Chains That Bind Us - Episode 4

Chidinma wondered what she has done wrong this time. Are they accusing her of not making Eunice deliver because she does not understand why they are all here in her house with a pastor when they should be in the hospital making sure she delivers safely? Wow, she has been pregnant for thirteen months which is way past her due time. She couldn’t say she can imagine the pain her former best friend is in because she has never been pregnant not to talk of knowing the pain that comes with it.
“We know they have offended you but please consider the fact that she is in so much pain right now and forgive her. If you forgive with the whole of your heart that is the only way she will give birth to the child. If you don’t, that is how she will be in pain till she dies.” The pastor said. She looked at her mother wondering why she had brought them here without informing her first. Then she looked at her husband, his eyes were already on her and his hands were giving her the comfort she needed. With him beside her, she realized that she didn’t need the pain that going into the past would bring me. Of course he already knew the story of our association.
“I have forgiven you a long time ago. Though the words you both said hurt and its difficulty to forget, I have moved on from it

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/chains-that-bind-us

. The only thing is the anger I still feel towards you for betraying me all those years ago and also the anger, hurt and pain I felt over the fact that you both finally married each other. But believe me when I say seeing you in this situation, seeing that you are hurting in more ways than you hurt me, has taken all the hurt and anger from me and I am not saying this because this is what you need to hear but because it is nothing but the truth.” She looked at her husband who was now wearing a proud smile on his face, urging her to go on. So knowing that her husband is always with her no matter what, she stood up and walked up to Eunice, knelt in front of her and took her frail hands which showed all the pains she was going through into hers.
“I never wished you evil even though you hurt and betrayed me. Losing him was not what hurt me then, it was the fact that you stabbed me in the back but I got over it. Everything happens for a reason and if you didn’t do what you did maybe I wouldn’t have met my husband and for that I am grateful because he is a big part of my life and I love him so very much and I can’t imagine what my life would have been without him. So I forgive you and let go of any anger that I have held unto all this years.” Chidinma felt a tear fall and it was followed by another and another until she realized that she was actually crying. When people say they feel like a heavy weight has been lifted off their shoulder, she guessed this was what they mean. She couldn’t describe how she felt at that moment but she could say she felt weightless.
She looked at her once upon a time best friend through tears blinded eyes and realized she was also crying. She saw a smile forming on Eunice’s lips but she never got to complete that smile because the next thing she heard was the loudest scream she had ever heard in her entire life and the next events that followed were done with absent mind. All Chidnma knew was that they all found themselves in the hallway of the closest hospital to her house.

Eunice couldn’t believe what eventually happened to her after everything she had gone through during the long term of her pregnancy. She was in the hospital room lying on her side facing the wall and backing her husband who was sitting on the bed next to her, his hands rubbing her arm gently trying in the best way she could to soothe her pain. He didn’t say a word and for that Eunice was sincerely grateful because she really didn’t want to hear any words from anybody. Not even from him. 
All she wanted and wished for at that moment was complete silence and she was grateful he understood that. He knew her well so why would they say he is not her husband. They are so wrong, how could Nelson not be her husband. If he is not then who is? He completes her in a way no other man has ever completed her. They really do loved each other and the one thing that could have totally completed their little family is now gone. Her baby didn’t even have a chance to come to the world. The child that she had carried for so many months and went through pains and anguish for had not survived. Her baby was already dead. She had delivered her dead.
That witch killed her baby. She wanted her man but Eunice would not let her. If Nelson had wanted Chidinma, he would have gone for her instead but he didn’t. He came to her instead so isn’t that supposed to mean something like the fact he doesn’t love the baby killer that’s why he came to her. If the witch thinks that she would be leaving her husband for her just like that, she got all her fact wrong because Eunice won’t leave without a fight.
She heard Nelson sniff silently beside her. It was only then she realized that turning her back to him must really be hurting him badly compiled with the fact that they had just lost their baby, he was grieving alone when they were meant to be grieving together. 
Eunice turned to face him and adjusted herself on the bed then patted the space beside her indicating that he should lie down with on the small hospital bed. Nelson looked at her with a frown. “Are you sure?” he asked. 
“Positive.” She replied with a strained smile on her face. Losing their baby was not the end of the world and she was pretty sure they would be having others in future so they shouldn’t drift apart because they lost one baby. 
He lay beside her and she adjusted herself to place her head on his chest while closing her eyes to inhale his scent. “Are you sure this is allowed?” He asked as she felt his turning to the direction of the door as if someone was going to come in at any moment and chastise them for sleeping on the bed together. 
Eunice opened her eyes and looked up at him and smiled. “I don’t care; I just want to lay with you.” She reached up and kissed him on his lips before laying her head back on his chest and drifted off to sleep. She was really tired and she hasn’t had a good night sleep in a very long time.
People might think she was a betrayer, but she really loves him and if you love someone, you fight for him right? That’s exactly what she planned on doing.

Chidinma couldn’t believe Eunice had eventually lost the child. Apparently the child was already dead before she went into labor. She snuggled closer to Debo as they waited in the hallway of the hospital hoping they would be allowed to see Eunice. It was really late at the moment, close to mid night. But she didn’t want to leave for home until she got to speak to Eunice.
Debo understood despite the fact that she didn’t say anything. She couldn’t say a word. She was beyond shocked. Carrying a child for a day and eventually miscarrying is enough torture but having to carry a child for thirteen months and giving birth to a still born is a death wish. If she was in that kind of situation, she would probably have lost her sanity by now.
Nelson joined them in the hallway looking like he had been crying for eternity. His eyes were red and bulging, his clothes rumpled. He certainly did not look attractive at that moment. “Can I go in to see her?” Chidinma asked as she sat up with her husband’s arms still around her. 
“Yes you can go.” Nelson said as he moved towards his own mother.
She felt Debo squeeze her hand reassuringly as she stood up so she turned to him and gave him a small smile telling him she would be okay so he shouldn’t worry. The pastor, her mother and Debo’s mother had already left. After she sees Eunice, she and Debo would be leaving as well and they would be saying goodbye to her former friends and their family forever. As far as she was concerned, everything the pastor said about her and Nelson being destined to be together and all that was trash. She was certainly not buying into it. Chidinma would definitely not leave Debo for Nelson. Not in this lifetime or any other one for that matter.
“Hi.” She said as she entered Eunice’s ward. She was lying on her side when she entered. Her back towards the door. She turned around to face Chidnma when she heard her enter. She just laid there staring back at her without replying her greeting although Chidinma didn’t expect her to do so. She just stared blankly, the expression on her face couldn’t be read. She  really wish she could. “I am sorry about the baby. May God not let us witness such a sad occurrence ever again.”
“Haven’t you heard?” She heard Eunice question in a very low voice. It sounded more like a sad, silent whisper but it was loud enough to touch her heart.
“Heard what?” She asked curiously. Did the child later survive? That would be wonderful news.
“All the children I have with Nelson would be still born apparently you only can bear him living children.” She said as she glared at Chidinma. This expression she could read. It was full of anger.
“Yes I heard. Apparently that’s why I haven’t been pregnant either.”
“So now you want to take him?” Eunice said bitterly as she tried to sit up.
“Are you supposed to be sitting up?” 
“I doubt if that’s your business.” She snapped. 
“I am not here to snatch your husband because some pastor said I can only have a child with him. I would rather remain childless for the rest of my life than go to Nelson. Does that answer your question?” Chidinma said to her making sure her former best friend heard everything said clearly. “Try not to hurt yourself in spite.” She said then left the room. Thankfully she had not really moved away from the door so all she did was stretch her hand to open it then walked out.
Debo stood up immediately he saw his wife step into the hallway where the others were. “Are you okay?” He asked her searching her face with concern.
“I love you.” Chidinma said smiling up at him before pulling him into a hug. 
“I love you too.” He replied. The moment was just perfect. In fact it was beyond perfect. She had the man she loved in her arms and whatsoever the future held for them, she knew as long as they were together, they would surely scale through.
“Let’s go home.” She said against his lips as she kissed him.
“Yes, let’s go. We have had quite an eventful day.” He said smiling after they ended the kiss. 
She looked at Nelson who was still standing with his mother but they were both staring at them with interest. “Goodbye Nelson.” Chidinma called out to him then turned back to her husband. Hand in hand, they left the hospital without turning back for a second look although she knew Nelson was staring intently at them as they left. She had intentionally said goodbye to him instead of goodnight and if he remembered anything about her, it would be the way she used her words. Good night meant they could still see tomorrow or some other day in the future but goodbye has this finality to it. To her goodbye means goodnight forever. She didn’t want to see him ever again. She prayed and hoped that this would be the last time she would be seeing them but who was she kidding, they already knew where she lived so she could be stalked at any time.
Nelson stared at Chidinma as she left in the arms of her husband. You can see from miles away that they love each other very much despite the hurdles they have to face in their relationship. “Goodbye” she said. Goodbye in Chidinma’s words don’t mean see you later; it meant never show your face in my life ever again.
He knew her for a long time before he even met Eunice. It was she who introduced them to each other. He had been attempting to pursue Chidinma as at that time but all he ever got from her were missed signal so he gave up. In front of him was another girl who wasn’t complicated. She liked you meant she liked you so he went for her. Eventually falling in love with her not caring she was friends with the girl he had wanted for years.
He looked sideways at his mother and saw her staring back at him with sorrowful and determined eyes. There was yet another battle to overcome and his mother was sure going to be the one leading the troop.
The pastor had said Eunice will never have a child for him and Chidinma won’t have a child for her husband either because none of them are destined to be together. He had said he and Chidinma have to get together in a blissful marriage before they could have children. Am I supposed to divorce my wife just so I can have children? He questioned himself.  He loves her way too much to do that. Chidinma would definitely not leave her husband side. They look happy and content with their life without kids. By her farewell, she meant this is the last time she wants to see any of them.
The door opened and Eunice’s mother stepped out. “Good night.” She simply said to Nelson and his mother who were the only ones left in the hallway. She didn’t even glance at him on her way out. She just left not saying another word to them.
“Goodnight.” He called out behind her retreating back. She didn’t make a move like she heard him but Nelson was pretty sure she did. “Mama, it’s time you went home.” He said to his mother. It was like midnight already and it was too late for his mother to be lurking around in the hospital hallway.
“Okay.” She said. She was too tired to start arguing with him or any other person.
“Let me say goodnight to Eunice then we can leave.” He said then entered Eunice’s ward. “Eunice, I would be leaving with my mother now. Would come see you in the morning.” He said to her. She just nodded in reply and had withdrawn into herself once again. He bent down to kiss her forehead. “Goodnight.” He whispered against her head as I rose to leave. 
He was out of the door and driving out of the hospital parking lot with his mother beside him when he realized he had forgotten something. He forgot to say ‘I love you.’ In the history of their life together, he had never forgotten to say those words until that very day; the day she needed to hear the words most for reassurance and strength, he had failed. 
‘Am I falling out of love with my wife because of baby issues?’ He asked himself.