Sister Deborah. - Season 1 - Episode 29

5 years ago

Sister Deborah. - Season 1 - Episode 29

☆☆☆☆☆
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“Is he alive?”
“Can he hear me?”
“Is he breathing?”
“Of course, he is.”

“Doctor, are you certain heʼs alive? Why isn’t he speaking? Why can’t he hear us?”
“Please calm down, ma. He is still unconscious. Your son is hale and hearty. Heʼs fine.”

I heard all these voices in my state of unconsciousness. In spite of the unbearable pain I felt on my shoulder and the throbbing headache, too, my mother’s voice was paramount to any other person’s voice I could easily identify. Slowly but steadily, I opened my eyes.

Ijeoma, my elder sister, was the first to notice my consciousness. She screamed loudly, attracting the others. I noticed I was in a hospital ward. I could see some familiar faces; Chief Etomi, Divine, Timi, Hakeem, Fatai, my parents, Fabian and then Ijeoma who sat directly beside me on the sick bed.

Ijeoma’s scream attracted everyone to our direction. They all gathered around me with faces of joy mixed with sadness and pity. My mother held my hand, with tears streaming down her face, mumbling prayers and songs of praise. My father, however, being one who rarely tends to show his feelings and emotions, only smiled and patted my left arm calmly.

The doctor diagnosed me for a proper check-up for a moment, before eventually taking his leave. Chief Etomi narrated everything that had happened during my state of unconsciousness. I was told that Iʼd passed out due to my bleeding arm which sustained the wound from the gunshot. I was then rushed to the school clinic but before then, Iʼd lost too much of blood, so I had to be found a donor. Chief Etomi called my friends and informed my parents about the whole ordeal.

Regarding Annabel’s case, Chief Etomi stated that she and her accomplices eventually confessed to their crime. She confessed that she was behind Deborah’s rape and the sex-tape video, and that Jubril and Lateef were her accomplices during the act. Chief Etomi swore to make her especially, pay for her atrocities and face the law in court.
“May Sergeant Bernard’s soul rest in absolute peace.” Chief Etomi concluded.

“Amen!” We all chorused in unity.

A brief silence ensued for a moment in tribute of the late heroic sergeant. Thereafter, Ijeoma broke the silence.

“Baby bro, what’s up?” She punched my arm gently, and smiled. I only smiled in return.

“Your story should be the perfect definition of Romeo and Juliet, for real.” Ijeoma teased me. “In this present era, how many people can be as heroic as you did today. You took a bullet for the love of your life. She is so lucky indeed.”

Ijeoma’s words reminded me of someone — someone I ought to be by her side. Someone my heart and soul yearns for with each single beat.

“Where is Deborah?” I suddenly voiced out, sitting up properly. I attempted to take off the cable of the medical drip connected to my arm, but Timi stopped me.

“Deborah is fine, bro. Sheʼs regained consciousness an hour ago but she’s asleep now. You need to rest, too.”

“I need to see her.” I persisted. I removed the cable of the drip from my hand and stood to my feet, despite the disapproval from everyone urging me to rest.

Reluctantly, after much persuasion from me, they eventually led me to Ward 14 — where Deborah was admitted.

Deborah’s step-mother, Mrs. Etomi, sat on a chair beside Deborah’s bed, reading a novel aloud. Unknown to us, Deborah was already fully awake.

Our eyes made contact together upon my entry. Mrs. Etomi noticed my presence and halted her novel reading. Deborah’s eyes and mine shared unknowing glares together as I stood by the entrance door, overwhelmed with guilt. Mrs. Etomi quietly stood up and excused us, as well as everyone else did.

Deborah sat up properly, glaring at my wounded bandaged arm at first, and then she turned her gaze to face the wall, avoiding my eyes. I took calculated steps towards her slowly, and then I sat next to her on the bed.
“I am sorry.” I eased the silence between us. She heaved a sigh, still avoiding eye contact with me.

“I understand if you probably hate me now than ever, but Iʼve realized my mistakes, and I am truly sorry, Deborah.”

She still retained her silence nonetheless.
“Won’t you speak to me?”
“What do you want me to say?” She questioned back and faced me, annoyed. “You abandoned me, Neche. You neglected me in my time of misery and depression. Yet, you feel like you can just walk back into my life and Iʼll gladly welcome you with wide open arms?”

“I wasn’t myself then. I was deceived. Try to understand me, my love.”

“Please spare me the pity face. Joker.” Deborah hissed and frowned.

There was a grave silence between us for a while. With sadness and guilt, I stood up from the bed to excuse her.

“And where are you going to?”
I looked back and faced her, confused.
“Come back here.” Deborah ordered, patting the bed-side beside her. I heeded to her request and sat down quietly.

“So you were just gonna leave like that?” She frowned. “Without giving me a kiss, at least?”

I swallowed hard, unsure of what to say.

Deborah curled her arms around me and embraced me with a warm, soothing kiss. I reciprocated the kiss. I never wanted to let her go. She tasted like honey, blissful and sweet.

One thing would have led to another if Chief Etomi hadn’t intruded into the ward. He was followed by the others and they caught us right in the act.

Deborah and I composed ourselves properly upon their entry. Our hands still remained entwined, though.

“I see.” Chief Etomi coughed stylishly, averting his gaze from us. “Well, I am sorry to intrude in your get-together moment but according to the doctor’s report, it is time to go home Deborah. You have been discharged.”

“Ok, sir.” Deborah sadly responded. She climbed down from the bed and stood to her feet, attempting to pick her crutches.

Surprisingly, she stood still for a moment, looking astonished. Everyone’s focus was on her, evidently curious.

Deborah took one step towards her crutches, walking normal and upright unlike how she usually tends to hold objects to aid her movement. One step, two steps, three steps, four, five, six — —

“Father, can you see this?” She screamed excitedly. “Father I can walk! I am walking!”

Deborah walked to her father instead without falling and stumbling. “Mother, I can walk! I can walk!” She cried out of joy and excitement.

Excess celebration and joy saturated the air. We were all happy for Deborahʼs miraculous recovery. At last, weeping may endure for the night but joy cometh in the morning.
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The End!