Against All Odds

Chapter Seventy:You can have it

Obiefune arrived at the hospital by 3am, he had been on his way to an important meeting concerning his book, but broke off his engagement as soon as he heard how critical things had become for Benjamin. The traffic congestion caused by an accident kept him on the road with his car for hours. He questioned the nurses at the reception, before they directed him to the room where Benjamin was kept after certifying that he was a relative.

Obiefune saw doctors and nurses in Benjamin's room and he felt relieved that he was alive. They were probably tending to him, his plan had failed when he discovered what Benjamin did.

He discovered that the doctors and nurses were just immobile on a closer look. They seemed to speaking to a person in the room. He quickly approached them weaving through the barricade they had made at the door with their bodies. Then he saw Obiukwu standing before Benjamin holding his hand and weeping. At that moment he knew something had happened to his cousin.

"Mrs Igwe we need to move him, could you please step aside". The doctor pleaded yet Obi didn't flinch. It was as if the words were not related to her.

"Please ma, he needs to be kept in a conducive environment, this room is not..." The nurse was interrupted by a glare Obi threw at her.

Obiefune crept out from behind and questioned the doctor,who whispered into his ears. "She has been like this for hours, this room temperature is not suitable for his corpse"

Obi decided to lie on the bed with Benjamin and after some minutes stood to hold his hand, as if she was trying to wake him.

Obiefune proceeded to where Obi stood weeping, she glanced at him then focused on her husband. "He said he'll wake me by 11pm" Obi sniffed while Obiefune glanced at the clock.

"He can't die, he's not supposed to. He said he'll take care of me." Obi chuckled wiping tears from her eyes

"He said he won't blink, I want him to..... He has to. He's so cold, I was here with him,his hand was warm. We... I was sleeping" Obi sobbed

"I shouldn't have, he made promises" She sniffed and held Benjamin "He needs to keep them, he has to wake up"

Obiefune stared at a lifeless Benjamin on the bed and his heart cringed. He never wanted this to happen but Benjamin was too smart, he did not want help.

Obiefune slowly placed his hand on Obiukwu's shoulders while the medical personnels hoped he could get Obi away.

"What.. What do I tell them? My sons. How do I... How am I supposed to? He was happy! He... We are having a baby"

"Obi they need to take him away, he's not here. They need to take his body away"

Obi threw Obiefune's brushed Obiefune's hand from her shoulder furious with his statement . "He's here, he just needs to wake up. I can't,.... I can't go home. What will I tell them? Benjamin needs to wake up. It's a prank" Obi laughed hysterically "Ben please tell me it's a prank"

Obiefune did not know what to say to Obi to calm her but he knew she had to let go of his hand.
"Ben.. Ben... Ben, I won't leave till you wake up."

Obiefune turned to the doctors who were contemplating on moving Obi with force. The longer Benjamin's body stayed under such unsuitable conditions the more worried they were.

Obi still stood softly whispering Benjamin's name like her voice could wake him.
"Ben..Ben"

"Obi he won't answer you, we need to leave the room biko zie" Obiefune pleaded

"Leave, you can leave if you want. I am not leaving my husband! Isn't that what you do best leave!"

"Obi biko" Obiefune reached out to hold her but she slapped his hand away, leaving Benjamin's hand to fall on the bed spring. The sound made Obi flinch and she hoped to hear a yell of pain but she didn't.