Chapter 12: Chapter 12
The following year after Valor's marriage, Richard also got married but not to Henrietta. He left her because of her wealthy family looking down on him. Meanwhile, Valor had lived happily with Alice carrying his baby. They made a good couple and were called medical couples. People brought cases of emergency to them and they treated them with all their might. Alice had a whole lot of responsibilities from taking care of the home to giving home treatment to people. It was a good way of making money because she was no more working but staying home to look after herself.
While the night creatures were humming, valor was on the bed with Alice staring at the ceiling. “we are expecting our first child. What are you going to name him?” she asked. He answered, “why him, I am expecting a girl.” “but every man always hopes for a male child. It’s fine since it is your decision. what will you name her?” “Why are you giving me the naming thing? She's our child so you are free to also give her a name.” “I’m expecting a boy. I will name him Edidiong.” “wow, such a name. I never thought of it. To be honest with you I never came up with the right name. That’s why I asked you to say something.” “I only said my mind, but you have to give your child a name.” Valor replied, “it’s not bad if I go for the one you gave.” While they were having their discussion, they heard a rapid knock on the door. They listened to know who it was. The knocking continued with a voice after, shouting, “doctor! doctor! doctor!” Valor replied, “Yes, I am here. what is the problem.” the girl was panting as she spoke, “please come! It’s my mother, she collapsed.” He was too quick to recognize the voice to be the neighbor’s daughter. He opened the door and rushed out with his touch. Alice also joined him and came back to close the door before going to the scene.
Valor got there, he saw their mother in the arms of the Father, he asked, “what happened here?” The man could not talk but was calling the wife’s name. The other neighbor answered, “she collapsed.” Alice arrives at the scene to see Valor touching the feet and observing the temperature of the lady. She also joined him and checked if she was still breathing. The man stood up and handed it over to valor and the wife to handle while the neighbor was consoling the children.
Alice took control of the situation, she turned her sideway to make sure her tongue did not roll back and fanned her. She made sure she could feel her pulse. She also removed the net from her head to relieve the pressure.
Valor had taken the husband outside and questioned him. “what happened sir.” the man tried to explain, “we had a quarrel on something little, and she has been keeping quiet from me. She even refuses to keep my food for me, saying, I normally eat outside, and I should continue that way. I was not happy with such words after giving her feeding money. I have kept quiet for a week now. Just today I decided to talk about it. She began to call me cheats and rendered all forms of abuse on me as if I’m not her husband. So, as she was talking, I suddenly did not hear her voice again. I never knew she had collapsed. That’s all that happened.” Valor answered and said, “the problem is she was exhausted by the pressure she carried and that led her to collapse.” “alright” “I know you have tried your best but right now you have to stay away from her.” while they had their conversation, they could hear the children shouting, “mother.” They knew immediately that she had gained consciousness. “I’m grateful doctor,” he said. They both went in to see her. Alice had helped her to sit on the chair as the children gathered around her. They brought glucose solution for her to drink, but Valor intervened and said, “let her be, just allow her to rest.” Her husband called, “my love.” she opened her eyes and looked at him, she could feel the sadness on his appearance. She immediately looked elsewhere. Valor whispered to his wife, “darling I suppose she could come over and sleep with us tonight. That will make things easier for them.” okay, but you should tell the husband first.” he replied. “you don’t have to ask permission when you are supposed to do the right thing. Valor went straight to the couple and said, “Madam, you should come with us you’ll be sleeping in our house tonight. Carry your wrapper, we have another mattress for you. I guess that will be okay.” She stood up and carried her night clothes and followed them. She turned and said to the children “mummy is okay, you people can now go to bed.” She collected the solution and drank before leaving.
At Valor’s house, they prepared a bed for her and she slept with comfort and eased her pain.
***
Early in the morning, Valor had gone to work while she was still sleeping. Alice had prepared breakfast for her to eat. Alice is so good at human psychology and made her talk about the things that bothered her, “What happened between you two.” The lady replied, “he has been cheating on me. For days he refused to eat my food. He has another place where he eats outside. He also goes to work very early without food.” Alice asked her “how are you sure he has another place he normally goes to eat.” and she replied, “a friend of mine told me that she always saw him at a particular place.” “And you believed her?” “I believed her because I observe his mode anytime he is in the house.” “ok, she might be right, but she might also be wrong. You must confirm it yourself or else she will end up destroying your home. What I’m saying is, you have to be careful of the information you receive to avoid worse things to happen in your home. Let us review what happened last night when you fainted, imagine how your children were crying your husband was terrified but even after you gained consciousness, they were happy but still looking at you as a weird person or as if you are going to die and leave them, you do not have to kill yourself with wrong information, even though there was evidence, you can’t still kill yourself. Please!” After some thoughts she said to Alice, “I believe what you said but I don’t know if he still loves me because of his actions. Before we got married, he proposed to me and said all the sweet and heavenly things one could imagine. After a couple of years things change, the love fades. Tell me what I should do.” She seems worried. Alice replied, “you cannot compare those times when everything was simpler than now. Your husband has a lot to think or worry about. Maybe the rent, children fees, and so many other things he won’t discuss, even food. I believe you must fix him and his thinking because overthinking and stressing affects our mode. It causes trauma.” “you are a good therapist. What of your husband?” “He went to work.” “So early, it’s not up to 7 o’clock.” “Yes” “Even with the pregnancy, you still cook for him.” “Am only trying my best.” “I am grateful that I am so refreshed. You have done noble, I have to go and put my children in order so that they can go to school.” “It's your duty, you're free to go.”
***
Valor was back from work in the evening. He helped his wife with the house chores. When they were done, they settled down to discuss the previous day’s incident. Alice explained to him what she knew, “she is killing herself with wrong information she received from a friend, telling her that her husband is cheating on her. Sometimes he comes back home very late and refuses to eat.” Valor replied, “actually, is not everybody that likes eating late. Maybe he ate in a restaurant before going home.” Alice then said, “I think he should understand the situation of the family and always reserve space for his wife’s food.” Valor replied, “do you think it is that easy to eat and pretend not to eat, just to eat again.” this time Alice did not say anything. “darling what is the problem?” she replied, “never mind, it’s nothing.” “what are you trying to do. If there is a problem dear, speak out.” “I have put this in mind for so long, who is Mboutidem.” Valor became terrified, but still summons the courage to ask, “what do you know?” she replied, “what happened with you two.” “nothing at all. Honestly speaking, I knew her in my secondary school, and I liked her back then. She was too attractive. Later then she was nowhere to be found. When I came here and began to work, I was surprised to see her. I invited her for our marriage, and she wanted me to cancel our engagement so that I can get married to her. That’s all you wanted to hear, and I’ve given it to you. Right now, I’m surprised and confused. How did you know her and why did you ask?” “she’s the one that makes my hair.” Valor was very terrified that Alice knew so much about Mboutidem and said to her, “I beg you I don’t want you to get along with her, she’s too dangerous.” “no, she is not.” “What nonsense! I suppose you should be angry with her but instead, you are on her side. Even after she asked me to cancel our engagement you are still on her side. Are you so blind that you can’t see?” “she’s not actually what you think. Now that we are married, she won’t bother us.” “I can see you are communing with enemies and it’s not bothering you. Is that the way you were thought?” “I was brought up in a special way because of my health from a tender age, I was told that I had sickle cell and my parents taught me to control my anger, my feelings, even my happiness.” Valor cuts the discussion, “I’m seriously having a headache, I don’t want to discuss this again.”
#Labour
It was in the afternoon Valor was checking on his patients. He examines as the parents lay their complaint, “our son cannot eat or swallow. We wondered if it is the tooth that’s disturbing him but already, he has his complete tooth.” Valor said to the child, “open your mouth” he looked inside in search of any growth, he then took his hands and massaged his lower jaw and the child cried for pains as saliva was dripping down his jaw. Valor said to them, “I felt something under his jaw and that’s the cause of the pain. I will put down some drugs that you have to get from the counter.” he wrote the drugs that should be administered and handed over to them.
Just as Valor was about to remove his coat, news came to him that Alice was in labor. Valor paid his way down to see a beautiful baby girl. He was so happy that his wish came true, “Edidiong my child, mummy has a grandchild.” He expressed his happiness like never before, but when he was made to know the condition of his wife, his happiness was reduced. The midwives told him that she was in a critical condition. “There was enough bleeding after delivery, she lost a lot of blood. “You are to provide three pack of blood immediately.” Valor went in to see her and assured to provide all that is required. She said to him, “darling don’t, go stay with me.” “I won’t leave you” holding her hands. The nurses came and drove him away so that he could get the blood. He reached out to a colleague to help him get the blood at the blood bank. A test was also carried on him to donate blood to his wife. The test was successful, and he was able to donate blood to his wife. Valor with the rest of the family members that heard what happened stayed with her through the night while the blood was transfused.
In the middle of the night, Valor woke up from the side of the bed and touched her. She was very cold; he pulled the body cover to her face. Alice’s uncle was also awake, and he immediately held him as he began weeping. Valor became very restless and lost control. The other relatives woke up and joined him crying, only the nurses were there to console them.
***
#Obsequies
The two families had gathered to bury someone that was just married. Valor could not imagine the body of his wife gradually laying down to the ground. “From dust, was man made and dust will return,” said the pastor. Valor controlled himself not to cry but he could not hold the tears that were dropping.
After the burial, both families had settled. They observe a moment of silence until Valor’s uncle breaks it. He said, “we have lost someone very important in this family. But God has given us joy in the baby. Everybody is wishing to take care of the baby, but we should hear from the father on whom he has chosen to take care of the baby for him.” Valor said, “I won’t want to disturb anybody. I will want my mother to take care of her until I’m stable. Meanwhile, every other person should stop worrying about me. I will be fine.” Valor’s decision didn’t favor Alice’s family in getting their grandchild to be with them. They began to leave one after the other.