Desperate Moves

16

Two days after our last visit to the police station, the two other officers that were assigned to the case aside from inspector John, Sergeants Paul and Chinemerem, paid a visit to the hospital I was admitted in. They were provided with a document confirming I was r***d. That same day, they also paid a visit to my house. My entire apartment was turned upside down, but the whole search proved futile as nothing was found. Tosin had had the locks replaced before I was discharged from the hospital. They inspected the locks and I overheard one of the officers talking about the possibility of a bullet being trapped in the door or the old locks if the criminals had indeed shot at the door as reported. The way he said it made me a little pissed.

Four weeks and several visits to the station later, the police had not made any headway. The investigation was at a standstill. My nights were becoming increasingly difficult. Then I started experiencing strong waves of nausea in the morning. I was rapidly losing weight because of my poor appetite. To crown it all, my relationship with Sam was steadily going downhill. We went from talking at least thrice a day and actively chatting to having a dry conversation once in two days at best. He was barely making effort to communicate and I was pissed. I was going through difficult times and I expected him to be there for me, even though I had actually been mean to him. I expected him to understand.

Cynthia and Tosin seemed to be giving me space. They had gotten much closer than they had previously been. I didn’t have any problem with that; what I definitely had issues with was the fact that they were getting distant from me. I was alone and lonely. I decided to throw myself into my work, so as to take my mind away from what was going on around me. However, my boss was complaining about the quality of my work. My articles were no longer as creative as they used to be and they were now fraught with so many errors.

The nausea and lack of appetite were really getting on my nerves. Most times after throwing up in the morning, I would literally have to drag myself around in order to prepare for work. Then one day, it got worse, I couldn’t even hold it long enough to run outside before the vomit gushed out. Most part of my room was covered in it before I successfully ran outside. Tosin heard me almost coughing my eyes out and came out. He waited patiently for me to finish. As soon as I lifted myself from my scrunched position, he blurted out, without any preamble

“Edi, are you pregnant?”

I blinked several times before his statement sank in. The thought had never crossed my mind.

“What are you talking about?” I was looking at him wild eyed.

“You’ve been throwing up almost every day for the past one week. I may not know so much about women, but I definitely know that morning sickness is one of the early signs of pregnancy.”

It still hadn’t really sunk in.

“No, I’m not...I can’t be...” I was tripping over my tongue.

“You will have to go to the hospital...”

“I’m not going back to the hospital. Leave me alone, I’m not pregnant.” I snapped at him.”

“Edi...”

“Save it please. You guys are already avoiding me like plague. Please, just let me be, I’ll be fine. While at it, erase that thought of me being pregnant from your mind.” I made to walk away.

He grabbed my left wrist and wheeled me around to face him. I tried to wriggle out of his grasp but that only made him tighten his hold on me.

“Tosin leave me alone.” My voice had gone up.

“Be reasonable and stop shouting. Stop thinking that the whole world has to revolve around you because something terrible happened to you. By the way, you didn’t expect that I would be hurt when you and your boyfriend insinuated that I had anything to do with what happened that night?” his anger was glaring.

Those words stung badly.

“Tosin, I stood up for you and made sure that your name was cleared, yet you stand here and hurl those hurting words at me.”

“Yes, you defended me. But for one moment, the thought actually crossed your mind that that person that night could possibly have been me. Yes, you went all out to make sure I was released, but that was because you saw how hurt I was.”

He was right, for a moment, the thought had crossed my mind. But I am only human, and may I add that I am going through a lot at the moment; I deserve a break. Why would he blame me for allowing the thought to cross my mind?

“I’m sorry.” My eyelids were already wet.

He loosened his hold on me and inhaled softly.

“I’m sorry for being selfish. I was really hurt that you could even consider the possibility of me doing that to you. I just wanted to give you some space. I’m really sorry.” He pulled me into a tight hug.

We remained like that for a while as I took in the faint smell of his body spray which lingered on every article of clothing he had. Then I slowly edged out of his embrace. He looked at me and said softly.

“You’ve made life miserable for people around you for the past one month plus. It’s time to stop and allow us help you so you can heal faster.”

“Ok. But no going to the hospital.” My voice was raspy.

“Edi, we have to go to the hospital. You may not be pregnant after all, but we need to rule out that possibility totally.”

“I need to prepare for work.” I was not ready to face the possibility of me being pregnant, at least, not just yet.

“Stalling will not make it any easier; neither will it make it go away. You can call in sick.”

“I’m not sick.” I protested and made to move, but my knees buckled. Tosin grabbed me just in time. I felt dizzy.

“I’m a bit dizzy.” I confessed.

“Then you are not going to work today. Your temperature is even higher than normal.” He raised the back of his left palm to my forehead. “I’m taking you to the hospital.” He was leading me towards my room.

“Tosin please...”

“Edidiong, you are not strong enough to go to work. If anything happens to you, that company would still continue. Highest they will mourn over you would be one week, then they would find someone to replace you and life will continue as if you never existed.”

“I know! I just don’t like missing work and I hate hospitals.” I sulked.

“I know too! But we can’t help It.” he looked at me sympathetically.

“Go in and get ready.” He urged when we got to my door. “And don’t forget to call the office.” He called over his shoulder. I mumbled a response and went in to get set.