ISOKENE Episode 31 by Opeyemi Ojerinde Akintunde

ISOKENE Episode 31

That was how the Lord won my battle and I was about to celebrate, when I was given the worst news of my life… The school had called me that Gold was terribly sick. At first, I thought it was her normal crisis. As someone with the SS genotype, Gold usually had her crisis, but the school they were attending was a top notch school where they had a standby Doctor and qualified Nurses who took care of children with Special medical cases.
Besides , one of the things Gold and I had agreed on was to never dwell on her genotype as a big deal. She was just like every other person. I made her know this right from childhood and she bought into it. That is why she knew how well to manage her pains….

But it seem like Gold’s crisis this time was beyond what the school could handle. When I got to the school, the school doctor was so furious when he heard the pregnancy was as a result of rape.
“ Madam, you should have informed us, We would have done a thorough investigation on her and given her an Emergency medication for the prevention of unwanted pregnancy, and provide prevention of and screening for STDs….” the doctor said bitterly….

“ We were all so busy after the birth of my brother and I didn’t want to be a joy spoiler, so I just let the whole incident fade away like it never happened “ Gold said trying to defend me again
“You don’t hide rape from your doctor, especially you Gold, you have a medical history…..Madam, I suggest we terminate this pregnancy, because of her health condition, she is too fragile and more importantly too young to bare the pain of carrying a baby as a sickler”
“No, I will carry the baby”…Gold objected
I didn’t know what to say, I was speechless and weeping….
“Gold, this is to save your life and besides you don’t even know the father of the child” the doctor said
Gold turned to me instead, she was no longer listening to the doctor, she held me by the shoulders and said…

“Mum, I know what you are afraid of and I have told you times and times again, that I am not afraid of death, I am more afraid of life after death, if I die, I want to die doing the righteous thing, that way I know I will meet God and not the devil”…She said with so much courage in her voice
“You were raped, it was an evil committed again you” I managed to say
“And I don’t intend joining the association of evil doers by also terminating the pregnancy”… Gold said
“ Mum, you have always taught me that abortion was murder and God hates murder, is the standard of God changing now because I am pregnant?” She asked me a question I had no answer to give
Gold did not listen to us, She didn’t listen to her father, her faith was so strong but when her pregnancy was about 5 months, I Lost my Gold….
I lost my friend….
I lost my adviser…..
I lost my daughter who acted like my mother….
I lost an angel God blessed with me…

Guilt of knowing that if I didn’t go to Mr Gbesan’s house, maybe Gold would have still been alive, would have made me commit suicide , but before Gold passed on , she asked to see me privately and these were her last words I still hold so dear….
“Mum, You once told me that it’s not the number of years we spend on earth that matters , but it is the number of great things we do on earth while we are here that matters. Mum,amongst all the fantastic things I did the most important one to me is the one I did in my last moments…. That is, making sure you got back your home…I am happy knowing I achieved that.
Mum, You were a good mother,, despite the trouble I came with at birth as a sick baby, You moulded me into this strong girl through your words, belief , love, and commitment to me….I thank God for the Prrivilege of being your daughter…
Mum, please live everyday like it’s your last… That has always been my secret….

Please Make Dad happy, and please make sure Emerald marries a good man….It’s a pity I won’t be around to see her get married…”
I didn’t have the will power to tell her to stop saying all those negative words… I knew it in my spirit, her time was up, She came for just a short time… For the first time I saw Gold’s sickle cell that day differently, I felt she was an angel God had sent , when he sensed my marriage was going to be in problem. He sent her to me in form of a sick baby, he hid a gem in a sick baby…..He hid an angel in a sickly child so the world wouldn’t take notice…

Gold continued as her breathing got harder. “ And most importantly Mum, be very close to God. He owns the whole world….Wow, mum…I can see the Angels, they are so huge and beautiful….”
I saw a new twinkle in her eyes, as I looked into her eyeballs I could see lights flashing like a reflection of light,but I looked towards the direction she was looking I saw nothing…

I was crying, asking God not to take my friend away, not to take my sister, not to take my Gold away, not to take my daughter away, I wanted my angel to stay with me, I didn’t want the angels to take my confidant away….but I knew she had to leave…Angels don’t stay long…They were messengers of good news….“Mum, don’t cry… I will be happier with God, I will be looking forward to seeing you, just Make sure you don’t miss heaven…and remember this was not your fault in anyway, My time was up….” She said indicating I give her a hug and finally she whispered in my ears
“Don’t forget to get Margaret her own home and take care of Diamond, he will be your consolation ”… She breathe her last breath as her hands dropped from the hug…

And I must tell you, I knew when her Spirit ascended, I knew when her spirit left her body on that hospital bed as I hugged her body tightly….
What was life? Nothing….Why then all the hate?Why all the envy and bitterness? Life was to short to make others unhappy…

I made up my mind, to live like Gold, to love my family more, live everyday like it was the last and take Margaret as a sister who I had to get a bed for….

The day after Gold’s death, something unexpected happened