CAUGHT

PLEASE STAY WITH ME

She felt the pains everywhere and could feel the liquid rushing down her face. It was excruciating but she also felt the pull to sleep. It was peaceful, however, she could hear their screams, it was a terrible sound to the ears. Her eyes struggled to stay open but she saw her!

Yes she saw the tears in her mother's eyes and that was all she ever wanted. She smiled. She embraced the arms of sleep willingly. She had won the war!! HER MOTHER HAD CRIED.

***
"Welcome back sir". The receptionist greeted Tega as usual.

"Yeah, thanks, any message for me and whose my next appointment?"

"No appointment sir and no message".

"Let me have my key then, let me head home".

"It's with Madam." The receptionist replied with an expression of holding a time bomb or a news of pain.

"Which Madam?" Onome asked with a curious gaze.

"Miss Onome, she came around be sir".

"Oh! Really? She's back?. I guess she must have called my phone. Anyways. It's okay.. thanks."

"I am so sorry sir, I too called your numbers and it's been unreachable."

"It's no problem.. you should give her the key whenever she asks for it. You have my permission to do that". Tega responded.
Raising his hands to portray silence from her, he reached for his phone.

"Hello Fejiro"

"Calm down, why are you crying?"

He almost lost his mind at her response. No she was joking. But she was not, she was screaming.

"Where is she now?"

"Ok I will be there." He seemed lost in his thoughts for a brief moment. He practically froze on the spot!

"Oga is everything okay?" The receptionist woke him from his dilemma.

"Tell Austin that am at Safeguard hospital. Onome had a fatal accident." He replied heading out of the resort with speed.

He prayed as he drove. He prayed in the HolyGhost, he prayed in his understanding. He vowed in desperation, he declared in faith. He needed a miracle.

Why was life unfair. The good ones don't stay. He had lost his good parents so early in life and this incident is bringing back memories of pains.

Safeguard hospital was always filled with patient but on this Tuesday, it appears empty. Rushing to the reception, Tega found Mrs Igho on the floor, with two unknown women rubbing her shoulders. Fejiro sat by her fiancee praying. He was confused because all was grossly engaged in whatever was comforting them.

On noticing him, Mrs Igho bursted out in tears and Lamentations. " I have killed my daughter!!! Tega I killed Onome."

This outburst got him startled. Fejiro informed him that she had the accident with her car. But why was her mother claiming responsibility and weeping bitterly? She actually poured curse words on herself and she wailed aloud in tears.

"Mummy stop talking like that." Let's speak faith filled words. She is alive! She will come out alive!" Fejiro screamed at her mother.

"Yes Mama, let's declare life not death." Onome managed to mutter feeling helpless.

"What actually happened to Onome?" He managed to ask Fejiro in low tones, taking her aside away from others.

"The Onome I know is a careful driver". He continued.

"She got into an argument with mummy and left in anger and confusion, so she didn't see the truth she collided into."
Fejiro said with tears trickling down her face.

"Where is she now?"
"She is in the emergency with a surgeon who fortunately for us was on ground. The glasses were everywhere. From her face to her shoulder, her throat... It was difficult to bring her out..."

Fejiro cried breaking down on the floor..

Tega looking at her gown discovered that it was indeed laced with blood.

"Hmmm.. she will be fine, let's keep hope alive, we have your wedding this weekend" Tega said to her hoping to lighten the tension and sorrow. Her fiancee walked towards her, pulling her up, he put his arms around her comforting her.

Everything felt surreal to Tega as he couldn't come to terms that Onome was involved in a terrible accident. He walked out of the hospital to call his pastor. He needed a distraction and at the same time assurance that God was not punishing him by taking the one woman he wanted to make amends for away.

It was at 10pm in the night that the surgeon came out. He looked exhausted. All attempts to talk to him failed as he walked right past everyone to his Consultation room to get a drink and wash his hands.  10 minutes later, he asked to see the Guardians. Onome's mother was not in a better state as she had been sedated. Fejiro urged Tega to go with her as her Father had gone home.

You are what to the patient?" The Consultant asked as they both stepped into the office.

"I am her sister and..."
"I am responsible for her sir." Tega concluded Fejiro's statement.

"Oh Please sit down."

"I would not lie to you but we need a miracle." The surgeon said rubbing his head with both Hands.

"We did our best to repair the damages done and right now she is in a medically induced coma. She experienced a blunt force trauma to the front of her head. Three broken ribs, a badly damaged hipbone. She had 40 stitches to her face and throat." He continued.

"Oh my God." Tega gasped

"Yeah, she came in a fatal condition. And we did our best."

"Thank you doctor. Can we see her.?" Tega asked nervously.

"Hmmm she in the ICU right now, I wouldn't advice that, why not wait till tomorrow morning. But if you insist. Only one of you should go in. Let the nurse get you scrubbed in and then you can go in and see her."

"Thank you sir". Fejiro muttered feeling numb as Tega shook the hands of the doctor, exiting the office together.

"Bros T, you should be the one to go in and see her.. please" Fejiro pleaded with Tega as they moved into the waiting room.

Tega was already prepared to beg her for the opportunity to be the one to go in and see her.

"Thank you so much, it means alot to me"

"Just tell her not to give up. Tell her to hold on for us and that we love her." Fejiro said sobbing.

The nurses came and prepared Tega for his brief visit to the ICU. He wore a protective gear equipment from top to bottom with a nose mask. He entered the room that houses oxygen tanks and ECG machines and saw his queen.

Onome had a breathing tube from ventilator fixed inside her mouth to enable her breathe. The two eyes were swollen as well as her forehead. Stitches was seen everywhere. Her left leg was bandaged in a cast and hung. She looked dead as the only sound in the room was the connected carduac monitor machines.

Tega fell on the floor crying. He was broken. He could not describe how torn up, seeing her made him feel.

"Please stand up sir, this is not the place for this". the nurse guiding him said.

"Help her Lord! I don't deserve her, help her, please, I am begging you, make her well." Tega cried removing his nose mask.

"Stand up, let's go sir" the nurse raised him up. As they were at the door, Tega turned back and said

"Onome, Fejiro said you should not give up, everyone loves you and I love you too."

The nurse smiled as they walked out and Tega could imagine Onome smiling back.