Wasted Years (Episode One)

Episode one

Wasted Years
(Episode 1)

The call came to me at four in the morning. My mother was in tears again.
The prophet, she said had seen visions again, this time, not for my brother Edu . It was for me. The lord, as he claimed, had told him again that Dakota wasn't my husband.

"Mama please, not again," I said, looking gloomily at my reflection in the mirror in Inyene's bedroom. My hair was a frizzy mess. I had an aloe Vera mask on that made me look like a ghost and a big spot threatening to erupt my chin.

"You have been with this man for seven good years Ifure. He has a good job, he is living in his own house, what is keeping him from coming to see us?"

"Ma, that's your problem. He is in Lagos business school, that is where his money is, when he graduates, we will be getting married."

"That is what he told you. The prophet said he won't marry you. He even said you're living with him, which is wrong. You shouldn't be living with a man before marriage, it makes you seem desperate."

I bursted into a loud laugh, "Right now, I am with Inyene at our  house in Lekki, I am not with him." I lied again; I'd been living with Dakota for over two years since I got a new job at Victoria island. He'd pleaded I move in with him, while we live together as lovers and plan our lives. I'd left all my stuff for my cousin Inyene who was squatting with me as at then. But this particular day, Dakota and I had bicker again, which led me to say a few hurtful words to him, then I angrily walked out on him, and drove to Inyene's apartment, which used to be mine.

"Whatever you are doing, I want you to be sensitive. Pray more and ask God to bring your real husband to your way." Mama said soothingly. I heard her, but it was difficult for me to leave Dakota for anyone else. We'd started life together since when he had nothing. I had been with him since he was a young newspaper vendor who stood at a spot in Yaba, under the bridge, waiting patiently for the okada men and passersby to ask him what the news said about Nigeria again.

I met him as a newspaper vendor, then a teacher in a primary school at Ojuelegba, then a marketer at an insurance company, then a marketer at sterling bank, and then a full time staff of the Sterling bank. I'd been with him all the while, and I was at peace anytime he was with me.

Mama had hung off the call long ago.

"You should listen to your mom Ifure," My cousin Inyene said as she rubbed strawberry scented lotion on her legs.

"Not your business young woman." I retorted as I pulled my hair back and plaited it.

"Not always my business, but you always come back to tell me how you see a picture of a strange woman in his phones. Still, you say it's not my business."

"Oh, now you're using it against me, yeah?" I asked, looking at her rudely.

"See it the way you wanna, but the truth is what your mama just told you. Dakota has been messing up a big deal, you cover for him, you forgive him and go beg him even when he is at fault, how else do you wanna be told that he is not serious one bit?"  I lowered myself quietly on the bed when Inyene's words hit me like nail on my forehead. I became suddenly sobber. She was right.

"I am pregnant again." I said, sitting next to her and stretching my legs out.

"For the eleventh time?"

"Dakota says he isn't still ready, that I should get rid of it."

"Sounds like you're a robot. Why would he say a thing like that? You can't get rid of this pregnancy Ifure. It's risky, don't forget what Doctor Yemi said the last time after you almost lost your life," She came closer to me and held my hands firmly, "Keep it, it might make him stay for the baby."

"He will be angry. It's because of this pregnancy that we almost fought last night. I might lose him if I try to keep it."

"You sound like a teenager, like someone who is just stupid and foolish," Inyene sighed, "Well, you're just stupid." She added and then took her handbag and walked away.

I was still mute, still contemplating on what to do when his call came in. My heart sang, I became suddenly emotional when I saw that he was the one who called.

"Hello?" I said.

"Listen to me Ifure, if you're not ready to get rid of that pregnancy, you and I will have to break up. I don't see reasons why you should disobey me, I am the head. You're a woman, you should be humble, submissive and listen to me as the man who will pay your bride price."

I hung off the call on him quietly, but he kept calling.

The idiot of a man called Dakota wasn't scared if I wasn't going to lose my life in the process, like I almost did the last time.

"I'm just a lonely little petunia on an onion patch, an onion patch," I sang the song in my head. It was going round and louder, as I sat thinking of another painful moment I was going to have with doctor Yemi.

I found myself holding back, when I knew answers to things that could end my misery. Walking away was supposed to be the right decision at that moment. But it was too late, I was so in love with him, I couldn't help it.

I walked to the kitchen, and took a peanut butter and a honey sandwich from the refrigerator, munching it like I didn't care, but I did care.

©Vicky Bon
2018