As soon as Linda alighted from the taxi, she was so anxious to see Atimma.
When she clicked her door open, and saw her on the sofa, her heart broke.
"Abasi! What happened? Is it this bad. Ufan, this is crazy. You look awful!" She exclaimed.
Atimma lost her voice when she was trying to talk.
"Susan is a bastard! God will punish her."
Linda cursed.
"I almost died. She almost killed me. When I saw myself in the mirror, I could not believe my eyes. I don't know what to do."
"You will heal gradually. Take it easy please." Linda said soothingly.
"I can't even lift my hands." Atimma said almost in tears.
"Where did she keep your hands? I mean the one she cut off?"
"I don't know." Her answer was swift and short.
Linda stared at her pitifully. "God will punish Susana Seno in this life. Na only she get husband?" She muttered to herself as she tossed her sandals into the shoe bag.
"You will not believe who I saw today at the airport."
"Who?" Atimma asked softly.
"Guess right and get a sumptuous dinner from me tonight."
Atimma shot a grateful look at her.
"I don't know anybody. You're my only friend. so tell me who you saw."
"Harry..."
"Which Harry?" She asked with her eyes widened.
"Harrison, your husband..."
"What was he doing at the airport? selling water? or has he turned to a cab guy?"
"Non of the above. He works with Chevron now." Linda said as she searched hastily for the complimentary card in between the partitions of her bag. She handed it to Atimma excitedly.
"That's it! babe, this guy fine! if you see his skin, shining like oyigbo pepper. He was scenting like a rich guy.
Even his wrist watch, his shoes, his T-shirt, babe I bow for the guy, he was too fine!" Linda exclaimed.
"Wow, how things can change so fast."
Atimma whispered.
"I am going to call him, so that I could at least see my godchild for the first time."
"I wonder what she might look like now."
Atimma muttered.
"Cute like her father of course. I am not exaggerating o, Harry too fine. When he stood enh, girls were just looking at him as if he fell from the sky." Linda said sweetly.
The dullness in Atimma's eyes became grief.
"I will like to see Didi. I will like to touch her. Even though she doesn't know me."
"And do you think Harry will let you go close to his child?"
"Harry loved me. I believe he still does, he will let me. And even if he doesn't want me anymore..."
Linda cuts in, "Want you? As you are now? Maybe this is the first time I am going to tell you the bitter truth.
Forget Harry, he will never take you back. I am sure he is already in a relationship with someone else, or he might be searching, and anyone could be lucky."
"You can help me, you can help me talk to him." Atimma said in broken whispers. Pain exploded in her brain.
Only the meager cushion of the blanket kept her from being knocked unconscious.
"Are you okay? Atim..." Linda held her hands slowly.
"I am fine." Her brain was whirling with the implication of Linda's words about Harry. Her body was filled with pains.
"I will try and get to Harry and find out when he will be back, so that you can see him and talk about your child." Linda said soothingly as she held her hands tight.
She began to cry weakly. Trying to get her feet under her, she began to scream at the pains she felt on her hands.
"screaming won't help. Calm down..." Linda's voice was muffled.
Pain stole the last dregs of coherence and nothing at all made sense.
©reserve
Written by Vicky Bon
May 31, 2017
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