INA-AYOMI

CHAPTER FIVE

Mother has been quiet ever since she came back into the room. She wouldn't even look me in the eye. She just asked how I was at intervals and provided whatever I needed.

I am getting discharged today. Mother was packing my things when the doctor came in.

"And how do you feel today?"

"Like, I can go home?" I had been begging to go home, but the doctor said he wanted to be sure I was strong. I knew that was a lie. Mother probably told him not to discharge me.

"Well, you are ready to go", he smiled, and I returned it. I turned to look at mother, and she didn't look happy or sad. It looked like she was lost. Just then, aunty Eri came in, and mother went to receive a phone call outside the room.

"How is my baby doing?"

"Good, aunty Eri, I want to go home" she smiled.

"Yes, you will go home when the doctor says you can".

I was waiting for mother to ask questions, but she never did. She did space out a lot and avoid eye contact. I even caught her crying twice, but she never asked. I didn't like that I added to her worries that Father wasn't awake yet, so she had to move back and forth between father and i.

Gbenga wasn't allowed in the hospital because the doctor said I needed all the rest I could get. Mother wouldn't even let me see father. A while later, mother came in with a brighter face.

"Ina-ayomi, your father is awake". Okay, I didn't know how to feel. His being okay was something I was grateful for; I just didn't know how to feel.

"Will you like to see him? He is asking of you."

After much thought and a lot of "are you sure" from mother, we finally went to see father.

Almost everyone was sad when we got there, and I didn't get it. Are they not happy he was awake? The moment we entered the room, Aunty Sola started screaming at mother.

"What have you done to my husband!!!! What did you use on him?" She was moving close to her like she wanted to drag her cloth, but uncle Ayo stepped in, standing in their midst.

" Solape! Behave!!!"

"Don't tell me what to do. My husband does not recognize me!" What did she mean? Father doesn't recognize her?.

I looked at mother, who was trying to wipe her wet eyes. Uncle Ayo took aunty Sola out, and some men who were seated also followed them, leaving mother and me with father.

"Ina-ayomi, my baby, don't you want to greet your father?" I looked at mother, and for the first time, I wished she could hold my hand and drag me out of here. Instead, she nodded her head and gave me a sad smile.

I moved close to him and sat on the bed. He held my hand in his, and I couldn't have it anymore. I cried. I cried so hard that it blocked the sound outside the door. It was like all the bottled up emotions came out all at once.

"Are you mad at father for being sick?" I shook my head no. He really didn't remember anything, but how? The doctor came in to check on him and talk to mother while I went out to sit.

They were still making a fuss in the hallway. Aunty Sola was shouting and grumbling while every other person tried to calm her down.

"I'm taking him away to a better hospital. I'm sure that witch has done something to him. She has poisoned him," she kept shouting and pushing.

"Are you okay?" Uncle Ayo sat beside me, and I smiled at him.

"Does father really not remember anything?" He nodded his head

"but he recognized me!"

"he recognized me too but not, Solape."

"How does that even work?" Uncle Ayo let out a bitter laugh. I could tell he was hurt after all his best friend was in a severe situation. They were not even sure what he remembered and what he didn't. Aunty Sola was thrown out for disturbing other patients in the hospital. She was told to wait for everyone outside while mother and uncle Ayo spoke to the doctor to understand how they could help father get better.

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