When The Tide Of The Heart Changes

Episode 20

WHAT GOES AROUND

Yvonne rushed into the compound carried by her legs at the highest speed it could carry her.

Her wrapper was flowing from the wind turbulence her speed created threatening to slip off.

Her belly visibly large led the way and were being supported by her right hand and the left grasped the wrappers preventing them from slipping off.

“What is it Yvonne, whats wrong?” Johnny bolted up on seeing her rushing into the compound, abandoning the bamboo sticks he was cutting.

“Baby what is it?” He asked again taking hold of her in a more calmed manner.

“I just got a call, my mum was involved in an accident, her car rammed into a speeding trailer and the driver is dead, the doctor said my mum is in a very critical condition and her chances of surviving are slim”

She announced breaking down in tears.

Johnny’s mind raced back to his parents and how he got the news of their demise, he could still recall how it all happened;

He was playing ball with Onyedika his childhood bestie, judging from their sweat you could think they were on a champions league final match.

He knew immediately that something was up when he saw people gathered around with his uncles he knew lived down in the village all of sudden were in their yard with their faces wearing a long gloomy look.

He could feel the pitying eyes of the crowd as he walked in after being called in by Linda who was the news caster in their childhood days but that day linda too was clueless of what was going on, judging from the way her questioning eyes cast a suspicious glance at everything and everyone around blinking at more interval than others.

His uncle’s voice still resounded fresh in his mind as the news was broken to him.

“Nnaaa, your daddy and mummy were involved in an accident and are in a bad condition nobody knows what will happen.”

Johnny knew they were already dead judging from the looks and even crying faces of most people there,

“Why would such sympathizing crying crowds gather her if they were still alive”
But strangely he understood the need for them to try and mask the obvious from him.

“Baby am so sorry, please dont cry” he tried calming Yvonne down who was already on the floor, “Am sure she is alright” he added hoping it is the truth.
Johnny and Yvonne travelled to abuja the next morning to see Bimbo who lay just like a mummified Egyptian corpse on her hospital bed, the bandage that covered most part of her body shone under the light, her left arm and both legs were hung slightly, face covered except for the openings for her eyes, nostrils and mouth.

Bimbo’s eyes slowly and weakly cracked open for this first time after 4weeks of being in coma.

Her now uncovered face swollen and deep cuts still were visible on it.

Her eyes were met by two figures, one was sitting beside her in bed and it looked like a pregnant woman, the other was a very tall male figure stood against the wall looking down at her, he could recognize those sparkling eyes and tall frame.

“Yvonne?” She muttered weakly her hands tilting up to hold Yvonne who sat on the bed.

“Yes mummy” Yvonne intoned leaning forward and taking her arms in, tears already battering her face like a waterfall on slow motion.

“Please you and johnny, my children find a space in your hearts to forgive me…I am so sorry”

Tears followed unsummoned tickling down from the corners of her eyes down to the region of her ears.
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