DELILAH : EPISODE 1 – THE END
Episode 6
Miriam Edem
Hearing the death of my father gave me cold feet. I didn’t know what to do and I saw myself calling back the number but Frank didn’t pick up. I checked my call logs to find the number my mother used to call me yesterday but it was no more there, then I guessed the hospital my father will be and hurried down there.
I saw Frank talking with a nurse and hid myself, I was not brave at all to face him and when he hurriedly left the nurse I went in hoping I can see my mother or Patricia.
“Patrick! I heard my name behind and turned to see Patricia behind me.
“What are you doing here? She asked with her eyes red.
“Ermmm…. I heard….. “You heard he’s dead right and you find it fit to see him dead huh? Where were you when he was breathing and kept asking about you? Yesterday he called out for you and mom called you but what did you do? She asked.
“Look it’s not what you’re thinking, I said.
“Tell me what am thinking because I want to know! You abandoned your family for a woman you shameless f*ol! Patricia shouted and my eyes sparked with anger.
“Look here, you better watch your tongue Patricia! I shouted back.
“Does it hurt? Besides aren’t you shameless? What did you expect when you brought yourself here? In fact Get out of here! You dont deserve to be here get out! Patricia screamed out hitting me crying and I just rolled my eyes trying to be calm as people came out trying to hold Patricia.
“Tell him to Go back to that devil, get out I don’t want to see you! She shouted and attempted to Push me again but I angrily held her hand and pushed her down.
“Its fine you don’t want me here, but never you blame this on Loveth! I said pointing my finger at her and turned to leave but got held by Frank who passed me an unexpected blow on my face.
“I think I have tolerated your excesses enough, but hurting my sister is what I won’t take, Frank said to me as I fell from the effect of the hit and watched him raised Patricia crying who just hugged him.
“What has come over you? If there’s anyone who should cry for papa most its you. He struggled all his life for you despite the burns on his body and his health condition, he took it all for you and Patricia yet this is how you repay him? There is no soberness for what you’ve done and you’re still a nuisance! Frank shouted holding Patricia and I stood up smiling.
“Why are you blaming me for what you did years ago? You’re talking about the burns didn’t you do that to him? You brought the unnecessary suffering for us and especially your father, because of you he was laid off from the place he was comfortable to suffer, so don’t stand there and act like a good son when you’re not different yourself! I shouted back.
“You’re right and also very wrong, because you see I am different cause I was able to come back and right all my wrongs when he was alive. And you know what, this bad son you think I am, got the blessings of his father before he died what about you? You’re such a vagabond. Pat let’s go, Frank said and left and my sister while I looked stupid.
“Papa blessed him? I kept asking myself as I dragged myself home.
“Hey what happened? I’ve been calling to ask why you’re not yet back but you’re not picking up, what’s wrong? Loveth asked touching my shoulders but I slowly kept my bands down. I can’t explain how I was feeling because I felt weird,
“Hey I don’t like this at all, say something at least, she said touching my face.
“Papa is dead, my father is gone, I slowly said.
‘What? Are you sure about that? She asked and I looked at her.
“What do you mean by that? I asked.
“Oh don’t get me wrong, you know they can…….. “You think they can play such expensive joke on me when I just returned from the hospital? What are you thinking! I shouted on her and she jerked.
“Gosh I didn’t mean it that way, she said and I stood up breathing hard.
“Love…… “Don’t touch me! I shouted when she wanted coming close to me and she went backwards.
“What did I do wrong just when I have a good news for you and waited patiently for you to come back home is this what I get? She asked and began to cry and my heart skipped. I began to sweat profusely and began sober,
“I’m sorry I did that, I’m sorry, I said holding her.
“Are you blaming me for your father de ath? She asked.
“No don’t say that, he was sick okay and it’s only natural for men to go that path at his appointed time. I’m sorry if I made you feel that way, I replied cleaning her tears and she sniffed.
“You said you have a good news for me? I asked making her to sit down.
“Nah I’ll tell you that when am in a good mood, she replied.
“Common, won’t you think that will brighten me up? I asked.
‘But you ruined mine, so you have to wait as your punishment, she replied and I smiled.
“Okay I accept, I said touching her cheeks as she kept a frown.
I heard no word from my family and returned back to work.
After a week I got a call from the organization I got interviewed and when I rushed down there behold I was taken with a very huge pay.
“I trust you put in your best and take us to a higher level, the lady who interviewed me said and I screamed out
“You have nothing to worry ma, I’ll surely put in my best here, thank you so much for this opportunity, I said to her.
“You’re welcome, she said and I hurriedly ran back home and told Loveth the good news.
“Wow this is great, when will you resume? Loveth asked.
“Fortunately for me it’s next week and the good news is My salary will be paid this week, so I’ll be resigning straight up when I get paid, I replied and we laughed cheerfully together happy I didn’t lose on both sides.
That night I just settled on the bed watching Loveth asleep and smiled to myself as I thought of what Frank told me at the hospital. He was bragging about having my father blessing but who has the blessing between the both of us now? I wondered and licked my lips so proud of the position I’ve gotten and the huge pay just when they think I will suffer.
After a month, I was in the office when a call came on my phone and I picked up,
“Hello, I said concentrating on my laptop.
“Guy, I dey talk with Patrick so? The voice asked.
“Who’s this? I asked.
“Na Usman o, the voice replied.
“Oh how are you doing? I asked not interested.
“I dey na, but na wa for you o, no call no seeing just nothing and your number no dey go if not I say make I try your number for my new line abi you been block my number? He asked and I rolled my eyes.
“Usman I am a very busy person now, let’s just say your number got lucky today to get me, I replied.
“Hmm if you say so. I been hear wetin happen guy, my condolences iyeh. You don finally join the no papa group, he said and I just smiled
“No wahala, i simply said just wishing he can drop the call.
“So I hear the burial na on the 18th and I no sure say I go come o no vex. I suppose travel that day for business, he said and i took my hands from the laptop hearing the date my father will be buried. No one bothered to tell me if not Usman just did,
“Is that so? No problem then I understand, I said.
“Okay my guy, but anyhow na we go see, Usman said and I just dropped the call bored with the conversation.
“So you guys already fixed the date so soon? Interesting, I said to myself and ticked the date on my calendar there.
I got home and told Loveth,
“So what are you going to do? She asked.
“Me? Nothing of course, they dont want me there, I replied.
“But you have to be there, we will be going together, she said.
“Together? Nah I dont think it’s a good idea, I said.
“Why? I want to see your family and we have to pay the last respect to your father. They can’t slam you that way, you’re still part of the family or dont you think so? She asked looking into my eyes.
“But you always say that I dont have a family and that you are my only family, why are you saying this now? I confusedly asked and She laughed.
“Oh I was only joking alright and you’re so correct, but you see I think we are expecting another addition, she replied.
“You mean? I asked.
“Guess nah, she replied.
“Oh babe I had a tiring day you know, I said.
“Alright, I’m pregnant! She dropped smiling and I just looked at her.
“You say? I asked.
“Uhmm I just said that I’m pregnant, she replied and I smirked and shook my head.
“Hey what’s that for? She asked hitting me.
‘You’re joking or what? You know that’s an expensive joke right? I asked.
“What do you mean by that? Does that look like a joke to you? She asked with a serious look and I looked at her.
“You mean it? You mean we will be having a baby soon! I shouted holding her happily.
“Of course, You just got me scared, she said.
“Oh I thought it was one of your pranks I didn’t know you were serious. Why won’t I be happy? Thank you baby, I said hugging her tight.
Loveth announcement of our baby coming straightened and deepened the love I had for her. To be honest, after the passing on of my father, we’ve had series of disagreements that has never happened before. Sometimes I do ask myself how I got to know Loveth, but whenever I go to bed and wake up the next dawn I won’t have such feelings anymore.
Hearing Loveth was carrying my child just sealed us together once more and my every thought became her once again.
Loveth got to know where my father will be buried and as I suspected it was in his house and I got scared when she insisted we will be attending the burial together.
We got dressed on white with dark sunglasses on as a suitable disguise for us and sat under the canopy there entering quite late. I just breathed out when I saw my father casket, I felt bad I could not see his face and there’s no way I could do that now his casket is already outside. Loveth touched my hand when she saw my uneasiness and we didn’t even know the canopy we sat under contained my sister colleagues and we saw Patricia coming.
I kept a straight face and she didn’t notice us, but suddenly Loveth took off her glasses and stood up stretching her hands to Patricia when she wanted passing after greeting her colleagues,
‘My condolences sis, Loveth said and Patricia eyes sparked fire that instant as she looked at me and recognized me.
“You wh’re! How dare you show your face here? Patricia asked and I licked my lips and stood up and held Loveth so we won’t cause a scene.
“Let’s go, I whispered to Loveth.
“Wait a minute, Are you this bitter always? At least have some respect for your father, Loveth said talking my hands from her and Patricia landed her a dirty sIap.
“You don’t know what it means to have a father that’s why you took away a son away from his father and are you happy now! Patricia shouted.
“You really want to cause a scene huh? You’re so pathetic! I shouted on Patricia.
“Not so pathetic as you both look, now get out of here before I rain h’ll on you, Patricia sternly said and I held Loveth to go but my mother approached us.
“You’re really going huh? My mother asked holding my father photograph on her chest.
“Yes, I guess it was a mistake I came here after all, I replied.
“So she’s the one? She’s the one important more than your own family you grew up with? My mother asked.
“Why are you all blaming me? Your son is simply where he is happy and you all should thank me for standing by him and stop being ungrateful. Now I see the reason why your son left, He’s better off without you guys, Loveth said.
“Love it’s enough,let’s go, I said holding her hands to leave with her.
‘Patrick, you will surely regret this and I promise you that it won’t last. Family remains family no matter what, my mother said but I didn’t bother to look at her.
That night I was sleeping when I heard Loveth screamed and I woke up holding her,
“What is it? I asked.
“No! No! She kept shouting struggling with me.
“Babe I’m here stop it. What is it? I asked and she looked at me.
‘Your mother, i saw her with a cutlass pursuing me telling me to leave you alone, she replied crying.
“What! I shouted and she wanted leaving the bed and we saw bIood.
“No no! My baby! Loveth screamed out while I confusedly looked at her
DELILAH : EPISODE 1 – THE END
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