9 DISPAIR

I woke up to find myself in a hospital bed, I tried to get up but the excruciating pain that came from my head didn't allow me to, I tried to turn around to see if anyone was around but none. The thought of what Tony and Edwin did to me made me scream out, which made the nurse around to smuggle in with a fright on her face.

Hello young lady!! Are you OK!!?

What's wrong, she said.

Please ma, I want to know what happened to me, why am I here.

OK dear, you fainted at home, so your parents brought you here.

Please ma'am, where are they now?

OK, they went home to get some food for you to eat, please relax yourself, everything would be fine.

I was devastated but also wondering how to start up, knowing that everyone would be expecting me to be at my husband's place, but no! Here I was in a hospital bed trying to get well.

I kept on wondering how to start life in this area where everyone sees me as a married woman, I thought running away but how would I, my education is at stake, my friends are already serving their Nation and here I was thinking of how to abscond.

At this point in my life, my threshold was filled up and so holding onto this mess I have found myself, became difficult for me.

Nurse!! Nurse!! I shouted

Yes dear, what's the issue, she said

Please ma'am, can I get a mobile phone from you? I want to call my parents, I can't stay here much longer.

OK!? Will call to tell them, you have regained yourself

When the nurse left, I started pondering on what to do, but I had nothing and the semester is about to start, my plans won't work if I run away.

The nurse came back with the cell phone, I quickly dialed my mum's number but she was unable to take her calls. Funny enough that my Dad's is not off hand. I felt frustrated about it, but after a little thought I decided to call Desmond.

Not quite long we spoke, he got to the hospital immediately, he signed my discharge papers as we both have discussed, after which we headed straight home. In my mind I was wondering why my mum hasn't come to the hospital nor returned my calls either but then again am still on my way home to find out.

On getting to the gate, we saw cars parked both outside and inside the premises, I was wondering why. We came down from the car, I asked Desmond to wait outside while I go in to check if it's safe for me to stay at home now for I felt deep inside me that this gathering was set up for me. Some sort of feeling told me to go through the back door so as not to allow anyone to see me. Indeed I was right.

My younger sister Victoria came out so fast the moment she saw me through the window

Sister!! Please don't go in, they are here!!

Why, I asked

Your in- laws, they came to collect back their dowry and to officially dissolve the marriage, mum and Dad have been shouting at the top of their voice so as to tell them they cannot do that.

I laced my hands, kept wondering how I got myself into all of this. The blame sure was from me, my plans never came through.

At this point of my life I felt frustrated and demoralised, the feeling of moving forward became so stiff that I became a dead woman walking.