Voices

Denial (cont)

I woke up 3 weeks later ,I woke up screaming,all I heard was a squeal and pains I felt,the after effect of being punched in the throat and tummy to submission ....
I burst into tears and once I found my bearing,I realized I was in the hospital and have been there for three weeks and I had also missed my Waec exams.
Mummy wa ,our neighbor and a lady I didn't know all stood around my bed ,smiling at me like I won the lottery ...
I wanted to scream ,but at the thought of the pain I felt at the first attempt ,I kept mute.

Then came the questions
Mummy wa: Bilikisu what happened ?
Who did this to you?
Who?
Who did I offend?
Mummy wa ,went on and on till all I could hear were sobs and see her shaking like a palm tree that was being disturbed by the strong guts of winds...
Papa came in and took her away.
Then came our neighbor ,he looked at me and cried like he had lost a contract or a job.
I wanted to scream get out.
I wanted to scream your love brought me here.
I wanted to say damn you,but I was voiceless.....
All I did was stare at him .
He walked away,I thought my onlookers were done with their business till the lady I didn't know came for her rounds too...
I expected the same reaction ,but I saw her bringing out a paper and biro,then she said to me; My name is Tega, Ochuko's girlfriend .
I didn't know who ochuko was ,then it clicked that was my neighbors name.
I had been too busy falling in love ,I never found out his name .
Back to her ...
I know you can't speak just yet,you have been badly bruised and it's a miracle you are still alive ,your body took a lot of blows. So I am going to ask you questions and I want you to touch the alphabets that I am going to write out to give me your answer.
Can you do that?
I managed to nod in response...
She told me she was a lawyer and just came back to get married to my neighbor and they were to relocate to the states after that...
And she was going to fight for me ,with the last drop of her blood .
I saw a sliver lining and ray of hope.
I lost the ray hours later.

Biliki who did this to you ?
Touch the alphabet ,I will write out each letter to form a word.
I touched
E
D
A
F
E
Edafe ?
I nodded in affirmation ,she had a ghostly look on her face and barged out of the private ward,the worst just began .My mother was dragging Mr ochuko by his shirt..
I passed out again,the display was too much for my frail state.
I woke up 7 hours later ,I saw Aunty tega kneeling by my bed weeping.
Why she was in that state,I could not tell ?
Why was she crying more than the bereaved,well I was to find out later that Edafe was her brother and not Uncle ochukos cousin....
I guessed you are shocked,I am too.....
He has been arrested but was at the station denying ever being there,not to talk of raping me.
Since I was too weak to speak and recount all that happened he had not been charged.
Mummy wa had to be sedated as she had been fighting and cursing both Uncle ochuko and miss tega. She lay peacefully on the other ward bed ,that has been the only time I had seen mummy wa so peaceful..
And now she had my problems to deal with.