FAMILIAR ENEMY (EPISODE 14) Written by Glorie Adepoju
I heard movement, and the light flickered on, I adjusted my eyes.
“Uncle Ade!” I screamed in shock.
“I didn’t mean to startle you Eki.” he said.
Following the nudging in my spirit, pushing away the disagreeing voice of common sense, I joined him to sit on the dusty floor.
It felt very awkward, especially considering the time of the night.
“If I had known my lifestyle would cost me this much, I would have started living a better life a long time ago. The kidnap, my son’s death, I caused everything…”
I shifted in my seat uncomfortably, many questions running through my mind.
“I saw nothing wrong with being a womanizer, especially since I made sure all my affairs were quite discreet. I had been a womanizer way before I met Bimbola. It stopped for a while after we got married. It obviously didn’t last. I couldn’t help it. Out of guilt, I always gave a warning to all the concubines, that I’m married with a son and I don’t want a baby mama or a second wife, so they shouldn’t try to get pregnant for me. I love Bimbola and I didn’t want to hurt her by having a child outside our marriage. We already had a son, that was enough for me. I just wanted to have fun and satisfy my greed.”
I listened with rapt attention, hanging on to his every word.
“Daisy, she was one of the many others, only that she was very innocent and very much in love with me, she didn’t even care about my riches. Over time, Daisy became very attached, and would always bring up discussions about wanting marriage. I didn’t want any of that. Despite my several warnings, Daisy decided to play smart, she deliberately got pregnant, wanting to be a second wife or even settle for a baby mama. I got so angry at her foolishness, and I decided to end the relationship. She became frantic, pleading and begging. She promised to abort just so we could get back together.”
“I didn’t know she was very naïve, I just assumed she had done it several times like the other ladies. Daisy went to a quack doctor, in the process she…lost her life…”
I felt a heaviness in my spirit.
“If only I had known. Yes, I didn’t want the baby, but I didn’t want her to die. Some weeks after her death. Her brother came to my office.”
“I knew you were a good for nothing the day I saw you with my sister. I warned her but she wouldn’t listen. They all think she got sick and died. But I know, I know she had an abortion, for you! You evil bastard. I don’t even have evidence to accuse someone like you, of murder, but know this, you killed Daisy, a precious person to me. I would not sleep until something precious is taken from you too. Trust me, I would make sure you feel the pain I’m feeling right now. And even all your riches won’t help you. You won’t forget this day!!”
“I would never forget the expression of pain and anger on his face as he spoke those words to me that day. I thought it was an empty and unnecessary threat, until Mayowa was kidnapped. He was right, I suddenly remembered his words, and yes, at that moment I understood what it meant for something so precious to be taken from me, something so precious. I did some findings about Daisy’s brother, Alfred, and realized he had been a hoodlum back in the days. So, I gave his number and name to the officer, they found out he and his family had relocated, and they tried in vain to locate them.”
…to be continued…
pEn&pApEr
GLORIEADEPOJU
