THE ELEPHANT WOMAN Final Episode – Stories of My life

THE ELEPHANT WOMAN Final Episode – Stories of My life

I couldn’t believe my ears. I hoped very strongly that I didn’t hear my uncle correctly. But I did. He was very explicit. I hoped and prayed that she hadn’t seen her skin. That would mean very big trouble for me. She would lose her trust in me and might tend to hate me now for disrupting the normal occurrence of her life and leaving her with no option than to marry me. She had always seen me as her hero. However, all that would change immediately she discovered that our whole life had been a trick. I was very miserable. My uncle was puzzled by my reaction but attributed it to my sufferings in jail. He said goodbye to me and left.

Back in my cell, I could think of nothing else but Iris. I would die quite literally if she were to leave me. There was no way I could leave without her. We already had children and that complicated the whole thing. I thought of sending for her and confessing the whole thing and make her understand. But she was not an ordinary human. Her understanding might be different. I cursed aloud.

The next day, I was taken to court in a huge Black Maria. My case was the first to be called. I pleaded guilty in order not to waste everyone’s time and also to have a lighter sentence. I was sentenced to five years imprisonment. I cupped my face in my hands and sobbed quietly. However, I was grateful to God that it was just five years. It could have been worse. While I was being escorted out of the courtroom, I saw a beautiful lady outside the court, smiling. I couldn’t believe it. It was Iris. She had come to see me. I pleaded with the two prison guards to let me talk to her. They were so dumbfounded by her beauty that they didn’t refuse. I took her behind the car and gave her a very long and tight hug.

“I missed you, darling. So, very much. How have you been?” She asked.
“God has been with me. It’s hard, very hard but what can I do?”
“I heard the judge gave you five years.” She said in tears.
“Yes, dear wife. But do not worry. Before you know it, it will be over.” I assured her.
“We miss you. Since you left, things have not been the same. I have been working hard to cater for our kids. Why didn’t you tell me you had money at the bush hut?” She asked.
“I am sorry, that money was saved for rainy days. I would have definitely told you, but you know how abruptly I was torn apart from your arms.” I explained.
“It’s alright, dear husband.” She said. “Be strong for both of us and for your kids. I will be going back to the village today. Be a good boy and may blessings follow you.”
“Thank you. Be a good girl, too. Any man who worries you, just remind them who your husband is.” I said, smiling.
“Don’t worry yourself. No one can dare. Who doesn’t know you?”

The guards had started to be impatient, so I had to say a hurried good bye. We hugged again and I was taken back to the dreadful prison van.

I was back in prison now to officially begin my day one as a prisoner. I was no longer awaiting trial. I was now officially a prisoner; a convict. That night, after lights out, I slept and saw Iris in my dream. In the dream, she was standing in front of the kitchen, her skin in her hands and she was shouting and accusing me. She was threatening to leave me. I went on my knees and begged like a child. I told her to forgive me and not to leave me but she refused to listen. Suddenly, she put on the skin and became an elephant. I screamed and woke up. I was so thankful it was a dream and hoped it was not a sign of things to come.

The next night, I dreamed again. It was such a scary dream. I was in the elephant kingdom and I was in their court. I was being tried for stealing Iris’ skin. They said she was their king’s favourite wife and I was going to pay a dear price for marrying her. I was sentenced to death. I begged Iris to come and save me but she turned her back on me. As I was being taken away to be killed, I woke up. I was very scared and prayed to God to take care of my family. I was worried and wished I could have a way to visit my home and make sure everything was ok.

My father had once told me of men who could visit their homes while they were away on a journey. They could transform themselves into a bat or a butterfly and fly to their homes to see whether their wives were cheating on them. I wish I could have that kind of witchcraft. I could have flown back to the village to have a glimpse of my family. It would be an unspeakable joy for me if I could see my family again.

I had also read a book about a three-headed demon who was being imprisoned in an underground cell. He had no way of escaping because he had been bound by a dark and powerful magic. However, he could divide himself into three and one part of him, through the help of some dark incantations and utterings would leave the dark and miserable cell and visit the outside world. In that way, he was able to make his enemies pay for their crimes while he was still in prison. At that moment, I wished I was that demon. However, I was not. I was just a normal human being with some limited spiritual powers. Even my disappearing magic had stopped working for reasons I could not tell.

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It had been four months now and I had not had a single visit from Iris. I had also not had any from my uncle. I was all alone and there was no way I could find out what was happening. My greatest fear was that she had found her skin and ran away. I quickly pushed that thought from my mind. I could not afford to be miserable. I needed a clear and lucid mind so that I could seek a solution. I sought the help of my friend in prison. He told me I should look for a means to write a letter to the village. There was no telephone network in the village.

Haven decided to write a letter, I felt a bit of peace with myself and went to sleep. In the morning, I was told I had a visitor. I went out immediately to see who it was. I badly wanted it to be Iris. I was however, disappointed when I found out it was just my uncle. He wanted to see me urgently.

“I came to see you because something strange has happened.”
“What is it, uncle?” I asked, impatiently. “Hope my family is ok?”
“Your children, yes. But your wife, no.”
“What is wrong with her? Please tell me.”
“Your wife was seen cleaning and oiling a very strange object. When she finished cleaning and oiling it. She started doing a strange and crazy dance. She was laughing hysterically and refuse to talk or attend to anyone not even her children. All day, she was by the side of the object, guarding it jealously and would not eat or sleep. We are all very worried.” My uncle explained.

I immediately felt a sick feeling in my stomach. I felt my world crumbling before my eyes. My head was spinning and my eyes became blurred. I felt energy and life force draining away from me. I summoned my last energy and asked my uncle.

“This strange object she was cleaning, how did it look like.” I asked, dreading the response.
“An elephant skin.” He said.

I collapsed.

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I was rushed to the prison clinic for medical attention. I only regained consciousness some five hours later and by then, my uncle had gone back to the village. As soon as I regained consciousness, the events of the last five hours hit me again like a sledge hammer. The nurse that was attending to me realized I had regained consciousness and tried her best to calm me down. She asked me what happened to me and why I passed out. I narrated the whole story to her. There was no need hiding anything. Iris had already found her skin. I had lost her. I was so miserable that I thought of taking my life. The thought of my beautiful children however, drove the suicidal thoughts out of my mind. They were now my only hope.

My daughters bore a striking resemblance to their mum. I could use them as a memory if Iris indeed decided to leave me and go back to her magical kingdom. The thought of my children gave me hope and I hung on that hope with desperation. I sent a letter to the village and waited for a reply for two weeks without success. No reply came from anybody.

The presidential election in the country was fast approaching. In the prison, news had filtered in that some of us would be pardoned and released. I prayed to God everyday that my name should be among those that have been granted amnesty. I really needed to go home and find out what was happening to my family, especially my wife whom I suspected had already left.

It had been a month now since I passed out. One day, the prison superintendent asked all prisoners to gather in the courtyard of the prison. We were all hastily made to gather. There was dead silence when the superintendent appeared. He was accompanied by some prison officials. In his hand, was a long list on which were names of the people that were going to be released; that had been granted amnesty. There were twenty names in all. Unfortunately for me, my name was not on the list. I went back to my cell and wept like a baby.

I had now resigned myself to my fate. I had resigned myself to the possibility that I was going to spend all the five years in prison without being granted amnesty. However, I badly needed to know what had become of Iris. I wanted to know if she had gone or not. I needed closure. I needed to know how my children were faring, just in case their mum had gone.

After about three months, another encouraging news came to us, the prisoners. A new district attorney had been sent to replace the former one. There was word around that, that one was a kind hearted man and he was going to release many prisoners who had not killed, robbed or raped. He was going to put them on probation. That was my last hope of leaving prison without haven to serve all my complete five years. I hoped and prayed that I should be released.

I was in my cell one afternoon when my cell mate came running in. He said the district attorney was in the building and was reviewing prisoners’ files. He said he heard him call my name. I was excited. I couldn’t believe my luck and I hoped and prayed that it was true. I went to sleep that night with a lot of hope. I felt like Solomon Northup in the movie, Twelve Years a Slave. I felt like the way he felt the night he wrote his letter that would lead to his freedom from captivity.

The next day, through the iron bars of my cell, I saw a well-dressed gentleman approaching. He was going from cell to cell and talking to various cell mates. He seemed to be looking for someone. Finally, he came to my cell. He was accompanied by a small entourage of prison officials. He opened a file and asked.
“Are you Mr. Robert Peters.” He asked.
“Yes, Sir. I am.” I said, excitedly.
“You may come to the superintendent’s office and sign some papers. You have been released.”
“I beg your pardon, Sir.” I said, wide-eyed.
“Yes, you have been released. Now come with me.”

I couldn’t believe my new found freedom. I was able to breathe the free air again. I was given some money by a warden I had befriended. I went straight to the park and boarded a car. My destination was of course, my village. I got to the village around late evening. My children ran towards me with all the joy in this world. There was a general round of tears from everyone. I was happy, very happy to be home again. However, my happiness wasn’t complete. I hadn’t seen my wife.

“Where is my beautiful wife?” I asked. “Where is Iris.”
No one could answer me. I was led into the house by my uncle’s wife. I was given a seat to sit and told the entire story. I was told Iris had come home one day with a big bag. In it was her elephant skin, though no one knew what it was at that time. She was in a happy mood all day as she washed and cleaned the skin. She waited until her children were back from school, kissed them goodbye and then to everyone’s astonishment, she wore her skin, became and elephant and ran into the bush. Her children were confused and wept bitterly.

I was alarmed but not shocked because I had already sensed the whole thing while I was still in prison. I got my children together after everyone had left and told them the entire story about how I met their mother. The eldest ones were able to understand but entreated me to go back to the forest and get their mother for them. They thought it was that easy.

It had been a year now and I had already begun to get used to my life without Iris though I still missed her with everything in me. However, one day, I was at the back of the house when I felt the presence of someone behind me. I quickly turned around and realized I was staring right into the eyes of my beautiful wife. Words alone cannot describe the happiness I felt. I ran towards her and hugged her with all happiness.

“Iris, my beautiful wife. You came back. Oh my God. You came back.”
“Yes, it is me. Flesh and blood. I came to see you and the children because I have missed you all.”
“Please don’t go back. Tell me you won’t go back. You won’t go back, will you? Please!!!”
She smiled and then said.
“Tell me what you want.”
“What can I say or do to make you stay?” I asked.
“Just ask me to.” She said.

I carried her in my arms and went straight to the living room. There was serious celebration that night. There was enough to eat and drink for everyone. My wife was back and I had to make merriment. When everyone had gone and we were alone, and Iris had made sure the children were safely in bed, we went into the bedroom and she told me why she came back.

She said she was angry with me at first for stealing her skin and was very happy to reunite with her elephant friends. However, as time went on, she missed me and felt guilty to have left me while I was still behind bars. She also missed her children terribly. She had no choice but to discard her elephant skin and returned to us. She said her future was with us and not in the elephant world. I was so happy and grateful that she was here for good. I apologized sincerely and promised to be a good husband forever and forever.
“Please make love to me.” She said. “It’s been ages.”

THE END.

#OpraDre THE ELEPHANT WOMAN

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