Utianle

White, bright lights. White ceiling, free of yellows stains and dried cobwebs I had come to associate with my house. I blinked. Once. Twice. Scenes from the accident came crashing down on me. Images I had hoped were from a nightmarish dream danced in front of me as I took a better look around my surrounding. How did I get here?

Cries filled my head, I shuddered. My baby.

I made to stand when a sharp pain pierced through my skull, leaving me breathless with my eyelids squeezed shut. My mouth parted open, my chest rose and fell as tears leaked from the corners of my eyes with me trying to gather a little strength to get to my baby. I had to find him. Now. I couldn't let him down again, I was not a bad mummy.

The needle attached to my hand stopped me from trying to rip off the bandage secured firmly around my head and a wave of tiredness washed over me. My head moved from side to side as moans of helplessness escaped me, I couldn't stay here. I had to know he was okay, safe and sound as I was.

A cry slipped past my lips when I pulled out the needle without care, droplets of blood dotted the back of my pale hand and I shut my eyes to allow the spell of dizziness pass. Taking deep breaths to steady myself, I tried to shift into a sitting position but my body had a mind of its own and I soon found myself staring at the ceiling again.

Panic and fear settled in my soul when I couldn't feel the lower part of my body, I moaned. Through bleary eyes, I managed to catch a glimpse of the contour of my legs on the covers and my shoulders sagged in relief. The drugs must be messing with me.

Rolling dangerously close to the edge of the bed, blood leaked from the dot on the back of my hand and my teeth sunk into my lip as a wave of blinding pain assaulted me. The banging in my head, I needed it to stop.

Blood trickled out of my hand, I winced at the red patch it created on the bedsheet, maybe I shouldn't have removed the needle.

Through my pain, only one thought echoed in my head and my eyes searched the room for something, anything. I needed to get to him. I had to leave here. Willing my legs to move proved abortive, I eyed the distance between the bed and the tiled floor. I had to. Memories of the intensive training at the strip club rushed back to me, my eyes stung with tears as I contemplated my next move. If I landed on my butt, it would hurt less.

With that in mind, I let myself fall.

I didn't land on my butt nor hands. It took a few painful seconds of trying to part my eyelids open to realise my fingers were wet with blood from the bandage on my head and my cheek was pressed flushed to the cold tiles. I whimpered, the door seemed to double and tears clouded my vision, trailing paths down my cheeks. My hand stretched to the door, falling limply to the ground, a sigh escaped me, it was too far. Too far.

Mummy.

My eyes flew open. "Mummy is coming for you," I whispered. But I couldn't move. My body vibrated with the need to move but I remained stiff. The door, it was too far and no matter how much I prayed, no help came for me, no divine strength. "Emma."

The floor moved underneath me as I began the snail-paced crawl to the door, one painful glide at a time. My heavy breathing punctured the silence, my elbows screamed in protest as I dragged myself on the floor, barely covering any distance. If I weighed less, I would be halfway across the room.

Sweat dripped to my lips, dotting the tiles, the door burst open and my hands bucked. Black shoes appeared in my line of vision which soon blurred, I am helped to a sitting position with the person kneeling behind to support my weight. My body swayed, I wheezed as blood rolled down the side of my head, I refused to believe the crimson splatters staining the tiles came from me.

Figures in white trooped in, my eyes grew too heavy for me to identify them so I let my head fall to the side. Muffled voices floated in and out of my subconscious, I moaned. If my senses weren't smothered by pain, I might have been able to process the words.

Shivers ran down my spine when firm arms circled my waist in an attempt to lift me, I shook my head in feeble defiance, I couldn't be here without knowing the whereabouts of my baby. I thrashed in the person's arms, well, I tried to but it was useless like all my previous efforts so I resorted to croaking.

"Emma," was all I said before blacking out.

***

I awoke to lights dimmed to allow me stare at the ceiling for hours unending without squinting, which was what I did but for some seconds. Staring straight ahead, my brain scarcely registered what laid in front of me. I raised my hand to my eye level and my lips pursed at the tiny bandaid that blended so well with my skin staring back at me.

My head rolled to the side, a sigh escaped me as my cheek came in contact with the soft pillows. I blinked away the confusion at the sight of the male figure lying beside me. My eyes widened, the weight on my body explained as my gaze wandered from the hand on my waist to his closed eyelids.

Baby daddy.

An incoherent thought infiltrated my mind, a warning like I was missing something but I didn't know what. I shook the feeling off as King's eyelids fluttered open. The corners of my lips twitched as his sleep clouded eyes scanned my face before coming to rest on my hand touching the bandage around my head. He took my hand in his, lacing our fingers together and my heart fluttered.

Silence dined with us as his eyes conversed with mine, my lips parted but I seemed to have lost my power of speech. He smiled, at least he tried to but his lips barely curved upwards before pulling into a grimace and I palmed his cheek with my uninjured hand.

His thick beards were rough against my skin, they tickled. I smoothed the lines on his forehead, sleeked his eyebrows with a tiny smile playing on my lips. My vision was hazy but King looked like he had it worse.

A strange odour permeated the air, my nose scrunched in disgust at the strong smell of antiseptic reminding me of hospitals. The calendar hanging from the blue walls with the logo and name of a clinic affirmed my suspicions. My eyes roved over the room, I cringed at the instructions and images on the poster glued to the door, the few steps to check out for abnormal lumps in the breasts. It had been so long I was in a clinic.

Why was I here? Yes, I could remember a hit. But the events before that were a blur, a black hole of nothingness that made my head throb from trying to decipher it.

"We are in a hospital," I declared.

"Yes."

Something gnawed at my throat, a nagging feeling of danger and my thoughts dissolved at the mental block forcing my worries to a standstill. King's unusual silence, his quiet scrutiny of my face also contributed to my confusion. My thoughts were in disarray as I took in his dishevelled appearance. His tie was missing and his sleeves were rolled to his elbows. A few of his shirt buttons were missing, I offered him a small, weak smile.

"How come they allowed you into the bed?" I asked in a breathless whisper as his teeth skimmed my fingertips. Sparing a glance around the room, the missing ceiling fan replaced by a standing AC at the corner was the only indicator my room had changed. The bedsheets and bed too. "Baby daddy?"

The question was met with silence, I pursed my lips and my heart jumped to my mouth at the tears lining his eyes. They never fell but his eyes shimmered and I bit the insides of my cheek. He bopped my nose, I giggled and he chuckled, a sound I didn't realise how much I had missed. I missed him too.

His face contorted when he said, "Uti."

Tears leaked from his eyes to the pillow, I snuggled closer to him, tugging gently on his beards. "Uti." I palmed one side of his face and he placed a hand over mine with his eyes never once leaving mine. "Uti."

"I'm here," I said. Bringing his knuckles to my lips, I littered kisses all over the back of his hand as tears trailed down his face. The pad of my thumb brushed his wet cheeks, I reiterated, "I'm here." My lips met his forehead in a brief kiss, sliding down to finish it off with a peck on his nose. "Hey, look at me," I said and his puffy eyes met mine, I smiled. "I'm not going anywhere."

"You better not," he replied with a small laugh and sniffed. Tears stained his cheek when he spotted my bandaid but he was quick to wipe them off. His expression was briefly marred by fear laced with concern, his eyes darted to my bandage. "I love you."

"I love you," I said; he smiled. "Baby daddy."

My fingers splayed on his chest, he frowned and snaked an arm around my waist with his lips pulling into a thin line. I caught a whiff of his perfume, subtle but seductive.

"Husband," he said. My eyebrows shot up, I puckered my lips and he nodded. "Yes, call me husband. I want to be your husband."

Laughter tore through my lips. "Okay, baby daddy husband but you have not proposed."

"That's because you haven't asked me to marry you yet," he replied with a shrug and his brow arched as if daring me to counter him. "When will you propose to me?" I cast another look at his face and erupted into laughter. "My answer is yes, I'll marry you."

Clutching my ribs, his eyes came alive as I laughed unabashedly, content to be in his familiar presence. I smacked his arm once, he feigned hurt and I continued hitting him. His breath fanned my face as he inched closer to me, my hits grew weaker by the second and my eyes flittered to his lips.

All questions concerning our cosiness on a hospital bed died when his lips met mine. It wasn't a kiss, more of a peck, a permission and a promise of goodness that was yet to come. Our eyes met briefly, I pressed my mouth to his, biting his lower lip the same way he would have done mine. When he didn't hasten me, I took the lead, cupped his face and captured his lips in a slow, sensual kiss that had my heart racing. He gave and I took it all, touching, feeling and tasting.

Our foreheads touched as we separated for air, he swiped his index finger across my lips. "Are you allowed to kiss the patient?"

He pecked my lips, his eyes twinkled with mirth that was missing earlier. "The patient never offered any resistance," he said with a smirk and I rolled my eyes. Pulling me up so my head could rest on his chest, I purred with satisfaction as his fingers ran up and down my arm. "And she kissed me first."

My laughter echoed, he looked down at me with a wistful smile and my hand found its way to his cheek. His chest rose and fell.

"I've missed your kisses." Me too, I missed him. My heart melted when he placed a kiss on my bandage. "Let's never fight again."

Never.

The rhythm of his heartbeat almost lured me into a peaceful slumber until he spoke again, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you about him sooner." Propping my chin on his chest, I cast him a shy glance and he smiled as his fingers lazily stroked a side of my face. I winked, I didn't care about that anymore. "I was trying to protect you and your feelings."

Words hung on the tip of my tongue, I said, "I understand." We wore similar smiles, I waggled a finger in his face and he bared his teeth. Letting out an exaggerated hiss, I tugged on his lower lip. "I'm no longer angry. But next time, I'd rather you hurt me with the truth than comfort me with a lie."

He blinked and his lips curled into a smile. I shook my head, already anticipating one of his smart replies. "Word. Word. Wisdom."

At my stern gaze, all traces of humour vanished from his face and I erupted into a fit of giggles. He must have gotten that line from Junior, the tout in their friendship, the bush baby. King flicked a finger over my nose, my eyelids fluttered as I peered at him from long lashes with a sheepish grin.

He wanted to be my husband, I beamed, I loved the picture of that. Utianle Daniels didn't sound so bad at all, we could do it.

"Keep smiling for zaddy." I shook my head, I would never admit it to him but I loved the idea of him being my zaddy. Baby daddy. Left alone to my thoughts, my fingers traced circles on his chest. "How do you feel?"

I giggled as I undid and fastened the button of his shirt, that should have been his first question. His brow raised when I kept mute, my body lighted up in anticipation of his touch as his hand hovered above my cheek.

My eyes fell on him, our gazes clashed and my body thrummed in response to the light caresses on the visible part of my scalp. For a moment, I convinced myself we were at home, without the bandage and everything was perfect. That gut feeling resurfaced for a nanosecond, I was forgetting something.

What?

"I heard you pulled a stunt, a scary one, how true is that?" he asked after seconds of peaceful silence. I shrugged. King's hand descended on my shoulder to stop me from looking elsewhere and my lips pressed into a line at the foggy memory that bombarded me at his words "Uti, how do you feel now?"

Lowering my gaze to my legs hidden behind the covers, I bit the insides of my cheek and waved off his show of concern. The back of my head connected with the pillow, I gaped at the ceiling, trying too hard to remember.

What was I missing? God. The whirring of the AC became audible, my chest deflated.

King's face hovered above mine. "Utianle."

"Fine. I feel fine." My left eye twitched, a scowl etched deep on his face and I let out a nervous laugh. "Okay. I can't feel my legs," I said, staring longer than I should have at my feet. "I don't think that's normal. Is it?"

He pecked my nose, I managed a smile and he reciprocated it. "It isn't, it's not normal."

Normal, a word I couldn't use until I figured out what I was missing, a fact or thing so important it threatened to knock down the mental block that stopped me from remembering. Gawking at my feet, I sunk my fingernails into my thigh and my lips puckered into a frown. No. I didn't feel that.

The hospital gown bunched at my thighs, I lowered King's hand to my laps, eyes set on his manicured nails grazing the surface of my brown skin. His touches should have evoked a fire in the pit of my belly, awoken a carnal desire in me. My eyes fluttered as he neared the entrance of my core, I sighed.

This was my body but I felt different like I had disconnected from it, the parts below my waist no longer belonged to me. I shook my head, a sliver of dread wrapped around my spine and I took his hand to place it on my thumping heart. A moan escaped me, his finger repeated the gesture over my nipples and I whimpered. This I could feel.

King's head dipped, he nibbled on my neck and I relaxed when he said, "The doctor is on his way." My head rolled to the side, he took the hint and placed wet kisses behind my ear, making his way down my neck.

"You will be fine." I nodded, staring at the walls. This room was too big, spacious, the television had no use to any of us. "Let's get married tomorrow," he whispered, kissing his way up my ear. My back arched as his finger circled my nipple, he pulled gently, my eyes closed. "What do you say to that?"

The tenderness with which he scattered kisses all over my knuckles made it hard to speak, let alone oppose him. I looked up to him. His brows furrowed and an emotion fleeted across his face, I could never say no to that. I wanted it too. "What about rings?"

His hand disappeared into his pocket and my eyes widened at the box that came into view. This was it. My heart missed a beat, I let out a forced laugh as my palms grew clammy. Slapping my cheek gently, I spared him a glance and the jitters died down at his obvious nervousness. Good. I wasn't alone.

Time slowed for us, the few seconds he took to open the box had to be the longest time of my life. My teeth sunk into the inside of my cheek, I forgot all about breathing with my nose and my mouth dropped open for me to suck in a sharp, shaky breath. I laughed, at myself and him, at his trembling hands.

Three rings.

My mouth closed and opened, I blinked with my eyes refusing to leave his face. I exhaled, this was happening. It was his turn to laugh at me, his face split into a grin, I gulped as he took my hand. His eyes sought mine, I nodded and he slipped the biggest ring out of the bunch into my fourth finger.

The diamond on the white gold band caught the light as my hand raised to inspect it. A smile crawled up my lips, I angled my head to the side and rubbed the jewel against my cheek. If Faith was here, she would have commented on the authenticity and design, I giggled. The ring was simple, too simple but it was me; my style, elegant in its simplicity and it fit snugly on my finger.

"I like it," I said, unable to take my eyes off it. I would be a wife, King's wife. "I love it."

His breath tickled my ear. "I love you too." I nodded. Transfixed by the shiny stone, almost afraid to look away, I barely cast a glance his way when he caressed my cheek.

Unlike my previous relationship, I looked forward to sealing the deal with this man, to legalise our union and tease him with the idea of eight kids. He cupped my chin, my eyes darted to his face before returning to the ring. This was real. The fluttering in my stomach resumed, warmth spread all over my body and goosebumps covered my skin.

"Wifey, I want to marry all of you," he said. I hummed, moving my hand left and right in a royal wave, I was on board with whatever plans he had, especially calling me wifey. "I want to adopt them, Esther and Emma." My hand lowered to my lap, a wave of images crashed over me. "With your permission, of course, I want them to be my babies too."

My babies. My baby.

Time stood still, my eyes raised to his face which scrunched when I pushed his hand away from me. "Emma," I paused, allowing the scenes playing in my head to take form. He was in the car. "Where's Emmanuel?"

A knock sounded on the door, King replied and a man in a white coat stepped in with a polite smile. I tried to sit up, not like I would have been able to but King pinned me down to the bed. He looked away when I nudged him with my elbow but I didn't miss his sly smile and I redirected my gaze to our guest.

The man cleared his throat, he never got a chance to speak before I asked, "Where's my," I paused, "where's our baby? Emma."

*****

Media: Uti's ring.

I didn't realise I would be MIA for this long, life happened. But my apologies. I have been stressed/busy *sighs* but the good part is I managed to finish editing One Friday Evening. You can check out the rebranded version. I also made this chapter long, I hope you guys noticed.

Updates will be sporadic but will return to normalcy at the beginning of next month. Even if you didn't miss me, I missed you guys, too much. Stay safe.

Happy 2021. I wish you the best of this.

Q: Tea or coffee? Would you rather be comforted with a lie than hurt with the truth?