The Longest Night - Episode 9

 

Before 5am, I was up, I had to vent my anger or get busy. I chose the later. I mopped every nook and cranny of the house. By 7am, Uzor and Ada were awake.

“Good morning sweetheart”. He said lovingly as he walked toward me. I motioned him to stop.

“Good morning mummy”. Ada said.

“Good morning Sunshine” . I replied.

“I have some orders to meet up today by 3pm, so I have to leave now. I would be back for Ada after I make my deliveries by 6pm”. With my bag on my shoulder and fully dressed. I made my way to the door.

“What is going on? Sinach hold on”. He ran after me but I was already at the door of my car.

“What is happening, this wasn’t your countenance last night”.

The tears rolled down slowly. I didn’t say a word to him but just drove off. I had no order to prepare for, I couldn’t just stand to stare at him. Once I entered my house, I curled into a ball and cried my eyes out. I immediately put my phone on silent, as I knew he would try to contact me. It was just s*x with the ex, I thought to myself but the hope it brought while it happened broke my heart. Uzor had taken everything; my strength, love, youth and even the ability to start again. 

It was 5pm when I finally picked up my phone. I had drifted off during my pity party of one and soon the thought hit me like a tsunami and the water works resumed

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

. It was a continuous activity till evening. The churning of my stomach reminded me that I had stayed all day without food. 

Glancing at my phone, I saw 25 missed calls  and 5 messages. Uzor gave 10missed calls, 5 from Dera and others from Yemi, and some clients.

“Please Sinach, what’s wrong?... please take your calls”. The first message from Uzor read.

“Does this attitude have anything to do with the messages on my phone ? Let’s talk about it please”. The second message read.

“Still not taking my calls, please let’s talk Sinach”. The third message read.

The last two were from my service provider.

I returned Dera and Yemi calls after which I made my way to the kitchen to lessen the rumblings in my tummy. I diced the water melon and pineapple I had left in the fridge and I sat down to eat like someone who was sick.

It was 7pm when I drove into Uzor's premises to pick up Ada. I had on a light makeup and a short dress. My eyes were swollen from the marathon of crying but I tried to cover up with makeup. Immediately I rang the door bell, Uzor was at the door.

“Hello Sinach. What’s wrong? Is it because of that message you saw on my phone? It meant nothing, please allow me explain”. He held my hand.

I shrugged from his grip and asked him where Ada was as I was ready to leave the house.

“I’m trying to talk to you Sinach, what’s wrong with you?”

“Nothing is wrong with me, please get my daughter”. I replied subtly. We spoke quietly. I made my way to walk into Ada’s room when Uzor sent me staggering after he tried to pull me back.

“I’m talking to you. Why are you angry? And who sent you on a wild goose chase to check my phone? What gave you that effrontery?”. He said, this time his voice was firm, a bit higher than before, not screaming but loud enough to make me know he was now angry. His voice was laced with sarcasm and disgust.

“Uzor you are hurting me” was all I could say as he held unto my arm. He finally let go when he heard Ada approaching the sitting room. I turned away from her glance to wipe away my tears .

“Mummy” she said as she hugged me.

“Where have you been?”

“Mummy had alot to do today, sorry I left you. I’m sure Daddy took care of you?” I asked

“Oh yes he did, though he left me after some time to work”. She said as she turned to her father smiling. He smiled back. 

If only my daughter knew her father was a wolf in sheep clothing, she wouldn’t smile so much or even look at him. 

We left the house with Uzor’s eyes on me. The look of admiration was gone and replaced with fury and hate. It was like his body was possessed by another being.

Reaching my house and trying to settle in, Yemi called and asked if we could meet up for dinner, I declined and gave an excuse. 

It was a new week and I was partially ready for it, as part of me was drowning the other part was calling and screaming for help but no one could hear me. My only source of encouragement was Ada. She was my strength. 

On Monday morning after school runs, I was all alone in the house when I heard my door bell. I ran out of my room and looked through the pinhole and saw Yemi, as soon as I   open the door, I was in his arms and his lips effortlessly nested on mine. I finally regained my balance and slowly opened my eyes and looked into his eyes, he was hurting but what was hurting him? He looked roguishly handsome with his beards not properly groomed.

“I’m sorry, I don’t know what came over me”. He said sitting down with his face between his hands.

I managed to close the door and sat close to him but not too close. I was still hurting and didn’t want to jump into another man’s arms. The kiss left my lips tingling and I wanted more, but I wasn't going to succumb to pressure.

“Yemi, are you okay?” I asked calmly

“I love you Sinach, I want you in my life”. He blurted out.

“This weekend when you were with Uzor, it killed me. I want to build a life with you Sinach”. He said looking into my eyes.

“How did you know I was at Uzor’s?”. I asked surprised

“I called you on Friday and Ada picked up and told me you were at her daddy's”. He said

I was speechless, a part of me didn’t want him to know and I felt exposed. It did seem like my business was everywhere. I was quiet for a while. He was quiet too. He sat down and his head was between his hands faced down. I drew closer to where he sat.

“I don’t know if I’m ready to love again.  Uzor hurt me real bad. I’m still recuperating and I don’t know if I can trust anyone again”.

He raised his head and looked straight into my eyes.

“I’m different Sinach and you know it”.

 He cupped my face in his palms and looked at me for a long time. Was he going to kiss me again I thought. A part of me wanted it and the other part wanted to keep drowning in my pity party of one. He walked towards the door.

“I’m not going to stop asking you, or loving you”. He shot the door behind him and the solitude that once existed, returned. The thoughts in my head could almost be audible. 

It was Saturday, exactly 5 days after the Yemi incident. Dera called me that she was on her way to my house. I had completely isolated myself from everyone. I almost told Dera not to come, I had  been enjoying my moments with my daughter .

Thirty minutes later Dera was in my house with her baby. Soon after, I heard the door bell and went to check who it was, it was Aunty Tina. I was excited, it was a full house.

“Dera called me to come have a civilised talk with you. What is wrong with you? Why did you shut everyone off?”

I looked at Aunty Tina and Dera, they looked at me with a straight face, not ready to back down from this intervention. 

“I slept with Uzor”. I said looking down like a teenager caught in a compromising situation .

I looked up and my heart sank. They both kept their straight faces. It was almost like I didn’t say anything to them.

“And?” Dera asked.

“He has a girlfriend and I slept with him. It seem like she knew I was coming over. I felt so stupid”. I said and sank into the chair I was sitting on.

“Yemi came here on Monday and kissed me and says he loves me and wants me in his life. I’m not ready for any commitment now”. I said

“That your roll in the hay with Uzor shouldn’t be regretted. It’s easy to feel bad afterwards but try to live above it. For Yemi, give yourself time to heal but please Dera don’t push him away”. Aunty Tina said.

“I’m scared Yemi would turn to be another Uzor. Uzor was so sweet at the beginning and now...” I said with my hands in the air.

“I honestly don’t think so. Yemi is nothing like Uzor. But you’ve got to pray about this and have peace in your heart before you move on”.

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

. Dera said.

I felt better after the intervention and was ready to swim in the wave I had found myself rather than allow myself to drown.

Six weeks later, with my divorce finalised. Uzor and I settled Ada would spend most weekends with him while I got her for school days and holidays. One of such weekends, as we awaited the arrival of Uzor, I busied myself with my orders for the weekend and Ada assisted.  Uzor sent a message earlier to say he would be around by 4pm. 

I glanced at my time piece and it was past 5pm, I became worried. In our years of marriage, Uzor was an accurate time keeper. He never had the African time mentality. I called his phone and another voice different from Uzor's greeted me with a hello.

“Hello, Where’s Uzor?. I asked

“Madam, the owner of this phone just had a ghastly motor accident and he’s been rushed to the hospital”.

“What hospital “. I screamed. My heart was literally in my mouth.

“St. Margaret Hospital”. He said and ended the call.

I was dumbfounded and paralysed for a minute before I made way to get Ada and I drove off to the hospital.