For Better And For Worse
Chapter 46

Prison.

This morning, after meditation, Krist talks with Aristide.

Krist: I have to find Claire to get information on my wife.

Aristide: All you have to do is get massacred as usual.

Krist: no, I’m tired of this method. I have to find another way.

During the sport, Krist approaches the champion to chat with him.

Krist: Hello!

His henchmen come to surround them.

Bayoko: you have some nerve to show up in front of me.

Krist: It’s because I have no other choice.

Bayoko: what do you want?

Krist: I need your help.

Bayoko: really! That would surprise me a lot.

Krist: I’m very serious.

Bayoko: what do you want?

Krist: I need access to the infirmary.

Bayoko: you know how to access it, you’re used to it.

Krist: More like this. So, are you going to help me or not?

Bayoko: what will I get in exchange?

Krist: I don’t know, I don’t have anything to offer you anyway. What do you want?

Bayoko: kneel!

Krist: sorry but I only kneel before God.

Bayoko: in this case, you only have one way to access the infirmary.

He signals his men to hit him. One of them throws a blow which he stops by catching his fist.

Krist: If you don’t want to help me, just say no.

Krist lets go of the guy’s hand and leaves.

Bayoko: wait! You hide your game well. I’m helping you on one condition.

Krist: which one?

Bayoko: that you agree to participate in the tournament.

Krist: why are you so keen for me to participate?

Bayoko: because I have the impression that you know how to fight very well but that you refuse to do it.

Krist: Well, they don’t force me to do anything I don’t want to do. Thanks for the chat.

He leaves.

Bayoko: wait! Tell me what you want to do in the infirmary and I’ll help you.

Krist: I have a matter to settle with the nurse.

Bayoko: I believe you. Be ready, someone will come get you.

Krist: Thank you.

Krist joins his friends.

Aristide: what are you playing Krist?

Krist: I want to know how my family is doing.

Aristide: I told you that I would help you, in addition to having told you that she is fine.

Krist: I know but understand that it’s been more than two months since I’ve had any news.

A few moments later, a guard goes to pick up Aristide and take him to the visiting room. He was happy to see his brother Arsène. Each person takes the phone to chat.

Aristide: Hello.

Arsène: hello, how are you?

Aristide: things are going very well and you?

Arsène: me that. Sorry for this long moment of silence, I was very busy.

Aristide: It doesn’t matter. You’re doing very well and I’m happy about it.

Arsène: me too. In fact, I didn’t come alone. Mom and Dad are there too.

Aristide: It’s a blessed day.

Their parents approach to chat with him for a moment. There is little time left for the visit to end so Aristide asks to speak to his brother. So his father passes to him.

Aristide: I have a favor to ask you.

Arsène: whatever you want my brother.

Aristide: Do you have anything to take note of?

Arsène: yes.

He takes out a paper and writes down Krist’s address that Aristide gives him.

Arsène: whose address is this?

Aristide: from a friend. He was unjustly convicted and he is my fellow inmate. It’s been over two months but his pregnant wife has never visited him and his father-in-law told him he lost his baby so now he wants to escape. Unless I give him concrete information that proves his family is okay.

Arsène: okay, I’ll take care of it. What is his name ?

Aristide: his name is Kristian and his wife’s name is Isabelle.

Arsène: okay, I’ll take care of it.

This is how the visit ended and Aristide was taken back to his cell while his family returned home. In his cell, he talks to Krist about his discussion with his brother.

Krist’s home.

This evening, Bruno visits his daughter. She welcomes him happily and serves him a drink then they chat.

Bruno: how do you cope with your husband’s absence, sweetie?

Isabelle: I can’t stand it, Dad, I live with it because I have no choice.

Bruno: I’m sorry princess. But you don’t have to live with it.

Isabelle: what do you mean by that?

Bruno: you know, I am your father and nothing will make me happier than to see you happy so since your husband is sentenced to five years in prison, you don’t have to wait for him. You are a woman and it is not good for you to be alone, especially in your state.

Isabelle: where are you going with this, dad?

Bruno: why don’t you remarry, you will be happier with someone by your side.

Isabelle: if you came to suggest this to me, I ask you to leave.

Bruno: of course not, I came to see how my daughter was doing. I’m worried about you, that’s all.

Isabelle: I am only happy with Krist and I will never be happy with anyone else.

Bruno: Prison is a very dangerous place, my daughter. What if he were to die?

Isabelle: Dad won’t die.

Bruno: I know but it can also happen.

Isabelle: in this case, I will no longer have any reason to live but I will live for our baby, I will make him a better man like him. But that will never happen because he will be there to watch his child grow up.

Bruno: I know that you love him very much but if he dies, you will have to remarry, for you and for your baby, because he will need a father.

Isabelle: I know, but it will be up to my heart to decide.

Bruno: you are right.

Isabelle: do you have some time for me to prepare something to eat?

Bruno: go ahead, we have the whole evening.

Isabelle therefore begins to prepare and Stella returns from training with her friends. She gets changed and talks with Isabelle’s father. After she finishes cooking, they eat together. A little later, Bruno leaves and they talk.

Stella: Isabelle, excuse me but to be honest, I don’t really feel like your father.

Isabelle: what do you mean?

Stella: I have the impression that he hasn’t really changed, that he has remained the same as before.

Isabelle: maybe you’re not wrong. Tonight he asked me some weird questions to the point where I feel like he wants me to remarry.

Stella: exactly! I know you are very happy to have your father back but still be careful.

Isabelle: I have the impression that people don’t really change deep down.

Stella: Probably.

Isabelle: whatever happens, you said it, we will meet again and we will live better days one day. I’m holding on to that.

Stella: I’m happy about it.

Okay, these two never stop talking so we’ll move on.

Prison.

Around 8 o’clock in the evening, a guard appeared in front of Krist and Aristide’s cell.

Guard: 8747, follow me!

He opens the cell and Krist gets up to follow him. He takes her to a room where Claire is and leaves them.

Krist: Claire!

Claire: Krist, how happy I am to see you! How are you doing ?

Krist: It will depend on what you tell me. Do you have news from my family?

Claire: Yes, but I have good ones and bad ones.

Krist: Start with the good ones.

Claire: Stella is doing well and her classes are going well so far. As for your wife, she is doing surprisingly well for a woman whose husband is locked up. Your baby is also doing wonderfully.

Krist: Praise God! But tell me, what do you mean, she’s doing surprisingly well?

Claire: This is where the bad news comes in Krist, news that you wouldn’t like and that will make you suffer.

Krist: tell me!

Claire: I’m sorry to tell you this Krist, but your wife is married.

Krist: what, what are you talking about?

Claire: I know it’s very hard but I assure you it’s the truth.

Krist: no, no I can’t believe it, Isabelle will never do that to me.

Claire: So you think I’m lying to you?

Krist: why would she do that?

Claire: I asked her the question and she told me that she will never stop loving you but it was a necessity for your baby, he needs to grow up knowing that he has a father who will love him. loves and watches over him.

Krist: no, no, no Isabelle, no you can’t do that to me.

He starts to cry bitterly and Claire takes him in her arms to console him

Claire: don’t worry. She is not the only woman in the world, I am here and I will never stick a knife in your back like that.

Krist: I can’t believe it.

Claire: Some women prefer to throw in the towel when the worst of the marriage happens. They do not hesitate to run away, completely forgetting the best experience they had together. I’m so sorry for you my love. I would love not to add any bad news but when I asked her why she never visited you, she told me that her husband stopped her.

Krist cries for a moment in his arms before pulling himself together.

Krist: I have to get out of here, this man has to die. Please help me !

Claire: How can I help you?

Krist: give me a medicine that can stop the heartbeat for at least 10 minutes to allow me to leave through the morgue. This is the only way to not harm anyone.

Claire: I will never do that Krist, never.

She walks out despite Krist begging her to come back. The guard takes her back to the infirmary then returns to take Krist back to his cell. He was upset and sad. Aristide asks him what’s wrong so he tells him everything.

Aristide: this girl is lying to you Krist. She just wants to destabilize you and separate you from Isabelle to get closer to you so don’t believe her.

Krist: she wouldn’t invent such a big lie?

Aristide: a woman in love is ready for anything, Krist. Even if your wife were to remarry, it still won’t be in just three months, nor will you.

Krist: the problem is that it’s his father who forces him to do it.

Aristide: Even when she was just a young girl, her father could not control her, it is not now that he will.

Krist: You’re right, but I still have to leave this place to be sure. My wife and my baby need me.