Facade (Romola 1)

31: Eyes Open

A gasp disrupted his doze. His eyelids fluttered as his back ramrod straight. Romola's lips were parted. Her eyes, unblinking, remained focused on the ceiling.

"Romola," He whispered.

She sobbed as she turned towards him. His heart raced on meeting the teary pool her iris resided in.

"Dami, get the doctor quick." Olumid tugged at Dami's sleeve.

Dami lay prone, sleeping on one of the unused beds. Dami's eyes fluttered slowly. Too slow for Olumide's liking. He shook Dami's body until Dami was siting upright.

"What now?"

"Get the doctor. She's awake."Olumide yelled.

Dami groaned, standing and trudging towards the door. Olumide pushed Dami towards the door before returning to Romola's side. She turned away from him, sobbing and muttering into the pillow.

"Romola. It's okay. You're going to be okay." He reached for her hand but she shrunk away from him like his fingers were sticks of hot wax. Her rejection pierced his chest but he swallowed. He didn't mind. She was awake.

The doctor, a balding man with a chiseled jaw, hurried into the room. He stopped at the other side of Romola's bed. She turned away from the doctor to Olumide before she faced the ceiling, refusing to look at either of them.

Olumide wished he could wipe her tears away. "You're fine now."

"Let me take it from here sir."The doctor said. "Romola, can you hear me?"

Romola's sobs were the only answer the doctor got. Olumide leaned closer to her, tightening his hold on her hand. Vicky's words filed his mind but he rejected them. Romola would be fine.

"Romola, do you remember what happened?" The doctor prodded.

Her sobs faded, giving way to a shrill cry. "I was drowning!"

Dami and Olumide shared a confused look. The doctor didn't seem fazed by the revelation. Instead, he continued, "Where were you drowning?"

"I don't know. Yetunde said.. and I was.." She snatched her hand from Olumide's grip and clutched her head in her palms. Her sobs graduated to sharp cries punctuated by deep gasps of oxygen.

"I think you should leave her to rest for a while," The doctor addressed the men. "I'll send someone to do a proper check up in a few minutes."

"But?" Olumide began. He glanced at Romola again. Tears ran out of her closed eyes, down her pale lean cheeks. He escorted the doctor to the door while Dami stood bedside Romola's bed, still dozing. "Is she okay?"

"I think she'll be fine," The doctor's eyes met his sharply.

"She was not drowning!"

"Look sir, we need to give her time to recuperate. I would suggest that you give her some water to drink. Not cold." The doctor replied, sticking his hands into his coat and walking away.

Olumide found himself at the foot of Romola's bead. Her cries had ceased and the trail of wet tears on her cheeks were the only evidence that she had cried.

"What are you saying? I am Dami. You know me!" Dami insisted.

"No. I don't know you?" Romola stared intently at Dami's face.

"I'm Yetunde's brother."

"Who the fuck is Yetunde?"

"Yetunde?" Dami took a step away from Romola. "She's your best friend. Your roomie."

Worry clouded Olumide's eyes at the exchange. He walked to the bedside table beside Romola's bed and poured some water into a glass cup. He passed the cup to her. "Here, drink."

She watched him with wary eyes, pushing the cup away from her before taking the bottle water from the table and gulping its content. She dropped the bottle on the table and wiped her lips before speaking. "I don't know any Yetunde oh."

"You know her." Dami insisted.

"And I have to go now." Romola continued, trying to slip her feet off the bed.

Olumide held her to the bed, an incredulous look playing on his face. "Where are you going?"

"I'm going to meet my mother. I'm sure she's waiting for me."

"For what?"

"To help her hawk bread."

Authors Note:

Hey guys,

I know you're probably wondering where I've been. I went  through a creative slump a while back then this whole corona thing happened. I've been stuck in my house with limited access to data and electricity (Our street pole was destroyed in a storm). 

None of these situations have been fixed but I couldn'tlet another week pass without trying to post. I've spent most of my home time sleeping but also reading up on how to make my writing better so I can give you the best book you deserve. 

I hope you all are staying safe, washing your hands and using face masks. Is that still what's trending, I don't know. I've been away. But please stay safe. Love you. You get a double update today. The next chapter awaits your precious eyes.