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Chapter Twelve

It was a beautiful morning, cold and peaceful. Mrs. Marsha got herself prepared to leave for work, same with Mr. Edward. As usual Mr. Edwards leaves earlier for work unlike Mrs. Marsha. She was dressed in a suit skirt and a cream designed shirt with a well black covered hills as she walked around the room. "Ok honey let me go prepare you breakfast" she said as she headed for the door
"Ok sugar". She would smile at him whenever he calls her that. She left for the kitchen; she had the gas on and had a kettle with water on it. Then she turns around and opens the fridge and took out an egg which she fried. In 5minutes time breakfast was served on the dining table for her husband. "Honey come down for breakfast so you won't be late" she said loudly
"On my way sugar". He sat on the dining table with his newspaper and tab close to him, as usual bread, tea and egg for breakfast. He was done in 10minutes. "Sugar" he called "Yes honey" she replied as she came out from the kitchen and walked straight to him. As a sweet wife as she always was, she dressed him well, adjusted his tie and wore him his suit. "I will be leaving then" he said as he tapped his lips with his finger, she smiled as she understood what he meant. She went close to him in a way she could feel his breathe then she planted her lips on his as they both kissed deeply. "Ok sugar take good care of yourself" he said as he took his bag and left. "I will baby and you too" Mrs. Marsha responded. She took the dishes on the table to the kitchen. As she took the cup up to place it in the washing zinc, it fell off and landed on the ground. "Oh no!" she said as she bent down to clean up the mess.
"Ha! Madam" the cook said as he came inside when he heard the sound of the broken cup
"Come help me clean up the mess" she said as she stood Up. Suddenly she heard her phone ringing from the living room. "Hello" she said after she heard a female voice that responded to the call. "Huh! What?" she said in shock.
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Finally after 21hours, Emily became conscious but not fully conscious; she still had her eyes closed as she struggles to get herself back. She could hear so many voices inside her head, words that where giving her more reason to come back, but she felt confused on why she was earring such words because her condition wasn't known to her. The pain in her head couldn't let her identify whose voice it was but it sounded familiar. She felt more pain in her head as she gradually opened her eyes. The vision wasn't clear but she knew she was staring at the ceiling and she could feel that the atmosphere was cold as she felt her hand being squeezed lightly. She turns are neck to her right and she saw him sniffing as he laid his forehead on his palm.
"Richie?" she struggled to say
"Huh!" he said in shock "You awake" he smiled brightly "I knew you won't leave" he said to her as he held her hand
"What happened" she said as she tried to sit up but she couldn't. She placed her right hand on her head as her head gave her a great pain.
"Just relax, don't say a word okay? I will be back" he said and left. She felt weak all of a sudden as her eyes went closed again.
"Thank God she is awake" Mrs. Jennifer said as she walked towards Emily's ward. "Yeah my little sister is back" Queen said as they all walked into Emily's ward but instead they found Emily asleep. "I thought you said she's awake"
"Of course, she even spoke" Richie said with the puzzled look all over his face. "Go and get the nurse" Mrs. Jennifer said to queen
"Ok mom". After a minute she was back with a nurse
"You all are not to be bothered, she is stable and fine, she's just too weak and she needs rest" the nurse said
"Ok nurse" Mrs. Jennifer replied. She sat close to the bed where Emily was laid as she became worried about her daughter. She didn't want to lose her daughter and she wasn't ready to lose her yet. Different prayer kept going through her minds as she felt so weak but she had to be strong for her daughter, moreover nothing of that such had ever happened to her. She watched queen moving to her left and right, murmuring. "Mummy" Emily said as her eyes were opened
"My Princess...... Thank God" her mum said
"Hmmm" Emily also had a smile on her face. "Big sis" she said to queen as she held hands with her. "Yes darling, please keep your eyes open, we love you" she said as she placed a kiss on her forehead. She then looks at Richie with a smile that was giving a meaning as she brought out her lips that were folded into her mouth. She was looking so beautiful even with her paled face. She was so happy that he was with her, all she noticed was only him nothing else around her mattered to her not even the pain on her head or ribs. Her heart beats fast as she looked into his charming eyes as he walked towards her with a bunch of flowers. "Emily" he called "This is for you" he laid the flower between her left hands and her left rips. Mrs. Jennifer and Queen watched them as they behaved romantic. "Madam the doctor needs to see you" a nurse said to Mrs. Jennifer
"Take care of her we will be back" she said to Richie
"Ok ma'am" he said. As they left he sat close to Emily, she still kept on smiling, all she wished to do was to just give him a tight hug, but she was too weak, the pain in her head won't let her. Richie took her hand and kissed it, leaving his lips on her hand for a long while, suddenly she stopped smiling. "Where is Sylvia" She asked
"I really don't know, she doesn't know you are here" he said calmly
"Hmmm" tears dropped from her eyes
"No baby please don't, it's not your fault. She hasn't called you. Just try and put yourself together so you can get well" he rubbed her face
"And you how did you know I was here?" she asked slowly and spoke low
"I called your line this morning for about five times to confirm if you were still going to the mall. The sixth time I tried your sister picked the call. Telling me you had an accident when you got to the market, that she just came back to pick your stuffs in your room". Emily sighed at him "It's ok Emily. Don't say anything just relax. Barry will be here soon" he said as he kept rubbing her cheeks with his hands. Mrs. Jennifer and queen walked into emily's ward. "The doctor said we shouldn't stress her, that if she is fully well we can take her home tomorrow or probably tonight" Mrs. Jennifer said
"Mum, where is my dad?" Emily asked
"Baby your dad is...." She stooped as the door opened
"Am here dear, my second wife" Mr. Franklin said to Emily with a smile on his face.
*********************************************************************************************************************** "Lillian what happened to you?" Mrs. Marsha asked her P.A as she came into her office with a rush after the call she received at home.
"I was rubbed" Lillian said as she nurtured the bruises on her elbow and her kneel. When Mrs. Marsha got to see her bruises she had to beg Lillian to let her take her to the hospital where it can be treated since they had no aid box at the office, but she was adamant to what Mrs. Marsha said to her. She later agreed when everyone in the office kept saying the same thing. She got into Mrs. Marsha car and she drove her directly to a hospital where she was attended by a nurse. "Thanks nurse" Lillian said
"Lillian go to my car and wait for me while I go pay for your bills". Mrs. Marsha instructed her P.A. then she walked over to where she was to bay for the bills. As she was done paying, she turned to leave but what she saw made her stood still, her heart beats fast like it was going to pound out as she stared at the man standing a little miles away from her, she was puzzled, not knowing if she was to go meet him or maybe hide and act like she never saw him, but she was thankful that he wasn't having his eyes on her direction, he backed her direction as he spoke to a doctor. Immediately she left where she stood and went where she won't be seen as she clearly heard all the conversation between the man and the doctor
"Doctor please you have to do everything possible to get a blood match for my son, I can't lose him, he is the only one I have" he said to the doctor. She became confused on what she heard. His appearance and intonation got her surprise as she compared him with the last time she last saw him.
"Hmmm it's just too bad that your blood wasn't a perfect match for him and we don't have his blood type presently for now"
"Just please get a donator and I promise to pay well for it"
"Ok Mr.....?" the doctor tried to remember his name
"Mr. McCall" he assisted him. The sound of his name hits Mrs. Marsha in her heart. It got her more scared, her fear was finally coming to pass. As she walked to her car she kept on thinking of the son he was talking about. Can it be the son I had with him or his son from another woman?, she said to herself. She was filled with fear from her past. "Madam it's that way to the office" Lillian said as she noticed Mrs. Marsha took the wrong way
"Oh am sorry" she took her lips into her mouth as she breath out through her nostrils
"Are you alright ma'am?" Lillian asked
"Hmmm" she moved her fingers through her hair "Am ok Lillian, there is nothing wrong" she said as she tried to act okay
"Ok ma'am". They eventually got to the office. She still kept on having the unusual look on her face as she entered her office. She sat down and rested her elbow on her table while she rested her chin on her palm as she was in deep thought on how everything will be to her if she ends up know the child in the hospital was hers. Her mind went back to her past on how it all started.
**********(flashback)**********
"Tell me who is responsible for this bastard in your womb" Marsha's mother shouted on her. She was at about 19years when she got pregnant unexpectedly. She wasn't expecting it because she knew how often she did always protect herself, but suddenly she felt like her cup was filled. Marsha life wasn't easy ever since 4years after her father's death, she was the third child of her parent. It was hard for Marsha's mother to send her to the university after the death of her father when she was about to seat for her finial exams in high school. It was too tough for her, her mother and siblings, she had no choice but to give out her body in the exchange of money, as she went around with men just to meet her needs. Marsha was lost in thought as her mother hits her hard continuously on her back. She thought of who the father of the unborn child could be. Perhaps she wasn't too sure if it was McCall. But suddenly she finally remembered when she once had sexual intercourse with him without protecting herself.
"Mother it's McCall" she cried, though she wasn't sure if he was going to accept the child
"And who is he?" the tears couldn't let her respond "Don't bother answering, just pack your things and go out there and look for the father of this bastard you carrying
"Mother please, mother please" she cried
"Leave this house this minute, you always want to be a black ship of this family, it's all going to end today, since you don't want a change in your useless life". No one could change their mother's mind, as her siblings watched in tears. Marsha pleaded but it all fell on deaf ears. She became so frustrated as she took her bag and left, is this how my life is going to me, will I keep suffering, wont their be change for me, she thought to herself as she went into a bus to McCall house. She got to his apartment, he was shocked to see her, a guy who was a graduate without any job, and he stayed in a room as a bachelor. She knew how he loved her and always promised to make her happy if she eventually agrees to marry him. But was he ready to be a father, she said to herself
"Come in". they both went into a room with a mattress and TV on the floor, not well furnished and comfortable to accommodate more. "Why are your eyes swollen?" he asked her looking surprise
"McCall am pregnant" she said to him with fear in her heart
"Did I hear you right, you pregnant?" he asked with his eyes wild open
"Yes I am"
"So who is responsible?" he asked as she responded to him by pointing at him, he was puzzled. "Me?" he asked
"Yes you" she struggled to say. "So am going to be a father?". The smile on his face got her very shocked, all she thought was that e was going to beat her till she did lose the off spring in her womb, moreover she preferred him doing that because that wasn't the life she wanted for herself. She thought of how she would life with a man who was ill luck on getting a job and who couldn't take care of himself not to talk of her and the child in her womb.
Nine months eventually passed as she lived a life with struggle and pain with her child, a son with McCall in that same apartment. Things became very tough for her as she tried so hard to feed herself in other for her to breast feed her son. Additionally, 12months passed and she was getting too frustrated and hopeless on how things were going for her as she almost gave in to death as she thought of committing suicide. On the 13months after the birth of her son, Izzy, she made up her mind to leave the child and the father of the child to go look for a better life for herself, for her to give her life a change. She took few of her things and left the house 30minutes after McCall had left. Though she had no clue of where she was going, but she went far away from them were she won't be found. She stayed for days on the street without getting anything to help or support herself. At about 11pm she walked through a quiet street, no single soul was on the street with her. She became frighten as she saw three men seated in an uncompleted building, smoking and drinking. "Heyzzzzz" one of the men sighed as they called her. She tried not to look at their direction as she ignored them, she tried to run but one of the men ran to her and held her by the hand as he drew her to where they sat. She was filled with fear. God what will they do to me, she said to herself with tears drooping down her eyes.
"Seat down there, I dey call you and you wan con run abi?" one of the drunken men asked her.
"No sir, wasn't running oh please" she pleaded as she rubbed her palm together
"I no dey hear please for my village oh". They laughed
"Wo! Take this girl inside make we teach am lesson". This made her heart sank into her stomach as she knew what they were up to. She cried her eyes out as she begged them, but they all proved deaf to her, they all removed what she was on. She was too weak to overcome them as they were all too strong for her, they held are to the ground as they rough handled her. She could feel the strong pain in her as it went harder into her. She cried and screamed until she had no strength left in her, she gave herself in to them as tears kept dripping down her eyes. They gave her series of slaps on her face, with bruises all over her. All she wished was that she should be feed by the earth or give up the ghost. "HELP!" she gathered all strength in her as she shouted and immediately went unconscious. She was left helplessly on the floor by the men who tore her apart after they knew she had fainted.
After several hours of being in the dark she woke up and heard a voice. "Relax don't move" a young man said to her as she saw she was in the hospital.
"Thought I was going to die" she said
"No dear, I heard your scream from a far distance. When I got to the scene the men were gone, guess they saw me coming" he said to her
"Hmm" she was short of words "Thank you for saving my life, I owe you a lot"
"No it's okay, just thank God" he said "They did a lot of arm on you, you were forcefully raped and you lucky to be alive"
"Yes I do know" tears fell from her eyes
"Do you have a family that I can call?" He asked her. This made her remember the family she left behind, she was filled with shame. Not even her mom would want to hear from her. "No I don't" she lied
"Hmm, what's your name then?" he asked her
"Marsha, my name is Marsha" she said
"Ok I am Edward" he paused
"Is that all about you?" Marsha asked
"No. well I graduated last year in the University of Lagos, presently working in a bank. I live alone on the island actually. That's all" he said smiling
"Hmmm nice" she said,trying to smile "So when will I be discharged so I can continue from where I stop" she said
"Where you stopped?" he asked curiously
"Yes, I was in search of a job so I can get money to have an apartment for myself"
"Ok when we get home you tell me everything, just rest okay" he said to her
"Home?" she asked "Yes my place, I just can't leave you here" he said to her with pity written all over his face. She was later discharged the previous day by the doctor who gave some drugs that should be taken till she fully recovers. Edward drove Marsha with his car to his apartment. All of a sudden she got confused on if she was going to be save with him or was it going to be dangerous with him, she didn't know if she was to trust him as she was filled with chaos. "Thanks for everything" she said as she remembered she hasn't thanked him for saving her life, paying for her hospital bills, feeding her while she was in the hospital and even accommodating her in his house. If not for him she would have been dead according to the doctor. "You are welcome" he said as he drove her into the building he lived. "This is my house" he said as they both got into a well furnished apartment, a flat.
"It's beautiful" she said with astonishment. It really was looking beautiful as she thought of it has the kind of life she had wanted. But she wasn't too sure if she was going to stay with him for a long while, moreover she barely knew him apart from the little he had told her.
Days pasted, week pasted and Marsha gradually recovered and was fully well. Edward provided every single thing which she wanted. They became so close like they had known themselves for years as they often do stuffs together that they became fond of each other. After which Marsha had noticed the closeness in them she decided to tell him the truth about her life, how she ended on the street that very night. He felt very bad for what she did that he scolded her. "Yeah I regret all of it, but the shame can't let me go back to them" she said in tears
"Then I will go along with you" he said with pity
"No I can't go back to them, I can't stand the shame"
"It's ok Marsha, I do understand" Edward said as he pet her on her shoulder. She really did feel bad on what she did which she was regretting. But she had no good reason to give to McCall for leaving them. Edward got her to write the joint administration matriculation board (JAMB). She was very happy with him and so was he. She got herself into college to study business administration, and same time she was working in other for her to support herself in school and to avoid putting all her school bills on Edward. He was proud and excited with her that he didn't know when he started feeling butterflies whenever he sees her. She noticed what he felt for her and this got her glee because she also felt the same way for him. Edward was the kind of man every lady would wish for, he was hardworking, intelligent and good looking. She often saw how other ladies glue around him where he worked whenever she came to see him. She was even threaten by one of the ladies to stay away from Edward this got her scared that she stopped visiting him at work which he noticed and he did asked her for a reason and she explain what happened between her and the lady. Edward got pissed that he had to tell everyone that he was in a relationship with Marsha. She finally got pregnant after staying with Edward for a year and some months. Immediately he proposed to her and they both got married. After a year and some months she was done at the university. And they both started a family, having Richie and Clifford which she cherished so much and still had fear for her past..........................

"Madam you will be having a meeting by 12pm" Lillian said to Mrs. Marsha as she brought her back to reality.
"Hmm do you know what? Cancel every meeting I have today I need to go somewhere" she said as she walked out of her office in haste
"Oh... ok ma'am" she said in surprise as she closed the door behind her after which Mrs. Marsha had left. She drove out of the building and went back to the hospital.
"Is anyone with the sun name McCall admitted into this hospital" she asked the receptionist
"Let me check ma'am" she said to her. "Ok am waiting"
"Yes ma'am. Izzy McCall". The first name sounded more familiar to her, not because it was the name of her son but she felt she had come across the name before. "What ward is he?" she asked
"Ward 16b ma'am" she said. "OK thanks"
"But ma'am no one is allowed to see him for now"
"Ok can I see the doctor in charge of his treatment?" she asked wearing a bad look
"Sure you can ma'am, let me put a call to him". Few minutes time a young doctor came to Mrs. Marsha and addressed himself as the doctor in charge of Izzy. He took her to his office as he explained his condition to her. "He was involved in a serious accident which I think happened few hours before he was brought to the hospital by some men who saw him and his friends in the scene this morning". Suddenly she remembered the home accident she had in the morning. "Some of his bones broke and he lost a lot of blood and we are in need of a donator for his blood type which is not available for now" the doctor said
"But doctor do you perhaps know the course of the accident?" she asked sadly
"Well we noticed hebwas drunk, same with his friends. So that might be the course of it, but not too certain"
"Oh lord" she said as she placed her palm on her mouth
"But why do you refuse to tell me who you are to him?" he asked
"Because I don't know what I am to him" she paused "Why don't we check if my blood can make a perfect match" she said
"Ok ma'am that's nice. His father will be so happy if we get a match for him" the doctor said happily. "Do you have any illness, high blood pressure or anything?" he asked her
"Not at all doctor" she said. "Ok ma'am". He got her blood and tested it. The result was out after an hour time and it confirmed a perfect match to izzy's. "This is good news" the doctor said happily. Marsha was so excited, no thought to her that he was her son.
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Emily was finally discharged that same day her dad came to the hospital. Barry also came to see her but he couldn't stay long because he was to go somewhere. Richie still stayed with her till she was discharged; he couldn't leave her since he had nothing else to do and his care got Mr. Franklin surprised, and how he stayed with her the whole day from what his wife told him. Though Emily wanted Sylvia to be the person with her the whole day but Emily was hurt that she never showed up at the hospital.
"So Richie who are you to my angel?" Mr. Frank asked as he tried to get words from him. Emily was shocked when she heard her father ask him such question as she was seated in the living room with them while Mrs. Jennifer and Queen stayed in the kitchen preparing dinner.
"We are both friends, class mate sir" he said with fear in his voice
"Are you sure you both just that?" he asked
"Daddy!" Emily shouted
"What angel, let him answer" he said with a smile
"Yes sir just that" Richie said as he tried to smile
"Hmm ok then, we will all know soon if it's just that" he teased them "Well I see you the only one who care for her the most among all her friends for you to be with her for hours, not even her best friend. So do help me take care of her, and keep yourselves as friends for now okay?" he said
"Yes sir we will"
"Uh dad that was awkward" Emily said giving her dad a sad look
"No angel, remember I was once like him, so am not a novice okay?" they all laughed
"Dinner is ready" queen said as she set the dishes for dinner
"We will be grateful if you join us for dinner" Mrs. Jennifer said
"Come on Richie, have a seat" Mr. Franklin said
"Ok sir, thank you" Richie said as he looked at Emily who smiled at him
"You are welcome dear" they all sat and had dinner.

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