*********”#TEARS_Ap@rt******
#EPISODE_03
Uzo left the house angrily,leaving a warning that he doesn’t want to see the baby in his house when he returns.
Esther was chattered. She was devastated,confused and heartbroken.
After the baby fell asleep,she went to her room, thinking about what to do. She looked at the time.
It was getting late and her husband would soon be back. She dre-aded and feared what he was capable of doing.
“Maybe I should take the baby with me to Ngozi’s house first.” Esther said, referring to her beat friend who lived across the street.
Esther quic-kly picked up the baby and dressed her up.
She dressed up to and wra-pped her with a shaul,then left the house, taking an umbrella with her.
Ngozi was cooking in the kitchen when her door bell rang.
She dried up her hand in the kitchen towel and left the kitchen, humming a song to herself.
“An an!” Ngozi said as she opened the door for Esther who quic-kly entered.”What’s happening here?” She added.
Esther put the slee-ping baby on a couch and sat beside her, breathing in.
“Ngozi…. I’m in trouble.” Esther said with a quivering voice.
Ngozi looked at the slee-ping baby and back at Esther, confused.” What…..what’s happening here? Whose baby is this?” Ngozi queried.
Esther breathed in and narrated what Happened and how she took the baby home.
Ngozi looked at her, surprised.” Esther,how could you? Aren’t you afraid? Aren’t you scared if the baby is even normal?” Ngozi asked,peering down at the baby.
Esther breathed in.” This baby is one hundred percent normal. What would you have advised me to do then? Leave the baby there?
No now! I’ve experienced labour pains, Ngozi and I could not bring myself to leave this baby there.” Esther said,trying to fight back the tears that welled up in her eyes.
Ngozi breathed in and looked sympathetically at Esther.” So,what are you going to do now that your husband has rejected her? This is serious problem o. Where are you going to keep her now?” Ngozi said and Esther looked at her.
“Ngozi…..I want you to keep this baby.”
“En? What did I hear you say? That I should do what? Keep a total stranger in my own house?” Ngozi exclaimed.
“Keep your voice down plea-se.” Esther said, looking pleadingly at Ngozi.
“Why would you ask me to keep this baby in my own house? An an!
Do you want my fiance to get mad at me or probably think I had a baby but never told him? plea-se, Esther…I…I… can’t!” Ngozi said, standing up.
“plea-se, Ngozi! You are my only hope right now! I don’t want to take this little baby to the orphanage home…she won’t get enough care there.
Just do this for me for our friendsh!psake…. plea-se.” Esther begged and Ngozi’s face fell as she looked at the baby.
The innocence in her small face melted her heart.
Ngozi walked over to the baby and sat beside her, taking her little pink hand in hers. She smiled.
“She’s pretty.” Ngozi said, holding the baby’s f!ngers.
Esther smiled too.” Yes…the mother was pretty too.”
“But….I can’t take this baby to work everyday…how do we do that?” Ngozi asked, looking up at Esther.
“Don’t worry about that. I will come by,every morning to pick her up,then drop by every evening to drip her with you when you come back from work.
” Esther said and Ngozi nodded and stood up.
“And her name?”
“Amarachi.” Esther replied smiling with tears.
Ngozi smiled.”Wow. I love the name. plea-se…I’m coming..let me check out my food on fire.” Ngozi said and left.
Esther stared down at Amarachi and smiled.”Now…you have a home.”
*********
The ambulance carrying the dead bodies arrived in the evening at the village,with loud siren blaring out of the vehicles.
Villagers gathered, screaming in tears. The women following the vehicles held up the couple’s pictures, singing a sad song as they made their way to mama’s compound.
Mama was unconsolable. She cried a river.
At the sight of the two coffins being brou-ght out of the ambulance,mama gave a loud scream and struggled out of the women holding her and ran towards the coffins, hurling herself at them.
They held her again and dragged her back to the front house,before she could injure herself.
People cried as they watched the scenario.
“You people should leave me! Aahh!! Monica,I want to die! Apu mu aka!!( Leave me alone)
What is this! No! Someb©dy should tell me my son is not in that box!
No…Osita nkem will not let anyone cage him like that!
You people should bring him out! He’s not dead!!” Mama cried trying to struggle put of the hands holding her but they held her ti-ghtly.
When the men carrying the coffins finally settled them on the tables at the middle of the compound, mama sat down slowly,her breath li-ck as she looked at the coffins.
She could not believe it that both her son and her lovely daughter in-law were gone and gone for good.
Slowly,she got up,waving her head as she walked slowly towards the coffins. Some women quic-kly followed her too lest she becomes violent again.
She got to the coffins and placed her hands on them,h0t tears running throu-gh her wrinkled cheeks.
“Osita….was this what we talked about? You promised to make it big in the city and bring a grandchild! Why this! Why? Why? Osita,why?
Where is the grandchild you promised me? Aahh…Osita you are wicked!
Where is the grandchild..where!” Mama cried,her tears becoming petals on the coffins.
Just behind her, Ifeoma appeared,tears of blood all over her face as she looked at mama eagerly.
“Mama! I have a daughter! You have a granddaughter!” Ifeoma’s voice echoed but it bounced back at her for no one even heard any of her words.
“An an,mama… aren’t you hearing me? Mama….I have a daughter! Can’t you just try and hear me?
Mama! I have a daughter!” Ifeoma’s voice echoed but her voice continued bouncing back at her.
“Death…you have dealt me a shameful b!ow in the face! Who’s going to buy me bre-ad from the city?
Who is going to come during Christmas and organize food for the family if not Ifeoma?
Who? Aahhhh..I’m doomed! Death come and take me ooohh!” Mama cried, repeating the last word all over again.
Ifeoma’s eyes turned bright red were filled with anger as her bloody hands twisted into a fist.
She gave a loud wailing scream and thun-der roared all over the sky, s£nding down an heavy rain with powerful breeze,that blew off all the canopies and chairs.
People scattered. They screamed as they ran for protec-tion.
Leafs were shaken. Windows and zinc clattered.
A mysterious darkness circulated the whole place but mama cried on… knowing fully well that the couples were at work.
*********
Ngozi smiled on as she mixed the baby’s food, singing a lullaby to make her st©p crying.
Esther had just dropped by with the baby and has gone home almost immediately. Amarachi’s hands were in her mouth as she s—-d hungrily.
The next minute,she was crying and another minute she is s—–g.
Ngozi was alre-ady fond of the baby within three days.
She even brou-ght her baby things alre-ady even without asking Esther.
Ngozi carried the baby in her arms and picked up the baby’s feeding bottle but just as she opened the cover, something happened.
She felt a strange pres£nce and looked around, feeling strange too.
She looked at the baby and g@sped ,the feeding bottle in her hand sli-pping away and the content spilling on the floor.
The baby opened her eyes as she bec@m£ still…her eyes turning into blue.
“No…no….no!!”Ngozi screamed,her b©dy and hands trembling as she watched yet another shock.
Right there on the baby’s fore head was the sign of the cross in red… dripping with blood……….
******#TEARS_Ap@rt**********
#EPISODE_04
Ngozi paced about as she dialled Esther’s number. She put the phone in her ear and impatiently waited for Rather to pick up her call.
She looked back at the baby who had sle-pt off as she dropped her hastily on the sofa after what she saw.
But the red mark was there no more …it disappeared immediately it c@m£.
Esther could not believe she actually saw it. She thought maybe she was just imagining things.
“Hello!” Ngozi said into the phone as Esther c@m£ on line.
“An an… Ngozi this one you are calling me by this time .. hope everything is alright?” Esther asked careful.
“I hope o. I hope so,Esther. You nee-d to see what I saw right now! plea-se..I’m scared…I can’t even control myself any longer.
Hurry up and come here!” Ngozi shouted,and looked back at the baby closing her own mouth so she would not wake her up.
She wouldn’t be able to carry again.
Not this night!
She cut the call and threw her phone on the chair, moving backwards.
Esther dropped her phone inside her bag and hurriedly stood up from be-d.
Uzo turned to look at her, suspiciously. They were just getting re-ady to sleep.
“Who called you?” Uzo asked as Esther quic-kly thought of a good lie.
“Hmm…I have to rush to the hospital right now. I will back first thing tomorrow morning if I’m unable to make it back tonight.”
“What are you going to the hospital to do by this time of the night?
Are you on night shift?” Uzo asked and Esther immediately smiled, looking as if she forgot something.
“Oh my God I’m sorry I did not tell you. Yes,I’m having a night shift. So no more question. I have to run along. I will see Ikenna first thing tommorow when I return.”
Esther said and quic-kly left the room before her husband could throw another question.
*********
Esther laughed out loud again as she looked incredibly at Ngozi who looked at her, annoyed at her laughter.
“Wait. Can you just repeat yourself again so you can here how incredible your words are! What baby?
Which blue eyes? What red Cross with blood a
or what did you just
call it?”
Esther asked her friend as she checked the baby she was carrying. She was slee-ping soundly and everything looked as normal as ever.
“Are you saying that I imagined those things?” Ngozi asked, confused.
“Come on,Ngozi! How could you say this about a baby that’s not even up to a week! Maybe you were dreaming or something. Or better still,you were thinking about horrific things.
plea-se..there is nothing wrong with this baby. You are my only hope, plea-se.” Esther begged.
Ngozi breathed in and looked at the baby again.
“An an” Ngozi said, confused. She was sure of what she saw but right now..the baby was as normal ever.
“Take her plea-se…” Esther said as she stretched the baby to Ngozi who slowly carried her.
“I think you should stay over tonight. It’s late alre-ady.” Ngozi said as she glanced at the wall clock.
“Yes. I was planning to. I even lied to my husband before coming.
He must not know I’m still keeping this baby. Is your fiance not back yet?” Esther said as she took her seat.
“Well…he will be back by weekend from the village,then we are going to make our wedding plans.
And I’m worried. I haven’t even told him about this baby yet. I’m not sure what to expect oh. Honestly,I’m confused.” Ngozi said and Esther breathed in.
“Don’t worry,Ngozi. I’m sure God will t©uçh his heart.
Don’t worry. Let’s just pray he accepts.” Esther said again and Ngozi shrugged, sitting beside her with the baby.
**********
Three days later, Kenny, Ngozi’s fiance arrived from the village in his car.
He drove into the compound and st©pped the engine, noticing immediately that a baby was crying inside the house. He st©pped to listen again.
A baby?
How come?
Just as he c@m£ down from the car,Ngozi c@m£ out of the house to meet him, smiling happily.
She jumped at him and they embr@ced.
“Hope you had a wonderful journey?” Ngozi asked as she collected his bag from the booth.
“Yyess…” Kenny drawled still confused.” Where is that cry coming from?”
“Oh….inside the house.” Ngozi drawled,her heart beat increasing.
“A what? From where?” Kenny asked.
“Let’s go inside first now. You must be very tired from your long journey….”
“Answer my question. Is the baby yours or what?” Kenny asked as Ngozi scratched her head, searching for the right words to start with.
“Actually…. the baby isn’t mine. How do you expect me to have a baby? Did you got me pregnant or is it up to nine months alre-ady?
Esther gave the baby to me. I…will tell you everything when we go inside.
I have to go and carry her…her cries are becoming too much.” Ngozi said, turning to go.
“Hmm. If you dare walk out on me without answering my questions properly and how that baby got here, believe me when I say I will leave this house and never return.”
Kenny threatened as Ngozi turned to look at him, perplexed at the height of his annoyance.
“Calm down,honey!” Ngozi exclaimed.
“What is a baby doing in the house? Or have you become a nanny?” Kenny queried.
Ngozi breathed in and narrated all that happened and just as she feared,Kenny was furious,mad and agitated all together.
“So, because Uzo rejected her,so I should be the one to accommod@t£ a stranger,okwaya?(Is that so?).
Okay,let me come and warn you, Carolina (Ngozi’s English name).
I’m going out again right now and by the time I come back…if I should hear this cries again from this house,you won’t like what I’m going to do.
I swear!” Kenny said and turning around to get back into his car.
“Aahhhh…. Kennedy!!” Ngozi exclaimed. She couldn’t believe he could be this callous.
” This baby has no home! No family!!” Ngozi screamed after Kenny who drove speedily out of the compound.
Ngozi put her hands on her head as she moved back and ran inside the house. She picked up the baby who had began s—–g her hand.
She was filled with emotion as tears tickled down her face.
Well,she has tried her best and she really wanted to keep this baby but her husband to be just rejected her.
With trembling hands,she picked up her phone and dialled Esther’s number.
*********
Esther carried the baby in her nurse uniform as she stood with Ngozi at the middle of the living room. She was in tears.
“plea-se,Ngozi. Try and persuade Kennedy. Where do you want me to take her to now? You were my last hope!”
“Well,I’m sorry. Kenny says he doesn’t want her and I can’t decide for him or make any decisions. I’m sorry.” Ngozi said as Esther looked at her.
“You could have pleaded with him….you could have…”
“Esther plea-se! Give me a break! Just ….give me a break! Take her to the orphanage home … there…she will have a home. My fiance doesn’t want her or do you want me to choose the baby over him and lose him?” Ngozi asked, losing her temper.
“plea-se, leave before he comes back. Her things are beside the chair outside” Ngozi said and left the living room for her room,where she cried silently.
Esther had the biggest cry as she stepped out of the house with no destination at all. She picked up the baby’s bag and went straight to work.
She had nob©dy who nee-ded a child and as night approached, Esther’s heart beat louder and louder against her che-st.
She was grateful she was on night shift and she found time to think of what to do.
Her co nurses left the hospital while the nurses on night duty took over.
A crazy idea ran into Esther’s head as she sat thinking about the next step to take.
It was a dangerous one but she had to do it. She really nee-ded to for there was no other option for her.
“Amarachi…my little one. I’m sorry I have to let you go like this but I wish I had other options.
I’m sorry. May we meet later in the future….my baby.”
Quietly,she left the hospital unnoticed and walked into the darkness outside.
She made sure Amarachi was asleep as she walked her way to her destination.
She wept as she walked, regretting alre-ady what she was about to do.
She got to a junction and took the left p@rt,into a street. She continued walking,her heart beating fast.
Esther turned around sharply,when she thought she heard a movement behind her.
Her breath increa-sed. She looked frantically about. The street was dark and alre-ady lonely at eight. Esther looked down at the baby, cudd-ling her more ti-ghter to herself.
“St©p right there!” A voice told her as she made to continue her journey.
Oh no…who was that?? Who? Who?
Esther couldn’t bear to look back. She shut her eyes closed,so ti-ghtly it hurts.
“St©p right there and turn around. Turn around and show me what you are carrying into this dangerous street at this time of the night!” The voice said again and Esther froze, turning slowly…ever slowly….to see the intruder.
God!… plea-se save me…save this little innocent baby….Esther was saying as she turned.
Her mouth opened wi-de…her hands trembled..but she held the baby ti-ght.
As she turned…the first thing she saw was a gun….a gun!!
Slowly..she lifted up her eyes to see the intruder but a thick dark mask stared back at her…..Kidnapper!!!………
#To_be_continued…!!👇👇👇
Will Esther survive this and
also save the baby??
What exactly was she up to
before this mess??