Sister Deborah. - Season 1 - Episode 10

5 years ago

Sister Deborah. - Season 1 - Episode 10

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The weekend passed by slowly, terribly and utterly devastatingly. I fell sick due to too much of thinking and restlessness. I couldn’t make contact with Deborah ever since she moved out from the hostel; regardless of how many attempts I made either through friends in her department or through phone calls and text messages. I was completely frustrated.

By the beginning of the new week, I had missed three classes of lectures, knowing fully well that I wouldn’t concentrate properly and that, moreover, Deborah wouldn’t be around in her department.
On a certain Tuesday while I was in bed, still recovering from my illness, I got a text message from an unknown number stating – ‘Please come online now.’
Curiously, I heeded to the message and logged online on WhatsApp, only to realize that the profile belonged to none other than Deborah.

“Hello!” A message popped in from her on my notifications bar.
“Hello Debbie… long time! Where have you been?” I wasted no time to respond back.
“It’s a long story, dear. I’m fine where I am now.”
“Where are u precisely?”
“… at my aunt’s place.” She replied, adding a smiley emoticon.
“I’ve missed u… Why did u leave the way u did? You couldn’t even inform me at least. It’s really unfair.” I texted back, eagerly waiting for her response.
“I have missed you too, Neche. But I had no choice. I had to go.”
“Deborah, in case you don’t know, I fell sick for three good days just because of you. I tried everything just to get in contact with u but it was up to no avail. I am really dying deep down inside. I miss you. Please, come back.” I texted, inserting a sad-face emoji. She read the text and after a while, her response came in. “I understand how you feel Neche, but it’s not my fault. It has to be this way. I am fed up! I am sick of my life!”
“Deborah stop it.” I reprimanded her. “Stop having negative and vile thoughts on yourself. Just stop.”
“It’s easy for you to say, since you don’t wear my shoes. I am asthmatic and an epileptic carrier. I felt bad to tell you all along, in order not to change your opinion about me. But so far ever since that abrupt incident that happened at your place, I haven’t felt one ounce of peace within myself since then. I feel very ashamed!” She texted, adding a sad-face emoticon afterwards. I felt deeply touched by her words. I could clearly see the extent of sadness and depression clouding her emotions.

I took my time to reply back, carefully expressing my words. “Deborah, in all honesty, I am least concerned about any ailment you might be facing at the moment. I care about you and that is all that matters. Why can’t you see things from my perspective! I don’t care about any health ailment or issues whatsoever. You don’t have to be ashamed. I miss you terribly.”
After reading my message, I waited eagerly for her response but she wasn’t responding back.

“Hello, are you there?”
She read it again, but still no response.
“Hey Debbie! Are you there?”
Yet again, no response came forth.
“Please answer me. What’s wrong?”
“I have tears welling up in my eyes as we speak, Chinecherem. I am deeply touched by the level of love you have for me, regardless of my condition. I am speechless.” Deborah eventually texted in response, and added. “I really miss you too, and I want to surprise you. I am coming over today – for you.”
I was baffled. “Are you serious?”
“More than serious. I mean it.” She replied. “Get ready for my wahala when I come!”

I replied back with a laughing emoji. “I sure will! Iʼll be expecting you.”

“Me too dear. Goodbye for now!” Deborah responded and at that instant, her profile turned offline.

I couldn’t contain the extent of joy and excitement that overwhelmed me at that moment. I suddenly regained strength from nowhere and leaped up from the bed as I began arranging the room and putting things to order.

In about half an hour, I had swept the whole room, mopped the floor, dusted the electronic appliances, fixed the curtains properly and arranged every notable thing in order. I had a thorough bath as well and selected a casual presentable choice of wear too. I even sprayed perfume to top it off.

Later on, I called Deborah and she told me she was on her way, almost getting to campus. I became even more elated.

Fortunately, the power supply got restored at the perfect moment and I busied myself with a movie series, eagerly anticipating Deborah’s arrival.

In the middle of this, I heard a knock at the door. I was alarmed. Could that be Deborah? I only just called her! I thought to myself — while proceeding towards the door.

The knock came again, more faint and lighter than before. I opened the door with a wide smile — only to see the least of all people I expected.

“Annabel?”
“Sweetheart! Longest time.” She beamed an elated smile back, too.