IZIGORA

Chapter 19

Kobi was in the middle of a really interesting dream that seemed like something straight out of a movie when he felt the not-so-gentle push on his shoulder. Murmuring incoherently, he rolled to his side and continued sleeping until Chinny's voice penetrated his dream.

'Wake up, daddy,' Chinny shook his shoulders.

He woke up with a start, sitting straight on the bed, eyes heavy with sleep. Something in her tone had got through to him. He wiped a palm over his face and turned to her in the darkness of his bedroom.

'What the matter, Princess.'

'I think Izigora is going into a cardiac arrest.'

'Cardiac what...!'

He didn't bother turning on the light as he raced out of the bedroom, cursing lightly as he hit his toes on a pair of shoes he had forgotten to put aside, nearly falling over. He crossed to his daughter's bedroom and found Izigora laying on her back. At first, he thought she was writhing in pain but quickly noticed the difference. She looked more like someone struggling with an unseen being. She wasn't screaming but her lips were parted as though in a silent scream.

Despite the coldness of the bedroom as a result of the air conditioner and the earlier rain, Izigora was drenched in sweat, the top of the nightshirt looking as though someone had thrown a bucket of water at her. Her body jerked like she was having muscle spasms but he could recognise the difference from signs of convulsion. She wasn't foaming in the mouth and her mouth was wide open.

Kobi sat beside her on the bed and pulled her to a sitting position. She was still struggling with whoever it was in her sleep. He shook her shoulders gently, waking her up.

'He's not here,' he assured her. 'You were just having a bad dream.'

Suddenly her eyes opened and her dark pupils seemed to roll into her head, with only the whites visible.

'Do we need to call a pastor?' Chinny asked, thinking in terms of an exorcism or deliverance.

'That won't be necessary,' Kobi assured her. 'She's having a nightmare.'

Suddenly Izigora's pupils returned to normal and she seemed to find her voice.

'Get off me! Get off me! I don't want to do this with you.'

Kobi caught her hands in his and whispered to her: 'It's okay, Izigora. Kainye isn't here!'

'Get away from me. Get away from me.'

'I'm Kobi,' he told her, getting through to her. 'I'm Kobi.'

Her eyes widened at first and then returned to normal as she realised who was presently with her.

'Dr Kobi?' she said quietly.

'Yes, Dr Kobi.'

Her pupils were dilated and he felt her shudder as he pulled her into the comfort of his arms. He could also feel the increase in her breathing rate, her muscles tight.

'I saw him,' she said, still in that quiet voice. 'He's in this room. He was hurting me...'

'He's not here,' Kobi repeated.

Her reaction was to be expected after all she had gone through.

'I need you to swear to me that his baby isn't growing within me,' she suddenly said.

'His baby is not growing inside you,' Kobi assured her, gently reminding her that Kainye hadn't raped her as they had feared.

'He won't let me be if I was pregnant,' she told him, quietly, her breathing becoming better. Her dark eyes looked around the room. 'Can you please check again?' she asked in a quiet voice, 'Just to be sure.'

'Of course.'

Kobi made a big show of checking the wardrobe, the bathroom and even under the bed.

'He's not here.'

Izigora released a breath he was sure she wasn't aware she had been holding. He noticed she was absentmindedly pulling at her wedding ring. When it wouldn't get off, she began to tug at it. She was now looking at her finger like it did not belong to her.

'Why won't you go off?' she asked the ring.

'I don't think she's okay,' Chinny whispered to her father.

'Shush!' Kobi quietly chastised his daughter.

'Why won't you just go off?' Izigora continued talking to herself.

Suddenly, Izigora lifted her finger to her lips trying to chew off the flesh. Kobi immediately grabbed her wrist, stopping her from breaking skin.

'I'll help you take it off,' he told her.

She waited as he placed her palm in his larger hand and peeled off the ring. It came off easily. He dropped it on the bedside table.

'It's gone now.'

She nodded her thanks, wincing.

'I have a headache.'

'I'll give you something for it.'

Kobi turned to Chinny. 'Please get me a packet of paracetamol and a glass of water. Thanks.'

Chinny hurried to do her father's bidding, returning with the packet of paracetamol and glass of water. Kobi took two tablets and placed them on Izigora's hand. When she tossed the white round tablets into her mouth, he offered her the glass of water. Once she had emptied the glass, Kobi took it from her and helped her settle once more on the bed.

'Try going back to sleep. Chinny will call me if you need me.' Kobi told Izigora.

He was about to lift himself from the bed when she reached out with her left hand and caught his wrist. He turned to her.

'Thank you.'

'You're welcome,' he smiled. 'You're safe. And if he tries anything, remember it's your dream and you're in control, okay.'

'Can you sit with me until I sleep? Please?'

'Of course.'

She smiled lightly and shut her eyes. Her hand remained in his as though to ensure he didn't leave. He waited while Chinny laid on her side of bed, giving enough room for Izigora. While asleep, Izigora looked so young and so vulnerable, igniting the natural instinct to protect. With his free hand he stroked Izigora's hair.

He waited until she finally let go of his hand before rising to his feet. Shutting the door behind him, he crossed over to his bedroom. He lay on his back on the bed, hands behind his head, sleep gone from his eyes.