CHAPTER SIXTY THREE
Help!
Darkness!
My whole world seemed to be engulfed by it — thick, alive, and quiet. I closed my eyes, hoping to shake myself out of it, but when I opened them again, nothing changed. A large void of nothingness stared back at me.
Where the hell am I?
I reached out, hoping to hold onto something, but found no anchor. I couldn’t even tell if the room I was in was large or small, if anything was within reach or a mile away. Everything was just black.
Relax, Bewaji. Relax!
I tried to reach out to my inner self, but she was nowhere to be found. I tried again and again — nothing. It was like she had never existed.
Where the hell am I?
Frantic, my breathing became labored as I groped around for a door — but there was nothing. I kept trying, wading through the darkness, but still, nothing. Not even a flicker of light. Then, from a distance, there was a beep... and a low mumble.
“Bewaji!” A clearer voice called out, and I ran toward it. As I got closer, I saw a door at the end, with light leaking through its edges.
The moment I opened the door, a sharp light sliced through my eyes like a blade — swift and merciless. I shut my eyes as my body jerked and landed on a soft surface.
I tried to move away from the burning light, but that was a mistake — every part of my body hurt.
“Ahhh!” I cried out.
“Hey, relax,” a calm voice said. “Get the doctor!”
Soon, I heard the door bang open, the sound slicing through the air and piercing my ears. I froze. I tried to cover my ears, but my body refused to obey.
Where am I?
Hospital, dumbass.
What?
You just had to do things your own way.
Slowly, awareness crept in, followed by a stabbing pain in my head.
Yes, you did. You dumbass. If you had gone home like you were told, none of this would be happening.
I tried to open my eyes, but the light burned, so my lids fluttered uselessly before shutting again.
“Hey, don’t move. The doctor’s coming,” Kylian said, his voice clearer now.
“Hurt..."I whimpered "My whole body hurts,” .
I focused on the silver full moon through the window — not because it was any different tonight, but because I was too ashamed to look at the two people in my hospital room. In my 32 years of life, this was the first time I’d ever been admitted to a hospital. My sisters had had their fair share, but me? Never — until now. Whenever I had malaria, I’d take anti-malaria drugs and be fine.
“Hey, Bewaji,” Alice called softly. I looked at her.
“Are you okay?”
Kylian was immediately at my side, touching my forehead to check my temperature.
“Are you still in pain?” he asked in a worried voice.
“I’m fine,” I assured him, though my head still throbbed.
Alice came closer. “Do you need anything? Something to eat?”
I gave them a weak smile. “I’m good, seriously.”
“Okay.”
“Kylian.”
“Yes, what do you need?”
“Please help me.”
“I don’t think that’s—”
“I feel nauseous.”
Alice jumped from her seat and rushed to the door. “I’ll get the doctor.”
“I just need to—ahh.” I cried out loud, sending a sharp pain through my head. Alice ran back.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
“No, I’m not, Alice. But I’ll be fine. I just need to sit up.” I turned to Kylian. “Please help me up.”
He gently placed his hands on my back and lifted me until I rested on his warm chest. I was grateful for it.
Why are they so scared?
Are you seriously asking that? You were unconscious for two days. If you were in their shoes, you’d have lost your mind.
Why are they so quiet? They should be yelling at me
Because you’re sick, idiot.
The door swung open and Joy walked in, dressed in her medical gown with a file in hand.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, shocked — she was the last person I expected to see.
“My guess… that would be when Marcus called me two nights ago, from the ambulance, almost in tears.”
Shit. Marcus.
“How is he?”
“I’m not here to talk about Marcus,” she snapped. “You were reckless.”
Finally! Someone to scold you.
“You were sick, struggling to breathe, and instead of checking into a hospital, you went to Marcus’s house. What is wrong with you? You could have died.”
I opened my mouth to respond, but closed it. I had no excuse.
“You should’ve gone to the hospital the night I told you self-medicating is wrong.”
“I’m sorry. Is that what you want to hear?” I blurted. “Then I’m sorry.”
“Bewaji, you scared us,” Alice said. “Can you imagine what it was like when Marcus called Kylian to say you’d collapsed? You were supposed to come home.”
“I’m sorry,” I said again, remorsefully. I held Kylian’s hand and looked into his eyes. “I’m sorry for making you worry. I thought it was malaria and—”
“You have malaria,” Joy cut in.
“What?”
“We’re treating you for malaria, high blood pressure, and stomach flu.”
“What?” My jaw dropped. “All three?”
What?
A nerve-wracking silence fell over the room. I looked at Alice, then at Kylian.
“What did she say?” I asked, breaking the silence.
“What did you just say?” Kylian asked Joy quietly, brows furrowed.
“I said your wife is pregnant.”
“What?” Alice shrieked, rushing toward me.
That’s not possible… right?
You’re pregnant.
What if she’s lying? I know I was desperate for a baby, but now I have Kylian. I don’t need lies.
“I told you your baby would come at the right time,” Alice laughed.
“Are you sure?” Kylian asked again.
“Yes, she’s thirteen weeks gone.”
“Thirteen weeks? That is almost 4 months, the second trimester of pregnancy, how did I not know?” I asked.
“Because you were ignoring the signs your body was giving you. I’m sure you’ve missed your period.”
That’s true. You haven’t had your period in two months.
“For someone who claims to know her body well, you’re not attentive,” Joy said. “Anyway, congratulations.” She handed me the test result. On the pregnancy test section, it read positive.
The paper trembled in my hands. My breath caught in my chest. Time slowed just enough for me to grasp what was happening.
I’m pregnant.
A rush of warmth flooded my body. My hand instinctively, protectively covered my stomach.
Tears stung my eyes, and a chuckle slipped through my lips. It wasn’t joy alone — it was a thousand emotions woven into one unforgettable moment.
A new beginning.
He opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again. When our eyes met, I saw the storm within them — fear, guilt, pain, hope, love.
Then, he laughed.
To think my day started with darkness… and now, everything is so bright.
TO BE CONTINUED NEXT SATURDAY 9.00 PM WAT
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