Now That You Are Here: A Tale of Deception and Betrayal (Episode 8)

[Excerpt From Episode 7: She could sense the sadness in his eyes even in her weak state and she whispered, “The baby is gone isn’t it?” Muyiwa stared at her before nodding his head in affirmation and she closed her eyes and allowed the tears to flow freely.]  To Read Episode 7 CLICK HERE

With her hands folded under her breasts, Damilola stared at nothing in particular in her dark bedroom where she had refused to budge since the last one week that she had gotten back from the hospital. Losing the baby was like losing Gbade all over again only this time it hurt about three times more.

Anu who was staying with her for the time being was beginning to get angry at her refusal to eat or talk and even Muyiwa was beginning to show signs of exasperation. She just couldn’t stop the flow of tears or the constant ache in her heart and every time she heard a rustle, she always startled like she was under attack.

“Why me all the time? I can’t keep a man, I am here lusting after another woman’s man and now my baby has been taking from me. This life just doesn’t want me in it.” Damilola mused darkly to herself as fresh tears welled up in her eyes and she balled her fists tightly to suppress the boiling anger she felt. She wished she could end it all, take a leap in front of a moving train or something but damn it, she just didn’t have the courage to end her own life. The tears spilled over and she groaned out aloud like someone in pain just as the door opened and Muyiwa stepped in with a pretty lady behind him.

The opened door let in some light into the room and from her corner of the bed Damilola studied the woman behind Muyiwa. She was pretty in a stunning sort of way with dark skin and large innocent eyes. She had full lips and a figure that would sure have any man staring twice and she had the carriage of someone who was unaware of her own effect on men. Damilola didn’t need to be told this was the famous Halima. She stared daggers at Muyiwa as she realized how horrible she must look in comparism to Halima just then. She cringed as Halima took in her appearance and gasped before rushing forward to embrace her in a hug like they were long lost friends. “Oh you poor dear, I am so sorry about your loss Dammy. I just had to come over when Muyi told me about your miscarriage. I am terribly sorry but we can’t have you moping around like this forever.” Muyiwa watched the scene without a word as he saw the expression in Dammy’s eyes and the daggers she threw at him with her eyes as Halima dragged her from the bed and urged her gently towards the bathroom. Muyiwa smiled wryly to himself as he listened to Halima chatter nineteen to the dozen as she prepared Dammy’s bath. Lord bless her heart he thought to himself.

The change Halima brought was surprising that even Anu got a bit jealous of this new angel. Halima had a way of making you do things even when you didn’t want to and before long she had Damilola eating a meal of boiled beans and fried plantain. Anu had watched with amazement as the new woman worked her magic and Damilola even managed weak smiles at times towards the conversation on the table. Halima talked about everything like they were all old time friends and Anu couldn’t help liking her. She wondered what Halima would think if she knew that Damilola was sleeping with Muyiwa but she dismissed that quickly from her mind and said a silent prayer of gratitude for sending Halima to help Dammy get over her grief.

Damilola was reading a novel and munching on her favourite chocolate one cool evening about three weeks after the miscarriage when her phone suddenly rang. She stared at the phone as if it was some dangerous weapon as Gbade’s named appeared on the caller ID. Her heart quickened in her chest and she felt a rush of excitement go through her, picking up the phone cautiously like it was about to explode, she answered the call. “Hello Dammy,” the sound of his voice brought a wave of emotions and for a second her mouth refused to open and she mentally chided herself for being such a fool. She muttered a cool hello in return and listened as he asked her how she felt. Anu had informed him about the miscarriage and he was calling to check on her. She felt a mix of happiness and anger; she was happy to finally hear from him since they had unofficially broken up but she was also angry that he had been in touch with Anu well enough for her to have informed him about the miscarriage. Anu had no right to have given Gbade the news, it wasn’t her place. The alarms went off in her head as she heard him say “I would be coming to Nigeria to see you Dammy. I miss you and I know I have been a jerk but I want to make things right with you. When I think of love, you are all I can think of is you. I love you Dammy and I can’t stop loving you.”