STORY: SWEET SOUND [EPISODE 25] – STORY END…..

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SWEET SOUND:  EPISODE 25

“Please stop saying nonsense my dear” i whispered back to chioma who
quickly dropped her eyes and kept quiet.
“as you can see, my sister is sleeping. It’s quite unfortunate you guys
came at the wrong time. Maybe next Saturday you can come over” Mary’s
sister said with a cold smile. I shrugged and held Chioma.
“thanks for everything. I see you don’t want us to hang around for a
while. Anyway we will be back by next Saturday.

If there is anything you
need, please don’t hesitate mentioning it” i said politely, smiling
nervously as i threw another look at Mary who was sleeping peacefully.
“thanks but i sure won’t need anything from you” the old lady replied
coldly, leading us out of the ward.
We silently left the hospital deep with our individual thoughts. I was
extremely worried, so was Chioma.
“of course Mary’s body is like that of an Hiv Aids victim but no it
can’t be” i prayed fearfully,
“If she is really with the virus then i’m finished. I can’t have the
virus” i breathed nervously as great fear took control of me.
My entire body shook with worry. “My God No no no” i cried within,
trying my best to conceal my fears from Chioma.
“You know we should go for a Hiv test. It’s very important” she soon
suggested as we headed back to my apartment.

I threw a quick glance at
her, noticing how withdrawn and terrible she looked.
“do you actually think Mary has the virus?” i asked fearfully. She
breathed deeply and shook her head.
“i don’t know what to believe but all i know is that we are going for a
test on Monday” she said seriously. I bit my lips and drove on, cursing
the day i met Mary.
Seriously i couldn’t imagine myself living with such a virus. I felt
sick thinking of it.
“Gosh it can’t be, what even got such idea into Chioma’s head. Mary is
just seriously sick. Her sickness has nothing to do with Hiv” i
reasoned, trying hard to play down my fears.

I prayed and hoped. I felt very bad, but Chioma looked much worst.
Everything about her instantly changed. She became a shadow of herself.
The next day {Sunday}, was very uneventful. I spent it indoors, with my
television and phones turned off. I simply laid on my bed lamenting my
fate and praying with all my soul. I was very scared, but what scared me
the most was the Hiv test we planned taking the next day.
It was easier unknowingly living with the virus than living with the
fact that every second that ticks was bringing death closer with great
speed…
By 10am on Monday, Chioma and i nervously waited for our Hiv test
results.

My heart throbbed furiously, Chioma sat a distance away,
looking very uncomfortable. I couldn’t speak to her because i had
nothing to say…
Some minutes later, our results were handed to us without any form of
counseling which gave me slight hope and courage to read the result
which was nothing but NEGATIVE.
“oh yeah!” i jumped with joy. It was the first time in my life i was
happy for having a result which came out negative….
“Thank you Jesus” Chioma cried as she hugged me after seeing her’s, with
hot tears of joy flowing freely.
“i’m very sorry for rushing into conclusion. This means Mary isn’t down
with the virus” she said to me, tears freely falling from her eyes.
You guys can’t imagine how happy, relieved and reborn i felt that
moment…
I felt alive again….

“i’m so short of words my dear” i confessed,
“i know sweety. So just keep quiet and let’s go home” chioma replied.
The rest of the week was very uneventful, we did nothing but concentrate
on our jobs which we neglected for so long. However it never stopped me
from thinking about Mary. I couldn’t imagine what the poor lady was
going through on her sick bed. It pained me a lot and oh yes i felt very
responsible.
Just like Chioma i was very curious to know what was wrong with Mary,
but her elder Sister saw us more as enemies than friends. She refused
discussing Mary’s illness with us even though we tried our best to call
everyday.
That was the situation of things till Saturday afternoon when we visited
the hospital again.
This time Mary was very much awake and looking a bit better, though
still very fragile.
She managed to sit up on the bed immediately we showed up, forcing out a
weak smile which we returned in full.

Chioma dutifully sat beside her.
“I wasn’t expecting to see you guys. Though my sister told me how you
have been asking about me” she said to Chioma, coughing weakly as she
talked. Chioma held her hand and smiled sweetly.
“of course we are very worried for you sweetheart. No one is without a
conscience. We do care very much about you” she answered innocently.
Mary breathed deeply before looking up at me.
“you know i felt i found happiness. I felt i found my missing rib when
Ken came along. I know you understand that feeling which comes when
someone who matches your criteria enters your life” she addressed Chioma
who nodded slowly.
“i felt happiness. My life was his, i fell so strongly in love. I gave
him my soul to keep safe, but you know the rest of the story” she
continued weakly, while i looked down with shame and remorse.
“he flung away my life.

He flung away everything for you” she said
bitterly, touching everyone with her words. Her elder sister quickly
interrupted with concern.
“my dear you shouldn’t be talking about the past. You are very sick”She
protested, eyeing me angrily.
“don’t worry big sister there isn’t any cause for alarm. Everything
happened for a purpose, moreover i now think it’s cool things ended the
way it did. I would have suffered more being in this condition with Ken
as my husband. So don’t worry anymore about me dear Ken, i have forgiven
you. Just be happy with your girl” she concluded and sobbed.
I quickly knelt by her side, hugging her by the waist, while chioma
equally sobbed. It was a very emotional scene.
“you are a very wonderful person.

The more i get to know you. The more i
admire everything about you. Thanks a lot for understanding, we will
continue checking on you till you get better and leave this hospital.
The bills are on me, don’t worry about anything and get better” Chioma
promised, shocking everyone with her offer.
However we had no time to discuss further with Mary nor her sister
because a doctor soon showed up to check on her forcing us to leave.
We left with the promise of returning on Monday but unfortunately Mary
never made it to Monday.
An early Monday morning phone call from Mary’s sister broke the terrible
news to me.
“MY SISTER IS DEAD. Mary is dead” she cried over the phone.

Mary was buried early the next day {Tuesday} in her hometown. She was
buried so fast because she was nothing but an unmarried lady, with
little or no formalities required in laying her to rest.
Chioma and i paid our last respect by being present in the burial
ceremony which was well attended by her church members, friends and
colleagues. It was quite an emotional event.
Her family members were quite inconsolable especially the elder sister
who almost killed herself with grief.
“We shouldn’t question God because he knows the best for us. God has a
reason for calling Sister Mary.

Be rest assured that she’s happy with
the Lord” The Rev. In charge of the ceremony preached as her coffin was
lowered into the ground.
“i really can’t believe all that has happened since i met you” chioma
cried and hugged me, hiding her face filled with tears on my chest.
“what next?” she asked solemnly, “our happiness is next my love” i
answered with deep passion.
Very early the next day we headed to see Chioma’s pastor who listened
attentively to the conclusion of my story.
“you see God has a reason for showing me that revelation.

You were very
lucky you got to the girl on time and she forgave you before dying.
Seriously i can’t imagine what could have happened supposing she died
with the pain you inflicted on her.
This should be a lesson to young men. All that glitters isn’t gold.
Let’s praise the Lord” the pastor said with infinite grace….
Finally Chioma and I did our traditional marriage on the 25th of
December as scheduled and equally did the church ceremony on holy
Saturday {Easter Saturday} the following year.

By November {few months later} we had a bouncing baby boy which sealed
my happiness.
However i still do remember Mary and my friend Jboy till today.
Everything about them is still very fresh in my mind. I always cry each
time i remember my story with Mary, and as for my son. This story will
be the first he will ever get from me……
I was lucky to survive.. Please be wise in all you do.
…. 

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