Star-crossed - Episode 9

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Comfort:

"Mom?" My hand feels heavy as I move it on the bed.
"You're awake. Oh! Comfort." The worried voice of Mrs Gloria filters into my brain as I try to pull my heavy lid open. Harsh light pours through my lids and I blink them back close.
"Ouch. Where__ where am I?" I try to sit up but strong arms push me back into the bed.
"Don't you dare sit up!"
I look to the side to find Joyce smiling at me.
"What's going on?" I abandon trying to sit with Mrs Gloria's strong hand restricting me.
"You were in an accident. Your father called us . How did you get to Nsukka anyways!" Mrs Gloria asks. I look to the side at Joyce who winces.
"I__ wait, what about Raymond? Where's Raymond?" I start to panic when both women don't say anything.
"Where's he?!" I yell and Mrs Gloria winces.
"You have a pretty loud voice for someone who doesn't usually speak." She says wryly. Her eyes are admonishing but I shake off the feeling of guilt.
"Please tell me Raymond's okay. Joyce?" I look to Joyce for answers. She sighs audibly and comes to sit beside me on the bed.
"He's not doing too well. I don't know much but Stanley said he's been put in a medically induced coma to reduce the swelling in his brain." She tells me, making me gasp.
"Oh my God!"
"I specifically told you to stay away from that boy, Comfort

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. Now look where it has landed the both of you." Mrs Gloria doesn't fail to add. I wonder why Nigerian mothers see it nice to admonish someone no matter their condition.
"I have to see him." I try to sit up again and when Mrs Gloria tries to stop me I put my hand on her arm.
"Please. Joyce please help me talk to aunty. I put him in that condition. It's my fault." I angrily brush away the tears from my eyelids as I plead.
"I'll go with her. She should at least check up on the man." Joyce says in my defense. I nod and wince at the pain in my neck. My hand comes up to find a brace around it.
"Oh girl. I don't like this at all. I don't." Mrs Gloria says but she steps back from me.
"Here. Let me help you." Joyce takes my hand and helps me up.
"Are you okay? Your neck doesn't hurt much right?" She asks as I put my legs down on the cold floor. I touch the brace again and shake my head.
"I guess the brace is helping. It's a bit uncomfortable though." I mutter as I try to look down in search of my shoes.
"You are not taking that thing off for at least two weeks, madam. So don't think of it." Mrs Gloria chastises from the side.
"Yes ma." I say and Joyce chuckles beside me.
"She was so worried when you didn't come home last night. That's how she shows her love." She explains for her mother as she pulls my slippers for me. With her help, I put them on.
"I'm sorry for worrying you last night, aunty." I say sincerely to the older woman who has a few new lines on her forehead. I know she worries about me.
"Just don't scare me like that." She squeeze my hand slightly and I nod.

****

There's no one around when Joyce and I get to the ICU where Raymond is. By the looks of so many machines, it's clear that we are still in Nsukka because the hospital in our little town wouldn't have these.
"He's not responding to treatment." I startle a little at the voice behind us.
"Oh Stanley. Where's your mother?" Joyce goes to Stanley's side and they hug. I ignore them and turn back to the glass room where Raymond is.
"I'm so sorry." I flatten my palms on the glass wall as I remember the final moments of the accident before I lost consciousness. Raymond had purposely taken the impact of the hit more than me.
"It's all my fault." I bite back my tears as I stare at his motionless body. The smell of antiseptics makes bile rise in my throat as I remember all those long days and months in hospital rooms.
"You can go inside and see him. My mother just left to get breakfast so you should have time alone." Stanley touches my shoulder lightly. I nod at him. Or try to. The brace makes it weird and I hear him chuckle behind me.
"I know you can speak okay?" He says and I stiffen. I look behind me to find Joyce shrugging. I roll my eyes at her before bringing my eyes back to Raymond.
"We'll just be at the Cafeteria." Joyce says to me. I listen for their foot falls to fade before I make my way into the room. The beeping sound of the machine actually makes me sick and I take in a deep breath. Raymond's hand hang limply by his side and I let my hand cover it.
"You feel so cold." I say softly as I rub the hand to bring some warmth to it. The last time I touched a hand this cold was when I held my dead mother in my arms.
"You won't leave me right?" I sob as I pull the hand up to my lips. I don't even know this guy but he put his life on the line for me.
"I don't want you to die okay? I know you can hear me, Raymond. Fight this. I don't think I'll be able to take another death on my hands. Please." I cry into his hand.
"Y'know the last thing on my mind before I lost it last night? I was thinking about how grateful I am to you. I've been able to feel for the first time in a long time. You don't know me but you tried to reunite me with my father. You put your life on the line for me last night. I want to be able to tell you this to your face, Raymond. So you have to wake up. You have to___"
"Who are you?" I sniffle back tears at the sudden female voice behind me.

Read " Falling For Innocence " by the same author ( Ameh juliet )

. Expecting to see Stanley's mother, I turn to come face to face with a woman about my age. She's dressed in a off shoulder pink top that accentuates the delicate curve of her shoulders and ripped jeans. The bag she's holding and her shoes tells me she's super rich. I drop Raymond's hand limply and bite down on my lips. His girlfriend? Of course he has a girlfriend.
"What are you doing to Ray?" She pushes the door close and walks up to stand above me. Suddenly feeling looked down on, I tilt my chin up but wince at the pain in my neck.
"Umm-- I'm lost?" I squeak out.
"What kind of security does this hospital have to let just anyone touch you." She says to the motionless Raymond as she tuck his hand under the white sheets.
"Uhh I'll just show myself out." I mumble. She doesn't even pay me any more attention as I hurry out of the room.
"Hey, you okay?" I meet Joyce a few rooms away and I catch her wipe the corners of her eyes before she turns to face me.
"Yeah, I'm fine. You done with Raymond?" She asks and I shrug cause I know how painful it is to nod for now.
"Where's Stanley? Didn't you guys go down to the Cafeteria together?" I look behind her but find no one in the short hallway. She just shakes her head and take my hand.
"You're shaking. Come. Let's get you back to bed." I eye her closely but decide to just let her lead me back to my room while I inwardly berate myself for feeling this way over a man like Raymond.

 

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