MY ORDEAL✊✊
Episode 85.
Story by Miriam Edem (Miriam Eyen Efik)
The guys returned confirming Manfred is truly dead, and soon he will shown on the news.
“That’s good, so no one will get to know who did it right? Linda asked.
“Your husband is the master of clean jobs, Her crush replied and she nodded.
“Is he back now? She asked.
“Yea he should be at home, Uche replied and she took her bag looking at me.
“Ill go see him then, Dora I’ll be back, she said and i un-derstood what she is going for.
“Bye, i said and she left the hospital.
“We’ve retrieved our lines back, Uche said sitting beside me.
“Really? That means I can get Chinwe on phone right? I asked.
“Uhmmmm yea but not yet, few hours time, he replied and I nodded and left to get something for my brothers to eat…….
The first call that got into Uche phone was Chinwe, she didn’t waste time to scream ha-rd on my head that I began to plead first before explaining,
“I’m sorry Chinwe, I really missed you. How is Treasure? I asked after explaining things to her.
“Wait, you mean all that happened to you? Where exactly in Lagos are you? I really nee-d to see you, Chinwe said.
“Don’t bother, I have 2 days to be here alre-ady, my brothers will be discharged tomorrow and we can’t be a burden to them. Its best I come back, I replied.
“Oh my God! So 2 days right? I asked.
“Yes ma, I replied.
“Treasure went out, when she gets back I’ll call you back, I’m so Happy to hear your voice again, she said.
“Me too, I said smiling.
“Take care of my boys okay, and we will be waiting for your return, Chinwe said.
“Yes ma, let me know when my baby is back, I said and dropped the call and heaved a sigh of relief.
“She must be very very worried about you, Uche said when I returned the phone to him.
“Yes I felt it but its a relief now she knows I’m fine and there’s no cause to fear anymore, I replied.
“So you’re leaving in 2 days time? When did we agree on that? The funniest of my friends asked and I heaved.
“Today when the doctor told me my brothers are safe to be discharged. I can’t go back to Linda husband place with another burden when we have few days left to be there. I have my brothers back which I actually c@m£ for them, what then will I be doing here when I can Give them a comfortable life over there? I asked.
“You took the decision alone without telling us, but anyway its cool. Safe trip, Uche said and left the room and I looked at the guys confused.
“I wanted telling you honestly but it just sli-pped my head, I said to them thinking they are equally angry.
“No bother we un-derstand and you get point too. We suppose dey find way to return to our base Now every where don settle,but e be like say you get unfinished business to talk with Uche, Linda crush said.
“Or maybe he’s beginning to miss you, go talk to him, the guy who helped us said and I quic-kly rushed out to look for Uche.
I saw him about leaving the hospital and called on him to st©p which he did,
“What are you doing here? He asked when I went to him.
“Why are you angry? I would have still told you anyway but you know I have to go, I said.
“Of course you have to go I know that, he said.
“Aren’t you coming too? Or are you basing here now? I asked.
“Enugu was only good for you and not me, he replied.
‘But you can start up your own business, I said and he smiled.
“Really? Dora just go with your brothers, I’ll find my way to manage here, he said.
“Are you sure about that? I insisted but he rolled his eyes and walked away which I slowly returned back to my brothers.
“Did you see him? They asked.
“Yea, but then, what about Benson corpse? I asked them changing the t©pic.
“And you’re leaving in 2 days time, don’t tell me we will be the one to take the corpse to the village, Linda crush said and I ru-bbe-d my face.
“What will we do now? Will I s£nd my brothers back to Chinwe then stay back to take Benson corpse to the village? I asked them.
“You know very well you nee-d to be in the village, you know Benson more than we do, they replied and i sadly looked at my brothers who were slee-ping soundly.
When they woke up I decided to tell them about it,
“No sister we will go with you, Samuel said.
“But you can’t, your not strong for that, I’ll s£nd you back to aunty Chinwe, i said.
“No! Edward added.
“Look boys you can’t come with us, its a far distance and with your health you won’t cope, so listen to your sister, one of the guys said.
“Isn’t it the same far distance we are going to go throu-gh to get to Enugu? Why can’t we go with her and what’s the difference? Samuel asked.
“You’re not using the road don’t you un-derstand? Linda crush asked.
“Flight? Edward asked.
“Yes sir flight so you won’t be stressed out, now that’s the difference, He replied and my brothers only looked at me with a frown.
“I’ll meet you guys soon as possible immediately uncle Benson is buried, you know he was a good friend right and I nee-d to be there, I calmly said to them and they nodded.
“Come back soon sister, they said and i smiled tou-ching their cheeks…………..
Uche returned back late in the evening and asked I should go home to take my rest while he will take over with my brothers.
Alre-ady Linda crush with 1 of the guys left and it was left with me and the one who helped us back there.
“Thank you, I said as i was dozing off alre-ady and he handed over his phone to me.
“Chinwe called, sorry I couldn’t give it to you, he said.
“Thank you, I’ll call her when i get home, I said.
“Be careful, Uche said and i slowly left the hospital heading back home.
I met Linda sitting alone when I got in,
“Hey what’s wrong? I asked.
“I don’t know, she replied.
“Did you talked to him? I asked.
“I did but he didn’t say anything, he just dressed up and left the house again and he’s not back. I don’t know what he’s thinking and its getting me more worried, she replied.
“My God! What will you do now? I asked.
“If i have to run away again, then i will. I think you shouldn’t bring your brothers here tomorrow so it will be easier I escape with you when you are leaving to Enugu, she said.
“I had plans to bring them here when we get discharged at least to say thank you to your husband for his help. But then i won’t be going to Enugu that soon, I nee-d to take Benson corpse to the village, I said.
“What about your brothers? I asked.
“I’ll s£nd them back to Chinwe I spoke with her today, will you be going with them? I asked.
“I have to, she sadly said and i nodded.
“Its sad i won’t be able to say thank you to him, I said.
“It doesn’t matter plea-se he knows you are grateful. Did Uche stayed back? She asked.
“Yes, I replied and yawned.
“Good night I’m feeling weak, I said.
“I’ll join you, she said getting up from where she sat………….
The next morning as we prepared to go see my brothers, a jeep drove in just when we were about leaving and Linda got real scared because of the bag she held for her eloping.
“Dora its yours now, she whispered and i slowly got the bag from her as we waited for him to come down from the jeep.
“Going somewhere ladies? He asked after we greeted him.
“Ahh yes to the hospital, the boys will be discharged today, Linda replied rather and he nodded.
“Good news, he said.
“Yes sir and I have to say a big thank you for your help in getting my brothers back to me, I’m so grateful, I said.
“Its okay, and the bag? He asked.
“Its mine sir, I was thinking of leaving because I don’t want to be a burden to you, you’ve done so much alre-ady, I said.
“And you didn’t care to let me know you’ll be leaving? What if you didn’t see me? He asked.
“No sir i would have come back to check on you, i can’t just leave that way without you seeing my brothers, I replied and he stretched his hand at the back and one of his guys brou-ght out a briefcase and gave him a cheque book.
We stood looking at him as he wrote in 3 sli-ps of the cheque book, to-re it and handed it to me which i slowly got it without looking at it.
“Did you take your bag also Linda? For i have just set you free and don’t worry you don’t nee-d to hide from me anymore, you’re free and when ever you nee-d me to sign the divorce paper you can bring them but I’ll advice you don’t let me sign it because i won’t disturb you, he said and Linda mouth flew open.
“Are you serious? She asked.
“I mean it, the 5 million cheque is for you, use that to establish yourself. I know you to be a profitable woman and that made me didn’t want to lose you. Dora use the 3 million naira for yourself and your brothers and give the other cheque to the guys. Tell them to make good use of it, and It was nice knowing you, he said and i looked at Linda shocked.
Linda immediately hvgged him ti-ght crying on him,
“Thank you so much, thank you, she said but he gave a weak smile and wanted going in.
“Thank you sir! I shouted when i finally found my voice, but he only waved at me as we happily took the bag and left the building…………..
TBC