THINGS FALL APART
“Hello nurse.”
“Yes Miss Mary.”
“What do you want to do?”
“My normal duty of course.”
“To do what exactly?”
“Dr Koyejo asked me to give you your medication and give you your injection,” Nurse Vivian smiled.
“Where is Nurse Eunice, she is the right person to do this?”
“She’s off duty.”
Mary pointed to her: “I think I know you well.”
“How?”
“You were the one trying to choke life out of me sometime ago. Am I not correct?” Mary sat at alert.
“When?”
“Then I was in coma.”
“How could you recognize me if you were in coma?” She tried to play it down.
“Anyhow, I’m not comfortable with you.”
“Let me do my duty and get out,” Vivian tried to intimate her.
“You cannot force me or I’ll shout.” Mary raised her voice and Vivian was taken aback. She stepped backward in fear. As she was about getting out in a haste, the door opened, Dr Koyejo and Nurse Eunice stepped in.
“What are you doing here Nurse Vivian?” Nurse Eunice asked.
“Were you not strictly warned not to step around Mary?” The doctor asked. Vivian couldn’t answer a word nor look up to see any of the faces.
Vivian was about stepping out beside the two of them when one of the security men came in and held her. She was dispossessed of the tray and injection in her hands.
“Please take her to the medical director, she’s been on the watch list.” Dr Koyejo said.
Mary was all these while shivering and confused at the same time. How many people are after her life, she cannot say. Dr Koyejo came by her side, sat and comforted her letting her know she’s safe and that all eyes were on her to see that no hurt came around her.
“Doctor, I don’t agree sir,” Mary retorted, “With all the measure in place she was able to come near. If I have been careless I would have gotten that injection from her. Who knows what’s in it.”
When Mary said the last words, Dr Koyejo sped out to the security guys and asked them to hand over the injection and everything they collected from Vivian.
In the same vein the medical director called the police and interrogation began immediately. Vivian was whisked to the police station. On her was found lump of the poisonous chemical she intend injecting into Mary’s vein. The injection was also tested by the hospital to confirm the same content. It was discovered that it was a lethal material to shut down Mary’s organs within an hour or so.
Felix came later to meet disquieted Mary.
“My angel, what’s the matter you look cold and withdrawn?”
Dr Koyejo came behind to narrate the sordid experience of the day.
“The same nurse that tried to stuff things over my face the last time was here again to inject poison into me.”
“Nurse Vivian?” Felix queried.
“Do you know her?”
“Yes, very well.” Felix talked slowly.
“Who is she?” Mary is beginning to be unsure of anyone for the moment.
“She’s just the nurse assigned to my care then when I slumped here when I saw you in coma. I was generous with her, gave her money and was friendly to her for her keen interest in caring for me. Maybe that’s why she’s skewed to think I should have a relationship with her. Nothing more.”
“But..” Mary stammered. “You have never for once told me you knew her.”
“Then we were not too sure she was out to destroy you. We didn’t have absolute fact that she was after your life. She was not caught in the act. And why would she want you hurt has always been the question?”
“But I told you what she wanted to do to me then.”
“I’m sorry. It’s hard to think that someone will be out to kill another. I didn’t know she could be a maniac with propensity to destroy. For what?”
“What else do I need to know?” Mary questioned.
“When I was also admitted here with you” Felix continued “She was the first person I opened my eyes to see and she smiled affectionately. I told her I don’t know her and she introduced herself to me as someone with special interest in my wellbeing. I didn’t take her serious then.
“In no time she didn’t hesitate to tell me she had been my raving fan reading about my early rise in life. She tried to talk me to take her out on a date which I declined. To the best of my knowledge, this is all I know.”
“This is all you know? And my life is in danger Felix.” For the first time Mary was even with him and was withdrawn.
“Mary, listen, I’m not hiding anything from you. This is an everyday experience for me; ladies wanting to get along with me. You need to get use to it when you’re married to a rich person in a society that idolizes money.”
“Get use to bad behaviour? Get use to secrecy? Get use to being tracked down daily by those criminal minded ladies in your life? No Felix.” She was fuming with anger.
“You’re getting me wrong. What I mean is this: You should understand my plight. I’m far wealthy than most of my age mates in the country. This has made me very attractive to girls everywhere just like sugar to ants. Don’t you understand?”
“I don’t want to understand when my life is on the line,” Mary told him.
“Women love easy life so they believe the wealthy one will secure it for them. So every girl wants a date with me. I’m tired of all this. Mary, I need you now than ever.”
“My life is in danger,” Mary screamed that made Felix jittered with fear. Mary stood out of the bed and walked out even though with some pains on her and tears flowing down her face.
“Stay back please.”
“I’m afraid I may not be able to continue in this relationship as it is now. My life is in danger on daily basis.” Mary was weeping profusely.
Mary after two attempts on her life within a week felt Felix is a risky person to go along with. It’s becoming difficult to talk to her to consider Felix though she’s in love.
When Mary got home Felix rushed to her home but he met brick wall.
“Felix, I love you no doubt about it. Ours is true love made from heaven but wicked men are after our souls. From word go it has been a turbulent affair.”
“Mary, understand that you’re the one that could manage my life,” Felix pleaded. “This other people are after my wealth.
“In addition, how about the things we had together?”
“I’ve considered them all and I’m handing them over.” Mary responded.
“Mary, I want you to realize that I’ll not take anything back from you. I’m in love and I cannot undo this love for you.”
Pa Mouton and the pastor all talked to her but she wasn’t ready to move ahead with Felix. She had a fragile heart and the incidence of these days brought tremour on her any time she remembered. She also began to fear that some ominous surprises could be waiting for her about Felix.
To avoid her breaking down again, everyone left her alone to sort things out her own way. Mary returned back to her old life. The Praying Mantis is back.
Meanwhile, Nurse Vivian was taken to the court and was found guilty of attempted murder. So she was sentenced to ten years imprisonment with hard labour; so she lost her job alongside.
Vivian failed to understand that love cannot be forced into play. She felt that if she eliminated Mary the coast will be cleared for her.
The story is becoming a twisted one. Watch out for Part 22
Author: WALE ADEWUMI
