CWRC Anthology

VERONICA

VERONICA

by: Bukky Oremodu
Theme: The Woman With The Issue Of Blood
Anchor Scriptures: Matthew 9:20-22, Mark 5:25-34, Luke 8:43-49

***

A phone rings, shattering the afternoon silence. A woman rouses from sleep, letting a yawn escaping her mouth as she stretches over to pick her phone from the bedside table.

“Hello?”

The sleep in her voice is unmistakable, and the caller sighs.

“Veronica, you were sleeping again, abi?”

The woman – Veronica – leans back on her pillow, her phone resting on her ear.

“What else is left to do?”

“I understand.” A pasue, then, “Anyway, I called to let you know I’ve been able to contact Dr. Pelumi.”

Veronica shoots up, nearly falling off her bed. “Really? How?”

“Babe, forget that one jare. Let me send his number to you now. We should be able to meet him this week.”

“Thank you, Sade. You’re the best.” Excitement laces Veronica’s voice, a smile brightening up her face.

The call ends, and she gazes up at the ceiling, her mind racing.

Would I finally be free? After a decade of suffering, would everything stop now?

Joy courses through her, and she begins to hum a song as she rises to her feet. She glances down at the bed and then groans, the crimson stain on her sheets coming into view.

“Soon, this won’t happen again.”

With these words of encouragement, Veronica resumes her humming as she scoops up her sheets and takes them to the washing machine, a twinkle in her eyes.

***

“Is this the place?” Veronica peers at the building in front of her, her hand resting on her abdomen as a sharp pain shoots through.

“Are you okay? Sade asks.

Veronica attempts a smile, but it comes out as a grimace. “I’m fine.”

“You aren’t, Vero.”

“It’s fine. Let’s quickly go and see Dr. Pelumi.”

Sade opens her mouth to respond, but Veronica had begun to walk towards the building, so she clutches her bag and follows after her.

It’s dimly lit inside, the two of them squinting to see where next to go. A nurse snores away at her desk, and the two ladies share glances.

Sade quickly fishes out her phone and dials the doctor’s number.

“Hello, Sir?

“Yes, we’re in your hospital.

“Okay.”

She drops the call. “He said to he’ll come out to meet us.”

The words weren’t fully out of her mouth when a doctor comes out of a room, his coat hanging off his shoulders while his glasses sit askew on the bridge of his nose.

“You must be Valerie.” He says, his hand out for a shake.

“Veronica.”

“Right. Come in.” He motions to his office and the two of them follow him, the snores of the nurse still filling the air.

As soon as they all settled in their respective chairs, with him behind his desk while they were opposite, he begins.

“You said, you’ve been unable to stop?”