Chains That Bind Us - Episode 6

 

Eunice laid on her bed in her parent’s house weeping her eyes out. She couldn’t believe she was back home with them and staying in her old room once again on an empty without Nelson there to hold her as they slept. She and Nelson didn’t have a legal marriage so all the troubles of seeking a divorce so they could be free of each other was totally unnecessary. She knew she probably would never see him again.
Chidinma won after all . Now that Nelson was free, she would be able to come back to his house easily without any problem and they would be prosperous with several children running round their house. 
An image of the two of them with their children came to Eunice’s head and she quickly shook it off and cried even harder and louder than she was before.
The door opened and her sister Mimi entered the room carrying a tray of food. “Eunice I brought you lunch.” She said as she dropped it on the bed then carried her untouched breakfast off the table before placing the lunch on it. “You have to eat something. You cannot just stay in here and wither away just because you and your husband are now separated.” Eunice merely turned away from her not saying anything in reply. “It’s been two weeks now

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. Your maternity leave is way over. Are you ever considering going back to work? You are a young and beautiful woman. Any man would be lucky enough to have you but that man wouldn’t just appear in this bedroom. You have to put yourself out there.” She said then left the room carrying the cold breakfast with her, shutting the door after her.
Mimi was right. Eunice said to herself after her sister left. She really did  have to move on with her life. She couldn’t stay the rest of her life wallowing in self-pity. “If I am honest with myself, I would accept the fact that leaving Nelson’s house was best. I have always wanted kids of my own not adopted ones; Nelson’s mother would stop at nothing until she got grandsons to continue her husband’s name. I definitely do not want to experience the near death I had with that pregnancy and I have been told it could take my life if I ever get pregnant with his baby again”. She said aloud to the empty room whose four walls has been her companion for the duration of time she had been back in her parent’s house. But it was easier said than done. She actually really, truly loved him. He was her life but sometimes some things are not meant to be. 
She got out of bed still wearing her pyjamas. That was all she had been wearing for the past two weeks since she refused to leave the room. She had taken her bathe earlier in the day and worn the PJ again. Her suitcases were scattered around the room because she had refused to unpack and practically forbade anybody to unpack her things for her. After searching the boxes, she settled with a blue jeans and a white free chiffon top. She didn’t feel like wearing something that would clinging to her body like second skin.
By the time she reached the living room, everybody was eating their lunch in front of the TV, including her parents. They were watching some movie. “Mimi, I want to go to the saloon.” Eunice announced as she entered. They were all shocked to see her. You could see it on their faces. Their shock were soon covered with joy and excitement. Her mother left her food and came up to her pulling her into a tight hug.
“I am so happy you decided to come out.” She said as she cried out of joy.
Finally she allowed Eunice to breathe; the latter smiled at her sadly. “Mum, Dad, I can’t stay here. I am sorry but I can’t. I would prefer to rent my own place. I can’t impose on you after I left my husband’s house. Imagine what people would have started saying by now.”
“I understand where you are coming from but I assure you, you are not imposing on us but if you want to get your own place, than it is fine. We will assist you in the house hunt.” Her dad said.
“Thank you daddy.” She said smiling at him as well. It was a sad smile but it was still a progress from all the tears she had cried for the past weeks. “Mimi, shall we?” she asked. Her sister immediately jumped up.
“Sure. You are paying for my hair too sis. Then maybe after that we can go to the cinema to catch a movie or two.” She said excitedly.
“Looks like we are going to be late. We are taking your car dad.” Eunice said as she picked his car key from the table and headed out.
They decided not to go to any saloon around their area so that they would not come across any of their neighbours or people they know who would probably look at her with pity and whisper amongst themselves or express their condolences on what had happened to her. She would rather do without that at the moment so they went to a saloon very far away from home. 
It was the best arrangement. No one in the saloon they finally chose knew who they were. No one was directing pitiful glances at her and expressing their condolences or giving her unwanted advises. In this place filled with women reading magazines, watching TV, operating their phones or gossiping as they did their hair, she was just another customer like everyone else with unknown story. 
While making her hair, Eunice decided it would be best to place a call to her boss. Hopefully she still had a job to go back to. “Good afternoon sir.” She said immediately her boss, Mr. Komolafe, picked up the call.
“Good afternoon Eunice, how are you feeling?” He asked. Going back to work is more or less like going to a saloon in her area where everyone knew about her misfortune. She could only imagine the looks and whispers alongside the condolences she would receive the minute she stepped her foot in her office again. Maybe it wouldn’t be wise to go back. She knew she needed to start afresh. Starting afresh could probably mean getting a new job. A new environment. Maybe she needs to relocate to a new area. But who was she kidding. This is Nigeria in the time of global economic meltdown. She would probably sit in her house for a long time before she is able to get a new job and sitting around doing nothing but wait was definitely not the best therapy for her situation right now.
“I am fine sir.” She replied to her boss.
“Fine enough to come back to work?”
Well it seems like she still had a job. “That was the main reason I called you. I was hoping if I could be able to be transferred to another branch of the company, preferably somewhere not in Lagos.”
“You can’t endure the whispers and the stares that would commence once you arrive.” Mr. Komolafe said in understanding. This was probably because he had experience with something like that. His first wife had died in childbirth leaving in his care an infant. So he knew what it was like.
“Yes sir.” Eunice said.
“Well I will have to see what I can do about that. Why don’t you call me on Monday then I will be able to tell you the final decision.”

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It’s been weeks since Eunice left his home and Nelson was beyond miserable already. The house was in total disorder and the kitchen was filled to the brim with dirty dishes. The whole place was a pig sty, his mother mused as she stepped into the apartment for the first in weeks since Eunice moved out. She had come to campaign about Nelson going to woo Chidinma but it looks like she had some other campaigning to do first before that happened.
“You need to wake up Nelson.” Patricia had said angrily at her son who merely lounged on the couch like he had nothing to do with himself any longer.
“I am awake mum.” He said in a relaxed indifferent manner.
“I know you are awake. Your eyes are open and staring at me right now but that is not the awake I am talking about and you very well know it.”
“What do you want mum?” He asked as he sighed sadly and relaxed into the couch more. 
“I want you to take a look at your environment first of. This place is a pig sty. A pig would be ashamed to live in this place.”
Nelson’s head moved lazily turned left to right, front and back, scanning the room. “I have taken a look around, is that all?” 
“That is not all.” Patricia snapped. “I want you to get up and take control of your life and before you do that, you need to clean this place up.”
“Okay.” Nelson said knowing fully well that that was what his mother wanted to hear. 
“I would have loved to stay and supervise but I can’t stand to be in here for another minute so I want this place sparkling clean by the time I come back here next and you can never tell when that might be.” She said then walked out of the room. Nelson merely sighed sadly then picked up the TV remote control, laid on the couch and tuned it to a sport channel where a random premier league match was going on.