SPEECHLESSNESS
WRITTEN BY MARIANNEADA
EPISODE 39
Thelma woke up to find herself in a dark room, she tried to move her legs but couldn’t, she noticed her legs and hands are tied, she screamed but no one heard her, her fear grew when she heard footsteps approaching the room. She stiffened and moved backwards closing her eyes, tears fell down her cheeks, she remembered how she was warned by her mother and sister, she regretted ever coming to Lagos. The door to the room opened and some men entered, the light was switched on, Lo and behold she saw her husband, Chief Odebe and three other men, she was shocked.
“I thought you’re dead“ she stuttered moving backwards in fear
“Who told you that I’m dead” he asked her smiling wickedly at her
“Eeerrrm, errrmm” she lost her voice and couldn’t talk, she took a deep breath and opened her mouth but nothing came out
“Guys you did a wonderful job, your balance is in the car” Chief Odebe said
“Thank you boss, we are always available“ one of the boys said
“Thelma, I warned you, why did you involve the police? I never planned to kill you, but you pushed me to the wall, now listen attentively, just make your last wish because you have just thirty minutes to live on earth before you join the other girls in hell” chief said
“Chief please, I promise to leave this country if you release me, I will never make the mistake of trying to expose you, I was just a fool. Please sir, don’t kill me, I don’t want to die now ”
They laughed wickedly at her.
“I warned you, where’s your stupid mother and sister? Make sure you kill her before day break and dump her body in the forest for vultures to feast on” chief said and left the room.
Thelma’s sobbing increased, she prayed immensely to God, promising to turn a new leaf if she miraculously escapes from the hoodlums.
The three boys loaded their guys before her and asked her to say her last prayer, before she could open her mouth to talk. She felt a sharp pain in her heart, she yelled in pain, she touched her heart and felt blood gushing out of it, she screamed aloud, she was going to die
****”Jesus!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!,”she woke up startled and was shivering, she was still in shock as she held onto her heart still quivering, she looked around her room in fear, her television was still on, the bottle of alcohol she drank was still on the floor.
“It was a dream, thank you Jesus! thank Jesus! !” she said repeatedly.
She hurried out of bed and checked her door, it was securely locked, she was still sweating profusely. She checked the time, and it was 3am, she went to the bathroom and watched her face then returned to the room. For the first time for a very long time, she knelt down to pray, she prayed as she had never done before, she wished she had a bible with her, after praying she cleaned her room and sat down thinking about her life.
The ringing of her phone brought her back to reality, she picked the call.
“mummy good morning”
“My angel, How’re you?”
“I’m fine mummy, I have wanted to call you. I’m returning to Abuja today, I can’t stay in Lagos anymore,”
“I’m happy to hear this, we are worried about your safety, may God lead you home my angel, I love you so much” her mum said amidst tears
“I love you too mum”she said before cutting the phone
She got her things ready and left the house before 6am, she entered the first morning bus and returned to Abuja.
ONE MONTH LATER
Elvis and George were relaxing in the latter‘s office when the secretary walked in and informed him of a delivered package for him, he told her to bring it in.
They opened it and it was a lovely flower, he saw a note in it
“I will forever love you”
He threw the flower into the trash can and hissed
“Why can’t she let me be, this is the fifth time she sent gifts to me, I’m tired of all these”
“Who are you talking about?“ Elvis asked him
“Thelma of course, she has been stalking my life. I don’t need her in my life, she knows how soft I am and she’s taking advantage of it”
“I thought she has left for good, I can’t believe she’s such a desperado, “Elvis checked the time and announced his departure
“I have a date with my Bae and I don’t want to be late ”
“Are you referring to my little girl?” George asked him jokingly
“Who else am I going to meet? Mirabel will be mad at me if I’m late, I promised not to be late”
“I’m done here too, I want to visit uncle Gabriel and his family, I want to see my little boy” George said
“Are you sure it’s uncle Gabriel you’re going to see, or you want to see Gift“ Elvis smirked at him
“Bad guy,……… talking about Gift, she has moved on with her life and I’m happy for her”
“I pray you’re truly happy as you claim, I saw her with a rich dude in a restaurant,they seemed happy together ”
“nice, I’m done, let’s get going” George announced
*****************************
Elvis took Mirabel to an exotic hotel where he proposed to her, and she couldn’t stop gushing about the diamond ring on her finger.
“I love you so much and can’t wait to take you home as my wife, I’ve spoken to my father and mother about you and they insist on seeing you, they’re both in Abuja now, and I want you to meet them”
“I’m finally going to meet your parents, I’m so excited baby, I love you too, I can’t wait to break this news to my mum”
Her countenance changed, and Elvis moved closer to her
“Baby what is it?”
“It’s my brother”
“What happened to him?” he asked
“I’m worried about him, he’s not lucky with love. His first love broke his heart and the girl he wanted to marry died few days to their wedding. He has to start all over again and he is not making any attempt to do that now, all he knows is our company and his room. He always look sober, as if something is bothering him. My brother deserves to be happy, he has sacrificed alot for our family. I pray he finds true love”She said crying
He wiped her tears with his hanky.
“George will be fine, you’re ruining our date with your tears”
He pecked her on the forehead and helped her to her feet.
He paid their bills and drove her to the beach.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
******************
“If I had known that the traffic jam here will be this much, I would have just gone home” George cursed under his breath as he drove into his uncle‘s street. He was close to the gate when he saw a black tinted jeep packed in front of the gate, he saw Gift get down from it and couldn’t stop waving at the guy in it. The gate man was standing by watching them, on seeing George he ran inside to open the gate for him.
“Oga George welcome“ he greeted
George packed his car and walked to the gate to check on Gift who hasn’t entered the compound, he came out to see her engrossed in her call, he turned back and went to meet the security guard.
“Who was that, that dropped Gift?”
“Ooooh you mean Jide, na aunty Gift’s boyfriend o, this is how they do their lovey lovey everyday. The thing dey sweet me if I dey watch them, you never meet him abi, he may come back again”
“When did he start coming here?“ George threw at him
“I no know Oooooo, but I dey see him dey drop aunty Gift”
“Has he met the family? Does aunty Chinwe or uncle know him?”
“Noooo, they never meet am, you know aunty Gift na shy person, but he say he will meet them soon”
“Oook, lock the gate when she’s done with her international call”
“George you’re here, I’m sorry, I was on the phone with Jide. I would have introduced you to him” Gift said walking into the compound
“No need for that, I already know him, is uncle at home? ”
“You don’t sound happy, hope all is well?”
He ignored her question and went into the house, he greeted his uncle and wife and got busy playing with his cousin, Gift greeted them and walked to her room.
George remembered Elvis telling him about seeing her in a restaurant with a rich dude, he had a lot of things running in his mind, She came downstairs looking beautiful as ever.
“Aunty, Jide sent his greetings” she said settling down beside George.
“Not again, I’m already getting sick and tired of the name Jide, God knows I will strangle him if I get him close to you again?“ George thought to himself
“When are we going to meet him? I have heard a lot about him” her uncle teased her
“eerm, uncle I want to have a quiet time with you,“ George said changing the topic
“Sure, let’s go to my room” he turned to his wife.” Please prepare something for us to eat,” uncle Gabriel said
“George doesn’t seem alright, he didn’t respond to my greetings and when I tried to talk about Jide,he dismissed it” Gift said
“I didn’t notice that, he seemed alright,he was playing with his cousin before you walked in, but I will talk to him later” aunty Chinwe said
“You’re looking pale Gift, you’ve been sick for some days and you’ve refused to see the doctor, if this sickness persists. I will be forced to drag you to the hospital”
“Yes Ma,…………let me help Oge with the cooking”
She excused herself and went to the kitchen.
***************** After a lengthy talk with his uncle, George slept over at his place because it was already late.
He woke up early, showered and had his breakfast, he then settled down on the couch to wait for Gift. She came down minutes later ready to leave
“Good morning George,“ She greeted him and settled down to eat.
“Good morning, I heard you’re going back to the hostel today? I will drop you off on my way to the office”
“That’s kind of you, but Jide will drop me, he’s already on his way”
“Tell him to go to work, I will drop you off”
“but… Jide…. ”
“Since he said he will drop you, why don’t you call Jide and tell him that someone is dropping you” aunty Chinwe chipped in
They botb looked up in surprise as they didn’t know she was close by.
“Good morning ma” they chorused
“Good morning, Gift remember to return home this weekend for our church programme”
“Sure, I won’t miss that”
“And no one is inviting me?” George asked
“My husband, you’re invited.“ aunty Chinwe said jokingly
Gift was picking her breakfast because she has lost appetite, this has been happening for some days, sometimes she feels like throwing up when she sees food.
“You’re picking your food again, you will need to see the doctor when you return home this weekend” aunty Chinwe said
She only nodded, She carried her food back into the kitchen, she hugged her sister and left with Gorge for school.
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