CONTINUATION. . . COMING TO LAGOS. . . EP 14
After I told mummy of my encounter yesterday morning, she instructed me to always pray with my anointing oil before leaving each morning.
This morning, I didn’t even think if missing it.
“I cover myself with the blood of Jesus. They will never see me.” I quickly applied a cross like gesture on my forehead and finally rubbed it round my face before leaving for work.
I got to work and met Stella consoling Timothy. He seemed like he had been crying.
I finally decided to ask what the problem was.
“His girlfriend lost the baby. .”
“I’m so sorry to hear that,” I said, placing a hand on Timothy’s shoulder. He wiped his eyes with a handkerchief and gave me a weak smile.
“It’s okay,” he said. “I know God has a plan for us.”
I was about to respond when the phone on my desk rang. It was my boss, calling to inform me of a meeting that had been scheduled for 10 o’clock this morning. I hung up the phone and turned to Stella and Timothy.
This was a bad news already but the worst was yet to happen. He could lose his job. He got this job only because she was having his child and now that she has lost the baby, no one knows what she might do.
Will she make her father send him off? Will she finally break up with him since she has lost the baby? I know she’s aware he has cheating on her.
I just hope she doesn’t do anything rash.
After the meeting, I went back to my desk and tried to focus on my work, but my mind kept wandering back and forth.
I decided to call Mrs Hannah, Samuel’s sister to ask something from her.
“Mrs Hannah,” I said, as soon as she picked up the phone. “How are you doing?”
“Hi, dear! I’m doing fine, and you?” she replied.
“I’m doing well, thank you,” I said. “I just wanted to ask you something. Do you think it’s possible to get pregnant after having a miscarriage?”
Mrs Hannah was silent for a moment, then said, “That’s a complicated question, and it really depends on the person and the circumstances. But I think it’s possible, with time and healing. Have you or someone you know had a miscarriage?”
Immediately, it occurred to me that I didn’t ask Anita if she had gone to the hospital for a test after she lost her baby.
“Yes, ma’am. A friend of mine did.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” Mrs Hannah said. “It must be a difficult time for her. She’ll be fine. She needs all the encouragement she can get.”
Anita?
From what I can remember, she doesn’t need any encouragement because she bluntly turned down my advice to leave her boyfriend.
“You’re right, ma. Thank you so much.” I said as I changed the subject. “I hope I didn’t disturb your lecture?”
“Oh no, I don’t have any class now.”
“Please ma, do you know when Samuel will be celebrating his birthday?”
“I think it’s in September. If I should say correctly, 20th September. Hope no problem?”
I was contemplating of telling her or keeping silent about it but on a second thought, I suspected he must have told her. She’s his sister.
“Ma’am, Samuel asked me to marry him.” I blurted out.
There was a pause on the other end of the line before mrs Hannah responded, “My dear, he told me about it. I asked him if it was what he really wants and I must confess, I have never seen him so sure of anything before.” I don’t know if she paused to breathe out before she continued.
“His last relationship, all the girl wanted was for him to keep spending and spending on her. The latest hair, clothes, shoes, bags and jewelries but she never appreciated any of it. All she ever did was to ask for more. I remember him telling me that she doesn’t love him, she only loved his money. The day he found out that she had been cheating on him, he broke up with her. I really thought he wouldn’t be able to move on or trust anyone again but here he is, asking you to marry him. All I can say is that I’m glad you came into his life. I won’t want to affect your decision. Think deeply if this is what you really want and pray too, okay?”
I was stunned by her words. I didn’t know what to say or do but I was more than happy that this woman was someone I could always open up too without worry.
“Thank you, ma.” I responded. “I’ll go off now, ma. My regards to Freda.”
“She’ll hear, our aunty Blessing.”
I couldn’t hide the smile as Stella kept stealing glances at me. I could finally concentrate and finish up with the organisation of the data and analysis from the meeting we had this morning.
As I was leaving the office that evening, I couldn’t help but feel so happy. I had finally found a place where I truly belonged. A place where I was appreciated and loved. A place I could call my home. As I stepped out of the building and walked towards where I would get a bus, a hawker had hit me but I was too happy to react.
The crowded bustop didn’t bother me either.
The air was filled with a cacophony of noise from the people trying to board buses. The bus finally arrived, and I managed to squeeze my way onto the bus. As I sat down, I noticed a woman trying to balance her little baby on her laps, staring at me with her big, dark brown eyes. I smiled at her, and she smiled back.
I was tempted to make that ugly face at her but I desisted from it.
I looked out of the window as the bus drove through the busy streets of Lagos. The city was alive with activities, the yellow buses all struggling to reach her destination first and the neon lights of the shops and restaurants lit up the night sky. I thought about how far I had come in achieving my goals in a short time.
My thoughts were interrupted as this woman’s baby started crying nonstop when we met with a terrible traffic. I won’t blame the child. The bus has become so hot that I could perceive the dent smell from the passengers.
One of the angry passengers from the back seat, “Madam, carry that child and come down na. She’s adding to the heat and traffic.”
Some people laughed and others joined in insisting the woman makes the baby stop.
I felt sorry for her and tried to imagine what she must have been only to suffer this heat and heavy traffic.
The traffic finally came to a standstill, no bus was moving and people were already alighting and I had no option than to join them.
On getting home, my legs could feel the impact of the long distance I had trekked before finding another bus going to Orile.
I plopped on my bed and began to take off my shoes. As I was unlacing my shoes, my phone began to ring. I glanced at the screen to see who was calling. It was my brother, Daniel. I answered the call and he started speaking.
“Big sis, I have some bad news,” he said, his voice sounding gloomy.
I felt a cold chill run down my spine. “What is it, Daniel? Are you not in school? What happened?” I asked, my voice shaking.
“It’s Mama. She’s been rushed to the hospital. I’m there with her?”
“What?”
To be continued. . .
