SACRED_OATHS

Author: Samuel Frederick

Episode 25: CAUTION.

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I woke up and found myself in a room painted in white. There was a bandage on my head, and my left hand was connected to a medical drip.

I observed the room and noticed that almost everything was white, including a woman's outfit who stood just opposite me. She seemed to be engrossed in what she was doing because she hadn't noticed that I'd just coughed.

I coughed again, loudly.

Almost immediately, she turned around and looked at me with a shocked facial expression.

“You are awake!” She exclaimed and ran out of the room screaming, “Doctor! Doctor!”

To say I was confused would be an understatement. I was literally pushed straight into the blue!

In the blink of an eye, the woman barged in again with another lady following behind her.

“My goodness! She’s awake!” The other lady exclaimed, scurrying towards me.

She placed a stethoscope on my chest and put her palm on my forehead, soothing it gently. Then, she took it off and hung it around her neck.

“Where am I?” I asked, attempting to sit up.

“No, no! Relax dear,” the lady and the nurse held me back. “You are safe here.”

“How did I get here?” I persisted, furrowing my brows.

“Itʼs a long story.” The doctor said.

“Just tell me!”

“Well, you were rushed here in the middle of the night by a car owner who claimed to have knocked you down. She said she spotted you running and tried to honk at you, but before she could do so, it turned out too late.” The doctor explained. “What baffles us the most is that, despite the impact of the hit you sustained, you have no fractured bones whatsoever. It’s unbelievable!”

I sighed and shrugged, intending to speak when an elderly woman barged in; fair in complexion and had rather distinct qualities of an half-caste, who should be in her early 50's. She hurriedly sat next to me and started touching me all over, particularly on my legs.

“Oh God! I’m so sorry my dear! How are you feeling? How is your body? How are your legs? Do you feel pains?” She asked all at once, leaving me confused as to which question I was supposed to answer first.

“Can I have a cup of water, please?” I asked.

“Sure!” The nurse replied and opened a small fridge near the bed. She took out a bottled water and a glass cup and filled up the cup, then she handed it to me. I gulped it all within seconds.

“I was very scared that I had lost you last night,” the elderly woman said as she collected the cup from me. “You can’t imagine how happy I am to see you back to life. Oh sweet Jesus! I’m so grateful!” She gestured by waving her free hand in the air.

“Would you like something to eat?” The doctor asked.

“Yes, please.” I nodded. “I haven’t eaten in days.”

“In days?” The elderly woman exclaimed, clearly shocked. I nodded again.

“But why?” She asked.

Meanwhile, the nurse had already walked out of the ward with a plastic tray, probably to fetch the food.

“I can’t tell.” I answered. “I’m not safe here. I need to leave soon before...”

“Please calm down,” the doctor interrupted me, “Iʼve told you not to worry. You are safe here. Don’t be scared.”

“I’m telling you, my life is in danger. You don’t have any idea of what I’ve passed through!” I tried to explain.

“Please calm down.” The doctor urged me on.

I heaved a sigh and folded my hands just to give her the impression that I was calm. Just then, the nurse returned with the same tray that now contained the food. She placed it on a small table beside the bed and kept a glass of water close to it.

“I’ve lost my appetite.” I said all of a sudden, to their surprise. They all exchanged glances between each other and fixated their gazes back on me.

“Please my daughter, you need to eat. You don’t look too good like this.” The elderly woman pleaded with me. “I can spoon-feed you if you don’t mind.”

“I’m sorry ma, but I am the only one that understands my situation at this point in time.” I persisted. “I really need to leave here now.”

“Fine! I’ll let you go.” The doctor agreed, raising her hands up for emphasis. “But would you at least eat something for your health’s sake?”

“Doctor, my problem is bigger than this food. Don’t you understand?” I exclaimed, almost yelling at her. “I AM NOT SAFE HERE!”

“It’s okay, it’s okay.” The elderly woman intervened. “I’ve settled the bill already, and you are free to leave at any time you desire. But before then, is there anything you would like us to help you with?”

“Yes,” I answered. “I would like to make a call…”

“Is that all?”

“That’s all.”

Right then, the elderly woman brought out a smartphone from her purse and handed it to me. Thankfully, I knew Boma’s number by heart, so I dialled his number at once.

First ring, busy. Second ring, unavailable. Third ring, still busy.

I got frustrated and almost lost hope when the fourth ring clicked.

“Hello.” I quickly spoke into the phone’s mouthpiece.

“Hello?” His voice echoed from the other end, mildly. He sounded dull. “Who’s this?”

“Hello Boma, it’s me Fifi…”

“Fifi?” He spoke very clearly now, obviously shocked.

“Yes, it’s me… I really need your help… I need you to…”

“Fifi where have you been?” He interrupted me, curiosity and eagerness obvious from his voice. “Where are you now?”

I tapped the doctor next to me and asked her for the name of the hospital.

“Havillah hospital.” She whispered back to me.

“Havillah hospital,” I spoke into the phone, “that’s where I am at the moment, and you need to help me out very fast. I don’t feel safe here.”

“You know what? Don’t leave where you are.” Boma cautioned me sternly. “I’m coming there to pick you up. Just don’t leave where you are! I’m coming, okay?”

“Okay.” I agreed, nodding my head in obedience even though he couldn’t see me. “Please be fast.”

“I'm on my way, don’t worry.” He said and hung up right away.

Immediately after the call, I tapped on the call log and deleted Boma’s number from the list, then I handed the phone back to the woman.

“Thank you, ma.” I gestured by rubbing my palms in appreciation.

“You’re welcome, my dear. I assume that was a close relative you just called, right?”

“Yes ma, my blood brother.” I lied.

“That’s good. When is he coming?”

“Very soon, ma.” I answered. “Very soon.”

“Okay, so while we wait for him, would you at least consider eating a little bit from your food now?” She pleaded, holding my gaze with hopeful eyes. “Please, my daughter.”

I considered the elderly woman’s age and, without arguing any further, I picked up the plate and opened it to eat.

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One hour.

One hour had passed, yet, no sign of Boma’s presence showed forth. I was left with the elderly woman at this moment, and I was terribly tired of her company, due to her endless questions.

I was still contemplating on placing another call through to Boma but, all of a sudden, the ward’s door opened up. And there he was.

Behind him were his friends, Kingsley, Simon, Bauchi, Eagle and some other guys whom I wasn’t familiar with.

I stood up instantly and ran to him and he received me in his arms and blessed my forehead with a kiss. It took a while for us to let go of each other.

“Who did this to you?” Boma asked as he scrutinized my body from head to toe, noting the bruises and wounds all over my skin.

“It’s a long story.” I whispered.

Boma’s eyes averted from mine to the elderly woman sitting beside the bed, and then returned back to me.

“Who is she?”

I was about to respond when he interrupted me with, “Did she do this to you?”

“No, of course not.” I answered, giving him a funny look. “She’s a very nice woman. In fact, I’d like to introduce you to her.”

“Fifi, we have to leave here.” Boma said, ignoring my statement. “Now.”

“But I haven’t introduced you to her yet. I lied to her that you are my brother.” I whispered to him. “What would she think if we leave just like that?”

“I don’t care. Let’s leave here, now!”