, if you ask me if in still in love with him, you'll have to be so selfish not to have the interest of someone who took the bullet for me. I love him like I love you, Harry, Lois or Amber. That's how much I love him William.

I climbed the stairs, knowing there were different sets of eyes boring into my back. I got to the top of the stairs and my phone rang from downstairs.
Lois got up and started bringing it to me.

Me: Who's calling?
I asked, wiping a stray tear from my face.

Lois: Chief.

I ran down and took the phone from her.

Me: Hello sir!

Doctor: Miss Pamela, we've got good news.

Me: Oh! Tell me doctor.

Doctor: He's awake.

And that was the last I remembered before waking up to find myself in a hospital bed.