Serendipity

EPILOGUE

My head throbbed as I lay on the hospital bed. The pounding in my head increased each time I made to turn. A heavily pregnant Mitchell sat beside me, crying. I'd never seen her cry, never. Not even when she lost her father. She had cried, but not as hard as she was now.

I didn't want to talk, at every speech, my head throbbed. I reached out and squeezed twice, remembering our sign. Mitchell squeezed twice too. She looked up at me.

"I can't even think-" she broke down into a loud cry and ran out of the room.

I was left alone.

Two months ago I had been diagnosed with brain tumor. As soon as Nonso heard this, we'd flown to India for the surgery, leaving my children with my mother.

I thought of my children. I had to make it out of the surgery alive, for them. The doctor had bluntly stated that there was a slim chance of me making it. He said it was a fifty-fifty chance. I was scared of death. Scared to leave my children in the world.

My first child, Chima was almost nine, Sophia, the one after him was six and my last baby, Christabelle was only two. I feared that they'd wake up one day and never see me. I feared what might happen to them if i didn't survive the surgery. After eleven years of marriage, the last thing I thought would happen to me was having something growing in my brain. It was terrifying.

The door slowly opened. I turned slowly to see who it was. Nonso stood there, looking tired. He hadn't slept a wink, he'd been watching over me at intervals with Mitchell.

He smiled. "Baby,"

My handsome man. He was my everything. He was everything I wanted and more. When everyone had collapsed, crying and saying 'what if'. He'd stood strong and said I'd make it. I had watched him gather half of what he had in his account so I could fly to India for immediate surgery.

I'd been calm all through, shrugging and not really speaking but truly, I was breaking on the inside. I still wanted to see my children, I still wanted to watch my babies watch their father in glee. Hell we still needed to have two more babies to complete our initial plan, five children. I still wanted to dance pregnant with Mitchell. I still wanted to watch my mother give my children twenty five names and tell them to write as she spoke. I still wanted Nonso to wrap his hand around my waist and scream surprise when I was cooking. I still wanted he and Chima to bribe me with yamarita. I still wanted to hear Sophia sing 'Di'ja's Aww and say it's old school. I still wanted Christabelle to grow and flaunt how much she looks like her daddy.

And so I broke down. Because in truth, I was as scared as Mitchell was. Out of everyone who knew, Mitchell had cried the most, then my mother, then Ify.

I sobbed loudly as different thoughts sprang in my head.

Nonso walked over and wrapped me in his arms, letting my tears drench his wrinkled shirt.

"What if i die?!" I shrieked, ignoring the pounding in my head. "What if Chima gets angry that I die or - or my mom collapses. Nonso I'm scared."

He lifted my chin with his index finger. "Baby look at me. Mama," he called. He'd been calling me that since Sophia was born. It was what she called me.

He rested his forehead on mine. "Mama, stop. You'll make it. You'll be safe. Just remember that love conquers all. You have a lot of people out there who love you. They are praying, we are too. You'll make it. You'll survive, because that's what you do. You manage to escape even the hardest situations. You're strong. You're Aderinsola Orji. You're my baby mama, my wife, the love of my life. You'll always find a way,"

I sobbed harder, how could I have him.

I engulfed him in a hug. "I love you." I grunted out.

My head sharply pounded as I spoke.

Nonso kissed my temple. "We love you. Chima loves you. Sophie does and so does Chrissy."

I pulled away only to smash my lips slowly to his. The kiss only lasted three seconds. The door burst open.

I pulled away from Nonso and looked up.

My best friend stood there, her braids roughly packed up. Her protruding belly hidden under a yellow gown. After three kids, she still looked amazing.

She burst into tears but still ran over to me. She pulled me in for a hug. "It's time. Bitch do not dare leave me. I love you. Sommy, Adaeze and C.J need their Auntie Derin. They need you! So get through this."

I nodded, a small smile forming on my face. Nonso grinned behind her. "I forgot I'm sharing my wife with you sef."

We all laughed.

The nurses walked in, smiling sympathetically. It was time.

As they wheeled me to the operating room, with my head shaved, the picture of my family clutched in my hand and Mitchell screaming through the hallway, I knew one thing. I had to make it out alive.

So in my mind, as I watched them clean out their tools, I already had thoughts of how I'd prank Chima with Yamarita and make love to his daddy in the kitchen. I let out a sad smile, drowning in my own wishes.

But what if I die.

And Nonso's voice snapped in her head. You'll survive, because that's what you do.

The sharp sting of injection pierced my forearm. The doctor smiled at me as I slipped into a dreamless sleep.

We love you.....

You'll survive, because that's what you do.

I knew I'd make it.

                   __________

It's official, Serendipity is finally over.

The ending is kind of eh... sad... 😅

There is an alternate end and I'd be posting it later.

But this is the real one sha.

If u guys r interested, I'll be doing one shot. An alternate end, how you'd have liked it to end or imagined it to end........

I lofff you alllll.

Please check out my book Beyond hate.

Ok. I promise you the end of that one will not be sad. 😂😂😂

*twerks out*

I cannot twerk.