The Longest Night - Episode 1

 

It was 8.00pm as I checked the wall clock again for the umpteenth time. Uzor wasn’t home yet. This is unlike him but it was a recent habit adopted by him. Thank God Ada was sleeping she would have quizzed her Dad's whereabout. I pondered on why he wasn’t yet home. He closed by 2pm on Fridays and this was past 8pm. I decided it was time to allot my energy somewhere else . I went into the bathroom to take a warm bath but my thoughts wouldn’t let me be. Where might he be? Is he alright? 

I have dialled his number for the 5th time before I started my bath. 

I turned off the shower and reach for my towel. Just as I wrap the Towel around myself. I heard the door bell. That might be him, with water dripping all over I ran to the door ready to welcome my husband home. I almost fell due to the water dripping from my body to the floor but in other to avoid Insult like the  previous days, I prance to the door. Just as I unlatch the hook, he made his way into the house, his breathe  stinking of alcohol, at his first step into the house he pushed me to the nearest sofa.

“Leave my way woman, you want to blow my phone up with calls?”.

Struggling to stand upright after that push.

“ I was bothered and I am sorry”.

“Keep those bothers at bay, no one got time for it”. He stormed into the room leaving me and my dripping body and my attempt to act s*xy and seduce my husband unachievable.

 I remember when the sight of towels around my chest aroused a bulge down his boxers every morning and how we play hide and seek till he finally finds me and we make sweet love

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/the-longest-night

. I was juggled back to reality when the a.c hit my bare skin . I ran towards the room to wear something warm when I noticed the door to the room I shared with my husband locked. I knocked and got no response. I went back to the sitting room to cuddle like a child. The tears started but I wiped them off as today wasn’t a day to cry. After staring at the T.v for what seemed like an eternity, I drifted off.

The unpleasant sound of the door woke me up . My eyes immediately went to the wall clock. Just 8.45pm, I stood up to see who was entering the house. 

Then I saw her, with her long weaves and nails. She entered  into my home like she was entering a familiar territory, I looked at her from her head to toe. She wasn’t even Dera’s age. Dera was my little sister.

My attention drifted back to this intruder in my house, as I pounced on her dragging off her weave and tearing at her clothes. The towel seemed not to shift as it was properly nested around my chest and body. She kept on shouting and pleading . Uzor stood after his effort to drag me off proved abortive. 

“Osinachi, is there food in the house, my guest is hungry”. Uzor asked.

 I was recalled from my violent thought as the girl wasn’t stripped of anything and the only person stripped of self respect was myself. I slowly walked away into the room to get my things out and then prepare for a full dose of tears. I heard noise from the kitchen but I ignored. The tears started but I wiped it off. Uzor wasn’t going to see me this way. I walked out of the room with my joggers and a tank top. I entered into my daughters room, Locked the door and the water works started. I wrapped a clothe around my mouth to muffle the sobs . I didn’t want to disturb my princess. Through the fights and disagreement she was my joy. 

I couldn’t phantom why Uzor would bring another woman into the house we built together. I was pissed  but a part of me felt like a failure. I wanted to crawl on my knees to beg him. I haven’t deprived him of anything in our years as man and wife. My mind drifted back to when we met, how I tried to avoid him like a plague and how he tried his best to get me to fall in love with him . Finally I did, I didn’t just fall but I was hopelessly in love with him. 7years down the line, Uzor my darling husband is a cheat.

Soon after 9pm I heard a laughter, I felt ridiculed, In my house I was been mocked. I felt so little. The laughter seemed closer, then I heard the door shut. The door to my matrimonial bed now accommodated a total stranger. My heart was shattered into a thousand pieces. I was still trying to process the hurt and disappointment I felt when I heard the soft m*ans, the gasp and the groans. I didn’t quite understand if they made such loud noise to spite me or my hearing just improved. I cried loudly this time, this hurt couldn’t be smothered, the slow tear soon turned into sobs  and then wailing. I felt a movement and I turned to check out what it was, my daughter was awake. Before she could come closer , I wiped my face. I didn’t want her asking why her mum was crying.

“Mummy, why are you not in your room”. Ada asked softly.

 “Sleep back my love, mummy wants to spend the night here today”.

“Where is Daddy?” she drifted off with the question.

I was thankful she slept off, I didn’t know where her father was. The man in the next room wasn’t Uzor, he has been swapped with another man. That wasn’t the Uzor that worshipped the ground I walked on, that came home immediately after he closed from work, that showed the world how much He treasures me and our daughter. The man in the next room pushes his wife, shouts at her and bring in another woman into their matrimonial home.

I decided that wasn’t Uzor. Naivety got the better part of me. I resolved he was under a spell. I wasn’t one to believe in diabolical means, but in this situation it seemed appropriate. My thinking faculty soon spiralled to the wind as I found my self banging on our bedroom door telling the demon in my husband to come out and insisting the lady leaves my house . Soon after the door flung open was  I was greeted with a slap, a slap so hot I felt my face on fire and I could swear I saw stars. With my palm held to my face I was finally able to see Uzor and I realised he wasn’t the man I fell in love with.  He had changed over night as I slept. Tears welled in my eyes and he looked at me sternly 

“Are you possessed? Don’t ever disturb me again or it would be a full beating”. He sighed and walked away with a towel hanging loosely around his hips. He banged the door which shook the house. 

I walked away from the door crying loudly this time without a care in the world. I was prepared to wake the entire neighbourhood thinking the more people that are aware the lesser my pain. I entered my daughters room and the wailing stopped. The sight of her made me feel hopeful in this terrible situation. 

I sat on the floor with my hands over my head. I thought of praying but my heart was filled with hurts and disappointment. How did we get here? What happened to the love, respect and harmony?

 My thoughts were interrupted by my phone ringtone and with my teary eye I looked at the caller Id. It was Tunde, Dera’s husband. I cleared my throat and I swiped my phone.

“ We are on our way to the hospital, your sister told me to call you to come”. Tunde said sharply and ended the call.

Due to my drama series, i had forgotten that Dera was having contractions and was preparing to go the hospital to have her baby. I forgot my Tears, hurt and I was on a full alert.

Read " The Robbery Attack " by the same author ( Nancy Eseosa )

. Since we lost our parents in a ghastly motor accident over five years ago, all myself and my sister had were ourselves. We were always there for each other. Chidera was my best friend and my confidante. She advised me to be hopeful when Uzor started misbehaving. 

I ran to my bedroom, this time I knocked softly and pleaded with Uzor to take me to the hospital. I wasn’t a perfect night driver and didn’t want to get missing.

“Uzor please can you drive me to the hospital, Dera is in labour and my attention is needed. Please you know I am not good at driving at night”. I said softly.

There was no response. I knocked again 

The door soon flung open and I hide my face so as to avoid another world shattering slap.

“ I told you not to disturb me. Anyway this is the car key. You can either drive yourself or take a cab” He threw the keys at me and closed the door.

I looked around and for lack of an option I picked the key, went into Ada’s room and woke her up. There was no way in hell I am going to leave her in this house with two strangers.