Tom lay on the dusty, raggedy mattress in his stale prison cell staring at the ceiling. He barely got any sleep the night before. How he wished that his confinement to this horrendous place was just a horrible nightmare.
But it wasn't so.
This was his new reality. He had to spend the next four years of his life behind these rusty steel bars. He lay there, not knowing whether to scream or cry or both. This wasn't the turn his life was supposed to take...not at 34 years of age, not ever! Tears welled-up in his eyes.
As he lay there soliloquizing, the prison warden's voice startled him. "Number 35, up!" Tom obeyed and stood up from the bed, drying his eyes before the warden noticed the tears. 35 was his cell number and would be his moniker for the entirety of his time here, as was the prison's tradition. "Come with me," the warden said unlocking the cell gate for Tom to step out. Another warden approached and handcuffed him. As the trio headed towards the staircase area...some prisoners peeped and yelled mumbo-jumbo at them from their cells.
Tom was taken to the visitors area.
Seated at one of the tables was a journalist with whom he had agreed to do an exclusive tell-all interview about his life. Tom's incarceration had made headline news all over the state.
The session began.
He recounted his childhood years, specifically living through his parents tumultuous marriage, the many tears his mother cried in secret; unknown to her, he always heard her sobs from his room. "It was tough to listen to my mother cry" he said holding back tears as he reminisced.
From the moment Tom began exploring the dating scene, he resolved to be everything his father wasn't. He vowed to love wholeheartedly, totally and completely the woman who would be his wife; to protect and care for her. "I swore that I'll never ever leave her side."
He met Anne in the University. Their relationship began as a very deep, close friendship, then blossomed into a beautiful almost fairytale-like romance. They both graduated on the same day and a year later, were married. He was 28, Anne was two years younger.
Three years and two kids later, Anne was terribly unhappy in her marriage. She had confided in her sister about her marital woes, how Tom had changed from a sweet, loving, doting husband to an extremely possessive, obsessive, jealous control-freak. She decided to tell her sister because Tom's jealousy had reached toxic level. He now monitored her every move, listened in on her phone calls, and would even get up at night to go through her text messages, emails and social media profiles. If he spotted any communication from any male person, he'd accuse her of cheating. Many times, he had cursed-out her boss over the phone believing him to be her lover. He never let her go anywhere (besides the office) alone, whether it was to the grocery store or running errands. His change of behaviour began after their first child was born. Anne told her sister she didn't feel safe with Tom any longer; that as much as she loved him, she wasn't sure she could remain with him. Her sister tried to talk some sense into Tom but to no avail. Even his brothers couldn't get through to him.
Anne had tried to leave Tom twice but he begged her to stay, promising to change his ways.
A few weeks after the second near break-up, some respite came Anne's way; Tom had to travel for work. Alas! She'd have a little breathing space...it was sweet relief for her. Being around her husband had become suffocating. A week after Tom left, her cousin flew into town and Anne insisted he stay over at their house rather than a hotel since he would be in town for 3weeks. She could use some company but what she didn't know was that this act would nearly cost her cousin his life. And hers too!
Two days later, Tom's trip gets cut abruptly and he heads back home, anxious to know what his wife had been up to. He didn't inform her he was returning, wanting instead to surprise her. He gets home and finds the front door open, goes in and starts calling Anne's name. He doesn't see any sign of his wife or kids downstairs and heads upstairs to their room. Anne's cousin Matt was resting in the guest bedroom. He hears a voice and quickly gets up to go see who had entered the house. The two men had never met before. Matt walks toward the direction of the staircase. Just then Tom comes out of his room and is miffed at the sight of his wife's cousin. "Who on earth are you?!!" Tom yells and Matt turns round. But before he could respond, Tom's fist was in his face. He staggers slightly but doesn't fall. "Oh wait! wait! Tom, i'm Matt, Anne's cou..." Tom lands another punch this time to his nose and it starts to bleed. He pushes Matt to the floor and starts raining blows all over him. They're now both at the edge of the stairs in a tussle. Anne enters the house at this instance and is appalled to see her husband beating the life out of her cousin. "Tom! Tom! Please let him go, please!" It all happened in about a minute. Matt manages to wrestle Tom off his body but another punch came flying, this time to his forehead sending him down the stairs. Anne watches in shock as her cousin rolls down the stairs; he lands just at her feet, unconscious. Tom heads towards his wife but she runs right out of the house, frightened to the bone. A neighbor passing by sees Tom running after his wife and instinctively goes into their house where he spots Matt on the floor. He goes in search of help.
***
Two weeks later, Matt is in hospital recuperating from the fall. He suffered severe injuries to his head, neck and had two broken ribs. Doctors said it was a miracle he was in stable condition after falling down two flights of marble stairs.
On the day of Matt's fall, when Anne ran out of the house, she didn't get very far before her husband caught up with her, dragged her to a wooded area in the neighborhood and beat her almost lifeless. He got back home to find the police waiting for him. The neighbor who had made the distress call explained how he had seen Tom chasing after his wife. Tom was arrested. Anne was found an hour after her ordeal, alive but in critical condition.
In the proceeding weeks, Tom was charged with two counts of aggravated assault and one count of attempted murder. Anne had maintained that her husband deliberately pushed her cousin down the stairs with the intention of killing him.
Tom's trial lasted about six months. He was found guilty of the assault charges. For attempted murder, he was found not guilty. His stuck to his story that he and Matt were fighting and Matt tripped in the process. He was sentenced to 4 years in prison. A sentence Anne wasn't totally satisfied with but was relieved that the trial was over.
"She hasn't visited me in prison even once. She can't bring herself to look me in the eye,... my brother told me when he last visited. I wonder if she'd ever be able to do so," Tom said shaking his head sadly.
Within his first few months of incarceration, Tom had been approached by several journalists for an interview.
During the trial, he alluded that he truly did love Anne and was only being protective over her. "My father was possessive, that's not me." He had also thought Matt was Anne's lover, hence the rage and attack on him. Several people testified about his maltreatment of his wife.
***
Tom resolved to do this interview because being imprisoned has broken him completely; he now realizes his mistakes, and is sorry for the pain, both emotional and physical his wife went through because of him. He also regrets what he did to Matt.
He ended by telling the reporter that he is sharing his story so someone can learn from his mistake. The fact that neither Matt nor Anne died was God giving him a second chance to start life afresh. "If they had died, I'd be locked up forever."
He wants people to know that negative past experiences and/events don't have to affect your life negatively. I really did want to be so different from my father who didn't love my mother...but I took it to the extreme and ended up becoming just like him.
He also warns on the dangers of extreme jealously in relationships." The more you try to own someone, the more you push them away. When you love someone, you don't cage them but you allow them freedom to be who they are. I'm on the path to being a changed man. I hope Anne forgives me, even if she and I may never be together again. It's going to be a rough four years ahead, but knowing I have a chance to start over when I'm released is all the motivation I need to maintain my sanity in here," he said in conclusion.
By Koko Wanjiru Ekpo Davids
Copyright 2016
______________________________________________________________________
FAVORITE (A short story)
The sound of police sirens blazing in the air aroused the curiosity of the residents of Pebbles Lane, in the serene, upscale, gated Greenview Estate. A number of them rushed out of their houses to find out what was happening in their neighborhood. They noticed four police vehicles zooming down the lane and decided to follow after.
The cars came to a halt at house No. 5, a mansion that was a sight to behold...one of the most amazing architectural structures in this community. Modern but with some Victorian touches to it.
The edifice was home to The Alberts, a celebrity family; socialites in all ramifications.
Mr. and Mrs. Albert run a successful business conglomerate. They have three children...sons David and Tony...and a daughter named Pearl, the baby of the family. All three attended the most prestigious University in the country. They lived the typical lifestyle of the rich and famous; drove flashy cars, went on expensive family vacations, wore pricey designer clothes and were usually the most talked about people in the gossip blogs and society magazines. The Alberts had a lot of friends, even more admirers and very few known enemies.
Pebbles Lawn residents were perplexed, wondering what on earth could have brought these men in uniform to the almighty Albert fortress. Some were speaking amongst themselves in hushed tones.
An ambulance drove up to the front yard and a short while thereafter, a body was wheeled out of the building and into the ambulance. It was hard for anyone to tell if the person on the stretcher was alive or not. Mr and Mrs. Albert drove behind the ambulance as it sped down Pebbles Lane.
About 10 minutes later, the police asked those who stood watching the drama unfold to leave the area.
The next day, details of what had occurred at No. 5 Pebbles Lane began to filter in. It was like a scene from a horror flick. For those who were close friends of the Alberts, it was like a really awful nightmare.
***
It was a holiday weekend and the Albert kids had decided to spend it at home with their parents. On that fateful day, they were to host a small dinner-party with a few close friends and neighbors.
An argument had ensued between David and Tony in the late hours of the morning. David accused his brother of repeatedly demanding excessive amounts of money from their mother for no valid reason. He swore to make this known to the entire family. He was tired of his brother's thieving and lying ways. Tony lost his cool at that instant and began yelling how he hated the fact that he was the least loved son in his mother's eyes, inspite of his being the most intelligent and grounded. Everything he did was just never enough to please her. He craved the same attention she lavished on his siblings but never received it. He couldn't take it anymore.
Pearl walked into the room where her brothers were arguing and begged them to quit. To her, this wasn't like one of the fights the guys usually had.
Suddenly,Tony metamorphosed into some kind of lunatic...throwing whatever he could on the ground, yelling hateful words at his brother. He stormed out of the room, and returned about two minutes later toting a handgun. His two siblings gasped in fear. Pointing the pistol directly at his brother, Tony barked "I hate you, you are not my brother, I hate you David!"
David was suddenly overcome with emotion; tears welled up in his eyes. "I love you Tony, please put the gun down, please."
Pearl tried to persuade her brother to drop the gun but to no avail. She burst into tears, helpless and ridden with fright. Her parents who overheard the commotion from another room, rushed in and were horrified at the scene playing-out before them. Tina Albert begged Tony to put the gun down, not to shoot his brother but he was like an angry Lion.
He aimed the weapon at the direction of his parents. "This is all your fault mother, your fault! He was always your favorite. You've always loved him more than me." His mother began to sob, still pleading he put down the gun.
"I'm sorry I have to do this mom, I love you!" Tony said through sobs again aiming at David.
Bang!
One shot to the head...and He fell to the floor. His mother fainted, his father stood still, frozen to the ground.
***
David and Pearl had barely talked to anyone in the days following Tony's suicide. They remained in shock, laced with disbelief. Tina Albert had cried every night, especially as her husband blamed her for the longstanding rivalry between their sons, and the suicide.
"I kept warning you how dangerous it was to favor one child over another. I warned but you never listened.You pampered David and neglected Tony. This is all your fault. I don't know how you'll be able live with yourself Tina, I really don't know," her husband had said one night. Their relationship has been severely strained since the horrific incident.
Tony's burial was ten days after his demise. The atmosphere in the hall was a cloud of sadness. The Alberts sat hand-in-hand throughout the entire service, a family seemingly united in grief...at least for today. Sympathizers couldn't hold back tears.
The preacher's message was about "unconditional love," emphasizing on God's unconditional love for mankind, and how we ought to love each other unconditionally with the same love He bestows on us.
.
Koko Wanjiru Ekpo Davids
Copyright 2016
_______________________________________________________________________
CONSEQUENCES
Another fictional piece I wrote during one of my moments of inspiration! LOL.
Happy reading.
Chika walked into the health center as she usually does every month. Today, her mood was particularly somber. Most of the staff at the facility had become friendly with her; she was one of their favorite patients. One of the nurses named Eva who always checked Chika's vital signs at each visit, sensed the blue cloud hanging over her head and inquired what the matter was. "I've never seen you like this before, I'm here to listen if you need to talk" she said.
"It's a long story...a long, and sad story," Chika sighed.
"Well, I go on lunch break in a few minutes...I really do think you need to talk to someone" Eva wouldn't budge.
Chika obliged and after getting her medication, headed to a nearby restaurant with nurse Eva. Indeed, she knew that talking to someone would lighten the burden and heaviness in her heart.
She began to recant her story.
"It all started a little over two years ago. I had just written the JAMB examination and was eagerly awaiting my results. I was certain all the nights I spent burning the midnight oil wouldn't be in vain. I planned to study Accounting in the University and my dream job was to work with one of the leading international accounting firms. I had my life all figured out. The thought of living this dream was exhilarating and that pushed me to take my academics seriously right from high school. The results came out and to my utter dismay, I was 20 marks shy of the set cut-off point . I was devastated. I couldn't understand how this could have happened. I cried for days. My parents did their best to console me as most loving parents would. My father's advice was that I sit out another year at home then retake the JAMB exam. Afterall, I was just 17 years old, age was still working in my favour, he had said. "You could use the year to do so many meaningful things. Learn a skill or craft, discover new passions. There are so many possibilities," my mother opined. I didn't want to hear any of that. "I will go to the University this year at all costs," I echoed to myself over and over. There was no way I'd be stuck at home for another year while my peers were at school...no way!
A few days after this, I went to one of the schools I had hoped to gain admission into. I decided I would beg, cry, or even make up whatever story I could in order to garner sympathy from them. I went to the Admissions office and the first person I spoke with was a seemingly friendly, sympathetic man who revealed he was the secretary to the head of the unit and could help me. His name was Bayo Cole. My heart leaped. I cooked up a story about being severely ill on exam day, which affected my performance. I told him I could get a medical report from the doctor to backup my story. Mr. Cole instructed me to bring the report in two days and he'd take me to see the person in charge of admissions.
On the said day, I got to Mr. Cole's office with the report which I fraudulently got from a lab-technician around my neighborhood. Cole invited me into another office where I was asked to wait until I was cleared to see the boss. He left and returned about 30 minutes later, but this time there was something different about his disposition. He was harsh, and brazen. He ordered me to get up...I obeyed, but started to feel frightened. My throat became lumpy as he started towards me. I sensed something bad was about to happen. I tried to make for the door, but he (unknown to me) had locked it. Before I could scream, he placed a gag over my mouth, tied my hands together behind my back and threw me on the floor. I was petrified. I kicked and kicked but he overpowered me. Tears begun to fill the corners of my eyes as he came down on me. Bayo Cole raped me! I was screaming but the gag drowned out my voice. As I lay helpless, I remembered the advice my parents gave me and how adamant and stubborn I was. Tears were flowing down my face like a waterfall. When he was done, he untied and ungagged me and said "fix yourself up!" When I was done rearranging my clothes, he grabbed my throat and threatened "if what happened here today goes public, you're dead...do you hear me...dead! Remember, I've got your house address." He opened the door and I walked out of that office...and ran as fast as I could away from that campus, straight home.
I didn't tell my parents or anyone about what happened. Instead, I found ways to deal with the trauma on my own. I'd always been a resilient soul, so I figured "i'll get over this in no time." I informed my father I would take his advice and rewrite the exam the following year.
Life seemed to take on a semblance of normalcy as the weeks passed by.
However, things took a turn for the worse a few months later. I started to fall sick and was in and out of hospital. Various medical tests were carried out, but no diagnosis could be made. We tried another hospital and the chief medical officer there suggested to my parents that an HIV test be done. I was unaware of what the doctor recommended. My mother insisted against it, as far as she was concerned, her daughter was a Virgin. There was no way on earth she'd have HIV. But my father consented and the test was carried out.
I still remember how long and hard I cried the day my parents sat me down to inform me that I was HIV positive and did infact have AIDS. My mother was crushed...all she could do was ask me repeatedly..."why?" My father was livid. Our family was thrown into confusion and sadness. That was the worst day of my life...yes! it was worse than the day I was raped."
At this point, nurse Eva was in tears...she had never known how Chika had contracted the virus. She had never asked. Her heart was filled with so much sympathy for the young lady.
Chika continued her story. "The doctors at that hospital ordered that I immediately begin anti-retroviral treatment and that the drugs are available at the city's WHO-funded Health Center at no cost. I was also given a diet-plan I was to adhere to strictly. Medical counselors gave my parents all the useful information on how to provide a good support system for me at home. Eventually, I told my parents how I had been raped and threatened not to speak up about it. My father took the matter to the relevant authorities, but we found out that Bayo Cole had succumbed to HIV/AIDS...he died a month before I was diagnosed.
Today marks exactly two years since I found out I had HIV. On my way to the centre this morning, I couldn't help but recollect my life over the past two years. I remembered the dreams I had for myself and how one foolish decision I made to go to that campus sparked a chain of events that led me to where I am now. Never did I imagine i'd be a person living with HIV. I can't help but wish I had heeded my parents advice from the beginning. If only I had listened to them, if only I hadn't been so stubborn. If only, if only...."
Chika broke down and cried uncontrollably and Eva moved over to her side to console her.
Koko Wanjiru Ekpo
Copyright 2015
Happy reading.
Chika walked into the health center as she usually does every month. Today, her mood was particularly somber. Most of the staff at the facility had become friendly with her; she was one of their favorite patients. One of the nurses named Eva who always checked Chika's vital signs at each visit, sensed the blue cloud hanging over her head and inquired what the matter was. "I've never seen you like this before, I'm here to listen if you need to talk" she said.
"It's a long story...a long, and sad story," Chika sighed.
"Well, I go on lunch break in a few minutes...I really do think you need to talk to someone" Eva wouldn't budge.
Chika obliged and after getting her medication, headed to a nearby restaurant with nurse Eva. Indeed, she knew that talking to someone would lighten the burden and heaviness in her heart.
She began to recant her story.
"It all started a little over two years ago. I had just written the JAMB examination and was eagerly awaiting my results. I was certain all the nights I spent burning the midnight oil wouldn't be in vain. I planned to study Accounting in the University and my dream job was to work with one of the leading international accounting firms. I had my life all figured out. The thought of living this dream was exhilarating and that pushed me to take my academics seriously right from high school. The results came out and to my utter dismay, I was 20 marks shy of the set cut-off point . I was devastated. I couldn't understand how this could have happened. I cried for days. My parents did their best to console me as most loving parents would. My father's advice was that I sit out another year at home then retake the JAMB exam. Afterall, I was just 17 years old, age was still working in my favour, he had said. "You could use the year to do so many meaningful things. Learn a skill or craft, discover new passions. There are so many possibilities," my mother opined. I didn't want to hear any of that. "I will go to the University this year at all costs," I echoed to myself over and over. There was no way I'd be stuck at home for another year while my peers were at school...no way!
A few days after this, I went to one of the schools I had hoped to gain admission into. I decided I would beg, cry, or even make up whatever story I could in order to garner sympathy from them. I went to the Admissions office and the first person I spoke with was a seemingly friendly, sympathetic man who revealed he was the secretary to the head of the unit and could help me. His name was Bayo Cole. My heart leaped. I cooked up a story about being severely ill on exam day, which affected my performance. I told him I could get a medical report from the doctor to backup my story. Mr. Cole instructed me to bring the report in two days and he'd take me to see the person in charge of admissions.
On the said day, I got to Mr. Cole's office with the report which I fraudulently got from a lab-technician around my neighborhood. Cole invited me into another office where I was asked to wait until I was cleared to see the boss. He left and returned about 30 minutes later, but this time there was something different about his disposition. He was harsh, and brazen. He ordered me to get up...I obeyed, but started to feel frightened. My throat became lumpy as he started towards me. I sensed something bad was about to happen. I tried to make for the door, but he (unknown to me) had locked it. Before I could scream, he placed a gag over my mouth, tied my hands together behind my back and threw me on the floor. I was petrified. I kicked and kicked but he overpowered me. Tears begun to fill the corners of my eyes as he came down on me. Bayo Cole raped me! I was screaming but the gag drowned out my voice. As I lay helpless, I remembered the advice my parents gave me and how adamant and stubborn I was. Tears were flowing down my face like a waterfall. When he was done, he untied and ungagged me and said "fix yourself up!" When I was done rearranging my clothes, he grabbed my throat and threatened "if what happened here today goes public, you're dead...do you hear me...dead! Remember, I've got your house address." He opened the door and I walked out of that office...and ran as fast as I could away from that campus, straight home.
I didn't tell my parents or anyone about what happened. Instead, I found ways to deal with the trauma on my own. I'd always been a resilient soul, so I figured "i'll get over this in no time." I informed my father I would take his advice and rewrite the exam the following year.
Life seemed to take on a semblance of normalcy as the weeks passed by.
However, things took a turn for the worse a few months later. I started to fall sick and was in and out of hospital. Various medical tests were carried out, but no diagnosis could be made. We tried another hospital and the chief medical officer there suggested to my parents that an HIV test be done. I was unaware of what the doctor recommended. My mother insisted against it, as far as she was concerned, her daughter was a Virgin. There was no way on earth she'd have HIV. But my father consented and the test was carried out.
I still remember how long and hard I cried the day my parents sat me down to inform me that I was HIV positive and did infact have AIDS. My mother was crushed...all she could do was ask me repeatedly..."why?" My father was livid. Our family was thrown into confusion and sadness. That was the worst day of my life...yes! it was worse than the day I was raped."
At this point, nurse Eva was in tears...she had never known how Chika had contracted the virus. She had never asked. Her heart was filled with so much sympathy for the young lady.
Chika continued her story. "The doctors at that hospital ordered that I immediately begin anti-retroviral treatment and that the drugs are available at the city's WHO-funded Health Center at no cost. I was also given a diet-plan I was to adhere to strictly. Medical counselors gave my parents all the useful information on how to provide a good support system for me at home. Eventually, I told my parents how I had been raped and threatened not to speak up about it. My father took the matter to the relevant authorities, but we found out that Bayo Cole had succumbed to HIV/AIDS...he died a month before I was diagnosed.
Today marks exactly two years since I found out I had HIV. On my way to the centre this morning, I couldn't help but recollect my life over the past two years. I remembered the dreams I had for myself and how one foolish decision I made to go to that campus sparked a chain of events that led me to where I am now. Never did I imagine i'd be a person living with HIV. I can't help but wish I had heeded my parents advice from the beginning. If only I had listened to them, if only I hadn't been so stubborn. If only, if only...."
Chika broke down and cried uncontrollably and Eva moved over to her side to console her.
Koko Wanjiru Ekpo
Copyright 2015
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