Sacrilege Episode 34 by Nissi Adeola
The date night was totally not what Hassan had anticipated or even intended. He had taken Teju out to the cinema to see a movie but the night had ended in the most unlikely way. How on earth had he not checked online for a review of the movie before going to the cinema?
“Are you kidding me right now?” Teju said heatedly. “You mean to tell me that Melinda is at fault? How is that?”
Hassan stared at Teju who had her hands akimbo, glaring at him right outside the cinema house. “Who else is at fault? She gave up on Robert, took the advice of her evil sisters and asked for a divorce. Robert even begged her but she refused, what else do you want him to do?” Frankly, Hassan couldn’t even see why this was a cause for debate. The girl was to blame and not the man, simple.
Teju stared at him like she couldn’t comprehend the words coming out of his mouth. “Begged you say. The idiot didn’t even call to beg her after she sent him out of the house until the day they were to sign the divorce papers. And what do you mean ‘gave up’? She wasted eighteen years of her life and destiny supporting his stagnant dream, feeding him all through while he sat on his butt doing nothing.
Gosh, Melinda is so lenient; married to someone like me, I would have set that useless battery ablaze; that would certainly wake him up to reality.” Teju hissed, stomping towards Hassan’s car in anger, leaving him to keep up with her angry strides. “She stayed with him eighteen years, stayed away from her siblings cause of him, lost her womb because of his promiscuous ways, sacrificed all her inheritance for him and never gave up on him but the one time she did, he went straight to the arms of another woman? Who does that?”
Hassan stared levelly at Teju’s flushed face as they got to the car. “The other woman helped him when he needed and helped him realize his dream. Besides, he gave her much money than she even spent on him so what’s all the fuss about?”
Teju braced her hands on the car, her eyes shooting daggers. “Money? Are you serious? What is the use of the money when he is not with her? She can practically see him living all their dreams with another woman! Even with millions in the account, who would be happy without a womb, a husband and a family to call your own, tell me? That movie is just a big piece of crap! And why did she have to die and every other person lived? They should have all died, that would have been the perfect ending”
Hassan sighed. This date night was already a huge disaster. He had intended for positive energy and atmosphere, he wanted Teju to relax and have fun but they ended up arguing. The crap movie had truly spoiled his night. He swallowed and tried for a remedy as he unlocked the car and they got in. “Alright, you win, the guy is at fault.” He started the car. “Should we grab a quick meal at the eatery?”
Teju, still angry at Hassan and the characters in the movie, she snapped her seat belt around her. “No! That movie is enough for tonight as it is. Take me home” she said
Hassan’s lips thinned. Perfect! He thought grimly.
*****
The meal had to be the most delicious meal she has had in weeks. Laura suspected it was not just because the flavor had been so perfect, but because she was in Deolu’s company. They chatted all through dinner, played even. It was like nothing had created a wedge between them these past weeks. The uncertainties of what the next day might bring were cast aside as they enjoyed each other’s company.
Though the darkness of the night enveloped them, Laura had never felt safer. The only time that matched the perfection of the night was their honeymoon. Laura raised her eyes and stared at the large expanse of water.
If there was something she loved more than ice cream, it had to be the beach, but having the combination of both as she was now was like heaven on earth. Candle lights and the moonlight from above cast around them a romantic glow while they sat on the mat that stretched out on the sand.
Done with a super delicious dinner and now down to dessert, Laura scooped a spoonful of coldstone iced cream – strawberry laced with chocolate and coconut – and popped it into her mouth. She turned her face up, savoring the heavenly taste as she inhaled deeply. Nothing rivaled her love for the blue salty beach water scent.
Laura could never have imagined that a trip to the beach was what Deolu had planned when he drove her off, not disclosing their destination. But as Laura looked around, three serenaders standing a distance away to give them a measure of privacy while playing sweet loving tunes, Laura felt her heart both swell and ache. Her eyes filled with tears she held back. Laura folded her legs beneath her as they sat on the mat that spread out on the beach sand, food delicacies spread out before her.
Deolu watched Laura eat the creamy mound of iced cream as her eyes went dreamy. The wind of the night lapped at Laura’s face. “You remember, don’t you?”
Laura returned her eyes to Deolu. Of course, she knew what he was referring to. “Yes” she answered. How could she forget? How could she forget the one time they had stayed at this very spot? During their honeymoon. “I think you purposely brought me here” she accused.
Deolu smiled not bothering to deny the obvious as his eyes grew mischievous. “Remember this?” before Laura could even anticipate his next move, Deolu scooped up four fingers of iced cream and smeared it all over Laura’s lips and face, bringing back the memory of that time during their honeymoon where he had accidentally splashed iced cream on her face. Laura gasped in shock as the frozen cream connected with her face, but along with the shock came the flashing memory of that moment six years ago. “Stop” she yelped halfheartedly as she chuckled nonstop, thinking her choice of leaving her face void of makeup was the best choice she made. Deolu grinned, smearing more iced cream on Laura’s face.
Laura’s eyes glinted with revenge as she also scooped iced cream and plastered it on Deolu’s moustache and on his beards, making him look like a dark skinned Santa Claus; a really sexy one at that. Laura laughed out at the sight of him. Deolu laughed too just as Laura took part of the cream on his moustache with her finger and licked it. Deolu’s eyes narrowed as he drew closer his eyes dark with mischief and something else, something that was enough to send her heart pounding with anticipation. Deolu brought his face to hers, staring into her eyes, laughter in his.
“You look delicious” he closed the inches that separated their faces, closing his mouth over a tempting sizable cream that sat on her nose. “Uhmmmmm… Delicious” his voice, huskily murmured, making her heart race. Laura forgot to breathe as Deolu’s tongue and lips took a torturous stroll on her face. Despite the chill of the night, Laura felt hot, finding it difficult to breathe properly. He intentionally avoided her mouth, leaving that for last. His eyes were dark with desire when he finally raised his eyes to hers. “Now, to the sweetest part” his tongue stuck out and swiped over her lower lip, not breaking his hold of her gaze. Unable to hold back anymore, Laura put his hand around his neck and head, pulling him closer for the kiss she had been dying for.
She had lied. There was something sweeter than just iced cream. The Deolu flavor combined with the iced cream invaded her senses till she couldn’t think of anything sweeter. Her heart pounded in her chest as Deolu took her mouth hungrily, his hand going up to her hair restlessly. His fingers itched to take out the pins holding her hair up in order to sink his hand in the rich thickness of her hair. One hand went down her waist, his mind reveling at the smooth silkiness of her cloth, even more surprising to realize that her skin was even silkier.
Deolu’s mouth left hers as he buried a kiss on her shoulder. “I want to taste you all over” he growled.
Laura saw the yearning desire in his eyes; she was sure he saw the same thing in hers. “I… I want that to” she heard herself say. The breeze of the night, coupled with Deolu’s gaze brought goosebumps to Laura’s skin. Without even saying it, they both started packing the dishes back into the picnic bag Deolu came with; both working with a sense of urgency. It was getting cold; she knew it was only a matter of time before the heavens opened to let down rain. Just as Deolu rolled up the mat and stood, Laura felt something drop on her cheek. She touched it then raised her head towards the sky just as two more drops landed on her face.
Deolu dismissed the serenaders and they started hastening towards the lodge Deolu had reserved, the very same one they had used for their honeymoon. The rain tore down without warning. Laughing like kids, Deolu and Laura ran. They were drenched by the time they got to the lodge. Deolu opened the door and they got in, Deolu dropped the things he was carrying and helped Laura with the bag she carried.
Deolu gave Laura an inspection. “You’re cold” he noted. “You have to get out of this cloth”
Laura swallowed as she stared at the way Deolu’s wet clothes clung to his muscled body. “Yes, I do”, she said, meaningfully. Unable to wait any longer, she went into his arms.
*****
The rain tore down from the sky with a vengeance, sweeping across the streets of Lagos. Cold wind blew making the rain feel icy cold against her skin but she barely noticed. Gloria walked on, completely soaked, letting her legs lead her wherever it will. She had been walking for more than an hour, her brain on reverse as she pondered over the chaos that her life had now become. The rain disguised the tears that went down her cheeks perfectly but the pain on her face, the pain in her heart would surely have no concealer.
Gloria had prayed for years, she had prayed for the time God would reunite her with her daughter. She had dedicated her life to praying for that one miracle, she had yearned for it, but now… tears flowed down Gloria’s cheeks. Nothing had compared to the happiness she had felt when she saw the daughter she had given up, the daughter she had left in the hands of fate. She had thanked God so much! She had been so thankful and even though Teju seemed not to want anything to do with her, Gloria had been so content in knowing that the child she had placed in the hands of fate was still alive and breathing. She looked so beautiful, more beautiful than she had ever imagined. But now…
Gloria gripped her chest in pain. “Oh God, why?” she asked for the umpteenth time. Why cancer? Why? Tears flowed like a river down her face, pain stabbed like a knife at her heart. Why was this happening to her again? Why? After years of waiting, years of hoping, years of praying, how could she stand the fact that she would lose her daughter again, and this time forever? It was like reliving that time she had watched the basket carrying her baby sail away from her, watching the basket float out of reach unable to stop the current of the river. Why did God choose to punish her this way? Now, she wondered if finding her daughter was indeed a blessing, it felt remarkably like a punishment. Her heart ached for the pain her daughter had been concealing. The pain she has been shouldering alone. It all made sense now… Laura’s decision, her words, saying Teju has gone through so much pain in her life and that she deserved happiness… it all made sense to her now. Laura had known but hadn’t told her because sensible as she was, she knew just how hurt and pained she would feel.
‘I am a terrible mother’, Gloria thought not for the hundredth time. She would have been there. She would have been there for her daughter, holding her; supporting her… she would have been there. But God knows she would be there for her now. She’d be damned if she’d lose her daughter again. Gloria swallowed heavily, her legs coming to a halt under a big shady tree. She blinked as she stared at Teju’s house at the other side; her legs had surely led her where her heart wanted. Her heart thumped at the thought of talking to Teju. Teju had been avoiding her ever since she told her she was her mother; would she agree to see her now? And even if she did, what would she say to her?
Gloria swallowed. Just as she turned to cross over to the building, a car parked. Teju got out of the car and went in. Gloria stared at the person who had dropped her off and recognized him instantly as the doctor she had seen Teju with when she had gone to discharge Margaret – Doctor Hassan. She remembered noticing something odd about the both of them, like some unspoken secret. He had to know. Gloria waited until Teju had gone inside before she left the tree, quickly rushing towards the car. She knocked on the window of the car and Hassan lifted his eyes, recognizing her instantly. He took in her drenched form standing in the rain and quickly leaned over to open the door for her. Gloria got in. “I’m so sorry, my clothes are wet”
“No, not a problem, good thing I dropped by” Hassan frowned, he could see beyond her wet face to her red eyes. “Where are you headed?”
Gloria shook her head, her hair spraying droplets of water. “Nowhere. I need your help”
This was the oddest encounter Hassan has ever had. “What’s wrong? Is your daughter okay?” he could clearly remember Margaret being admitted in his hospital after being abused by her husband.
Gloria shook her head. “No! Teju is my daughter and she is not okay” Hassan stared at Gloria, totally confused now. “I need your help with her”
*****
Tito was totally drenched when she returned to the hospital. She had been convinced that a trip to her apartment, an aimless walked around the community would purge her of thoughts of Chris but she was wrong. Suddenly, she terribly missed her dad. She had no idea of where her phone was and she really didn’t care.
Tito opened the door to Mark’s room and went to stand beside the bed. She badly needed a hug. She sat and held mark’s padded hand, giving it a slight rub. “Oh, dad I need you, I really need you” she swallowed, staring at Mark’s face. “I’ve fallen in love yet again… but this time with someone who doesn’t love me.” She took a deep breath to stop the tears that threatened to fall. “It is better that way, right? Everyone who loves me ends up dead, so it is better he doesn’t love me, right? Right? It means he would live”
This was what she had been telling herself since she left Chris’ place but it was not taking the pain away, it was not taking away the ache, the painful ache in her heart. “You are the only man that loves me, dad, you can’t leave me… You can’t” she squeezed Mark’s hand and bent her head, placing it on the bed. Her heart nearly stopped when she felt something… a movement against her hand. Her head shot up, her heart thundering as she stared at the padded hand she held, hoping it hadn’t been her imagination. Then not only did she feel it, she saw it… saw Mark’s hand fold, closing around hers. “Dad? Da… dad?” she gasped, her heart racing in her chest. “Doctor…doctor” she yelled.
Sacrilege Episode 35 by Nissi Adeola
Anita paused the circular rubbing of her protruded belly; the infant within seemed to kick in protest. “Wait wait, let me digest this” She cut in, her eyes alive with amusement. “You kissed Tito? Like… the same Tito?”
Chris sighed and massaged this bridge between his eyes. “Go on. Rub it in”
“Wow! This is some serious twist in the tale by moonlight. I just knew there was something behind your chronic Tom and Jerry imitation” Anita grinned.
“I knew I shouldn’t be telling you this” Chris whined. They were seated outside, in the compound of Anita’s home, the moon overhead casting a serene light over them. Chris had decided to pay Anita and her husband a visit on his way back from work. It had been a while he visited the pair. Anita had been a close friend of his before she got married and thanks to a very understanding husband, their friendship hadn’t been affected though Chris became instant friends with her husband and made sure he kept a certain amount of distance to prevent odd feeling. Her husband wasn’t home yet and Chris was happy have a moment alone with Anita before he arrived from work, hopefully she could give him an advice on what to do with Tito. He didn’t think it was such a good idea anymore.
“Well, don’t stop… Give me the full gist”Anita was grinning as her hand resumed her gentle belly rub.
Chris swallowed and signed resignedly. “I haven’t been able to get her off my head since then, it’s like she is all I think about. I worry about her, I feel this huge urge to take care of her, to protect her” he scratched his head. “Maybe it’s just sympathy at work here, she’s had a fair share of pain… More than a fair share actually”
Anita took in Chris’ look and smiled. She’d wondered when she would see him like this about someone that wasn’t Laura. “I don’t think you would be here to seek my counsel if it’s just sympathy” she said, watching Chris. “How do you feel when you are with her?”
Chris thought of the previous night and this morning. “Complete. Happy, really happy. It’s like everything is alright with the world. I don’t know, Anita, I just… I feel this incredible attraction towards her that I haven’t felt for anyone before.”
“Including Laura?”
Chris swallowed. “Pretty much. But then, up until last week, I still fancied myself in love with Laura? So what? Is it that easy to fall out of love?
Anita shrugged. “I don’t know. Do you think of Laura when you’re with Tito?” She asked.
Chris exhaled. “Barely have room enough to remember my own name” he swallowed, running his hand over his head. “What do you think?
Anita was all smiles. ” You know what I think. I think I’d be attending a wedding very very soon”
Chris rolled his eyes. “C’mon”
“I’m serious” she said. “Trust me, a woman knows when a man is head over heels in love, and that is what I see happening here. You’d better get your acts together now before you lose her the same way you lost Laura”
Chris arched his brow at her, then sighed. He opened his mouth to say something but his words went back down his throat when Anita gasped, a quick flash of pain going through her face. “What’s wrong? Are you okay”
She gasped again, jerking in pain as she lowered her legs from the stool to the floor. She gripped Chris’ arm tight. “The… the baby” she gasped just as her water broke.
Chris was out of his chair in no time just as she let out a shrill of pain. Chris bellowed the gate man’s name and ordered him to open the gate as he helped Anita up and led her to his car amidst shouts and screams of pain.
*****
Laura felt cold despite the blanket draped over her shoulder. The blanket held no warmth, not the kind of warmth she needed right now. Something was wrong. She missed the warmth of his body, seeping through her and engulfing her even as she slept. Her hand snuck out from underneath her, feeling the empty space of the mattress beside her. He is gone? Laura opened her eyes and stared into the dark at the empty room. “Ad?” Her eyes scanned the room briefly but they didn’t have to, she couldn’t feel his presence. She’d know if he was standing anywhere close, his presence had a way of giving him away. Laura pushed to a sitting position, frowning, the sheet slid down her nude body to rest around her waist. Where could he have gone? Laura picked up her phone and checked the time; it was so late, almost midnight.
Laura pushed out of bed and gave the room a brief but thorough scan. Her clothes which had been not too gently taken off were now stacked neatly on a chair but Deolu’s clothes were nowhere in sight. He couldn’t have left her on the beach all by herself, could he? Taking a deep breath, she walked nude to the toilet, checking for Deolu. “Ad?” she called, her brows furrowed in a frown as she closed the bathroom door and headed out of the bedroom. Where could he have gone so late in the night? Laura stared into the small parlor and shivered as cold air hit her skin, her bare feet connecting with the tiled floor of the lodge. She looked around; there was no sign of Deolu. But she could see him… she could practically see him in every corner of the apartment. This place held so many memories. Deolu couldn’t have picked a better place if his goal was to confuse her out of her decision. They had done so many crazy things in here, things she would never have imagined herself capable of. The walls, floor, chairs, rooms… every inch of this place held two weeks long memories that she couldn’t prevent from flooding her mind again as she moved about. She hadn’t been able to explore this apartment when they arrived earlier on. It had been so surprising when Deolu had driven her straight to this beach. She hadn’t anticipated it. A very sophisticated eatery had been her assumption, she’d thought he would take her somewhere nice and quiet where they would eat dinner, laugh and discuss but no… she hadn’t imagined that he would take her to the very place they had kick started the motion of their marriage. It had been odd; she had dressed up for an eatery, heels and all but had found herself on the beach, the beach sand rendering her heels useless. But she knew why Deolu hadn’t told her where they were headed. Would she have come if she knew he was taking her to the very place they had shared the wildest form of intimacy imaginable? She would probably have declined his request of a date if he had told her he was bringing her here. She had instantly taken off the shoes and enjoyed the feel of the beach sand against her feet. They had played on the beach, laughing uncontrollably. Never had she been so happy about a choice of outfit. The short gown that settled loosely around her thighs and she hadn’t resisted running deliberately into Deolu’s arms, enjoying his involuntary reaction every time she did. Bad ideas are all you need when you’re with your man, Margaret had said. She had known she was skating on thin ice, she knew she was making it difficult for herself but she had gone with the flow anyways. And that dinner on the beach to the perfect finish? Who was she deceiving? She certainly would never be happy seeing Deolu with another woman, no matter who the woman was. She would surely die of pain and sadness just imagining the things Deolu was doing with Teju, wondering what they were doing, how they were doing it, where they were doing it… she would not stay one minute without thinking… without imagining. They had been married for six long years, long enough to burn images of what Deolu was capable of into her mind. She couldn’t do this! She wouldn’t do this to herself. The words of Margaret flashed back to her mind; ‘You have to hold on to your source of happiness for women like me who has to live with sadness for the rest of our lives’, she had said. She couldn’t afford to let Deolu go. She would have to find another way, another way that left them all happy in the end. Yes, she was being selfish, she was thinking selfish… but then, God did say; love your neighbor as yourself’ not ‘more than yourself’, she thought to herself.
Laura exhaled and walked nude towards the window, pushing it open. The salty air of the beach bathed her face as she stared into the dark, scanning for Deolu. He was nowhere in sight. Laura was getting worried now. He couldn’t have gone for a walk so late into the night, could he? Or worse, could he have left her alone there on the beach to see herself home when she finally woke up? No! That’s not something like what Deolu would do, she concluded, becoming increasingly worried. Could something have happened to him? Fear arose in the pit of her stomach, goosebumps awakening her skin as she hastened back to the room to grab her phone to call him. He had to be okay.
Her phone was ringing when she got back to the room and she practically jumped at it, hoping it was Deolu calling to tell her he was alright, but it wasn’t him. Tito! She had called her endlessly without a response and though she was still worried about Deolu, she was glad to finally hear from Tito. The fact that she was calling so late at night though gave her a measure of worry. “Hey Tits”
“Laura”
Laura froze. “What’s wrong? Why are you crying?” a number of things that could have gone wrong ran through Laura’s mind within splits of seconds until she felt the racing of her heart in her chest. Not just anything could bring Tito down to tears, it had to be something really serious, something that had to do with someone she truly cared about. Guilt stabbed at her. How could she have left the hospital amidst so much? Cold gripped her and she instantly reached for her cloth as she waited for Tito’s response. “Tits?”
“It’s dad” she responded.
Laura felt her knees go weak beneath her and she dropped to the bed. The hand holding the phone had gone cold. “What… what happened?” she gasped.
Tito seemed unable to speak for a moment. “He’s out of coma, Laura… Dad is awake” her voice shook as she spoke.
Laura had never felt so numb in her life. She felt frozen as the words echoed in her head. Gosh, she had been waiting for this day, praying for this day. Now she understood what Tito’s tears were for. Tears of joy sprang to her eyes and she gripped the phone tighter as her hand suddenly felt slack. “Don’t joke with me, Tit”
“He… he squeezed my hand, Laura” her voice shook. “He moved his head… he… he didn’t die, Laura” Tito’s voice held surprised wonder, like she couldn’t quite believe what had happened.
Laura knew what was going on and she sprang up instantly. “I’m coming over” she said, almost dropping the phone.
“It’s so late”
Yes! And she still didn’t know where Deolu was. “I don’t care” she said, both to Tito and to herself. Tito needed her now and she most definitely wanted to be the first thing he saw when he became fully conscious. She wanted him to be surrounded with people that love and care about him. “I’d be there soon” not giving her a chance to argue, Laura hung up and started getting dressed to leave the lodge.
*****
Deolu entered the hospital and headed for the counter where he requested to see the doctor. It was so late at night and he wasn’t feeling so good about leaving Laura all alone at the beachhouse. He should have woken her up before leaving but she had been sleeping so peacefully, waking her up would have required telling her where he was going and he couldn’t have her hindering him from going. He knew she was hiding something, he knew Teju was hiding something, heck, the entire world seemed to even be hiding something while he walked around in the dark, totally clueless. But then, just as Laura had fallen asleep in his arms, completely sated, a text message had popped into his phone before he had drifted off to sleep. Sleep had vanished from his eyes immediately he saw the sender of the message but his attention had been totally captured when he read the message. ‘You need to come to the hospital, it’s urgent. It’s about Teju’, the message had said.
Since he had the cause to take Teju to the hospital, he had had the conviction that something was wrong with Teju healthwise, but he had asked Doctor Hassan over and over again but never got anything meaningful out. He’d suspected something, he’d suspected Teju wasn’t actually the one in danger, probably there was an issue with the pregnancy that Teju was determined to keep away from him. But this message, the message gave him a fresh reason to fear and panic. He hoped that whatever it was, it wasn’t so serious, he couldn’t bear the thought of Teju in pain despite all that had happened. Anyways, no more puzzles, today, he would uncover whatever was going on.
He got to the doctor’s office and knocked. After a brief pause and a gentle voice from within, Deolu pushed the door open and stepped in. His brows furrowed upon seeing Gloria. Hassan was seated behind the office desk but Gloria was closest to him and her face lifted in the fakest of smiles. “Welcome Deolu”
Okay, this was weird! Deolu’s brows drew together. “I wasn’t expecting to see you here ma.” He started, giving Hassan and Gloria a puzzled, suspicious and accessing look. “What’s going on?”
Hassan took a deep breath and exchanged a meaningful look with Gloria before glancing back at Deolu. “You should sit”
Deolu took in Hassan’s nervous self, his back looking frozen in place and in need of a good massage. His eyes looked tired and depraved of sleep, something terribly wrong was going on here. Laura had told Deolu of Teju’s maternity saga and Gloria’s involvement in it all. Teju seemed to by surrounded by so much drama in her life, Deolu wished he could be in a better position to make life better for her. Yet, considering all that happened and the threat she posed to his marriage’s stability, Deolu was more inclined towards protecting Laura and salvaging his nosediving marriage than he was at making sure Teju was okay.
Instead of obliging him, Deolu pushed his hands into his pockets bracing himself for what was to come. “Why don’t you tell me what’s going on?” He looked from Gloria to Hassan. “What’s up with Teju?”
Gloria touched Deolu’s arm. “I think you should sit, son” her soft voice, like that of a mother soothing a child sent all the flashing lights on in his head.
“I’m not a kid to be placated.” Deolu all but snapped, cold dread settling in the pit of his spine. “I want to know what’s going on with Teju right now!” His voice carried a forced calmness that was as frightening as an outright bellow. “Is she here?”
Doctor Hassan blinked and looked away before shaking his head. “No”
Deolu glared at Hassan, looking murderous with each passing second. “So? You called me here for a reason, I believe” Deolu thought Hassan was so lucky Gloria was also in attendance, if not, he would have been tempted to rid him of a teeth or two. He had specifically asked over and over again, drilling the doctor because she had been certain he was hiding something but he had refused to let out any info.
Gloria sighed, pushing out of her seat, looking unsettled. She had never looked so much her age until now, it was like a heavy load had been placed on her and she had no idea how to deal with the weight. Her face carried so much pain, Deolu could almost touch its invisible tangibility. But it wasn’t like the pain he had seen in Teju’s face. This was a different kind of pain.
Hassan swallowed and leaned forward, tapping his fingers nervously on the table. “Teju made me promise I’d keep this confidential, she never wanted you to know this” Hassan explained, probably trying to stay on Deolu’s good side.
Deolu blinked, growing still; the hair on his skin stood in attention. “Know what?”
Hassan glanced at Gloria who stood, leaning weakly against the wall before returning his gaze to Deolu. “She came in here months back to run a test which… which came out positive”
Deolu froze in place, staring at the doctor, his eyes holding confusion and a hint of fear. His blood ran cold in his veins as he digested the sentence. Tested positive! Headache struck him without warning running at the same pace as her heart as it slammed in his chest. “HIV?” Dear God, no! Teju couldn’t have had the virus and slept with him, could she? And Laura… Deolu felt sick.
“No” Hassan’s response echoed in Deolu’s head. Gosh! He couldn’t quantify the relief that washed over him. He released the breath he hadn’t been aware of holding and swallowed just as Hassan dropped. “Leukemia! Blood cancer”
Sacrilege Episode 34
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This is terrible for goodness sake ??