ABUSED..
Episode 25
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I arrived the hospital Ella was said to be after receiving the shocking call saying she was involved in an accident. Worried to death was I that I didn’t change my pyjamas, and I drove crazily to the hospital.
I ran to the emergency unit to search for her. I just pray she is not badly hurt. The hospital was filled with people, moving to and fro. I find traced the caller, a dark young man probably in his early thirties.
” I’m Ruth. Where is my sister?” I said to him when we met panting heavily
” Calm down madam. She is in the ICU”
” What? Where? Please take me to her😩😩”
He led the way as I hurriedly followed anxiously, we stopped at room 6, looking through the window as we weren’t allowed to enter, I saw Ella in bandages; her head, her right leg was hanged and her head supported on a white plastic. A tube running into her mouth connected to a cylindrical container.
My heart sank seeing my friend in such state. Tears were flowing down my cheek like a stream.
” What happened?” I cried out
” Their car was badly hit by a heavy truck, it somersaulted severally into a ditch. The driver didn’t make it, we found her still conscious and rushed her here. Your number was the last dialed
My phone rang, it’s Maxwell. My hands were shaking as I picked up
” Good morning Ruth”
I could barely utter a word
” Ruth, are you ok?”
” E…lla” I said tearfully😥
” What’s wrong?”
” She is involved in an accident”
” What? Ruth calm down. Where are you?”
I told him the name of the hospital and it’s location.
Seeing Ella in such state has torn my heart to a thousand pieces. The good Samaritan who called me tried to console me but I rebuffed.
Maxwell ran towards our direction, he looked through the window to see Ella and to me. He held me so close like I was about to vanish
” Ruth. She is going to be fine”
” I don’t want to loose her”
” Sshh. Look at me, we are not going to loose her”
” Just do something. I want her to live… Fly her out or anything. I don’t to loose my friend”
” Ruth, I am here. I’m a surgeon remember. I will do everything in my power. Just calm down” he assured me
” Madam, nothing go happen to your sister. Just pray, she go survive” the Samaritan said
” I will see the doctor in charge, and know how bad it’s’
‘ I will go with you” I blurted out
We met a nurse who led us to the doctor after Maxwell introduced himself as a doctor too.
We were ushered into his office by the nurse, Maxwell exchanged pleasantries with him and then proceeded to telling him why were here
” Doctor Maxwell, she is in a critical state”
” How critical doctor? I…. I am her sister. If there’s anything to be done please tell us. If taking her abroad is best start preparations, please”
” Madam relax. No need for that, good thing she was brought on time. We were able to handle the situation thoroughly. She is responding to treatment but she is unconscious. Her brain is traumatized by shocked. For now we just have to keep her under observation”
” Thanks Dr Martins ‘
” You are welcome Dr Maxwell”
We thanked the good Samaritan, who l later got to know is Andrew. He stayed with us for some time before leaving. Handled Ella’s belongings to me.
I couldn’t leave Ella, I stayed looking through the window for long hoping she would open her eyes.
Maxwell joined me after seeing Andrew off. I couldn’t say a word as my lips were too heavy to move.
” Jesus got her”
That statement angered me that I turned to him
” Really! And he couldn’t save her from this” I replied angrily
” Ruth. He loves her too”
” Maxwell please spare me the sermon. Look at my friend lying lifeless with different support system on her”
” He was on that cross dying and those He loved deserted him”
I couldn’t say a thing for my heart is heavy and eyes are weak from weeping.
We sat for hours without much words, his phone rang. From his conversation I could tell the person on the other end is a woman.
” That’s my sister, she called to inform me she would be in town tomorrow morning”
‘ Ok’
‘ Ruth, she is going to be fine.’
I nodded in response, I feel tired to talk. I just want Ella to open her eyes.
” You need to eat something”
” I’m not hungry”
” Come, let me you home. You need to freshen up”
” I can’t leave her”
” Ruth, she is going to be fine. You want to get sick looking after her? You are still in your night wear”
I protested no more, following him obediently as I wasn’t in the right frame of behind to go behind the wheels. He spoke with the doctor and nurse before leaving.
We drove in silence all the way home. I didn’t know when we arrived home as I was deep in thoughts.
Maxwell opened the door which brought me back to reality.
” Thanks” I muttered
” It’s nothing”
He followed me into our house sat on the couch quietly as his gaze darted around, the drink I was about gulping down before I received the bad news was on the center table. I cleared the table returning the cup to the kitchen.
” I will go have my bath now”
” I wait for you here”
” Ok”
I walked upstairs weakly like one being forced to, I am glad Ella survived at least unlike the unlucky fellow who died.
I had a hot bath to ease my pain. No wonder I felt restless all through the night, Ella was in danger.
I wore something comfortable and descent, walked down stairs to meet a praying Maxwell. I stood by the stairs watching him pray calmly.
This man is just so calm in person, he doesn’t feel anxious while praying. I wanted to join him but I restrained myself. Does He care after all?
I thought about Ella lying lifeless in that room being all alone and my heart filled with sorrow for what has befell my friend.
My thoughts were interrupted by Ella’s phone lying on the sofa. I went further to know who the caller is, it’s Oliver. Goodness! How do I tell him about Ella’s condition.
Picking on the second ring I could sense the tension in his voice as he asked about Ella. I had to lie to calm him down. He is writing his final year exams telling him would complicate things for him.
I assured him Ella was good cooked up an excuse as to why she wasn’t able to pick. The call ended with Oliver sending his regards.
Ella siblings now see me as elder sister as well. A big sister they rely on, Ella sponsors their education, I also contribute my quota too on my own volition. I picture us a family and also pay my dues when necessary.
” Who was that” Max inquired
” Ella’s brother”
” Ok”
” He is writing his final exams telling him about the situation would affect him”
” Ok. She is going to pull through this I am sure”
” Amen” I said
” So, what do you want to eat”
” I’m not hungry I told you”
” Don’t let sorrow consume you. You need to stay alive and healthy to take care of her. ”
” Ok”
I went to the kitchen fixed noodles and eggs with few minutes. I dished it out on two tray adding a bottle of water to each I gave the other to him, sat on the sofa to eat mine though I don’t feel like eating.
We ate in silence after her said the prayers; something I rarely do
” Ruth, what about your parents?” he asked breaking the silence
I dropped my fork abruptly as I heard those words
” They are dead”
” Is that so?”
” Maxwell I rather not talk about it”
” Ruth, looking at you, you have a heavy burden weighing you down”
I picked my fork and ate quietly avoiding his eyes
” Hmmm. You need to heal Ruth. You need to lay it down at His feet and allow him heal you”
I coughed not wanting to reply those words hoping he would digress to a different topic.
” Sorry dear”
” Thanks”
Silence set in again which made me feel better as he ate without saying a word. I returned the dish to the kitchen, washed them and joined him in the living room.
It’s almost seven, I need to go stay beside my friend I said to myself.
” You both got another chance to return to him. First it was you. That day you were carried lifeless into the hospital, I …”
” You felt pity for me”
” Ruth”
” Maxwell, thank you for that day. Ella told me”
” What do you intend to do with this second chance”
” Live peacefully and happily”
” You can’t achieve that with settling with your past”
” What are you now? A judge? You barely know me Max. I…’
” You are trying to bottle up your emotions and behave strong. You need to reconcile with your mother🙄”
I was shocked to say the least at those words. How did he know?
” I don’t have one”
” You do Ruth”
” Who are you? Oh! I guess Ella must have fill you in”
” No. I know because He told me about you. ”
” He did. Did He also tell you what I went through? Did He tell you that I went to jail? That I am a prostitute? That I was abandoned and abused? No. Tell me” I replied amidst tears😥😥
” Ruth…”
” I see you are here to judge me and make me feel worthless. Yes! I’m no saint and I don’t claim to be one😥. He told you about a woman who denied me and yet He couldn’t save Ella. That’s the only family that I have lying lifeless in there. Does He really care?”
” He does”
” No he doesn’t. I paid for a man’s crime that I know nothing of. I bear the consequences of his deed all my life. A life that I had no choice😭😭”
” Ruth! You and Ella are having another chance to start a fresh. The driver didn’t have the chance. You did and hope she too. Open your heart for him and let Him heal this pain”
I cried in despair as I thought about my life. It’s been miserable all along. My path has never been straight. I have gotten used to sorrow that I feel my name should be Mara not Ruth. For fate has been ruthless to me.
” Accept Him now, you might not get another chance Ruth. You are hurt, he knows. He is familiar with our sufferings and sorrow. He was bruised for our iniquities. He was abused, spat at, wrongly accused, betrayed, denied and deserted. Ruth, He knows everything you have been through. He has been through that path, at some point He felt abandoned by His father as He hung there for all to behold. You can’t keep carry this burden all your life Ruth. Give Him a chance”
I couldn’t say anything, my heart was heavy and each words hit me so deep. I cried and knelt down, he prayed for me😭😭.
” I do not condemned you Ruth for He doesn’t either. He convicts and save. He loves you and I do too🥰”
I looked at him surprisingly when he said he loves me too
” Yes I do. The first day you thought we met at your boutique wasn’t the first time I saw you. I was happy to find out you own the boutique where I shop for my mother sometimes. Then you were wheeled into the hospital that night. I felt my world is crashing when I saw you in that state. I know this isn’t the right time to say this but I can’t hold it anymore😩. I planned to spend my leave with you and then up to you but it’s now or never. I prayed for a partner He led me to you. I can’t explain why but with time I got to know better”
I was speechless and pondered on his words.
” Maxwell, I am no match for you. I’m a harlot and you know my condition😥😥”
” Was. Your past doesn’t count now you are in Christ and with Him everything is possible”
I was amazed by those words, my heart was relieved as he kept telling me about what the scripture says about me.
We prayed and I accepted wholeheartedly that I was forgiven of my past. It was almost 10pm when we left for the hospital.
I prayed for the first time in my heart that God should heal Ella😩🙏🙏
TO BE CONTINUED..
Wow!..
Glory.