THE ONE

FIVE

Weeks later,
Faith city hospital.

Dr. Richard wears his stethoscope, "I am very pleased with the speed of your recovery, Mr. Ise. It seems you both made sure all the instructions were followed." He sits behind his desk as Ise comes down from the examination table to sit beside Jasmine.

Jasmine mocks her husband, "I had to put my foot down this time otherwise he would not mind going to the office in these crutches,"

They both laugh.

"Well, I would have gone but taken you as my assistant," Ise says winking at her.

"I am glad to hear all that but at the same time this recovery state is also very crucial." Dr. Richard says sounding serious.

"What do you mean crucial?" Ise asks.

He scratches his beard and pushes down his glasses, "I mean it's crucial because you will have to use a walking stick and continue your exercises until your bone has healed completely."

"I believe you said some minutes ago I was recovering fast," Ise says shocked by the information. He was hoping to resume work as soon as possible. He needed a breath of fresh air from the house.

"The bone is different from the flesh, Mr. Ise, and if not given adequate time to heal it becomes a permanent deformity." Dr. Richard explains.

"Okay doctor. We will do just that. Can he resume work anytime soon?" Jasmine asks trying to quench the silence.

"Yes, he can. But he should avoid stressing his body." The doctor replies.

"Okay. Thank you. We will take our leave now." She says shaking his hands and helping her husband out of the doctor's office. Ise was quiet throughout the drive home. He felt incapacitated and angry. He needed to go back to work. Although he had enjoyed the little break with his wife at home, he just needed to be right back in the zone where he belonged.

"Jazz, please can u drop me at the office?" He said finally breaking the silence.

"Okay. Am I waiting for you?"

"No. I would ask the chauffeur to drop me home. I would stay longer at the office."

"Okay." She replied fighting the urge to object but remaining quiet.

She drops him off and drives away. He knew she was pissed and would be more aggravated if she knew how suffocating staying at home was during his recovery process. He needs a breath of fresh air.

Everyone was surprised to see him at the office except Nick who knew too well and wondered how long he could cope without work. He spends the whole day getting up to speed with the workload and contracts he has to see through.

He arrives home by 9 pm, feeling stressed and in lots of pain. He expects a scolding but gets nothing from Jasmine. The chauffeur carries him into the house as she thanks and bids him goodnight. She locks up behind him and strolls into the kitchen to get a hot water bottle and balm to massage and tend to his needs.

They take the elevators upstairs and guide him to their bedroom. She helps him undress and take a shower. He tries conversing with her but gets the silent treatment. She gets him settled into bed and drops a black walking stick with a shiny gold head by his bedside.

"Thanks, Coco." He says as she climbs into the bed and switches off the lights.

She scoffs, "For what? Doing what was needed of me as your wife or for the stick?"

"For everything." He replies.

"You are welcome." She says and kisses his forehead. He watches her flip to the other side mumbling 'goodnight' and slowly falls asleep.