Chapter 2

The season has moved from summer to winter.

It was in the early weeks of February,

As the winter winds howled through the small town in Texas, 15-year-old Jay shivered in his father’s luxurious duplex. His dad, a prominent billionaire, had left for a conference at the El Paso city of Texas, leaving Jay alone for the night. To cope with the bitter cold and loneliness, Jay sought comfort in his father’s pack of cigarettes. He had never smoked before, but he thought it might calm his nerves. He wanted to have that feeling of inhaling and puffing a smoke out of his mouth because he has always seen his dad do It. He thought it would be a nice scenerio to behold.

As he lit the cigarette, the nicotine hit his lungs hard. Suddenly, he felt a strange constriction in his chest, and his breathing grew labored. Panic set in as he realized he was having an asthma attack.

Jay had never had asthma before, but his granny had suffered from it when he was younger. He remembered her inhaler and the way she would struggle to breathe during attacks.

With trembling hands, Jay searched for his father’s phone to call for help, but it was dead. The cold and darkness closed in around him as he struggled to breathe. Just when he thought all hope was lost, he remembered the inhaler his granny had left behind before she passed away.

With a surge of adrenaline, Jay grabbed the inhaler and took a few puffs. Slowly but surely, his breathing eased, and the asthma attack subsided. Shaken, Jay realized the dangers of smoking and vowed never to touch another cigarette again.

As the night wore on, Jay waited anxiously for his father’s return, grateful for the lesson learned and the narrow escape from disaster.

“As Jay struggled to breathe, he thought about his dad’s lectures on responsibility and the importance of making good choices. He wanted to blame the dad for leaving him in such a cold weather but he remembered his dad attended a conference which is for the betterment of the family and business. He has also provided him with a flask of hot water and coffee to drink Incase the atmosphere becomes so cold. But Jay chose to do something different which landed him in a predicament he never expected he will be a victim of. He had always rolled his eyes, but now, facing his own mortality, he realized the value of those words. Jay’s mind raced with thoughts of his granny, who had always been there for him, and how she would want him to stay strong. He remembered the way she smiled when she taught him how to use her inhaler, and how granny always struggled with breath and abstained from so many things so as not to trigger her asthma. Jay grabbed the inhaler and took a few puffs as Granny always does, feeling the medication ease his breathing.”

When Mr. Rowland Hubert returned the next day from a conference which he got so many outstanding award for his consistency in business and how he has been able to create strong network with other billionaires who are into textile and clothing across the globe which has made his base Texas and his company RF home of textile and clothing one of the remarkable places you can get quality textile and clothing materials.

He noticed a pale look on his son’s face and he pressed harder to know what was wrong because he knows his son Jay wouldn’t want to tell him what happened to him.

In a bid to get him to let the cat out of the bag he got him a bowl of ice cream and a box of chocolate and took him out on his private yacht so they can have a relaxing cruise with breath taking views providing them with a Serene environment for discussion. Jay was enjoying every bit of the moment that he didn’t know when he opened up to his dad. Jay could picture the sad and disappointing look on his dad’s face and he could sense thoughts running through his mind because his dad was cold and calm for a second.

Mr. Rowland Hubert finally opened up to his son what has been going on in his mind. He asked, son you were with granny before she passed away right? And Jay replied yes. His dad asked again son, what were the things you always feel sad when you see Granny doing them and you wished you can help but you couldn’t? Jay replied” I hate seeing her struggle for breathe and her life it was never easy for her Jay said as hot tears rolled down his cheeks. He knew he has taken his dad back to a moment when he felt a crucial pain in his heart and an empty space no one can ever fill up again.

Reminiscing to when his dad always stay awake all night most especially during winter to stay with Granny and give her hope then also help her when she needs it. The amount of money he spent on inhaler and drugs yet Granny still passed away. Still lost in thoughts, Mr. Hubert was able to find his speech again then he asked again” son, Do you really love me? And Jay replied “Yes i do dad”. Mr. Hubert asked again” son, Where is your elder brother? And Jay replied with hot tears rolling down his cheeks again ”He is late dad”. Mr. Hubert asked again” son, do you realize you are the only one that I have for your sisters will all get married one day and I Will be left with nothing if I loose you for I know your mom wouldn’t want to stay with me. She never stayed when we lost your brother and Granny rather she said we are the cause of our predicament so what makes you think she would stay if you are no more? Jay replied but this time around his eyes were already swollen and one could sense he has been crying for a very long time now. He couldn’t stop crying but he managed to find his speech again and he let out with a teary voice and said “Dad you won’t loose me and I won’t loose you” I didn’t think about all these before I did what I did it, I thought it wasn’t going to have any effect on me he said.

Seeing that he has realized his mistakes and have admitted he is wrong, the dad chuckled and patted him at the back and said “son I love you so much and I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you, I only take tobacco when the weather is too cold and not always . I didn’t buy it for you that’s why I have always kept it out of your reach but out of my carelessness I forgot to remove the one on the table before I left. I choose conference and fame over your life. See what my carelessness has landed you into almost costing your life. I wish I had checked every where properly before leaving am sorry son, pardon my irresponsibility said Mr. Hubert.

This time looking at Jay’s face you could see happiness beaming though it was still swollen but he was happy his dad forgave him.

The next day after breakfast, Jay came to the dad and said he needed them to talk and the dad didn’t hesitate for he always enjoys that moment when he sits down to talk with his son because he doesn’t always have that time due to his business and time schedule. Jay told his dad he had interest in going to the college to further his education. His dad paused for a while and the feeling of disapproval and sadness reflected on his face. He doesn’t want his son to leave his sight because he has become so attached to him that they seemed physically and emotionally inseparable. Holding that conversation seemed like an impossible task for the dad to do. It wasn’t something he thought could be talked about that early. My son is still very tender as he always says in his mind . In the bid to get over it, he dismissed Jay and demanded it holds some other time.