Dawn 9

'Madam, I’m afraid I have some bad news'

Nash looked numb.

Doctor adjusted himself in his seat as he continued

‘We’ve conducted some preliminary tests on your husband. He appears to have suffered some form of paralysis as a result of the trauma he suffered in the accident'

Nash lips were moving noiselessly as she kept staring at the doctor. 

‘I just want you to prepare your mind. We’ll still conduct more tests to ascertain the extent of the paralysis. I am so sorry’

Nash did not know how she left the doctor’s office. She walked to the loo on legs that had suddenly turned rubber like. She locked herself in and shed bitter tears. She never bargained for something like this. What was her crime she kept asking herself, what was her husband’s crime?

They gave generously in church, and out of church, to the poor, the widows and the orphaned. No, they didn’t deserve this!

Meanwhile Emenike was trying to see if he could move his limbs which strangely felt so very heavy. He complained to the nurse who smiled kindly and told him he would be right as rain, soon enough

Emenike felt something was terribly wrong. He had a feeling of foreboding. He couldn’t move any of his limbs. When the doctor came to check on him, he asked him but the doctor smiled and assured him it was normal and that he would regain the use of his limbs.

Nash came in just then. She looked dishevelled. Her eyes were puffy and reddish. 

Emenike was troubled ‘what is the matter, what’s wrong?’

Nash tried to force her facial muscles into a smile which came out as a grimace.

‘ Nothing is wrong my love' she managed to reply, her voice husky

Emenike looked at her, trying to read her, but she turned away from him, clenching her fist. 

When it was evening time, Nash tearfully left her husband. Emenike was left alone with his thoughts. He thought about the past, the poverty stricken home he was born into, the struggle to survive and how lucky he was to have married Nash who understood him so well.

‘She is a rare kind of woman, is Nash. A special breed indeed. Someone who deserves only the very best.’ He muttered to himself.

He tried lifting his legs, all to no avail. They felt heavy as lead. Hmmm. He tried same with his hands, same thing. Just the heaviness. He sighed and urged himself to be thankful that at least he was the sole survivor of the ghastly motor accident. He told himself, he would get through whatever ailed his limbs.

Emenike was in the hospital for a month undergoing series of tests. He was able to regain some strength in his right arm, but all other limbs remained immobile. Eventually, an orthopaedic surgeon who was one of his examiners had to break the news to him, it was unlikely he would ever walk again.

Emenike fell into depression. Everyone tried to cheer him up, to no avail. After spending a week more in the hospital, he was discharged and left in a wheel chair.

Nash kept urging him to be thankful that he survived the ghastly accident. She told him when there’s  life there is hope and that with God, all things are possible. Emenike nodded half heartedly. Hmmm. Where was God when he was told he would never walk again? At night his pillow would be soaked with his tears. He tried to put up a brave front for his kids who wondered at the skinny, unhappy man their usually upbeat father had become.

He had a male nurse who tended to his needs as the stress would have been too much for Nash who had become hypertensive.

Chioma came to visit him at home. She spent a week fussing over him and praying. Her presence cheered Emenike up. He knew because he hadn’t submitted her picture, as he was instructed, she would live. He hoped fervently that maybe, just maybe, his limbs had been sacrificed for her life.

Chuks came visiting not long afterwards. As soon as he was ushered into Emenike's room and the nurse excused, Chuks turned stern eyes in Emenike's direction.Emenike who was seated in his wheel chair was observing him keenly

‘So what good news brings you here?’ Emenike asked sarcastically

Chuks ignoring the sarcasm replied ‘Emenike, you can run but you cannot hide. The sherpherdhood sees everything'

‘So it would appear' replied Emenike dryly

‘ Why the Hell would you go pay a last minute visit to a sister meant for destruction?!’

‘ But you requested for her picture!'

Chuks growled ‘Come off it! You could easily have printed out any of her numerous pictures on face book! Instead you foolishly and stubbornly went to pay her a visit'

Chuks stood up agitated

‘ Unfortunately for you, she’ll still die!’

‘You can’t be serious! Not after taking my legs and left arm!’

Chuks laughed softly ‘That was just punishment for your delay and for visiting the one marked for destruction. You’re just paying your dues, Emenike. You’ve not even started!’

Emenike wheeled his chair towards him furiously, but Chuks sidestepped him

‘ What do you want to do? Hit me, kill me?! You forget you’re now a cripple. I could easily squash you, with just one hand.’

Emenike bowed his head, suppressed and bitten. He cried bitterly as Chuks looked him over with contempt

‘You can run, but you cannot hide. Chioma still dies. I hope you learn that strict and immediate obedience is the rule of the game. You either shape up or be shipped out, in an undesirable body bag, your family in tow.’

To be continued…