ANOTHER MORNING

Kick at the cat

 Gbenga's eyes were swollen from crying and lack of sleep. He got tensed each time the door opened and either a doctor or one of the nurses walked out. He wasn't sure he could live through this again.

"Mr Gbenga" one of the nurses at the new hospital called out. He had his wife moved soon as he was discharged. The government hospital where they were admitted after their accident decided her case was beyond them and recommended a private hospital. 

Gbenga walked up to the nurse.

"The doctor is with your wife, she just woke up," she told him. 

Gbenga dashed off towards her room, he brushed past the doctor and rushed to his wife's side. He planted kisses on her forehead amidst his tears.

"Teny, babe, I am sorry. Please forgive me" he pleaded. He looked into his wife's eyes, there was something off, but he dismissed it as a normal occurrence for someone who was a vegetable for two weeks.

The doctor tapped lightly on Gbenga's shoulder. 

"Can I see you outside?" "Your wife seems not to remember anything from the accident, or who she actually is."

"You're joking right?" Gbenga laughed. 

"That's my wife," he said and pointed back at the room. "What do you mean by she can't remember who she is?"

"She suffered a head injury from the accident and I am positive this is the reason for her memory loss," "In most cases, amnesia resolves itself without treatment. Take her home, try to remind her of things you both shared, give her time. If it lingers then you'll need to see a trained counsellor or psychotherapist, I can recommend one if need be."

Gbenga walked out on the doctor and into the room. He walked to the bed, Teniola studied him with strange eyes and something broke inside him.

Gbenga walked into the room and couldn't recognize his wife. She had regained consciousness but was asleep. He was shocked to see that something had happened to her hair, he must have missed it amongst all the craziness last night. 

His phone rang, it was Mrs Chioma's receptionist. He ignored the call, pulled a chair and sat beside his wife. 

"I'm sorry babe, this is all my fault"

"You were always right. I am predictable," Gbenga continued sniffing and cleaning his tears as he spoke. I-" he broke off wailing in the room.

"I had a backup, I sent our flight details to my phone, just before deleting it on yours" "We could have made the flight, I was selfish, I so much wanted to prove you wrong and ..." he couldn't continue. 

His phone rang again, it was the receptionist. 

He took the call.

"Look now isn't a great time," he said.

"I am not sure what happened but Mrs Chioma just gave me your number on a sheet of paper and asked that I call you and set up a meet, did you talk to her?"

"No, I didn't... it's complicated" Gbenga replied.

"Well, let me know, she seemed pretty serious about meeting you and asked if you could come with your wife."

"I guess that's too late now, Teniola is in the hospital" "Tell her I am sorry" he clicked the call.

"Gbenga" 

Gbenga turned, he could have sworn that it was Teniola's voice. She still lay peacefully on the bed. 

"Gbenga" the name escaped her lips and Gbenga caught it this time. He got up and took her hands. 

"Teny I am here" 

"Gbenga"

"I am Gbenga, Teny, it's me. It's Gbenga." 

"Gbe-" she started to say but drifted off again.

The bolt ride home was a very quiet one. Teniola had regained her colour but wore a scarf to cover her funny hair. She looked out the window and wondered why she couldn't remember a thing about the man that claims to be her husband. The last two days at the hospital was spent being reminded of things she had no memory of. She felt so bad about it, she willed herself to remember something, anything at all, but nothing came to her. 

She turned and looked at him, he was a shadow of himself. 

Gbenga felt Teniola's hands cover his. He cleaned his teary eyes with his free hand and looked back at her, she was reaching out and holding him. 

Teniola decided this meant a lot to him and felt it wouldn't hurt to give him some sort of closure. She held his hands firm and let him interlock his fingers with hers. She looked back out the window. 

Gbenga opened the door, the stench of the blood hit him first. He carefully guided her into the bedroom. He wanted to help her undress, but he didn't want to breach her space, not until she is ready. He walked into the bathroom and filled the bucket for her.

She took off her top, just as he was walking out of the room.

"Stay," she called out from behind him.

Gbenga fought back his emotions and turned around.

"Please stay," she said as she continued peeling her clothes from her body while maintaining eye contact with a stranger.

Gbenga couldn't look away, he had always loved the sight of her body. Her skin tone was even, the only parts of her body with a darker colouration were her pelvic region, her big areolas and her nipples. He missed making love to her, he felt his desire growing but he couldn't do anything about it. 

Teniola wasn't sure why she was punishing him, but she saw something in his eyes and wondered what it would feel like to let him have his wife tonight. She wanted to remember, then a thought hit her.

She walked into the bathroom picked up the sponge and walked back into the room.

"Do you mind?" she asked as she held up the sponge and saw how his face lit up. 

He started towards her.

"You don't plan on getting your clothes wet do you?" she asked.

Gbenga wasn't sure what exactly was happening, he felt he was taking advantage of her. This was his wife, how could this even be wrong. He couldn't miss this opportunity, maybe she just wants to bathe with him and nothing more, and even if she wanted more, any judge would be wrong to convict him for wanting to make love to his wife, he thought.

My God!, Teniola screamed in her mind as Gbenga took off his shirt. She wasn't mentally ready for what he looked like without his pants, her legs buckled, and she steadied herself with the doorpost. A part of her wished something tonight would help her remember, for his sake at the very least.