The Pain – Chapter 8

Abayomi slowed down as he got to Mike’s apartment. He packed the car outside and put off the car’s engine. He picked up his phone and tried calling Mike again. His phone was still switched off.

“Let me get down and check him, maybe he’s inside” Abayomi said. “I would be right back” he continued as he released his seat belt and got down from the car. He walked over to Mike’s apartment and met the security guard there. There was no sign of Mike’s car anywhere.

“Your oga no dey?” Abayomi asked the security guard.

“Which Oga? We get flenty oga por here” He replied in a thick Northern accent.

“Na Mike I dey look for. The one wey get one black Honda jeep. E dey park for this corner here.” Abayomi replied pointing to the spot where Mike usually parked his car.

“Ah! That Oga. I no see am since morning o. Walahi, na since morning I see am last” The guard said as he put his finger on his tongue and pointed it upwards.

“Okay, thank you.” Abayomi replied as he walked away from the house and went back to his car. He got back inside his car, strapped himself in looking lost in thought.

“So, he wasn’t home?” Motun asked after watching the expression on his face.

“No, he wasn’t. I’m really worried about him and I have no idea who to call at this time of the night.” Abayomi said as he sighed. He had a very worried expression on his face. The darkness in the car didn’t even help hide his taut features.

Motun sat quietly by his side. She didn’t know what to say either as she had run out of any sensible explanations to give Abayomi. It was pretty obvious that all wasn’t well. She really hoped it wasn’t something really bad.

“I guess I have to go drop you off at home now. You have a morning flight to catch tomorrow and you need your rest.” Abayomi said suddenly, as he started the engine of his car. “Have you finished packing?” he asked.

“Yes, I have. I just need to add some things my aunt wants me to give someone.” She replied as Abayomi pulled out of where he had parked and drove her home.

 

She heard footsteps behind her as she walked through the foot path in the thick forest she met herself in. She looked back and saw no one. She suddenly felt afraid as she picked up her pace and walked faster. Her heart pounded in her chest as she thought of the potential harm she may be in. The sun had set already and it was getting dark. She had no idea where she was going as she wondered along the path with the hope of finding water. She was very thirsty and was getting tired of walking. She heard the footsteps again and this time around, it sounded very close. Her heart almost stopped in her chest as she started to half walk and half run. She was very afraid. Suddenly, she felt a trickle of cool water flow down from the nape of her neck down to her back. She felt an overwhelmingly calm presence around her that took away every fear she felt. She stopped running and slowly turned around to see who it was and where the water was coming from. Her eyes rounded in awe as she took in the being before her. It was the most beautiful sight to behold. She couldn’t understand its form as it seemed to be changing constantly. Its colour was indescribable, like that of a million colour shades with different lighting tones one could imagine. It glowed and shone with such brilliant lustre that it was almost blinding. Its light shone through the entire forest, illuminating every single thing in it, both living and non-living. She suddenly knew where everything was. She knew where to find water, she knew where the wild animals were, she knew the safest place to sleep, she knew where food was; she knew where she needed to go and how to get there. It all dawned on her at that moment and she knew those things because of the being standing before her. As she basked in the glory and presence of the being, she felt it smile tenderly at her. She felt its love radiating into her very being as all the tiredness and weaknesses she had felt during her journey slowly seeped out of her. In exchange, she felt a strength and renewal in her being; an unexplained joy bubbled from within her. She realized she was no longer thirsty and was in fact full and refreshed. Her belly suddenly felt ticklish and a laugh escaped from a lips. As soon as it came out, it echoed through the forest. She felt empowered and alive. She continued laughing and just couldn’t stop. The being slowly wrapped itself like a blanket around her as it spoke these words to her:

Laugh on my dear child. You’ve been filled for the journey ahead. My strength is in you. Be not afraid for I have made myself a covering for you. I have calmed the storm and I have prepared a way for you, walk in it. I have provided all that you need, use it. I have set your feet on the rock, stay on it. Do not be discouraged, do not be dismayed. I love you my dear child.

She continued laughing as joy bubbled up within her. She felt the birds come alive as they joined her tweeting away beautifully. She was completely drenched in water and felt herself floating into the skies. She closed her eyes as she basked in the serene view before her. She suddenly heard someone talking to her softly. She strained to catch what the person was saying as she opened her eyes to see who it was.

“Abeke mi, please don’t die on me” She heard the person say sobbing quietly. It was her mother. Tina opened her eyes and looked around. She was still in the hospital hooked up on drips and had a bandage around her head.

“Mummy…” She said with a croaky voice. Her throat was patched dry and she was very thirsty.

“Doctor! Nurse!!” Her mum screamed in joy as she jumped from her seat and ran to the door. She opened the door and shouted “She has woken up!”

Tina’s mum hurried back to her side and touched her forehead.

“How are you? Do you feel pains anywhere? Can you see me clearly? How do you feel?” Her mum barraged her with questions as she fussed over her.

“Water” Tina said in reply.

Tina had been in the hospital for almost a week, slipping in and out of consciousness. She had been transferred to her parent’s family hospital somewhere in Lekki. It was a private hospital where payments were made in foreign currency. She would open her eyes briefly and then slip back into unconsciousness. She never spoke a word, and that day was the first time she would be responding to any conversation.

Almost immediately, two nurses and a doctor came to her room. They checked her, ran a few quick examinations and asked some questions. She replied them all as best as she could, though in monosyllables as she felt too weak to talk.

“How do you feel?” The doctor asked Tina.

Tina tried to move her body, but found it difficult to. Her head felt woozy and somewhat heavy. She suddenly felt a splitting headache as she turned her head to look down at her body. She saw her right leg held up in a caste as pain shot up her body. She winced as she tried to move her body again.

“Careful, careful” The doctor said as he tried to calm her down.

“What’s wrong with me?” Tina asked in a rasped voice. “I’m in pain and I can’t…” She said frustratingly as tears gathered in her eyes.

“Doctor, is she okay? Would my daughter be okay?” Tina’s mum, Chief (Mrs) Morenikeji Jacobs asked the doctor apprehensively.

“You would be okay.” The doctor reassured Tina as he turned to Tina’s mum and said “She will be okay ma.” He continued. “I suspected this would happen from the previous tests we had conducted when she was brought in. I just wanted to confirm my fears.” He said. “We don’t expect the damage to be a permanent one though. However, we have to schedule her for another MRI and some x-rays to see how far her body is responding to treatment. I’m sure there would be nothing to worry about. So far, she seems okay and has done quite well for someone just coming out of a comma.” He continued with a smile on his face.

“Thank God!” Tina’s mum gushed with relief as she walked up to the doctor and shook his hands excitedly.

“Water” Tina said again as she turned towards the nurses.

A nurse stepped forward, poured water into a cup by her bedside stand, propped her up slightly on a pillow and gently put the cup in her mouth. She sipped gently for a few seconds and signalled that she was okay. The nurse helped prop her up on her pillows and excused herself.

Just then, Mike and Abayomi walked in. Tina turned her head slightly at the footsteps.

“Good evening ma” Mike and Abayomi said in unison has they greeted Tina’s mum.

“Good evening my children” She replied beaming all over. “Your friend has woken up. Help me thank God.” She continued excitedly still fussing over her daughter.

“That’s good news!” Mike said excitedly with a grin on his face as he moved closer to Tina’s bed and said “My Tintin, it’s good to see you again. How do you feel?” he asked, touching her lightly.

“Hi… I’m fine…” Tina replied softly. “What exactly happened?” She asked.

“Hello Tina” Abayomi chipped in smiling down at her.

Tina looked into Abayomi’ eyes and her heart skipped a beat. The monitors she was hooked up to started beeping loudly as her mother jumped out of her seat and frantically shouted for the nurses and doctors to come. Tina couldn’t believe she could react to Abayomi’s presence as she just did. She closed her eyes as her head started throbbing slightly.

The nurse rushed into the room followed closely by the doctor. They checked her again and assured everyone that she was fine.

“I think you all have to leave now. You can come back again tomorrow during the visiting time” the doctor instructed. “I think she’s had more than enough excitement for one day. She needs to rest” He continued as he turned to Mike and Abayomi.

“But we just got here.” Mike protested. “Please, can we have about 10 more minutes with her?” He pleaded.

“Okay, But it mustn’t be more than that. She really needs to rest.” The doctor said checking his watch.

“Thank you very much Doctor” Mike said as he shook hands with him.

“You’re welcome. However, the nurse would be back here shortly to check on her. Please, make it brief” He concluded as he excused himself.