Written By Esther Estelle
Dr. Olu, this is Ms. Shontelle… she’s listed as next of kin for the gunshot victim. The resident said as we stepped int0 the surgeon‘s office.
Alright Mike, I’ll take it from here. You go start prepping for our next surgery. That’s in about 30mins right? Dr. Olu replied as the resident n0dded.
“Okay. Also get Dr. Okonkwo ready. I called him yesterday evening to inform him about this surgery. I just hope he won’t delay us as usual.”
“Okay Sir. Will d0 Sir. Bye ma’am.” He said and left the room.
“So Ms. Shontelle, I must say your fiancé is one lucky man …..”
“Err! Sorry to cut you short doc, Chike Songz is not my fiancée. I just filled the next of kin form because I don’t know any of his family members and he needed to be operated on immediately but we’re friends though.” I explained.
“Oh! My bad! I’m really sorry about that ma’am, I just assumed.” He apologized
“No problem doc. You can go ahead to tell me about his surgery.” I replied.
“You can do that right?”
“Oh yes! So as I was saying, your friend is a lucky young man because it was obvious that those shots were fired to kill but thank God he was rushed into the theatre immediately because that helped us get the most fatal bullet, which was in his chest, out. The bullet went straight in, thankfully, the right side of his chest, slightly grazed the lungs. The other 5 shots were superficial, nothing to worry about. I’m sure Mike has already told you he’s stable and only sleeping out the effects of the anesthesia we administered before surgery. So in about 3 hours, he should be awake.”
“Are there any side effects, disabilities or anything to be worried about after he wakes up? I inquired
“No Ms. Shontelle. There was only 0ne shot that should have gotten us worried but we took care of that immediately so there’s nothing else to be worried about. If he’s a strong man, he should be out of here in 2-3 weeks.”
“Thank you Dr. Can I just sit by him now for a little while?”
“Of course! Absolutely!”
“Okay, thank you Dr. Thank y0u very much.”
I got into Chike’s room and just stood there watching all the tubes they had connected to his body. I didn’t know whether to cry, scream, laugh, or even hit him. He looked so vulnerable and fragile and I felt like maybe if I forgave him and we got back together, he’d get his life back together once again.
“No! Shontelle Kamsiyiochukwu Eze! No! that is not an option!” I heard my subconscious scream. “Do you really need drama to be functional?”
Well, the sage subconscious had a point though. With Chike, I was always the giver and strong one. He always needed fixing and I honestly had no strength for any of that anymore. Damn! Even Olivia Pope got tired of fixing, who then am I not to give up? Then there was Walter, my support system and the giver. I could be a woman without worries of him breaking down and needing me to fix him.
“Aren’t you forgetting the large elephants in the room? Bianca and Don Ricci! Dumbo!” Subconscious scoffed.
Oh my God! There was certainly more than enough dose of drama with Chike. Not t0 forget he talked about coming clean about something and I could bet my next salary to Zara that it had everything to do with Don Ricci. My head ached already thinking about all the drama that could possibly ensue if I got back together with Chike.
“That’d be child’s play compared to the high blood pressure and hypertension you’ll get if you really decide to be stupid enough to get back with him.” Subconscious threatened.
My phone rang and it was Walter.
“Hey baby…” I said
“Hey to you too… “he replied
He’s apparently still upset about the things I said to Chike after he got shot. I sighed and replied
“How did your meetings go?”
“They went well, they could have gone better but I was absentminded for the most of them.”
“Hmmmm!! Who’s this girl that is shacking you and making you absentminded? Biko don’t go and absentmindedly refuse cheque that can change our lives o.”
“Well, I rushed down here after the meetings to be with her, but she’s nowhere to be found and her family members have no idea where she is.”
“Awwwww!!! Aren’t you the sweetest and cutest boyfriend ever?” I teased
“Abeg stop purring like a cat in my ear and tell me where you are.”
“I came down to the OR to see how Chike’s surgery went. He’s out of surgery but still unconscious. I got lost in thoughts and lost track of time sitting here.”
There was silence on the other side for a while.
“I’ll be with y0u in a few minutes, I’m coming.” I said
“Alright love! I’ll be waiting for you. I no kuku get choice.” He replied and hung up.
“So you would give up that manly man for this man baby?” Subconscious asked….
“Shontelle Kamsiyiochukwu Eze, you’re not doing your father proud right now.”
“Well, my father has lived his life; can I live mine in peace? This is about me, not about making anybody proud. Abi do I look like peacock feathers to anybody?” I muttered beneath my breath.
I held Chike’s hand a little longer and it felt like he was squeezing mine as if to say Don’t go.
“Too bad champ! Reality awaits me.” I let go of his hands and turned to the door. Immediately, I caught a familiar face outside in a commotion through the window.
“Oh no!” I moaned and went outside to see what the commotion was about.
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