Deborah raced down to the hospital as fast as she could. She tried to control herself as fear weigh over her.
“Oh God! Please.........” she kept saying all over again. “Please Lord........, what have I done?”
She pulled her car to a stop in front of St Thomas and ran inside.
“Mr Adebanjo please” she asked the Nurse at the Reception.
“Excuse me, who? She asked trying to understand her.
“My husband, I was called by one of your doctors he was rushed here yesterday, Please, where is he?” she said shivering.
“Its ok madam, I will take you right to his room’’ she said leading her to the ward
“Please, what happened? Is he ok?’’ she asked shaking all over.
“I’m afraid I can’t tell you anything but would page the doctor in charge to come see you ASAP”, she systematised with her.
As the Nurse opened the door to Dewale’s room, flood of tears rushed to her as she saw her husband lying helplessly in strings of tubes all over him, she rushed to him, holding his hands.
“Honey, can you hear me’’ she said crying, touching his face. “Please honey, don’t leave me, I am so sorry” she whispered in tears. “Can you hear me dear.....?”
“Mrs Adebanjo” Dr Olamide went over to her.
“Will he be ok? What happened....” asking all questions at once.
“He was rushed here around 10:00pm yesterday after a collision with a drunk driver. He was hit badly in the head but we were able to stop the bleeding. Due to the extensive damage to the head, we had to induce him into coma”.
“Oh my God! Debby cried. “Will he be ok?”, she asked in tears
“We cannot say how much damage was done until he wakes up from the coma” Dr Olamide said
“When is that going to be? Debby asked
“We can’t say but hopefully, very soon. We can only wait to see what happens” she said holding her hands to assure her and walked out of the room.
All alone again in the room, she looked at her husband and felt all strength drained out of her, she felt helpless and defeated.
“Honey, Please....., if you can hear me.....” tears running down her face. “I am so sorry......, Please honey, forgive me, I caused all these....I put you in this state.., Please” she cried out loud kneeing on the floor, “Please dear, I am sorry..... Oh God! Please help me, forgive me Lord and give me back my husband, please God....., Don’t punish him for my sins, I committed the offence, I sinned again you, don’t take him away......., she pleaded and begged.
“I am sorry Lord......, please......, don’t take him away from me..... I am begging you Lord, please.....” she continued to cry.
At some point, she couldn’t even understand the words coming out of her mouth as her tears overwhelmed her, she held unto his hands and cried out to God. How has she fallen so low, so low for the devil to take advantage of? A broken vessel that only the Master would mend, ‘He that thinks he stands take heed lest he falls’, she knew this verse like no other and yet, she became a part of it. At this point, she had nowhere to go expect to her Maker, he can restore all things, he’s able to breath the breathe of life into dry bones, the giver of life, the righteous God, the mighty warrior, consuming fire, yet, the merciful God. Debby lay down on the floor and cried unto God, with every breath she had in her, she cried unto Him.
.....................................
It’s been almost a week that Dewale had been in a coma; Deborah refused to leave his bed side until she was pressured by the teams of doctor to at least go home to change. During this time, she had called her parents to explain the situation but left the part of her adulterous act. Her parents helped to take care of Temidayo while she stayed with her husband; they visited her in the hospital and also urged her to go home to rest. After so much pressure, she decided to go home to clean herself up and change of clothe. Getting home to an empty house was most depressing, all she wanted to do is take a shower and get back to the hospital. As soon as she finished cleaning up, she left the house to go back to Dewale.
“Mrs Adebanjo” she heard one of the Nurses calling after her. “I was about calling you on your mobile, your husband just woken up” she said excited.
“My God!” Debby exclaimed and ran to his room. Her heart leap for joy, she wanted to run to him and hold him close but cautioned herself as she saw his doctor attending to him, so she stood aside as they attended to him.
“We are so glad to have you back” she heard his Doctor saying to him. “You’ve been in a coma for a week now after the car accident you had, do you remember anything? She asked
“Accident?”Dewale asked confused touching the bandage around his hand.
“It’s ok’’ Doctor Olamide smiled at him. “I’m going to ask you series of question to determine how much damage was done, okay?” she said while Dewale just nodded.
“Can you please tell me your name” she asked
“Adewale Adebanjo” he replied
“Do you know what year it is?” she asked again
Confused. “I think..., 2005” he said
“What!” Debby said from where she was standing. “He said 2005, what does that mean?” she asked Doctor Olamide but before the Doctor could answer, she went to stand by Dewale’s side taking his hands.
“Honey,” she looked into his eyes but Dewale withdrew his hands. Debby was close to tears at this. “Do you know who I am” she managed to ask.
“I’m sorry” Dewale said confused. “I ...don’t know.........” he stammered.
“It’s me, Deborah, your wife” searching into his eyes to see if he recognised her but she found nothing.
“Oh God!” she said. “What’s happening to him” she asked the Doctor again, “my husband does not recognise me” she said in tears but Dewale was so confused at this scenario and unsure of what to say.
“Madam, please” Doctor Olamide said taking her hands and lead her outside. Debby reluctantly followed her seeing how confused and stock Dewale was himself. Getting outside in the lobbying, she cried out......
“What’s happening to him” she cried.
“Mrs Adebanjo, you need to take things easy” she tried to assure her. It is not uncommon for recovering coma patient to have memory loss. When people experience physical trauma, such as a head injury in a car accident, this can have effects on their memory”
“But He does remember who he is except from 2005 till date, he does not remember who I am which centres into his loss memory, How can that be?” Debby said confused.
“We will have to conduct further tests to determine the extent of his memory loss. Sometimes, a trauma can cause a repressed memory loss on a patient. When an event is so traumatic, the memory has not forgotten in the traditional sense, but removed from the conscious mind, still present in the long-term memory but hidden from the patient’s knowledge”
Fear gripped her hearing this information, she realised the event that happen at home may have caused him to forget all about her. She felt weak to the bone.
“Mrs Adebanjo” she heard Dr Olamide called as she was lost in her thought.
“I’m sorry” Debby said.
“Is there anyone prior to 2005 you can call, someone he can trust to be with now” she asked
“There’s no one” she said sadly, “His parents are gone dead and he’s an only child” Debby said.
“It’s okay then, let me carry out these tests, then we can go from there, Mrs Adebanjo, you need to have faith, this is not permanent, okay? She assured her.
She watched as the Doctor went back in to attend to Dewale, this time, she could not get herself to go in, she stood there watching from the window. She felt lost in herself, Dewale was not just her husband, he was her best friend, he is everything she has. She needed someone right now to talk to and her only companion does not even recognise her.
After standing there for a while, she decided to walk away, just go anywhere. She got into her car and drove away; she had no destination in mind, just to drive. After several minutes driving aimlessly and in her thought, she felt the car behind her had been following her for quite sometimes, she took note of it and drove a little while and was sure it was definitely o her tail, then she noticed she recognised the car and then, she stomped on her brake to stop which made the other car to brake harshly too. She got out of the car and went straight to the other car opening the door to the driver side.
“Why on earth are you following me” she shouted at Tunde. “What is all these” she continued to shout.
“I’m sorry Debby, I was just trying to get you to speak to me; I was worried after you left your house the other day, I have a called your phone numerous time but no response, you’ve not been to work or even back home. I went by your house today again and saw you driving off so I followed you, I couldn’t catch on with you when you drove into the hospital so I waited”.
“So, what are you? She shouted. Why are you looking for me? Why are you following me? To see if your mission is completed? Isn’t it” She said furious. .
“No, no, I was just worried about you Deb” he said with a sorry face
“Don’t you dare call me Deb, you lost the right to call me that long ago” she said.
“I’m sorry Deborah, I know you are still angry with me, but really, I am very sorry. I didn’t plan for things to happen this way. I can’t stop thinking about you Debby”
“Now, Tunde, I want you to stop right there. Don’t think about me. I am not interested in you and what happened between us was a great mistake and I regret it. I love my husband and that’s not going to change. Tunde, put yourself in His shoe, how would you feel? She asked searching his face but he was quiet.
“I don’t know who you are anymore Tunde, I thought you are a Man of God, What happened to the man that so preaches against all these?” she said.
“Debby, I am first a Man before I became a Man of God, I have feelings, emotions and I loved you and still love you........, Debby, I can’t find myself without you.... please.....
At that moment, Debby realised she was making another great mistake standing there, talking to him, she should be in the hospital now, by her husband’s side, either he remembers her or not, with that thought, she turned back, walking to her car..
“Debby, please, don’t walk away from me...” he ran after her. But she just continued to walk, got into her car and raced back to the hospital.
She was determine to work this through, in as much as she needed Dewale, she realised that Dewale also needs her, she was all that he’s got, she was his only family and she believes that is hidden somewhere in his memory and sooner, it will all come back to him.
..........................................
As she looked through the window to his room, realising he was all alone in the room, she said a word of prayer, and then she walked in.....
Dewale lifting up his head to look at her, and then, he tried to smile.
“I am so sorry about the other time” he apologised, “guess I was still in a state of stock” he said looking at her.
“It’s okay; it wasn’t your fault “she replied.
“You know, waking up from a sleep and then you realised you’ve lost six years of good memory” he chuckled.
“That sucks” Debby said smiling.”
“Yea, real bad” he smiled. “I must have scared the hell out of you” he said with a look of concern on his face.
“And to say I have this beautiful woman before me who is my wife, aren’t I the luckiest of men” he said smiling
“Actually, I am the luckiest of all women” she laughed.
“So tell me, what have I missed” he curiously asked.
“Well” Debby smiled, “You have a beautiful daughter, and she’s two years old, she’s at my Mom’s now.
“I am so blessed” Dewale said smiling.
....................................
Dewale stayed in the hospital for one more week to monitor him after which his Doctor decided he was fit to go home. She advised that familiar places or things might help to jolt back his memory and she also booked him for weekly physiotherapy at the hospital. Debby was glad to have her husband back home, even if they still behave like strangers, it was better than losing him.
Few days after getting home, Dewale went through the whole house to see if things would be familiar to him, especially when Temidayo was brought back to the house, as he held his daughter, he felt so much love within him, love that overweighs above his memory, he knew somewhere within him that she was his and wept quietly as he held her close. Debby longed to explain what happened before the accident to him but she was warned by the doctors to take things slow with him and not relate past trauma events to him yet.
Days turning into weeks, she tried to get Dewale to come sleep on their bed but she felt he was uncomfortable about this, sometimes, he sleeps for few hours but when she wakes up in the middle of the night, she finds him downstairs on the couch, other times, she hears him praying, even as she couldn’t hear the words, she knew he was distress in his spirit. With all these going on, she felt guilty about having these desire for her husband, she wanted to be touched by him, she wanted to sleep in his embrace all night long, kiss him so passionately to express how much she loves him, at the same time, she was unsure of how to come clean with him and felt deception about these. Sometimes, she wants to ask him what he does remember as things were beginning to come back to him, but the fear of what it might be scared her.
Even with all these going on at home, she tried to keep Tunde off her back, although, she had quit her job, changed her mobile number but he keeps sending her all sort of letters at home, sometimes when she goes out, she sees his car stalking her, at times he approaches, other times, he just follows her. It was so bad that even when he wasn’t there, Debby felt like she was been watched by him. She stopped every confrontation with him as it was of no use. All she wants now is her husband back to her but she knew she had to trust God.
After almost a month with these whole battle. One day, as she prepared to go to bed, Dewale offered to tuck in Temidayo while she went to take a shower. As she finished in the bathroom, she found Dewale in the room waiting there for her;
“Is everything alright?” she asked looking at him
“Yes” He said smiling. He took her into his arms and hugged her. They both stayed in each other arms for quite a while, then, he brought her facing him, kissed her softly, and stopped to look at her face. Debby was lost in all this, she was surprised in a good way, as she was about to speak, he kissed her again, this time, so passionately that she was lost of all words; she kissed him back too and held tightly unto him, ignoring her towel coming off from her, she held on so tightly while tears dropping off her eyes. She moved with him as he led her on the bed, she watched him as he came unto her, wrapped himself into her, and then, she found herself talking...
“Dewale, I have to talk to you” she said softly.
“Honey, I’m done talking” he answered back kissing her as he spoke.
“It’s really important honey.....” she said
“We can talk after this dear”. Dewale said longing after her as he held her.
“Please” She said stopping him. “I did something....., something very terrible.... and you don’t remember” she said as the tears kept rolling
“Hon” Dewale said, he stopped and looked at her with a kind face. “I don’t want you to talk about anything dear, whatever you did, I forgive you” he said wiping the tears from her face. “I love you so much honey and I know you love me too, whatever it is dear, let’s forget it dear and move on with our lives”.
“But, don’t you want to know?” she asked.
“I don’t want to hear it, honey” he said getting back to kissing her. She turned her face up to his, her half-felt protest became a moan of surrender as he drove his mouth down on hers with a hungry kiss which splintered her. She felt love like never before. As he touched her, she moved with him and enjoyed every step of it. This is what love making should be, a feeling of total love and surrender to your partner, not of condemnation, deceit or betrayal. She felt his forgiveness and love towards her.
...............................
Tunde jumped to the sound of the door bell. Opening the door, he found an unfamiliar face standing before him.
“Hello” He greeted. “Can I help you?” He asked questioning him.
“Yes” Dewale said walking pass him into his house. “I think its best we come inside to talk”
Tunde was surprised at this guest.
“My name is Dewale, I think you know my wife” He said looking at him. Tunde was taken back with fear.
“You actually haven’t met me before and yet, you have the gut to come into my home and defied my wife” Dewale said furiously, “even still, you want to keep coming back” standing up in his face. Tunde was motionless as he watched him speak; he wanted to say something but couldn’t find words.
“I want you to listen and listen carefully; my wife is my Jewel. I love her and would do anything to stay that way. Henceforth, I want you to stay away from my wife; you don’t dare to call her, see her or even think about her” he said in a commanding tone, looking straight into his eyes while Tunde was taken back in fear.
Then, Dewale stood a step backward, walking towards the couch “You know when I first met my wife, before we actually started dating....” Dewale said sitting down, “all she did was to talk about you, mostly about how she admire your commitment to God, how you serve him and uphold your faith..., I never knew you then but I admired your commitment” he smiled to himself. “but now, I don’t know what happened to you but one thing I know is this, you are lost; for you to have the gut to come into another man’s home, eat his fruit and demand to take it away, then I am most certain that you are on a path to hell” Dewale said this looking straight at him which brought Tunde to his sit. Then, he became silence to what seems like eternity.
“I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent”. Dewale quoted.
“Revelation 3” Tunde said quietly to himself.
“I see you still know your bible” he said.
“You need to move on...” Dewale said in a gentle tone, “You need to let go...., move on”. At this time, he saw Tunde swell up in tears. He realised how much he had fallen, he thought it was Debby he needed but in the true sense, he needed his Lord and saviour, he realised he had gone far away from his Maker. He tried to destroy another man’s home.........
Dewale seeing his reaction to his words stood up, walked over to him. “You need to go back home; you need to go back to the presence of God, you were a man with great vision, a purpose but you sold out to the devil, go home man”. He said and began to walk out.
Tunde, who is swelled up in tears looked up at his guest leaving.
“I am so....very sorry” Tunde spoke out in tears, “I am sorry, please, forgive me” he said after him. Dewale looked back at him seeing all distraught he was, nodded and walked out.
As Dewale got into his car, he sat down for few minutes pondering over all that went on in there. He realised that for him to have a better relationship with his wife and for them to move on past all these, he too had to let go, he had to forgive both of them and himself. Part of him blamed himself for allowing this to happen; a Man is supposed to hold his house together against all invaders. Someone once say that; ‘Marriage is the only institute you receive a certificate on the same day you begin the course, what you do with it lies in your hands’. Everyone has its test to pass, sometimes, you need to repeat a class, other times, you may need to retake another test but the most important things is thriving, working hard and not giving up. The love of God is able to conquer everything that life throws at us; we need the willingness and courage to give it our best. Your love for each other isn’t enough to hold through storming seas but the love of God can break through every pain, disappointment, betrayal, anything that comes between us.
With these thought, he drove home to meet his love..........
The End.
To all my Readers:
Thank you all for your support and comments. I hope you did enjoy the concluding part. Please, feel free to leave your comments and questions. God bless.
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