Chapter 04: Unexpected Guest.

Annalise's POV

It's been two weeks since I was driven out of my husband's house. Benson without mercy had thrown my things out like he planned it years ago even before Derek died. They didn't let me mourn my son, and neither did they allow me to attend his burial nor to say my final farewell.

I was forced to go back to my mom and grandma. They had cried with me and also made sure I didn't drown myself in sorrow. The pain I felt in my heart was so strong that I felt sick; for days I was bedridden.

Feeling a lot better today, I decided to visit my son. It was something I wanted to do days ago but I was prohibited from leaving the house till I got well.

Making sure no one I knew was around, I made my way to the graveside. On the stone was written Derek Benson Walford, my heart tightened as till now, I still couldn't understand how he died. A once jovial child went to school and never returned.

"Derek, what happened?" I choked as I tried to ask. I knew he wouldn't respond but I just wanted to know. I fell on my knees as I wept beside his grave.

He didn't deserve to die. He is my boy, my sweet and playful boy.

I didn't know how long I knelt there staring at the stone where his name was written. I recalled all that we did together. He is such a sweet four-year-old. Always happy and I knew he would grow up to be a wonderful man but he was taken from me early.

It was when I heard a groan behind me that I snapped my eyes from the stone to look behind me. I gasped when I saw a crippled man fall off his wheelchair. I rushed over,

"Sir, are you alright?" I asked but there was no response. My heart began to beat faster.

"Sir? Sir?" I shook him but he wasn't responding. I checked his pulse, he was alive. I struggled to place him in the wheelchair since there was no one around. He was quite very heavy. I wondered what had happened to him but I was sure that mother and grandmother would be able to help him.

I had to use the back gate since I came through the back gate. No one had to know that I had come to see my son, most especially the Walford family.

We got home in a cab, the man was still unconscious. I called for my mother and grandmother but no one answered me. With the help of the cab driver, I was able to take the man inside.

Who was he? I didn't know. I just don't want to be blamed for someone's death again. Even though I knew nothing about it. My eyes sting with tears when I recall how my mother-in-law had accused me of killing my son.

I swallowed, blinking the tears away before roaming around the kitchen searching for an already-made herb made by Grandma. I found none,

"Don't die on me," I murmured to the man. If Grandma had been around, she would have healed the man with her special herbs by now.

"What do I do?" I began to pace around. Although grandma had taught me a few things, I don't know if it would help.

"There's no harm in trying, Annalise," I whispered to myself.

Hurrying out of the house, I went towards Grandma's small farm and began to pick some herbs. I'd smell and then taste them. I don't know what that means but Grandma does it a lot. I grabbed more than a handful before rushing back into the house

Getting the pot, I filled it with water before throwing all the herbs inside one of the pots one after the other. As I did that, I stirred. I hope this helps.

When I was done, I served some in a cup and made my way to the man whose temperature had elevated

"Here, drink. You'll be fine" I whispered as I gave him a drink. After making him drink the whole cup, I took the leaf and rubbed it on his forehead before moving to his legs. I rubbed some there too.

"You can wake up now," I said but he still didn't move.

"Hey, wake up, mister," but nothing.

I almost slapped myself when it dawned on me that there was great harm in trying this one. What if he doesn't wake up? What if what I gave to him was poison?

Fear gripped me as I began to panic. Should I go in search of Grandma? Oh no!

"Hey! Mister!" I yelled as I hit his chest. "Wake up!"

And he sneezed. Not once but twice. A wide smile formed on my lips, he was alive.

"Mister?" I called but he only went back to sleep. My face twitched but slowly I began to smile. His temperature had gone down. There, I was happy. My very first patient that I healed without grandma's help. I can't wait for Grandma to get back so I can tell her. She would be so proud.

I decided to stay with him for a while before I went to take my bath. My body inches because of the sand I had knelt on for hours back at the cemetery.

I continued to stare at the man as I lay beside him, it was then I realized how handsome he looked. His dark hair was messy, his eyes closed but his eyelashes were long. His eyebrows were much darker too. My eyes moved to his sharp pointed nose, then his lips, thin and soft.

Soft?

Was it soft? I wondered and found my fingers already close to his lips, ready to touch them. I clutched my fingers not wanting to go there but what harm can be done? He was sleeping, right?

Without any more thought, my finger reached for his lips. And I guessed right, they were soft.