Episode 11
I walked into Uzor’s room oblivious of what to say and how to react.
“Chioma is that you”? I heard him say
Immediately he saw me, he made a disappointing sigh and turned his face away.
What was I doing here. He obviously didn’t need me around. His lackadaisical attitude didn’t seem to repel me after all he is the father of my child.
“What happened Uzor?” I heard my self say
He kept mute and chose to stare at the wall.
“You need to talk to me, I deserve a response”.
“Don’t talk me deaf woman, can you call Chioma for me and if you can’t, take a walk” . He blurted out.
His outpour of derogatory statement didn’t diminish even with his current state of health, and I was his favourite test subject. I tried to walk away but I didn’t end my romantic evening to be broken down by Uzor’s unrelenting quest to make me feel terrible.
“Talk to me Uzor, I won’t leave here until you say something to me”.
He stared at me for a while
“I was distracted for a minute”. He said regrettably.
What distracted you? I almost asked
“I want to rest my eyes for a minute”
. He said before I could ask further questions.
Sleep? You have been unconscious for days now, why do you need to sleep. I quizzed myself. He obviously didn’t want to have this conversation.
He had on a remorseful demeanour, as though sorry for what he did or shameful. I had to wait for him to say something to me or rather wait to find out if Chioma comes lurking.
Two weeks after the accident, I had a standard routine. I prepare Ada for school, drop her off and then proceed to the hospital to help Uzor carrying alongside a food basket.
At first he was stubborn and said mean things to me, always making cryptic phone calls and ending them immediately he heard my footsteps. After a while, he was relaxed and a little bit accommodating, maybe he felt bad that I was here to take care of him despite his attitude towards me. I had a pedigree of niceness to uphold and it wasn’t about to change. Not all days were rosy with Uzor but I was determined to be patient as I await the arrival of his mother who’s been away before the incident.
It was 10.40am when I arrived the hospital premises and I rushed towards Uzor’s room and I saw her.
“Good morning Ma”. I said immediately I saw her in Uzor’s private room. I had since called her to inform her about the accident.
“Good morning Sinach. Where have you been? Don’t you know my son needs to clean up?” she said.
‘She’s back’, I thought, accompanied with the heat and discomfort she brought along.
“I had to drop Ada off at school and also see some of my clients”. I replied
“Your clients? You can do business knowing fully well that your husband is lying on the hospital bed incapacitated?”
“Ex husband!!”. I exclaimed.
She was quiet and Uzor was surprised. She had it coming. I was on a sympathetic service and Uzor or the mum had no right to make me feel useless.
“That’s your food”. I said looking at Uzor.
“Ma, I would take my leave now, I’ve got some errands to run”. I walked out of the room.
I went to my house to rest. I had little or no energy to feel terrible because Uzor and his mum willed it so.
Few moments later, my phone rang and ‘Uzor’s mum’ was displayed on the screen. I ignored the call. She called severally and I ignored still.
After 5 missed calls, she finally sent a text message pleading I come back to the hospital and that she was sorry for the way and manner she spoke to me. For years I had known her, she had never said much as sorry to me, even when I hurt myself not to talk of when she offends me. She always equated the insults to my ill behaviour. I replied the message, telling her I would only come around as a visitor and the pleasure of bringing food and running around for bills would henceforth not be my duty anymore.
The next day after I dropped Ada off at school, I went home to freshen up. Stepping out of the bathroom, I heard my door bell. I wasn’t expecting anyone. I looked through the peephole and saw Uzor’s mum standing, I opened the door for her but adjusted my towel before I did. She walked into the room with so much grace, she always stole the glances of everyone when ever she walked into a room.
“Good morning ma, please sit down” I said.
“Good morning Sinach”. She replied.
She had on a dismissing face, the days I lived and breathe for Uzor’s mother approval are behind me. She didn’t think so much of my apartment and I could care less.
I went inside to change and returned to the sitting room meeting her in the same spot, still and patient. I sat opposite of her and listened to what she had to say.
“First of all Sinach, I want to thank you for all you did for my son since this unfortunate incident”. She said.
I simply nodded. She continued talking
“My son remarried few weeks after your divorce was finalised. As much as it is regrettable to share this piece of information with you, I won’t be happy if you are left in the dark”. She paused.
Dark? I was locked in a tower for years with the key thrown into a ditch for the years I was married to Uzor. Why change now I thought to myself.
“Uzor’s wife Chioma, made away with a huge sum of money from his account. Upon realisation of this information while driving, he was distracted and he had the accident. All efforts to apprehend her has proved fruitless”. She continued, interrupting my thoughts.
My mouth was open in amazement at this new information.
“She told him she was pregnant with his child, and with Uzor’s quest to have a male child, he made her signatory to his account. He signed a clause which gave her access to the account in his absence”. She said and sat back easing into the chair.
I recovered from my mouth opening rendezvous and simply just stared at her. For the period of our marriage, I never held Uzor’s Atm card neither did I make a withdrawal with it.
“Uzor is highly ashamed of his actions, and he regrets what went down between both of you. I’m incredibly sorry for all my son and I put you through all these years”. She said with tears dropping from her eyes.
I envisaged this day but I never imagined I would live to see it. Who made me so superior not to forgive her and her son? No one.
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