HE TOLD ME SO

Obi staggered as she ended the call, she was trying so hard to process the information as well as deal with the pain that came from it.

" Tata ọ gịnị? What is it? "

She sat down and just stared into space while Benjamin thought it wise to let her recuperate from shock especially because he was immobile.

After minutes of watching Obi stare into space, she finally opened her mouth to speak." She killed my mother! They killed my mother! What.. Why.. She came to our house, she cried that day... I don't understand. She took care of us, She took care of my babies.. I was... She was.. She was mother's friend"

Benjamin barely understood what Obi said but he suspected it was Chukwudi's mother because of the statement about his children. "Obi come, biko bịa"

Upon hearing her husband's request, she slowly approached his bed and sat on it. Benjamin grunted and groaned before sitting up. Obi was worried and advised that he sits back but he refused. The intravenous medication he was receiving through a drip was still attached to his hand to Obi's relief and she sat closer to Benjamin.

Obi leaned on her husband and he wrapped his hand around her. She kept thinking about the series of dreams she had after her mother's death. She seemed to have been warning her about the people she would have never thought could harm her family.

"Has he left?" Benjamin asked Obi

"Who?" She responded facing him

"Obiefune...I owe him my life. I wanted to know if he's still around so that I can thank him"

Obi shook her head slowly before clearing her throat. "He left not too long ago. I didn't think you'd have wanted to see him after what happened"

"I owe him" Benjamin replied softly, it was then that he saw the hand print on Obi's face. He slowly moved her hair aside and caressed her cheek. Obi shut her eyes enjoying the warmth from his hand.

"I don't think I can forgive myself for this, I let my rage consume me again." Benjamin declared with a gloomy expression

She drew his face closer to hers a gave him a kiss on his lips "Its fine"

"You said earlier you thought you were doing me a favor when we got married and to be honest you did. I owe everything to you, you gave Tobe and the girls a stable home and you've taken care of me so much. I just can't imagine how my life would have been if you hadn't showed up"

Benjamin cleared his throat "That's not what I mean, it's just that I've kept this for a long time and I don't know how you'll take it"

Obi grinned "I doubt if that's true, I've taken so much today"

Benjamin inhaled deeply "I killed my mother"

Obi was stunned by his confession "wha... What!". She hadn't expected what he told her.

"I didn't shoot or stab her but I contributed to her death. When I was younger I used to visit the hospital often and I didn't understand why. I lived on drugs because of my condition, so many supplements. I would chew some, drink some. Fruits and Vegetables were always around me. Then there was the pain day! "Benjamin chuckled

"I always hid everything from you because I didn't want you to leave me"

"I wouldn't have" Obi interrupted "It is still till death do us part"

"People have left me in the past and others just lace their sticking around with pity which I loathed. The pain crisis is the most difficult thing to experience, I get chest pains, cramps in my muscles and sometimes respiratory depression, i find it difficult to breathe then. The endless blood transfusions, I was an unhappy child. I remember crying a lot of times begging the doctors not to prick me with needles because I grew tired but I had no choice if I had to live. I used to envy Obiefune and my other cousins you know, they had everything I wanted.

Growing into adolescence I sought refuge in girls, as I grew older I was a full blown womanizer. It was my way of releasing my frustration and our wealth made that much easier.My parents decided that I was supposed to marry very early as an only child, they knew that I could die at any time "Benjamin scoffed" They wanted a continuation of the lineage at my expense, I thought it to be a selfish thing to do and decided to punish them" Benjamin stared into space and tears brimmed in his eyes

"I was so stupid and selfish and filled with so much rage. I bumped into one of father's business associates who also seemed to be his friend. We got drunk talking about business and he started speaking about how my father and mother got married. They knew from the start that they were not compatible from the start as opposed to what mother told me. I was a product of a deliberate mistake. I was furious with them because I was the one suffering because of their decision. So that day I came back home drunk and angry.... I met my mother and confronted her about the truth. She tried to make me see reasons for their actions, they were young and in love and at first they didn't want children. She got pregnant with me and there was no way she could terminate the pregnancy. They were so scared till I was born and when they had me and I turned to be SS, they swore never to have other children.

I was drunk and I couldn't see reason with her, I yelled at her then I went to the kitchen and pulled out a knife. I threatened to slice my wrists before her... "Benjamin sniffed

"She.. She panicked but I didn't care, I probably would have gone ahead with my threat. After pleading with me, I noticed how she held her chest and began to sway. At first I thought it was her way of getting me to drop the weapon. She staggered forth before she fell and the knife slipped before my hands.

I was terrified, I called my father and managed to get her to the hospital." Benjamin shut his eyes and let the tears slip" She died there, I.. begged her not to leave me, I promised to marry. I.. I.. tried everything and she died in my arms. Father was furious and when other members of the family found out what happened they blamed me and they were right. Mother's siblings withdrew from father and I, they had never wanted their union and when she died, they blamed us.

hen I met you at your mother's burial. I think I was attracted to you at that instant, then after I saw you

d his hand"

not telling you the truth from the start. I just couldn't be

him consent to our marriage? Did he kn

t was another thing,. I... don't know

ill start dialysis as soon as possible" A plump nurse dressed

here, please go I need to rest. And don't worry the nurses will take care of me" Obi nodded and kissed h

hen I get out of h

e door before Benjamin called out to her. "Please tell Obiefune

Mma told stories to her great grandchildren. They all halted when they saw Obi, Chioma and Obiefune were se

oon began to cry as well. Obi patted Ifenna's back trying to con

spoke. "We would have to go to the village. Mma Ch

luebube objected and was back

waiting for her judgment on the matter. Obi cleared her throat "We're

s big sister announced. "We'll go with

ou people to treat him like an outcast, he's a part of

ediately. Chukwuebuka had been screaming because Mma had defecated in their room. Obi calmed the screaming boy the

enquired from her father the issue with his mother

discussing with the girls. "If it works

. Tobe and the girls congratulated Obiefune b

Chioma aske

e already told the doctor to put his name up on the list, we ar

to Obi and held her

e who was surprised by the statement. "I think

I don't want them to know for now,

nd siblings and patted her back." Ever

Obiefune and apologized for his behavior. The three cousins spoke

ak to a devastated Chukwudi. Obi managed to calm him, Chukwudi felt Obi would not understand th

turn of things " Did Obiefune

how it happened. He showed me

ou anything else?

is book! He said he didn't

when are the boys celebrating their birthday?" Chioma was trying to

far, it's i

uzzled "Did you

ng just kept them in my belly for an ad

efune was not the father of the children. She had already made the calculations f

nly quiet Chioma had

check on the boys

saw the two cousins involved in what

that, she'll b

am making the sacrifice f

t everything you're offering

ides, don't tell me the thought of me dying hasn't crossed your mind?" Benjamin'

"Well she loves you too that I

o this" Obiefune d

don’t have any power to stop it" Benjamin

something less suspicious, he talked about his business and O

ma followed him so that he could r

ned between Obiefune and her husba

d assumed. The children might be Benjamin's from what Obi told m

uiet "I'm sorry for giving you such high hopes

her brother's reaction, was he in denial? "I also want the same thing, but it

biefune inhaled deeply "he told me the

ed reluctant to reciprocate. "Ah ah now, ọ gịnị? Why

ive, he said he's doing it for Obi. He wants us to get back together,Obi would be devastated, it's not

, just overwhelmed

Chapter 56 - AGAINST ALL ODDS