“Babe, can Morenike use your car when going for check-ups?” Biyi asked straightening his tie.
“Nobody is using my car for anything.”
“Then perhaps we should get her a car since she is becoming heavy and all that.”
“Really, we should get her a car because she has become heavy?” I asked sarcastically.
The bitchy creature had reported to the family that I was using her too much and even though the verdict had gone in my favor – probably because I was pregnant – we had been careful around each other since then.
“No babe, it was just an opinion.”
“Well, we are not spending our money on an unnecessary item; that is my own opinion.”
“Can she not go with you when you are going for check-ups?”
“No, she cannot. We both don’t go on the same days anyway. Whatever happened to cabs, have they suddenly gone extinct?”
“No, she complained of getting disoriented whenever she had to stand and look for a cab.”
“There are two options dear, she either continues using the cab or you start driving her yourself.” That was a trap.
“No, I cannot; I’d rather drive you.”
“So, option one it is…Look, when the child arrives and we find out it’s yours, we can splash and spoil the child but for now I’d rather we remain prudent.”
“The family thinks…”
“Then the family should get her a car if they are so concerned abi?”
“It’s okay perhaps I should have Lanre drive her.”
“Okay,” whatever; “have you asked her who Emeka is?”
“Yes, but she claims not to know. There is something you are not telling me. What is it?
“Nothing…Aren’t you going to work?”
“Okay, I guess you need a ‘you’ time. Call me later okay? I love you. What about a kiss to keep me going?”
“I can’t, I feel nauseous as it is.” That was a lie. “Take care and have a nice day.”
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“Yes Uncle Biyi, you called for me.” I had insisted on the ‘uncle’ title.
“Why did you leave the dishes in the sink and go out?”
“Sir?” I felt like laughing out loud. The stupid creature just got ambushed.
“Did you expect Aunty Ronke to wash them for you especially now that Aunty Yemisi is in the hostel writing her exams?”
“Sorry Uncle Biyi, hi was tired after the hante-nata so hi went to rest…it won’t happen again sir. Please let me go and wash the plates Aunty Ronke.” I knew her eyes were burning holes into the back of my head; I would have done the same if roles were reversed.
The bitchy creature must have wondered what I had done to make Biyi act so nice to me after these few months…I was not showing that much and since I was now always on loose gowns, the only people who would have noticed there was a difference were the ones who might have known me for long.
“It’s okay; I hope you are rested now?” I asked and turned to look at her. The look of hatred was so intense that my hands went to my stomach in a protective gesture. Her eyes followed the gesture and giving a slight nod, she walked out.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
I talked to my baby whenever I was alone. I couldn’t share all the joy with Biyi. I told my baby what different feelings I had and how I couldn’t wait to hold him/her. I did a scan but told the sonographer that I didn’t want to know my baby’s sex; I didn’t want to think too far out into the future. I wanted to take each day as they came.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
“You have high blood pressure Mrs. Adesanya; you should take things easy and not worry too much.” The doctor said looking at the chart he was holding.
“But doctor, I have heard of so many tales of things happening and then I heard that the older one is, the more the complications one should be expect.”
Laughing the doctor looked up from his chart; “Really, you should stop worrying. You are in an excellent state; stop reading only gloomy stories.”
“But what if my baby decides to come in the midnight, what will I do?”
“You will be in safe hands…remember that there will be warning contractions…a baby doesn’t just pop out and besides you are just in your 27th week, you really have nothing to worry about till you get to your 34th week”
“But my baby could come out now right? People have premature babies at my stage.”
“I understand your worries but you are fine…If I had noticed any threat, I would have confined you to bed rest till you deliver but you are okay and I am proud of your excellent state. Once again, take things easy, I am here for you, call me if you have any worries or any questions, okay?”
“Okay, thank you.”
“Don’t forget to take your drugs. Have yourself a pleasant day ma.”
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
“What did the doctor say?” Biyi asked, his breath coming in heavily down the line.
“He said to take things easy, otherwise I am fine.”
“Okay, I guess that’s good news. So…are you headed home or to work?”
“I guess to work, I have been absent too much of late. Why are you breathing this heavy?”
“One of my men fell off a ladder and I have been running around ever since.”
“Oh, will he be alright?”
“I hope so. Listen, I will talk to you later. I love you.”
“Hmm, okay. Bye.”
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I was running in a stream and struggling with something heavy. The thing pulled at me and I screamed falling into the water.
I woke up and the bed was all wet. Scared, I nudged Biyi awake.
“Hmm…Baby what is it?” Biyi asked putting on the light.
Immediately Biyi saw the bed, he jumped up. Throwing on a shirt frantically over his boxers, he grabbed his car keys and lifted me from the bed.
“God, what is happening? Ronke hold on.” Opening the door, he half ran with me in his arms towards the stairs shouting for my sister.
“Yemisi! Yemisi!! Olorun ma gba mi ke…Yemisi!!! Where are you?”
Yemisi dressed in her night gown and still somewhat sleepy rushed out in confusion.
“Brother mi kilode?” Seeing the dripping liquid and the wild look in Biyi’s eyes, she rushed forward “Sister Ronke? Kilon sele…Brother mi?!”
“Take…gba…gba…take…take the keys from my hands. Open the car. Run and open the gate…Yemisi se kia…hurry up ni tori olorun.”
“Brother mi, I am coming to the hospital with you.”
“No stay, call everyone. Tell them oh…tell them to come and help me…ah Ronke, temi ti tan. Don’t leave me Ronke. We are on our way to the hospital.”
In all the confusion, I saw the curtains to the creature’s room twitch. I should tell Biyi to hold her responsible but the darkness was calling and I obeyed…anything to stop the pain…anything!
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
I woke to white. Everything felt as if I was in a tunnel. The angels were in white. I thought I read that they shone. There were black angels too…there were even female angels. One was coming forth with an object that had a needle attached and was saying something to me.
“What?” I tried to ask but my mouths wouldn’t form the words and sweet darkness was beckoning yet again.
I woke again and this time, I could turn my head. Biyi sat looking haggard and older than 45, Yemisi had puffy eyes. They knew how I felt about appearances and I wanted to ask them why they felt they could look haggard just because I was in the hospital. My mouth felt bitter and I was so thirsty. I also felt very empty inside and was aware my stomach no longer felt heavy.
Biyi saw me awake and jumped up, pushing Yemisi to the door. Why were they acting like that? I wanted to ask but I was too weak and tired and the darkness held such a sweet promise of no questions asked.
I woke again and this time aside Biyi and Yemisi; Tara was hovering over me and immediately called on Biyi who pushed Yemisi to the door again once she noticed I was awake.
The doctor came in with with Yemisi and after carrying out some examinations spoke gently to me.
“How are you feeling Mrs. Adesanya?”
“Weak but fine;” my statement evoked a sigh of relief from the other occupants except the doctor who kept on a blank face.
“That’s good news. It means you are recovering well.”
“Thank you…how is my baby?”
“I think you should get yourself in…”
“I am fine. How is my baby?”
“Baby, I think you need to…”
I ignored Biyi and asked the doctor again; “how is my baby, doctor?”
“You had a premature rupture of the membrane and the doctor on call had to administer Ergometrine in a bid to stop the bleeding and…”
“Where is my baby?”
“Dead Mrs. Adesanya; we had to evacuate the baby after a scan and series of test revealed that the baby had stopped moving.”
“No! I won’t take it. You promised…you promised me…” Biyi already at my side held me close but I couldn’t stop the wail. It held everything that I had gone through in the past 7 months, my hopes, fears and disappointments. It only stopped when a nurse was summoned to put me to sleep. Biyi held me all the while.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
So here I was, a woman destroyed.
I had failed to get the one thing I truly wanted.
Nothing could console me,
Not even the showers of love.
They came and they left
They preached and they counseled
Consoled and preached again
But nothing could work.
They gathered and took a decision
For the creature had given birth to a girl
The creature was to leave, a decision aimed to please me
But nothing worked
“What did you do to the baby after …?” I couldn’t bring myself to say it.
“Tara helped a lot. We had to get his certificate, weight and foot print. We…” Biyi’s voice broke but he continued “we dressed him and kept him in the room for 5 hours thinking you’d wake before then. I had his pictures taken and then we buried him after… I am so sorry.” He was now openly weeping.
I couldn’t offer comfort; I was far from the zone of comfort to offer one. “Can I see his picture?”
“No!” It was said with such finality that I knew further pressures would be useless.
One day when he went out a bit. I called in my sister and after much pressure and playing on her emotions; she showed me the picture she still had in her phone.
God! He looked so pale and almost transparent. I could see his veins and I now understood why Biyi did not want me to see the picture.
I later asked to be taken to my baby’s grave and after asking me to reconsider my request and much consultation amongst the family, Biyi drove me there.
At the grave I wept and allowed myself to finally call aloud the male names I had reserved; Anuoluwamipogan (God’s mercy on me is too much) Oluwatobi Adebiyi Adesanya.
Two months after Morenike’s departure, Biyi told me he was ready to go for a paternity test. I still hadn’t looked at the creature’s baby – who was named Ruth – I couldn’t bear to….perhaps later; when I no longer had Anu’s picture in my head, perhaps then.
“No, I don’t think you should.”
“Why not?” He asked, surprised at my change of decision.
I shrugged in reply. I needed him sane for a while. There was no need to shatter his last hope. It would destroy him to lose twice. Perhaps later when he could handle it – the news that the baby girl wasn’t his – I would tell him. Perhaps we would opt for an adoption or even try again later; but for now I needed him to bask in the joy of having a child.
For now though, this to me seems like the end.
THE END
I think the story lost its grip along the way. I would have prefered it if it were shorter.
Beautiful story all the same.
Well done.
@babyada: Lost its grip? Not in my mind sha….I liked it….Thanks for reading
It was drawn out, but beautifully written. Nice one Enoquin.
@fervency: Thanks…it had to end
The end was not satisfying. It didn’t work for me. The build up was beautiful but the end…
@osakwe: How did you want the end to be like? It works for me though…Thank you for being there right from the first series
The end in terms of the writing not the outcome.
Besides the family deciding to send away the person with “their” child out when the wife had lost hers didn’t make sense. True she gave birth to a girl instead of the boy they wanted but she had a child while Ronke had none.
You did a good job, the end is brave and hopeful and shattering just like i imagined it would be.
. Thanks @enoquin . You might want to elaborate on the end making it two parts not one for sufficient dramatic effect. Good Work girl,very good work. Akaa anam! Ekamba Ma Titia 
@nicolebassey: Dearie I am satisfied with the end….The thing is over and done with…I have said my goodbyes to Ronke…anyways thank you for reading…aneke anam eti eti…sesongo
Some people cannot just end a story happily?
Wicked Danielle Steele sister. It is not fair.
Nice work.
@kaycee Imagine who is calling me ‘wicked’…the personification of Mr. Wicked himself….Kaycee…you brought a whole new term to the word ‘wicked’…but it had to end like that na…there was simply no other way of ending it…Thank you for reading
Wicked woman, wicked writer, wicked Danielle steele,
Wicked chloroquin!
@kaycee Kpong mi o…ya nka uwa mi…kpong de na mi tie ro….(Go look for who will interprete that for you) *rolls head back in wicked laughter and then looks at him with intensity* Remember how you taught me the trade? Remember the exact ways you showed me on how to be wicked? Well master…why talkest thou as if thou has forgotten the very essence on which you strive? *Rolls head back again and laughs as the thunder booms overhead*
A good story. I was expecting a happy ending but there’s a hint of poetic justice in the way you ended it.
@obiaguomba: That goes to show that life does not always favor the good ones always….Thank you for reading
intelligent woman- good story and touching too
@mikeeffa: Thanks…although I am not sure who the ‘intelligent woman’ compliment is meant for…Thank you for reading.
Hmmm….Destroyed doesn’t even come close. Perhaps someday the memories would be faded lines in her heart…
Glad it ended this way, at least that’s some kind of twist to the story…Sad that Ronke lost…Well done…$ß
@sibbylwhyte Thank you…I think time will heal her wounds…I just wish it didn’t end the way it did…*sobs* I have a bad muse
Not the way I had expected it to go. So, the woman was well and truly destroyed. What a sad ending…
@queennobo: Not the way I expected it to go either…na wa for this enoquin self
Least strong. But nice.
@chemokopi: Thank you
Good story. Not ending the story in the favour of the lead character really bears a link to the reality called life. Good one there. I have no problem with the ending, you knot the effect quite well.
@strongself: Thank you very much….I am much satisfied with the ending
I like how, on reading this, I could make sense of the story, even though it was sparsely written in parts with just dialogue. The only part that threw me was the second section where Biyi is talking to “the creature”; I had to re-read that to know what was going on.
And I loved the way you ended the story. Yes, it was tragic, but I also thought it had the realism of life, where not everything ends up tidily.
Well done, @enoquin – you’ve earned your 40 points.
@TolaO; Hmmmm…zank you oh before I get banned for not thanking you for the *points*…. E seun gan modupe sir…
Very lovely, the pain was very well described, seemed to be oozing out of my screen.