Make It Rain

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

"Doctor when did he wake up?!" Mrs. Akande's excitement filled the room.

"Last night." She replied "He needed rest, that's why I didn't inform you."

"You are blessed dear..."

Samuel turned his head from left to right, trying to recognize everyone around him. He stared at his mother for a while before sending his eyes at the lady sitting beside him. 

"Samuel can you talk?" Mrs. Akande couldn't wait

I know your voice… Mother?

Samuel fixed his gaze at her again, he finally recognized his mom. But who was the lady sitting beside him?

"Madam please don't rush him, he might not even remember any of you immediately." The nurse warned.

She was right. Samuel was only half sure that it was his mother speaking to him. He still continued to stare with his forehead furrowed, trying to remember fully who she was and why he thought she was his mother.

Jimmy! Where is… ?

Working his brain too hard brought flashes of what mission he was on before he went into a deep slumber. The monitor on his side began to beep faster as his heart rate increased. He slowly turned his head, looking around the whole room to seek Jimmy but there was no sign of him. His eyes welled with tears as they gradually rolled down to his ear.

Throwing looks between the nurse and Samuel, Mrs. Akande panicked. "Nurse what is it?!" 

"I think it's time to say goodbye."

"It's time to say goodbye."

He remembered someone said that to him once, and the person's voice was very familiar to him. Felt like he had some kind of connection with that person.

Shola!... Where is she?

Is this her?

Looking to the girl sitting beside him.

"Okay I will let him rest, but please don't let that Shola of a girl into here okay?" 

What?!!

Samuel wished he could speak at the moment, but his heart rate did enough to relay his emotions. 

The beeping rapidly increased, reading his heart rate as it accelerated. It was getting too fast for his own good at the moment. 

Why would his mother send Shola away?

"This is not good, stand back!" The nurse quickly injected him with a sedative.

With initial gentle blinks, Samuel's eyes closed slowly as he drifted back into his sleep.

"Why was he like that?"

"I think he was angry about something."

The lady sitting beside Samuel finally stood "Could it be because you sent Shola away?"

The nurse walked to the door and opened it, "I don't know but please don't say too much in front of him yet." Stretching her hand out for them to leave the room.

"Come on Jadesola, let's leave for now."

Finally, Samuel was now awake. He was going to be normal again and fully recovered, Mrs. Akande hoped. She didn't care how long it would take for him to recover fully, she just wanted her baby back to normal again.

A few weeks passed and Samuel was now able to move his hands, and then his torso, being able to sit up by himself even though it was just for a few minutes. It exhausted him a lot, still needed more rest.

In no time Mrs. Akande's dream was slowly but finally becoming reality as Samuel was now able to stand up from the bed and walk around on his own. Even Samuel was tired of lying in the same bed for long. Everyone was glad, but there was a problem.

Samuel was unable to speak. He would pull his breath in trying to force out words but only deoxidised hot air would come out everytime he tried. His vocal cords didn't permit it just yet.

Six months after, the doctors deemed Samuel ready to leave the hospital and discharged him for good. Stating that the best way he could get his speech back was if he stayed around people and went out often, something might just catalyse his speech.

Because of that, Mrs. Akande took him everywhere she went and he would agree. He was also eager to speak, maybe more than everyone. 

Also to help his limbs recover quickly, the doctors advised Samuel to walk more often.

On their way from the market, Mrs. Akande and Samuel walked to a nearby restaurant for a quick bite before heading home. Before entering the restaurant, Samuel noticed two ladies in a rusty mini rover making their way to the market.

Like a flash of light, his memory traveled back and returned.

That girl… I know her, that's… ?

Memories began to materialise in front of him, his own mind taking him back and forth. Pictures of the past, happy, sad, painful memories all began to come.

"It's time to say goodbye"

"...i love you and you are irreplaceable"

"I love you too"

Samuel's thought went wild, thoughts relating to the girl he just saw in the car. He blinked irregularly, rubbing his forehead to remember.

That's… That's… 

"Shola" His voice finally came out as his thoughts came out loud.

All this while, he knew he was in love with Shola but couldn't recognize her till he saw her. With a quick look, he noticed his mother was already preoccupied with someone in the restaurant, so he took the opportunity to meet his beloved.

***

"Oh let me take this." Shola drew out her phone.

"Who is it?" Junmi asked.

"Unknown number." Shola picked the call.

"Hello!"

"Hey!"

This voice!

Shola's eyes drew open as her breathing became fast and heavy, and her heart beating with a force that Junmi would probably hear.

"What is it? Who is it Shola?!"

"Samuel?" She spoke under her breath. Her shivering voice laced with sorrow and joy.

"It has been a while babe. How are you?"

"Samuel… " Still out of breath

"Turn around Shola"

She turned to him standing at the other end of the hall. "Samuel." Was all she could say.

What she had dreamed night and day about was finally happening. Samuel was fine again, standing without aid, talking again. Oh how she missed his tender voice. Creating sparks in her belly and shock waves that would move all over her body, it was all back again.

Finally!

"How did you know…"

Samuel cut her short, "That you will be here?"

"Yh…" They still talked on the phone.

"I saw your car come in." He answered "Shola please come to me"

"Yes." She was also eager to feel his touch again. Taking one - two steps forward, Junmi held her arm and collected the phone from her.

"Leave her alone!!!" Then turned the other way, pulling Shola with her.

"Junmi what are you doing?" Shola already had tears in her eyes.

"We are going home! No more shopping" Being the sister Shola never had. They left Samuel standing in the hallway and Junmi drove Shola back home in her rusty mini rover.

Mrs. Akande was worried sick looking for Samuel.

Where could he have gone?

After roaming about a bit, she saw Samuel standing in the hallway, holding his phone by his ear.

"Samuel! What are you doing here?!" She constantly rubbed his face and arms, hoping he was not hurt. He was all that she had now.

"Come let's go"

"No!"

To her surprise, Samuel spoke to her "You can talk now?"

"My baby! Oluwaoshey ooo!! Thank God!"

"But… What brought you here? And why won't you come with me?"

With a sniff he answered "Shola… She was here"

"Oooo… I warned that girl to stay away from us"

"Why?!!" Samuel barked

For the first time in his life Samuel yelled at his mother, leaving Mrs. Akande speechless .

"Why mommy?" His voice trailed off, turning around in shame. He hated that he raised his voice to his mother.

"Because she is not good for you"

In quick rotation, he turned back to her "How would you know that?"

He continued, "You spend every day at work, even Saturdays. Then on Sunday, after service you spend the entire day with your church friends. You never create time for anyone"

"I work only for you my baby" Mrs. Akande held his cheeks, looking straight into his sad eyes.

"And its important to spend time with the Lord Samuel"

It was time to spill the beans "I don't believe in 'The Lord' anymore ma. I only go to church to make you happy. Do the same for me and accept Shola"

Mrs. Akande was dumbstruck, staring at Samuel as he walked away from her. This wasn't how she wished to hear Samuel speak again. With a blink, tears began to fall out. 

As if that wasn't enough, she heard a thud that sounded like someone fell.

"Samuel!!!" She dashed to him, shaking him to wake. He had fainted.

"Samuel wake up! Samuel please!" She cried, regularly placing her palm on his chest to confirm he was alive.

"Somebody help!" She yelled with tears pouring out of her eyes. Tears that not only showed her sorrow but also fueled her hate for Shola even more. In her books, all this happened because Samuel saw Shola and she was not going to forgive that cursed girl. She brought nothing but trouble to their lives and always got away so innocently. Only if Samuel saw what she saw.

More worried about Samuel's condition, Mrs. Akande quickly dialed the doctor's number as a huge crowd gathered around to help her and Samuel.