IZIGORA

Prologue

Izigora lay on the cold marble floor at the foot of the staircase. Her head hurt where it had hit the sharp edge of a step; her, hips, arms, legs – in fact every little part of her hurt most especially her left knee. She had used her knee to try to break her fall as she came tumbling down the long steps. Her right wrist was a different matter.

She hurt in places she didn't even realise she could feel pain.

Her left leg was twisted beneath her at a really odd angle. She had landed on her hand and knees before tumbling to her back on the floor.

She began to open her eyes but as she felt the burning throb behind her eyes, she shut them back. Blood oozed slowly, forming a warm pool beneath her head from the open wound but she barely noticed this. The only thought in her head was this: For how long?

She could hear the angry honking of impatient drivers; the grinding sound of the generator belonging to their next-door neighbour. Hadn't Kainye gone to their home two days ago to give them a last warning? Izigora could also hear the sound of the clock ticking slowly but surely. But none of these sounds were as important as Kainye's angry, heavy breathing as he watched her from the top of the staircase.

Yes, she was clumsy. Yes, she always had a way of upsetting him. Yes, she should have been a better wife than she was. And perhaps she had deserved being thrown down the staircase. But did she deserve to die?

Izigora could feel life slowly leave her body. It would be so easy to take the coward's way and give in to death. What sweet relief that would be, for it hurt so much! But she had to live. There had to be more to life than this. She was too young to die. She hadn't even begun to experience life.

No, she gasped silently as the sounds around her began to grow faint until they were almost non-existent. No, not like this! Not like this!

I am Izigora Aku-Chidike and I am not yet ready to leave the world!