IZIGORA

Chapter 18

Kobi shut the back passenger door of his car. It was past midnight and he was exhausted. Izigora's wounds had been treated and she should ordinarily have spent a night at the hospital under medical watch but with her display at the hospital, he had insisted that she be released to him. She would be under his care.

He had also explained to them that she was temporarily separated from her husband and as such Kainye need not be informed of her release. There was no need to tell them that her husband was responsible for what had happened to Izigora, it was obvious when she was screaming about not wanting to carry 'that monster's seed'.

The medical examination carried out on her had shown no signs of forced sex. Thank God. She was advised to stay the night for further observation. When Kobi told her she might have to pass the night in the hospital, she began to vehemently protest, ignoring her injuries as she tried to break free from the hold of the nurses trying to give her an injection.

'I won't remain here for him to hurt me,' she had said. 'I know he'll bribe his way out of the police station and come after me. If you leave me here, Dr Kobi, I will crawl out of this place and disappear and you'll never see me again.'

He hadn't even remembered her crutches in his rush to get her to the hospital. He had no doubt that she would make good on her promise. And in her present condition, his conscience wouldn't be able to handle that. When he promised to take her with him, she finally allowed the nurse to sedate her.

Kobi sighed as he slid into the driver's seat. It began to rain heavily before he pulled into his parking space in front of his apartment. He unlocked the protector and then the front door before returning for Izigora. He was able to get them both into the apartment before they could be drenched. He laid her on the three-man couch before locking the car and then his protector.

Chinny stepped out of her bedroom, a palm over her mouth to cover a yawn. She was dressed in a knee length night shirt with a large Tweety in front of it. It was a gift from her mother.

'You're back,' she stated, adding as she took in Izigora's sleeping form. 'Is she okay?'

'She was sedated,' Kobi replied as he locked the front door.

He sighed deeply.

'I'm afraid I'll have to request for one of your night wears for her,' Kobi told his daughter. 'She doesn't need anything making contact with her cuts. And I won't advice that she sleep in the nude because of the cold.'

'Sure, dad. But you do realise I'm like eight inches taller than she is and with more flesh. She would most likely swim in my clothes.'

'I'm sure she wouldn't mind.'

He lifted Izigora in his arms and crossed the living room to Chinny's bedroom. Chinny straightened out the sheet and peeled the comforter off. She helped Izigora into one of her night shirts and it looked like a long gown on Izigora's petite body but at least its size ensured that the material wasn't clinging to her flesh.

'She has so many scars.' Chinny observed.

'From a very abusive man,' Kobi responded. He looked at Chinny. 'If any man lays a finger on you, I'll cremate him while he's still alive.'

'Daddy.'

'I certainly will,' Kobi assured her.

'What kind of a man hurts a woman like this?'

'A man who has serious issues,' Kobi responded.

At the hospital, while the salt had been washed out of her wounds and cream subsequently applied on the cuts by the nurses, Izigora had writhed in pain, her slim, petite body trembling. Kobi had never felt such anger as he had at that moment watching Izigora go through pain.