My Mother's Boyfriend

BAD BLOOD

The St. Mary’s Hospital reception is as cold as sea breeze. This is where Blessing has been admitted. My mind is in a complex web of confusion. Some relatives are smiling out of the relief of their discharged relatives. Others are in agonizing grief of their just departed loved ones. The accident scene is the busiest. Says a lot about our bad roads. I look around and luckily my eyes land on the reception desk.

“I am visiting a patient. She was admitted today.”

“Names please?” Posits the polite brown female receptionist.

“Sorry. Blessing.”

“Proceed to the second floor. The first ward on your left.”

I haste. An accident it must be. She must have been knocked by a car or a motorcycle. I’m not worried about that. I’m concerned about the magnitude of the accident. Is she unconscious? Oh God. My arrival must be a bad luck. I am lost in my thoughts. I don’t even remember what the reception said. I have to seek further assistance from a random worker.

“Hey, I am look for this ward. It should be somewhere here.”

“It is exactly behind you.”

My body grows numb even before I turn. I the room is supposedly open. Her parents must be staring at me. I don’t like explaining myself. Every time I do that I end up sobbing uncontrollably. What I know is that I am innocent. No one should try to convince me otherwise. I refuse. Before I even make up my mind to finally turn about, a sharp voice cuts through my spine.

“Tyra.”

That’s Aunt Perry. She is in her worst state. She is not signaling to turn about. She wants to attack me. Verbally. She is ready for it. I turn my eyes to the direction I’ve come from. The fast descending stairs are staring at me. I can hear their voice. Each staircase is calling me, “Tyra!”, and together it’s a thunderous voice asking me to run away. I’m woken from that frenzy thought with a soft touch on my shoulders. Nurses are transporting a dead body on a wheel bed.

“Excuse.” A nurse shouts.

I briskly move to the edge of the corridor.

“We are here.” My Uncle John intervenes.

My eyes downcast, I walk into the ward. There is an empty bed staring at me. Aunt Perry is soaked in tears. She is dead I presume. But I have to be the strongest here. My eyes are still fixed on the bed. Where might it be? Oh God.

“She’s not hear.” Uncle interrupts my mind.

Was he listening to my mind. Or maybe I spoke out. I am too strong for this situation. My body language accuses me. I have to develop some sympathetic nature. I have to do something that drives me to tears. I quickly come up with a wild thought. Collapsing.

“Are you okay?” Uncle Shouts, “Call a doctor.”

“Where is she!?” I am sobbing.

“She has been taken to the examination room.”

I hesitantly raise my head. Slowly like a bomb victims raising his head out of the ashes. Aunt Perry eyes are not looking at me. They are recording. I have to give them a credible scene.

“I thought she’s dead.” I speak up clearing my throat.

Men are easily duped by women tricks. Aunt Perry is alert. Seems I couldn’t fool her. As her husband is helping me get to my feet, she retorts.

“Leave her.”

“But she collapsed.” Uncle intervenes holding my hand.

“I said leave Tyra alone. She can get up!”

“My wife…”

“Wasn’t she with Blessing all that time? She’s pretending!”

“I am not pretending.” I shout back.

I used more energy than a collapsed person should use.