Even in Death 6

It was night time. Femi was leaning against the window sill in her room, tears running down her face. She found she couldn’t stop the tears, it appeared her tear ducts had a will of their own.

Her mother's words kept playing in her consciousness. She had promised to visit a gynecologist that week even though she knew there was no point. There never was a point to it all.

Abruptly, she started pulling off her clothes, in a hurry. Finally she was left with just her bra and panties. She moved like a zombie to the standing mirror near the bed. She squeezed her flat belly as she slowly sat cross legged on the tiled floor, weeping uncontrollably, almost willing herself to get pregnant. Finally, exhausted, she spread out on the floor and fell into an uneasy slumber.

Wale found her thus and not wanting to wake her up, covered her with the duvet he pulled off the bed and he retired to the guest room.

Femi woke up with a start. Groggily she stood up, her muscles feeling very sore for she was unaccustomed to sleeping on the bare floor. She reached for the light switch and the room came alive. She sat on the bed and checked for the time on the bedside table clock. It was 2am. She sighed as she lay back on the bed

It was funny how a mistake could mar one's happiness, literally make one's life not quite..satisfactory.

Upon entering into the bathroom, she stood for what seemed like hours under the cold jet of water trying to make order out of the disorder her life had become. Eventually she let herself, dripping, into the room and unto the bed as she fell into a listless slumber.

She dreamt of her illness. The name of the illness known to her and Wale alone when they were both in their final year. A heavily guarded secret indeed. Her parents weren’t aware she was ill, only her classmates knew but didn’t know the nature of the ailment. It was a well kept secret. Hers and Wale's to keep forever.

As she lay there, almost bereft of life and energy, Wale swore on his life and destiny that he would never leave her. That he would stand by her, forever 

‘I love you Femi. I know I brought this upon you…upon us. I promise nothing will ever take me away from you.’

Weakly Femi whispered' What if you eventually desire to have kids of your own?'

Firmly he had replied ‘I never will. I don’t wat children from any other woman except you'

Femi smiled just as weakly 

Continuing he had said, ’Since we can’t have any, so be it'

Femi awoke with a start bathed in sweat. She groggily reached for the remote control of the air conditioner on the bed and increased its intensity.

‘I’ve got to be strong for myself and Wale. No point letting anybody know. We all have our secrets. He has sworn to me he'll never betray me and I trust him. He daren’t break his promise.’

To be continued…