STOLEN PARADISE

CHAPTER FOURTY - ONE

Funmi calmly listened to the Doctor's report on the injuries she sustained. She asked about her husband and she was given an update about him.

"So Doctor, how long are we looking at?"

Mrs. Olanrewaju was dreading her daughter's reaction to the news.

"Three months tops!"

"I won't be able to move around and go about my normal life for three months?"

"It could be shorter than that..."

"It is temporary," Kemi chipped in trying to give her friend hope.

"And costly! I want to go home." Funmi said weakly and turned her face to the wall. She felt a lot of pain on her back and felt a terrible ache knocking against her head.

"I want to rest, please leave me alone."

Her mother did not hesitate to stand and leave the room with her daughter in law. Funmi needs time to process the news.

The day passed and Funmi received many visitors from work; a few children from the orphanages; her husband's colleagues; people from church; her lawyer; her parents' friends and business associates, as well as a special visit from Jonathan who apologized for bringing her pain but confessed that he sincerely wanted the best for her. Funmi dismissed his self-bashing and assured him that Clement Johnson would have come either way.

A week later, the couple were discharged from the hospital, with Funmi sent home with a wheelchair because of constant complaint about pains in her legs. The Doctors assured her it would go away soon as her spinal cord was not injured to the point of paralyzing her. Their parents allowed them to rest and then decided to have some discussions after dinner.

Immediately after dinner, they all sat down in the living room to discuss the issues between the couple and the way forward.

"We are disappointed to discover that Toni was unfaithful to Funmi, but we are sure of his love for her. We are sincerely sorry for the pain and trauma that resulted from this arrangement." Chief Babalola said remorsefully.

Funmi sat on a two seat sofa with Antonio. Her waist was held tightly by a body brace, with her legs crossed, holding the little fire of a colourful ball of emotions dancing around her soul.

"You are a strong ad Godly young woman Funmi and we appreciate your support and cooperation to marry Antonio." Mrs. Babalola added meekly.

Funmi sighed and rubbed her eyes together to garner some control.

"Let us just cut to the chase. I am moving out and back to my old house. My things have been there..."Funmi's voice trailed off.

"Why? I thought you guys were sorting things out." Mrs. Babalola exclaimed in shock.

Funmi wanted to roll her eyes so hard and raise her voice, but decided against it.

"I will be able to give Antonio the freedom he deserves." She picked a brown A5 envelope resting on her lap and gave it to Antonio.

"You can be free if you allow it. I'm letting you go because you have never been my husband anyway. So, now you can get your wish. The divorce documents are in the envelope, so please don't contest the divorce and let us all go our separate ways." She said firmly.

Antonio was shocked but chided himself for being too relaxed. He knew he took her for granted but he was not expecting her to divorce him.

"Please my daughter, don't do this." Mrs. Babalola pleaded.

"It was an arrangement and as you can see, it is not working out. Look at us, we are in pain, not only emotionally but even physically too. I want to go before something worse happens to me." She replied cooly.

"Funmi, we can start afresh." Antonio pleaded his case.

"It's a New Year Antonio. Let is both start afresh separately. Go back to Sharon who truly has your heart."

Despite his pain, Antonio went down on his knees and began to beg her. He promised she was the only one he loves and none other.

"No Antonio. I don't want your sympathy. You are not obliged to stay with me, I will take care of myself. Go to Sharon, she suffered far more than I did."

"That is not true Funmi. My dear, please forgive us all. We have wronged you from the beginning." Her Father pleaded with her too.

Funmi wiped the tears that escaped down her face, and got up with the support of the crutches she was given at the hospital.

Her mother and mother in law spent about a week with her and then went to their matrimonial homes, but not before Funmi assured them she would give her marriage another chance. Funmi did not leave her matrimonial home but things went back to normal. She moved back to her former room and does not allow Antonio anywhere near her; it was either she moved away or tell him to leave. A physiotherapist recommended by the hospital comes in once a week to help her gain back the use of her legs as well for all rounded healing of her injuries.

Funmi felt mostly numb toward Antonio because she now has a distorted image of him and does not know who he truly is; Sharon's lover or her husband. Her inability to decipher his true intention and heart makes it harder for them to be reconciled or find a way forward. For the sake of peace and the guilt he felt about her injuries and breaking her trust, Antonio played along.