Shock
768 Words
Mary woke to the bright morning. She smiled to herself not knowing why, but then her countenance changed. she remembered something. In her dreams the previous night she had cried all throughout over something which she tried to remember. Yes it was a spill of blood on the floor. What could all these mean. She hushed it aside and tried to brighten up but then those heart breaking words hit her hard again.
“Don’t bring that thing you call a son close to me”
She broke down in tears. She turned to look at her baby boy. He was so cute, sleeping peacefully in a little structure made for him. Why would someone hate such a little being like him ?
She had been delivered of him about 5 days ago and it was only yesterday that her husband visited just to show his contempt for the innocent baby.
Oh she wished her daughter was close by. She had missed Hilda’s presence, and her home, she had missed her kids.
No qualms , she’d be seeing them all today.
She didn’t want to consider what her husband had said the other day tho, Maybe Pierre might have been joking when he said those words, because these days he was beginning to get drunk. She thought to herself. He had settled the bills already and left as at then.
It was due for her to leave.
“When’s your husband coming ma’am”? Asked a nurse.
“I believe he’ll be here soon, because I texted him last night around 9:45pm”
She said gently to the nurse with a smile on her face.
She wasn’t expecting him to visit yesterday without the kids, but she somehow felt annoyed over the whole thing.
No. She would talk to him about it, though she wouldn’t raise her voice , but she would let him know that she wasn’t happy with it.
It was already 12:00pm and no one had showed up.
She was getting tensed up, Pierre was someone who didn’t like to be disturbed. If you tell him something once, he would get so mad at you for disturbing him I’ve and over again about the same issue, that’s why she didn’t bother calling to confirm if he’d seen the message.
The network providers had debited her #4 Naira for the text message so why would he waste time.
Then she decided to call. It was switched off.
“Goodness me!” She screamed. So he might not have received the message.
…………………………………………
She was on her way home all alone. With her new baby, in the taxi. She had decided to leave since she couldn’t wait any longer for Pierre.
A lot of people crowded her house.
The compound was filled up and people still remained outside. She was startled. And then everyone turned their gaze to her. No sooner had they gotten to know she was the wife of the house than lots of sympathizing statements began reaching her ears. She managed to come down with her baby.
Mama Nene the neighbor helped her carry the baby and her some other women handled the bags.
Mama Nene dragged Mary past her house to hers (mama Nene’s house)
“Don’t go there my daughter, you only need peace of mind now” the old lady said.
“Please what’s the problem ma”?
Asked Mary becoming so scared,
“Pierre, Hilda, Martins,where are they”?
…………………………………………………
Hilda became conscious, the 6 year old girl awoke. But it was dark, she was being carried in something she didn’t know.
She needed oxygen, it was stuffy there, the young girl was suffocating.
She was getting tired gradually.
…………………………………………………
Mary couldn’t take it again. No one was replying her, she ran to the house and , YES , she wasn’t meant to see any of it at all. She collapsed.
Her son had left the world in pains.
The police began the search for her missing husband. He must be the only one who knew what had happened, Hilda was already missing, it was just too much for her to bear.
She awoke, the crowd had reduced, Mama Nene had brought the baby home, everywhere seemed relaxed a bit, the room was being cleaned up, and a few people were still outside discussing on the latest event.
She had been laid on the bed and was being attended to by a young lady.
Mary stood up and made for the kitchen,
She had to be strong.
“Oh God please save Hilda” she muttered sorrowfully.
- Writer
