Till the very end

She got in to find the hut void of life and moody like the faces outside. The presence of death was evident in the atmosphere. The strong smell of rotten flesh filled the hut. She held her breathe to prevent her from throwing up. It was dark inside as the center-fire was also out. On the bamboo bed lay a swollen man, his skin shining to reflect the little light left. On his swollen skin were big reddish sores. An oily substance was applied to his skin. He was covered with a wrapper to chest level. "This must be a punishment from the gods," she thought. "This person looks nothing like my Nwosu, but then who is this and why is she asked to visit him?" she wondered.

All that changed immediately she saw the welcoming smile he flashed her, love still sparkled in his eyes and quickly the doubts in her heart died away as it became clear it was her lover. Nnenne broke down crying and screaming as uncontrollably tears rolled down her cheeks. She slowly crawled to his bedside,shouting in broken words "Nwosu! Who did this to you? What happened? Talk to me Nna! Tell me, who made you like this?"

"Mma, it is alright. Please stop crying" he whispered in pain.

Waving her head from left to right, "It is not alright. Who did this to you?"

"Stop crying and I will tell you". Nnenne quickly wiped the dripping tears off her cheeks.

"I woke up in the midnight to find myself like this and in so much pain. When the dibia came, he said it is punishment for having a sexual relationship with you" he said struggling to catch his breath.

Nnenne sat down on the floor devastated as her taste for life extinguished. Her whole world was crumbling right in front of her and all she could do was staring blankly. She had always known deep down that the fight against the gods and tradition of the land was one she and her lover would never win but never foretold it ending this tragically. "So what are we going to do?" she thought aloud.

"Nothing, Mma!" The dibia said nothing can be done. We angered the gods and this is their punishment. He even avoided touching me in order not to partake in my odium".

"So nothing can be done to save you? What kind of life is this? How can we sit here and watch you die?" she asked as the tears returned.

"There is something you can do. Forget about me and move on with your life". On hearing this, she screamed and cried more, asking "Who is going to marry me Nna? What is life without you? Why will only you suffer for a crime we both committed?"

"I don't know but I guess they have their reasons. I would not have had it the other way round. How would life feel with you in this state? Mma, you must promise me you would get married and give birth to those numbers of children we agreed upon".

Nnenne cried deeply as she waved her head from left to right declining to promise.

"Mma, you have to promise me". He pleaded as he began coughing. She hurriedly stood up to attend to him. "Mma, you must promise me," he said squeezing her hand and staring straight into her soul."Alright Nna, I promise," she said just to please him. "I promise Nwoke oma, I promise" she broke down crying again.

"Don't cry my love, this is not the end. They have not won, we shall meet again. I promise to return to you".

"Stay alive and you will not have to return".

From outside came the booming voice of his father, "So you people allow that foolish girl that has brought this calamity upon this household to enter my house?" The voice seems to be coming from a distance. Hearing this, he pulled her closer and whispered "Remember, it is me and you against the world till the end".

Ogadimma jumped in, informing her that her father was fast approaching, so it is time to go. "Come let's go before that man catches you here!" she said pulling her toward the dwarf door.

"I can't leave him behind to die!" she said trying to escape from her grip.

"Mma, get away from here. Go and live your life. This is not the end I promise".

"Forever?" Nnenne asked just before Ogadimma succeeded in pulling her out from the hut.

"Yes, forever. Till the very end," he responded faintly. Those were the same words Amuwa whispered into her ears when she carried him.

When both of them were far enough from the compound, Ogadimma pulled her close, gave her a tight hug and bided her goodbye. Once alone, Nnenne quickly wiped away her tears, making up her mind never to cry again. Of course, she can't go back home, there was nothing there for her. No one would want to associate with her in any way for they believe she is cursed. So she carried on with the plan she and her lover once had.

Not long after she settled in and was living a new life in the new town, she discovered she was pregnant with Nwosu's child. When the child was born, she named him Ikenna after consulting the gods and it was discovered that he was not a reincarnation of her lover. She never got married for she was scared to pass the curse she posses to an innocent family. Rather, she focused her energy on training and bringing up her only son until he was old enough to get married. Whenever her son's wife gave birth, she was always present to know who came back as her grandchild for she had not given up her search for her true love.

That very night, after sharing this story with us, she and Amuwa past the night in the same hut and both of them did not see the sunrise the next day. Till this very day, no one knows what happened to them. Some rumored they have gone to be with each other in the land of the dead forever as planned".

Ego with her hands folded just below her breast said "I think I have heard enough for just one night. I beg to retire to my bed. I have a very busy tomorrow".

"Alright, Nda Ego. Ka chi foo". She said.