The Longest Night - Episode 11

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I walked into Uzor’s room oblivious of what to say and how to react. 

“Chioma is that you”? I heard him say

Immediately he saw me, he made a disappointing sigh and turned his face away. 

What was I doing here. He obviously didn’t need me around. His lackadaisical attitude didn’t seem to repel me after all he is the father of my child.

“What happened  Uzor?” I heard my self say

He kept mute and chose to stare at the wall.

“You need to talk to me, I deserve a response”. 

“Don’t talk me deaf woman, can you call Chioma for me and if you can’t, take a walk” . He blurted out.

His outpour of derogatory statement didn’t diminish even with his current state of health, and I was his favourite test subject. I tried to walk away but I didn’t end my romantic evening to be broken down by Uzor's unrelenting quest to make me feel terrible. 

“Talk to me Uzor, I won’t leave here until you say something to me”.

He stared at me for a while 

“I was distracted for a minute”. He said regrettably.

What distracted you? I almost asked 

“I want to rest my eyes for a minute”

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. He said before I could ask further questions.

Sleep? You have been unconscious for days now, why do you need to sleep. I quizzed myself. He obviously didn’t want to have this conversation. 

He had on a remorseful demeanour, as though sorry for what he did or shameful. I had to wait for him to say something to me or rather wait to find out if Chioma comes lurking.

Two weeks after the accident, I had a standard routine. I prepare Ada for school, drop her off and then proceed to the hospital to help Uzor carrying alongside a food basket. 

At first he was stubborn and said mean things to me, always making cryptic phone calls and ending them immediately he heard my footsteps. After a while, he was relaxed and a little bit accommodating, maybe he felt bad that I was here to take care of him despite his attitude towards me. I had a pedigree of niceness to uphold and it wasn’t about to change. Not all days were rosy with Uzor but I was determined to be patient as I await the arrival of his mother who’s been away before the incident.
It was 10.40am when I arrived the hospital premises and I rushed towards Uzor’s room and I saw her.

“Good morning Ma”. I said immediately I saw her in Uzor’s private room. I had since called her to inform her about the accident. 

“Good morning Sinach. Where have you been? Don’t you know my son needs to clean up?” she said.

‘She’s back’, I thought, accompanied with the heat and discomfort she brought along.

“I had to drop Ada off at school and also see some of my clients”. I replied

“Your clients? You can do business knowing fully well that your husband is lying on the hospital bed incapacitated?”

“Ex husband!!”. I exclaimed.

She was quiet and Uzor was surprised. She had it coming. I was on a sympathetic service and Uzor or the mum had no right to make me feel useless. 

“That’s your food”. I said looking at Uzor.

“Ma, I would take my leave now, I’ve got some errands to run”. I walked out of the room.

I went to my house to rest. I had little or no energy to feel terrible because Uzor and his mum willed it so.

Few moments later, my phone rang and ‘Uzor's mum’ was displayed on the screen. I ignored the call. She called severally and I ignored still.

 After 5 missed calls, she finally sent a text message pleading I come back to the hospital and that she was sorry for the way and manner she spoke to me. For years I had known her, she had never said much as sorry to me, even when I hurt myself not to talk of when she offends me. She always equated the insults to my ill behaviour. I replied the message, telling her I would only come around as a visitor and the pleasure of bringing food and running around for bills would henceforth not be my duty anymore.

The next day after I dropped Ada off at school, I went home to freshen up. Stepping out of the bathroom, I heard my door bell. I wasn’t expecting anyone. I looked through the peephole and saw Uzor's mum standing, I opened the door for her but adjusted my towel before I did. She walked into the room with so much grace, she always stole the glances of everyone when ever she walked into a room.

“Good morning ma, please sit down” I said.

“Good morning Sinach”. She replied.

She had on a dismissing face, the days I lived and breathe for Uzor's mother approval are behind me. She didn't think so much of my apartment and I could care less.

I went inside to change and returned to the sitting room meeting her in the same spot, still and patient. I sat opposite of her and listened to what she had to say.

“First of all Sinach, I want to thank you for all you did for my son since this unfortunate incident”. She said.

I simply nodded. She continued talking

“My son remarried few weeks after your divorce was finalised. As much as it is regrettable to share this piece of information with you, I won’t be happy if you are left in the dark”. She paused.

Dark? I was locked in a tower for years with the key thrown into a ditch for the years I was married to Uzor. Why change now I thought to myself.

“Uzor's wife Chioma, made away with a huge sum of money from his account. Upon realisation of this information while driving, he was distracted and he had the accident. All efforts to apprehend her has proved fruitless”. She continued, interrupting my thoughts.

My mouth was open in amazement at this new information. 

“She told him she was pregnant with his child, and with Uzor's quest to have a male child, he made her signatory to his account. He signed a clause which gave her access to the account in his absence”. She said and sat back easing into the chair.

I recovered from my mouth opening rendezvous and simply just stared at her. For the period of our marriage, I never held Uzor's Atm card neither did I make a withdrawal with it.

“Uzor is highly ashamed of his actions, and he regrets what went down between both of you. I’m incredibly sorry for all my son and I put you through all these years”. She said with tears dropping from her eyes. 

I envisaged this day but I never imagined I would live to see it. Who made me so superior not to forgive her and her son? No one.

Damn me for being the unconditional softy, the next morning, I was at Uzor's bedside running errands and attending to his whims.

“Sinach, I’m sorry for everything that happened. I feel so foolish and really don’t know how to apologise for my ill behaviour toward you”. Uzor said.

“I forgive you”. That was all I could mutter, I didn’t know what the future held for us but I was certain that I held no grudge against Uzor or his mum. 

It’s been a month since the accident and my routine was solid. I spent my day at the hospital and nights at home. One of such days, after tending to Uzor and watching him drift off due to the effect of the pain killers, I had some time to reflect on my life so far.

I stepped out of the room into the patio. The gentle wind on my face brought me to think about the reality that awaits me.

It almost seemed like Uzor was a new man, he was courteous, kind and very considerate. He never failed to ask how my night went or if I needed anything or how my business was going. He cared so much for his daughter as he insisted she spent time with him after school everyday and during weekends, he made sure he did her assignments with her. Seeing them together brought warmth to my heart but I think it made him more happier as I caught him once staring lovingly at me. 

Oh Yemi...... I had no clue what to do about him, he called frequently and didn’t fail to inform me about his feelings. I cared for him a great deal. Why is it the very moment I choose to be with him, Uzor comes around with his inconsistency that leaves me sympathetic and confused? I had no answer to this.

I immediately picked up my phone and put a call across to him. He promised to come around the house much later in the day.

Back from the hospital, I took a warm bath and sat in the sitting room awaiting dinner. Dera my younger sister came visiting and was spending some days with me since her husband travelled.  It was good to have an adult in the house for a change. After dinner I held Alex, Dera's daughter in my arms and watched how she made cooing sounds. All things being equal, I should  have been preparing for the arrival of my new born. The thought of that made a few tears drop. The sound of the door bell jolted me back to reality. Dera stood up to check who it was and didn’t mention nor call anyone’s name but  simply exchanged pleasantries. The scent of the cologne made enough awareness as to who stepped into my home. My stomach was in a knot as I summoned enough courage to stare at him. A part of me wanted to run into his arms, most likely my sister read my thoughts, she took the children into the room giving Yemi and I ample time to talk. 

“How are you”? He said in a subtle tone.

“I’m fine, and you? Please sit down”. I replied.

“I’m fine dear. I just missed you so much, it began to hurt”. He replied, I smiled at the moment ,my heart melted for him. 

I moved closer to him. 

“I missed you too”. I said without fluttering my eyes but my stomach fluttered. It almost seem like there was a magnet slowly pulling us closer to the extent that we were a breathe from each other. 

“I almost did this the last time we saw and this time, I won’t let anything stop me now”. 

I couldn’t  make sense of what he said, it almost seem like he mumbled, all I could do was stare at his lip and into his eyes.

That said, it happened. It was liberating, soft and totally different. I felt like a teenager who just had her first kiss. He stopped kissing me and he looked into my eyes. 

“Should I continue?” He asked almost like he whispered.

I couldn’t mutter a word, I just nodded and there I was engulf in a kiss that reaffirmed my devotion and I knew my heart belonged to him. I knew I loved him.

It was 6.30am, when I felt kisses on my forehead. I opened my eyes and saw his face. Last night was beautiful. We talked for most of the night, saw a movie and finally drifted off in each other arms.

“I could get use to this” he said.

I smiled like a teenager.

“Good morning”. I replied 

“Good morning, hope it wasn’t uncomfortable for you judging that we shared this couch”. 

“Not at all”. 

I start to stand up when he held me back 

“Marry me Sinach, I love you” he said.

It almost seem like ice was poured on me. I stared at him, not knowing what to say. 

He kissed my forehead 

“Think about it babe. Have a good day”. He said. 

With that he stood up and walked out of my house. The walls seem to close in on me . I could hear the thumping of my heart. It was so audible, I was scared my heart was going to explode.

“Sinach!!!”

I jolted back to reality to see Dera standing in front of me. I didn’t notice when she walked into the room.

“Did you see a ghost?”. She asked 

“Yemi asked me to marry him”. That was all I could say, it was a shock to me and I hadn’t come to terms.

“You joking”. Dera replied, finding the nearest sofa to lounge on. 

“What did you say?”. She asked

“I was mute, I didn’t know what to say. The thought of it brings so much warmth to my spirit” I replied.

“He is a good guy sis, he is caring, cool, handsome (she winked and smiled), dress nicely and Godly. Let’s not forget, he cares for you and your daughter”. She said

I smiled recounting in my head the qualities Dera had just listed. He was caring and patient.

“Future Mrs Adewale”. Dera said smiling as she stood up, dancing a little .

“It sure has a nice ring to it”. I replied and laughed.

“Please let’s go and prepare the Ada for school and prepare food for the hospital”. I laughed as we made way into the kitchen.

I wore a yellow dress that accentuated my curves. I stared into the mirror and I was happy. I looked happy because I was happy inside. Yemi had since sent a text message which read

 ‘I can't seem to get you out of my head, I want to hold you and have endless laughter with you. Thank you for being an exceptional woman.

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

. I love you’

I blushed as I saw the message, and I read it repeatedly until Dera caught me smiling.

“Who’s tickling this one’s ego” Dera asked

I read the message aloud and Dera awwwed and smiled clutching her heart.

“That’s so thoughtful and romantic”. She replied

“Mrs Sinach Adewale, can we go drop Ada at school and me at hospital for Alex’s appointment and food for tyrannic Uzor?”. She said

“Yes we can. You can be kill buzz sometimes. Plus I’m not yet Mrs Adewale”. I replied smiling.

I walked into Uzor’s hospital smiling, I was happy and didn’t hide it. The happiness got me intoxicated that I didn’t notice the petals on the floor in Uzor's room when I stepped in. What stopped me in my tracks was the big banner I saw tied up in the room.

It read;

 Be mine again Sinach

There was balloons, rose petals and then I saw Uzor sitting on the bed with a smile on his face. He held a stick of rose and a box with a ring inside.

The food flask I held fell from my hand, tears ran down my cheeks as I stared at Uzor , the room suddenly became smaller. I could feel my chest tightened, I had to breathe, I need to breathe. In my bewilderment I ran out of the room.

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