I was
so worried!
I
couldn’t think straight!
I kept
wondering what could be going on. It was very unlike her.
Mom is
never in distress; she always has things figured out. No one can take control
in times of trouble but her, she is the storm calmer.
I
perceived in her voice that something was wrong; like she has been crying for
hours or something of sort.
Without
thinking twice, despite the fact that I hate driving myself because of Lagos
driving craze, I picked up my keys, got into the car dad bought me when I
graduated and headed straight to mom’s secret house. I don’t know if I can even
call it ‘a secret house’ since it seems everybody but dad knows about it.
Need I
say I love my car? I am forever indebted to dad for getting me not just a gift
but a timely one. I was like the coolest graduate. I mean how many Nigerians
get a red convertible Audi TT on their twenty-first birthday? And to think it
is this same dad we are all keeping secrets from err anyway back to mom!
The
manner in which I met her was so devastating! She had the summer time
sadness look and (it’s not even summer), the black scarf tied to her head was
not helping the situation. I asked myself why she was wearing a scarf. Why
black? She never ties a scarf to cover her hair. It is usually either around
her neck, waist or tied to her bag - that was one of her ways of making a
fashion statement and I could bet with the way her veins popped from underneath
the scarf, if it was tightened a little bit more, her skull was going to crack.
Yes crack! Or perhaps even explode with her brain scattered everywhere. Ewwww!
But seriously! Mom is loosing it.
So
aside the very vivid veins on her head, her eyes were bulging red. It appeared
she must have been crying for so long because even her make-up was totally
ruined with tears. She had mascara running down her face and traces of smudged
lipstick on her lower chin.
On the
floor to her right was an empty bottle of vodka and it was evident that she had
been drinking directly from the bottle because there was no sign of a glass. On
the floor to her left was a heap of wet make-up stained facial tissues next to
the empty pack. And as disturbing as this sight was, I must say she looked like
a perfect mess. She could have effortlessly passed as a rich beautiful widow in
a telemundo scene.
For a
second or two I doubted if my dad was alive. Oh yes he was! And still is. I
just couldn’t understand what had become of the classy, sassy and trendy mother
I have known all my life. This is so not her. Never for once have I seen her
cry. She would never use a red wine glass for an Irish wine and now what? She
drinks directly from the bottle?
Her
back against her pink couch, she would shake her legs stretched out in front of
her vigorously at timed intervals, like she was remotely controlled. I felt
totally bad for her and was overly grateful I never had anything - sexual to do
with dad. That could have destroyed her you know?
My
mother has always being a strong woman; never talks about her past or shit with
anyone. She always seemed to have it all together. Growing up, I heard the only
one time anyone ever saw her tear up a little was during my delivery and
because of that she never signed up for the experience again. So where did all
that fierceness go? Whatever is wrong, seeing her like that, meant it has taken
a serious toll on her. Evidently long enough.
I
knelt close to her, looking straight into her eyes. They didn’t blink at all.
She had that cold stare that was beginning to pierce into my soul. I
manned up and didn’t blink either. I watched tears fill her eyes again and
before they dropped, I wiped them with my hand and asked what the problem was.
After
several heavy sobs, she finally opened up. With muddled words she declared dad
had been cheating on her and she couldn’t take it anymore. Who would have
guessed that was it? I thought something more terrible had happened but then
what could be more terrible than a woman finding out her husband has been
cheating on her with another guy?
I
honestly thought she already got all her facts straight and didn’t want her
talking too much, so I told her I knew already and how I happened to know about
it. Before I could tame my tongue I had already said too much. I had downloaded
to her everything I had on dad and Fola purposely leaving out the drafted
message. That was supposed to be my big finish but mom’s countenance went from
bad to worse with her being shocked somewhere in between.
Apparently
she suspected my dad was cheating on her but had no idea he was doing so with a
guy. She lost it after I confirmed that to her. I was thinking she could take
some comfort in knowing it wasn’t just any guy but the one guy with mesmerizing
beauty. I mean dad, mum and I could share him for all I care. It’ll be our
uniting secret, “crazy Deo uh?” but before I could even say anything of such to
her she had already taken the drama to a whole new level.
She
had her hands on her head while jumping and screaming ‘ha mogbe’ (meaning I’m
in trouble), before rushing in and out of her room. I had run out of ideas on
what I could do or say to calm her down. Coming out of her room, she picked my
car keys from the table and dashed out crying and screaming like someone on a
mission of some sort. I didn’t see this coming and I got totally confused, the
only thing left to do was to join the craze parade.
I
searched the house tirelessly for her keys but couldn’t find them. The only
place left to search was inside the car and there it was right at the ignition,
that’s the best solution I gave myself that day. I’m sure that’s what she went
to look for inside before she spotted mine.
I
started the engine and ran after her. Due to the time wasted while searching
for her keys it was really had to tail her.
After
few kilometers on the expressway, I saw a lots of people gathered around a car.
It pretty much looked like an accident. Knowing fully well the state in which
mum and I parted I just had to confirm it wasn’t her.
Moving
closer I could see it was a red car, an Audi TT! My graduation car! My only car
for that matter!!! Hurriedly, I parked by the side of the bridge and ran to
confirm she didn’t do something crazy like jumping off the bridge or something
else.
I
wasn’t surprised but so relieved to see her lying on the floor in the pool of
her own blood. One of the passerby confirmed she was still alive while I fought
my way to the front of the gathered crowd to claim she was my mum. Although
this was kind of her fault, she clearly overreacted, seeing her covered in
blood with the mysterious black scarf still tied firm on her head, I couldn’t
help the tears from rolling down my face, “that’s my mother on the floor"
was the only voice in my head”.
With the help of the emergency rescue squad,
she was lifted off the ground and straight into the ambulance. One of the squad
members even offered to drive me to the hospital after requesting to see a
valid ID.
We
are in the hospital now, with mum in the ICU. The doctors said she’s in coma
and are hoping she comes around sooner. I’m yet to call dad because I don’t
even know how to break this to him. I have no but you – dairy to relate with
and I know you can’t think, reason or speak but I like to think you can whisper
a prayer on her behalf.
She
needs it. I need it. We need it.
And to
say I thought my life was dramatic, well this is just the beginning of the
DRAMA!!!
Please
don’t forget to comment and share.
Thanks
