Chapter 6

Bimpe woke up to see her parents and her children who had gone to spent the holiday with them. She was greeted with mixed feelings. She didn't know whether to cry or to laugh. It felt good to see her beautiful daughters. Every other thing might fail, every other persons' might leave, but she's got them. They meant the world to her and she would never trade them for anything.

At the same time, she felt bad that she was unable to give her daughters the best kind of peaceful environment to grow up in. It hurts her to the marrow to see her daughters witness all what she has been experiencing.

What would she tell her kids? 'Your father beat me and that's why I'm here'. No! That doesn't make sense. She thought about her parents, they've been together for the 45 years of their marriage. Why can't hers be like theirs? That aside, How on earth did they know she was at the hospital? Who told them? Must have been Ijeoma.

Those thoughts were beginning to make her head ache. She greeted her parents with a smile. You know that type of smile that doesn't come from the anus of the heart. Just merely exercising the cheeks. Yes! That was it! Her parents couldn't even say a word. It was a pity to see Bimpe their daughter in that predicament.

She had always reported the series of beating to her parents but they wouldn't take her serious. This is Africa and this Nigeria. Culture demands that you stay in your marriage no matter what you're facing in it. Not even on the ground of domestic violence. Her parents had been encouraging her to endure in Femi's house despite the beatings, she listened to them and here she is! At the hospital!

Her daughters kept looking at her in a pitiful manner. She urged them to come closer so she could give them a warm hug. After the hug, her first daughter whispered to her, "mum, you'll be fine"... Bimpe couldn't stop the tears. She has been trying to remain calm but right now, she couldn't hold it any more.

In the snap of fingers, Ifeoma walked in with her lawyer. She never told Bimpe that she was taking legal actions against Femi. So it was surprising to see the lawyer. The lawyer requested for privacy and everyone in the room excused her. The lawyer, Mrs Edwin asked Bimpe some questions, she answered her questions and promised her that everything would be back to normal.

Femi had been in the police custody since last night. The police barged into his office and arrested him. According to the Lagos State law, Femi the accused would spend a minimum of five years in jail.

Bimpe was gradually getting better. Her health has greatly improved. Anytime soon, she should be released. But then, what would happen after she left the hospital? Go to Femi's house? No way! Where would her kids live? Those questions continued to spin her head and every part of her body. This is just the beginning of sourness.