ABUSED
Episode 41
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I had the best time of life in the Maldives. It’s like the whole world is yours when you spend it with the one who loves you. It’s an unforgettable experience Ella gave us as gift.
We are on our way home after touching down Nigeria. Home sweet home! It’s been three blissful weeks away from home yet I wished we lingered.
My family were excited when they learned we are in Nigeria. We drove to our new home.
A quiet neighborhood. The environment is clean, our house is a bungalow of six rooms painted lemon green.
We were exhausted from the long trip. The gateman helped us with our luggage,
” Good day, Good day ma” a lady greeted us warmly
” She is our house keeper” Maxwell informed me
We exchanged pleasantries, she took our luggage from the gateman and took it inside.
We were treated to mouthwatering vegetable soup and wheat after we settled in and freshened up.
We chatted about our trip, how beautiful it was
” How about we go see mother and Ella later today”
” Ok. We can go see my parents afterwards”
” Ok. It’s fine☺️”
” I’m resuming work next week. It’s going to be hectic”
” I know. Typical of doctors” I said with a frown
” You are missing me already😁”
” I have to share you with your patients”
” Someone is jealous o😅”
” I think I will enroll for school of nursing’
” That’s great! Both of us will get busy with our patients but you will be under me you know”
We laughed, discussed about irrelevant topics before taking a nap.
I woke up feeling better, I turned to meet an empty space.
Where has he gone too? I changed into something else, I sighted a piece of paper on the dressing table
Picking up to read the content, I sighed. He has barely touched Nigeria there’s an emergency all of a sudden. This is one perks of marrying a doctor – patience.
I went alone to go see mother and Ella. I left that house single, I am going there married moreso a visitor. Life! One status can change overnight.
I finally got to our house, I feel excited as I approached the door. The house help greeted me which I barely reciprocated, I just want to meet Ella.
I flung my back on the sofa, shouting their names as I head towards her room, with joy I opened the door but my joy turned sour by what greeted me
The sight of Ella made my heart sank, I rushed to her
” Ella what happened to you” I asked fearfully. She is a shadow of the Ella I saw before we left for our honeymoon.
She smiled weakly and coughed
” What’s going on? Where’s mother? Ella’ I held her frail body as I wept
” Ruth” she coughed out
” Ella…”
” How was the Maldiveeeees”
” Ella, what happened to you” I cried out😥
Her breathing was noisy and sounded like there was a blockage in her nose
” Motherrrrrr went to get some drugs from the storeeee”
” The nurse?”
” She is of no use”
” What do you mean?”
” I paid her off two days ago”
” Why? ”
” My time is up”
” Ella what are you saying? Stop!”😩
I cried as I held in my hands, what hasn’t eaten her up? I pondered
” Don’t cry for me Ruth. Remember I told to take care of my siblings.” She said faintly
” You are going nowhere”
She smiled at me, I could see the pains on her pale looking face.
” It was nice meeting youuuuu” she coughed out
” Elllllla. Please keep quiet”
” I’m glad I saw you settled Ruthhhhh. I prayed to my maker to spare me to see your beautiful day whennnn I found out I hadddd…” She coughed out blood
I I was confused,
” Elllllla keep quiet. I’m going to call Max right away.”
I ran like a mad woman to the living room to pick my phone, I called Max repeatedly, he picked on the sixth call
” Max get an ambulance to our house”
” What’s going on?”
” It’s Ella”
” Calm down, I am coming”
I ran off to her room
” Max is coming Ella. You need to be taken to the hospital Ella”
” Ruthhhhh it’s unnecessary. I won’t live…”
” You shall live and not die to declare the wonders of God in your life” I declared
Our eyes were teary, but Ella kept smiling all through
” Don’t talk. Save your strength”
” Waterrrr”
I stood up to fetch her water from the jug on her table.
My hands were shaking as I filled the mug, an envelope fell from her shelf. I kept the jug, bent down to pick the paper.
It’s a medical report,
” Ruth…”
I gave her the water, she gulped down nosily. My heart was on the paper.
She was trying to say something but I ignored her and opened the report. I scanned through the paper.
I froze at the information I saw, I looked at her slowly.
“Ella why did you do this to me? ” I wailed
” I didn’t want to loose yourself because of me. I kept away from everyone because I want you all to forge ahead. You, my siblings”
” No. There’s no forging ahead without you, Ella😥😥! ”
” I don’t want to be a liability to anyone, It was hard but I freely choose this path. Ruthhh look at me! Stuck to that wheel for life and then the results. When I found out, I vowed and I made the nurse swear to me no ear will hear it because I want to go peacefully to my Maker. I don’t want you to halt your life because of me”
My cheeks hurt as the hot liquids pour on, my visions were hazy.
” I told you I will be by your side till dawn! You betrayed me Ella”
” No sister, ”
The door creaks open, it’s mother. I ran to her, she looks dull herself, I held her roughly
” You knew about this? Tell me!”
” Ruth!”
” Mother…” the drugs fell from her hands as she hugged me crying
” I found out a week after you and Maxwell left for Maldives. She made me seal my lips and play all is well”
” No! I reject this report.”
” The cancer has spread much. Her lungs are packing up Ruth”
I turned to a frail Ella and rushed to her
” You are going nowhere Ella. I..I… I will do anything, take you anywhere. Ella”
She held my hands and shook her head
” I want to go home”
There was a knock at the door, mother answered, It was Maxwell.
I ran to him
” Do anything. She can’t die. No, please Maxwell. To my last penny, save her”
” Ruth! Take it easy. ” He looked at me confused as I knelt down begging
He looked at Ella side, he was speechless. He pulled me up to himself in a tight embrace.
” Elllllla” I screamed
He picked the report, looked at me and to mother. His expression was hopeless
We helped her to the wheelchair, she winced in pains as she was carried out to the ambulance. I mounted the viechle after the parademics laid her on the bed and took her in.
I cried all through the journey to the hospital😭😭😭.
To be continued..
