IN THE DARK
EPISODE 11
I was about to sleep that day when Jordan called.
I rejected his call severally and he ended up
sending a text “Swidy,am so sorry for not coming
to pick you up as promised. My car brooke down
and i had a flat battery. Am sure you were able to
sit for the exam. I know you are angry with me, i
promise to make it up to you
and always remember that i love you so dearly.
(Jordan)” that was the message content. I was stil
contemplating on trusting Jordan or not when he
called again. I accepted his incoming call and i
could hear him breathe a sigh of relief. He told me
he was very worried when i did not accept his
calls and he went on and on to apologizing for not
keeping to his promise. I accepted Jordan’s
apology and he made new promises, to be there
for me and stand by me through thick and thin. I
felt love again and was happy to have Jordan by
my side in the absence of Kelvin and Khole.
The week went on with me continuing my normal
routine as an errand girl. It was not a good thing
to do but i was beginning to get use to my duty.
On sundays we do no open the supermarket, so it
was a free day for me. On our way to church the
following day, Lizzy told me the jamb result was
out and she would check for mine when we come
back from just. I went to church feeling anxious. I
used all my strength to pray and dance in
church,hoping for a good result.
Immediately we came back from church, we met
uncle mike and his wife in the living room, we
greeted them and went to lizzy’s room. I told lizzy
to check my result for me but she said her period
just started and she was out of pad, so she
needed to get herself a pack of always
immediately. Lizzy went out to get the pad and i
decided to make lunch for myself in a bid to keep
myself bussy. I was about to go to the kitchen
when i saw aunty Nike cooking, she looked at me
and said ” have you checked your jamb result? Or
you have failed thats why you have refuse to tell
us?” I told her i was yet to check it and she said “I
knew you will lie but am ready for you this
afternoon, go and get me your sit number and
examination center number, i have the scratch
card with me” my heart skipped a bit and i was
confused. Though i was anxious to know what my
score was, i wanted to find out before anybody in
the house inorder to prepare for the worst if i
should fail. I prayed to have a high score with the
whole of my heart as i went to get my sit and
examination center number.
I came back to the living room where my uncle and
his wife were sitted. I gave aunty nike the
requested numbers and she got bussy with her
system. My heart was beating fast as she checked
for my score. I knew it will be a thing of joy for her
if i fail, so i prayed to put her to shame. I did not
write well during examination but i was hoping a
miracle will bail me out. “Yes! I knew it! I knew you
would fail. Come and see with your eyes, your
score is not even up to average. Useless, thats
what you are! Come here and check your score!”
aunty nike’s voice brought me back to reality, but i
was hoping everything she was saying was a lie as
i slowly moved towards her to see things for
myself. I got to her and she pointed at the screen
where my score was boldly written.
Literature-42
Mathematics-45
English-45
Government-44
Total score=176
Immediately i saw my score my heart brooke into a
million pieces, this was my last hope. How will i
gain admission into the university without an
average score? I asked myself as tears rushed out
of my eyes. To make matter worse, i would have
to continue to slave for my uncle’s wife for another
year.
As if the pain i was feeling because of my failure
was not enough, my uncle stood up with full force
and gave me a slap. My eyes went blur for a
minute. I was not expecting the slap. Before i
could come out of the shock of the first slap, he
gave me a second one and i lost my balance. I fell
on a couch close to me. Uncle mike did not stop at
that, he continued to hit me all over as aunty nike
sang him praise song for what he was doing. Lizzy
was not home and their was nobody to save me. I
was loosing my strength and if i should receive the
beating without running for my life, i might end up
loosing my dear life. ‘No, i cant die now! I must
make it in life and write my success story
someday!!’ i thought. I remembered my parents
and the thought of making them proud someday as
kelvin told me gave the the strength to escape. I
pushed uncle mike with the whole of my strength
and he landed on his bare a-s. I could not go back
inside since it would warrant more beating, the
only option was for me to run outside. I quickly
unlocked the door and ran to the gate. I could hear
aunty nike screaming my name and accusing me of
killing her husband as i unlock the gate. I got out
of the house and i ran as fast as my legs could
carry me, far, far, far away from home.
I stopped to run when my legs could no longer
carry me. I looked behind me and i could no longer
see my house, i was far away from home. I looked
at the signpost in front of me and i saw “The
Apostolic church of Nigeria”, A church was the last
place i wanted to be, because i believed that the
same God i danced and prayed to wholeheartedly
in church some minutes ago made me fail my
examination but the sun was shining too brightly
and i could no longer take the effect on my skin. I
slightly pushed the door to the church open and i
entered into the church. The church was quiet
since i was the only one there. I sat on one of the
chairs and the event that took place few minutes
ago with uncle mike came to my mind. The cause
of the trouble was my failure, i looked at the image
of Jesus on the Altar and i asked the image, why
he did not perform a miracle and make me have a
high score in the examination. I continue to think
about my life, The adorable days i had with my
family and the days of agony i was having without
a family. Tears filled my eyes and i did not hold
the tears back, it rushed down freely on my cheek.
I stayed in the church for more than an hour, i
found peace and comfort there but i could not stay
there forever. I knew going back to uncle mike and
his wife was not an option, so i decided to call
khole and aunty oyinkan. I placed my hand into
the pocket of my jean trouser to get my phone,but
i could not find anything in my pocket apart from a
squeezed #20. I was stranded again without a
phone. Going to khole’s house would take me
more than three hours, if i should trek down, so it
was not an option for me. Jordan’s house was
closer to my present destination and i should be
there in the next one hour on foot. I stood up from
the chair and said my prayer before leaving the
church premises.
It was not eassy to journey on foot but i was able
to get to Jordan’s house weak and tired. I knocked
on the huge gate and i heard a voice say “Who be
that? I dey come o” from inside the house. I leaned
on the gate and not long after, the gate man
opened the smaller gate. He greeted me and i
could tell he was surprise to see me. I thought it
was because of my appearance but i was wrong.
The gateman said “welcome aunty Nancy, when
you con go change cloth again, shebi nah now you
enter?” i did not understand what he was saying, i
just asked if Jordan and his parent were home.
“Oga Jordan never comot ever since you come nao
and i don tell you before say mommy and daddy
done travel” From his statement, the only thing i
could deduce was that, Jordan’s parent were not
again but Jordan was home. I was grateful for this
because he was my last hope. I was hoping he
would take me to khole’s house if i could not stay
with him.
I pushed the door to the main building open and it
gave way. I entered the living room and called
Jordan but i did not get a response. I stil
remembered his room from the party, so i went
upstairs to check for him, probably he will be in his
room, i thought as i climbed the stairs. I was
almost at the door of Jordan room when i heard
voices, one of it sounded like the person was
moaning. I moved closer to the door and i heard a
female voice clearly. “Yea…. I cant believe you are
this good baby…where have you been all my
life….faster baby…..ohhhh….faster….i love you
Jordan….” That was it! My heart started to beat
fast. I came here to get a comforting shoulder but
now my heart is breaking into a million pieces. I
wanted to run out of the house but my spirit
stopped me. My inner spirit wanted me to find out
if he was really cheating or not. Who could he be
cheating with? I asked myself and i suddenly
remembered the gateman’s statement. He was
insisting i was here before. O.M.G could it be
Nelly? No….. It cant be. I thought of how betrayed
i would feel if i should catch Jordan cheating with
Nelly and i almost ran out of the house for my
eyes not to see such act of Betrayal. But stil i
wanted to find out the truth. I moved to the door
and slowly opened it. I was a lady underneath
Jordan, both nude.I looked closely and it was
Nelly.I did not know when i screamed “Jesus!!!”
and jordan jump off her, i could see his huge d–k
when he faced me, i did not have the time to look
at Nelly as i ran out of the house. I ran outside
and rushed to the gate, i could hear Jordan calling
my name from behind but i did not stop. He has
always been a disappointment and today he
brooke my love and trust with his art of betrayal
with a friend i once call sister. I kept on running
even when i got outside their compound and i was
too blind to see the car coming with full speed. I
was in the middle of the road already and unable
to reverse my step. Before i could say ‘Jerk!’
something bigger than me hit me from behind like
a big rock and i felt my body brooke down into
pieces. The last thing that came to my mind before
going out of this world was “Men are simply Evil!!!”
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I was hoping not to open my eyes to see the world
again. I wished to die and never wake again but it
was as if the God i believed in still had more
suffering in stock for me because, instead of taking
me to heaven to be with him and my parents, he
brought me back to this cruel world filled with fake
love.
I did not know for how long i was unconscious but
i woke up with pains all over my body. I could not
move any part of my body order than my eyes (i
could open and close my eyes). I saw myself on a
hospital bed when i woke up and that was when i
remembered all about the accident. How i survived
was a miracle, i was not grateful for.
I did not realise that someone was with me until i
tried to change my sleeping position but it was too
difficult for me to move my body. “Easy my dear”
she said and rushed to help me up. I looked up at
the person and it was aunty oyinkan. I smilled at
her and she asked if i was feeling better, i could
not talk so i only noded. Aunty oyinkan touched
my forehead and said “sorry dear, you will be fine,
you got us all worried,i was so scared when Khole
called and told me you got involve in an accident.
She said you were lucky your friend Jordan was
close to the accident scene and he helped you to
the hospital. If not for him, i do not know what
would have happened to you” aunty oyinkan ended
her speech and i could not help the hatred growing
in me toward Jordan. He did not only cause my
present predicament, he also had to lie to cover
his a-s. Aunty Oyinkan brought me out of my
thought when she asked if i needed anything. Yes i
do! And all i need is my mom right now! I
screamed in my head but i could not utter a word.
I noded as a response to aunty oyinkan’s question
and she said ” Ok…………. Khole just left some
minutes ago, she has a test to sit for. We have
been here for the past three days with Jordan, she
will be happy you are back when she comes, i
need to make a phone call dear. Give me a
minute”. I noded and she left. So i was
unconscious for three days i thought after aunty
oyinkan’ s departure.
The doctor came to examine me. He said i would
have to rest for a week for full recovery since i did
not sustain any serious injury. The doctor left and
aunty Oyinkan arrived later, she told me that she
called my uncle to inform him of my where about
and he said he traveled and will be back the
following day. I did not respond to her statement
because i do not want to believe i have a family,i
only noded.
Khole came with Jordan later in the evening and
she was all over me. I was happy to see her but
Jordan’s presence got me angry,he only sat for a
while before he left. I gussed his conscience was
judging him already because he distanced himself
throughout his stay.
The following day, i was able to talk and move my
body slowly. Khole and aunty oyinkan were with
me and they made me feel as if i had a family ones
again. Khole was slicing an apple for me when i
heard someone shout “Where is my Nancy” from
the door. We all looked toward the door direction
and aunty Nike rushed in with uncle mike and
Lizzy. Aunty Nike knelt and greeted aunty oyinkan
before rushing to my bed. She was behaving all
caring and nice, she touched my forehead to check
my temperature and sat down on the bed with me.
She carried my legs, placed it on her lap and she
said “Nancy my dear, how are you? My God, i was
so worried about you, i almost died of heart attack
when i heard you had an accident, thank God
nothing happened to you, i need to go for a thanks
giving service for your sake dear. Am happy you
are ok” aunty nike ended her speech and i continue
to stare at her. I knew she was mean and evil but
been a drama queen was out of it. I only noded to
aunty nike’s question and uncle mike came close
to me as well. He asked if i was getting better and
i noded. Only lizzy was quiet and she only smilled
at me when i looked at her,i could see the tears in
her eyes when she looked at me without pretence
like her parent.
My uncle brought provision and he promised to
pay off the bill. They left later in the evening and
aunty nike promised to come back the next day
after she said home was not the same without me
and she missed me alot.
I knew aunty nike missed her errand girl not that
she missed me out of love but her level of pretence
made me doff my hat for her.
Aunty nike’s pretence made aunty oyinkan and
khole believe i was safe with them again and
against their previous decision,they agreed to me
going back to stay with my uncle.
I was discharged on friday afternoon and my uncle
was waiting to take me back to the house, my land
of pain and agony. Aunty Oyinkan gave me twenty
thousand naira before leaving and khole packed my
provision to uncle mike’s car. I left the hospital
sad, with the thought of the struggle before me.
How could aunty oyinkan and khole be so blind to
the fact that my uncle and his wife were
pretending.
Click 6 below to read episode 12
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