Ada - Episode 12

 

I am so so glad to be back. It feels good to know people were watching out for me. I will try as much as possible not to go MIA. Right now, I feel so loved my heart wants to bursts...this kind love. Thank you again and again. I will be asking some questions at the end of every episode, I'd feel good and super encouraged if we do comment on the questions and of course the story. I am so much in love with the ebony family . REMEMBER, we are writing this story TOGETHER!

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Chioma sat in the Jacuzzi, a glass of red wine in her hand. If someone had told her her life will be such a mess at this age, she would have called it a bluff. Ten years ago, she had carefully orchestrated her life, and by now she was supposed to be living in luxury and basking in peace, alas, she is worse than death itself. She looked around her as tears flooded her beautiful face, she could not come to terms with the fact that she was squatting at her friends' not like she was ungrateful, she knew she could and should be doing better. The path to insanity began at her last session in the university when Nnenna pleaded to stay with her since her, Nnenna claimed too poor to pay for the hostel. She noticed Nnenna had all the fine things money could buy, clothes, jewelries, name it, yet, she could not fathom why Nnenna could not pay for a space in the hostel

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/ada

. But as they say, the devil is good at his own games. Nnenna was into drugs and claimed it helped her reasoning. So, one terrible day, she came home frustrated by life and at the verge of death, Nnenna gave her four little tablets and told her it would ease the headache and make her head light. She refused, Nnenna indulged her and she did take the drugs. That one take and it gradually became a habit. She was either too tired to go for lecturers or out scavenging for where to get drugs to help her hold her life, she was a drug addict, a prisoner of herself. After visiting the bed of all ungodly lecturers in her department she graduated with a second class lower. Every little money she had went into drugs and alcohol. She was a pot-head. Providence made her cross path with Cleo, her secondary school classmate who helped her get a job which she lost in no time due to her drug issues. Ada and Cleo paid for her rehabilitation and made sure she was debt free. And how does she pay them back? By sleeping with Ada's boyfriend and being a sl*t? She was a big mess. Right now, all she needed was to get light in the head, some pills could help, but she knows best how dark that pit was and she was not willing to go back. The words of her therapist rang in her head: "One day at a time. You must remember, you are the master of yourself and you are stronger than every emotion. One day at a time. Don't run. Have faith. Hold unto God". She walked out of the Jacuzzi and stood in front of the mirror when her phone rang, she walked leisurely towards it as though she hoped the call would discount before she got to her phone, She sighed when she saw the caller and then took the call.

"Hello"

"I am fine."

"Meet tonight? At your place?

"How do you want to get there? You can barely stand; you are still very much bound to the wheel chair."

"Tunde, you mean to tell me you can walk all these while and Ada thinks you can't?"

"I'm sorry. I am tired of hurting Ada. I can't do this anymore".

"There is no us Tunde. You have a good woman, love her." She ended the call before her voice could choke her. She started this by luring Tunde to her side that night, she taught Tunde her friend could be casually deceived and Tunde was sure enjoying himself and using the hell out of Ada. If only she could tell Ada Tunde can walk!

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Ada felt at peace with Cleo by her side. She could not remember the last time she smiled genuinely. For three weeks she has been wearing fake smiles and putting on a mask of happiness. God sure knows how to make a bad day glorious.

"I was expecting you home last week, what happened?"

"Tunde is not strong enough, yet" Ada replied reaching for the remote

"Doesn't look like he wants to get well. I think he can walk."

"Stop being mean. He can't walk yet"

Cleo was surprised. Was she now deaf? She heard Chioma over the phone yesterday, saying something about Tunde walking and Ada not knowing, she could not hear the later part of the discussion because Chioma's voice sounded like a hush afterwards.

"Well, you could ask him to try when he wakes up."

"Cleo, I understand you don't like Tunde yet I'd appreciate if you would respect him because I love him"

"I liked him at first until everything about him started tying a knot in my stomach"

"Enough of me, what have I been missing in your life?" Ada asked stroking Cleo's hair

"Nothing much. Family dinner and one of my mother's futile match-making" How was she going to give Ada the details without hurting or lying to her. She's never lied to Ada before and she was not willing to today.

"Wow! Who is the lucky guy?" Ada said with astonishment

"Some Nebolisa guy" Cleo replied absent mindedly whilst playing with the peanuts in her hand.

"'Some Nebolisa guy' you sound not interested"

"How am I supposed to be interested when the thoughts of him don’t give me butterflies?"

"Give him a chance. You could learn to love him."

"Learn? You keep sounding like my mum and I swear I'd turn you heads down and shake sense into your head" Cleo said jovially and the duo burst into a fit of laughter.

"Ada, you look sick" Cleo said seriously as she studied Ada's face 

"I am just tired."

"Does Tunde hit you?"

"No" Ada shook her head to affirm her words, "He does not"

“Are you sure?"

"Cleopatra, I do not know why you are suggesting this, but no, Tunde has never laid a hand on me. I am just tired.

"Well, if you say so.

Read " Scars " by the same author ( Helen Nnamani )

. I have to run or I'd be late for a date."

"Date? Who is he?

"Someone you don't really know."

"I see"

"I love you Ada, and I want you to remember that every day."

"Pray with me Cleo. Pray Tunde gets better."

"I will. Take care". 

Ada walked Cleo to her car and returned to the house. Her head throbbed, she was having headache. She needed to rest but Tunde will drown the house in rage if she does not have dinner ready by seven, so she walked to the kitchen. The name 'Nebolisa" rang a bell but Ada could not really place a hold of how. She wished Tunde would get better. She was tired of everything including him; he was emotionally ruthless, calling her names. Last night he called her a cheap prostitute and a witch because she insisted he lay in bed and not on the couch in the sitting room. This morning, he remembered to forget to say "I am sorry". Maybe the accident made him temperamental

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Would you stay in an emotionally abusive relationship because you are not physically abused? If you were Cleo would you insist Ada indulges Tunde to walk? What do we do with Tunde? How do we help Ada? Who is to blame for Chioma’s past drug wahala?