JEREMY
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Episode 5
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“I promise, darling, I have no idea what struck me. I can’t believe I hurt you like this. I can’t believe I let it get this far. What could you possibly have done to merit this treatment from anyone? You know me, babe. You know that I could never have done this to you with my clear eye. You understand that I could never intentionally cause you pain, much less watch you suffer. These past few hours have been the most terrible experiences of my life. I see a little bit of myself in you, baby. For the rest of my life, I will live in constant anxiety that I misplaced that crucial component due to my carelessness. I’ll never be able to fully forgive myself for this. And I’ll never lay a finger on you, ever again. I swear. My love, I sincerely apologize. I’m aware that it will be challenging, but I need you to find it in your heart. Baby, please tell me that you forgive me. I need confirmation that you recognize my lack of intent in all of these and that you accept it as true. I promise, I won’t ever again be this erratic.”
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Halfway through his pleading, Jeremy started crying. I had never in my life witnessed a man sob so loudly.
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I was in excruciating pain. Without assistance, I couldn’t even sit down.
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Jeremy, the person who had caused me so much agony, was kneeling within an arm’s reach of my hospital bed.
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I was furious.
I found it incomprehensible that Jeremy would have the audacity to be in my company. I couldn’t believe he was counting on me to fall for any of his crocodile tears.
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A part of me felt certain that Jeremy was merely sorry that he didn’t finish the job when he got the chance.
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“Babe, Jeremy only regrets not having killed you. I honestly believe you won’t be alive to hear another apology if this disgusting man, who is currently on his knees, is given the same chance again. Kick his poor ass out right now if you know what’s best for you. Cry over him for a couple of weeks because I know you clearly love him, and then move on.” My inner voice warned me strongly.
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I attempted to talk but was unable to do so. I was no longer recognizable due to the damage Jeremy had done to my face. My face had become twice as big. As a result, I was unable to see clearly. My mouth was much larger than usual. It hurts to try anything at all.
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I eat through a straw.
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I had dislocated my arm from earlier attempts to “defy gravity,” according to X-rays.
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“What would you have explained to your parents if they’d been in town?” was the single question that kept ringing over and over again in my thoughts.
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Jeremy paid all the medical bills. He made sure that all necessary tests were conducted, as required.
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I continually requested that Jeremy be expelled from the hospital and not permitted to enter my room ever again, but he always managed to get in. The only other things he does are cry, beg, swear that what happened won’t ever happen again, and “repeat.”
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Thank God these occurrences took place over the holidays. As a result, no one was aware of my circumstance or that I was in the hospital. Nothing could have prepared me for the subsequent question and answer sessions.
I had already made up my mind to call in sick after the holiday and most likely request my leave. In this manner, I could then use that break to recover and perhaps return to looking decent.
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Every chance he had; Jeremy sought to atone for what he had done to me. It was the least he could do, he claimed.
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I didn’t have any visitors at the hospital other than Jeremy the entire time I was there.
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I spent a week and three days in that hospital bed. I’d come a long way in this time, healing up a storm. Without Jeremy’s knowledge, I was discharged. He had, as usual, simply gone to the hospital to see how I was doing when he realized I had left. He left me a few missed calls before ultimately arriving at my door.
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After denying him entry, I finally let him in, and he began to make a scene.
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I had just closed the door behind Jeremy when my lips were suddenly encircled by his as I turned to face him.
To be continued…
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Moshood Avidiime
