As her stomach tingled in contractive sterness,
Her soul did a flutter in remembrance of a time long gone,
Tears of longing, sorrow and regret oozed out of her swollen eyelids.
She shut her eyes in depressing denial,
Closed her mind against the hurtful memories and offending sounds.

Nothing helped.
The sounds kept ringing,
The memories, etched forever!

Now a leper.
Barred,
Banned,
Forsaken.

Who minded what her heart screamed?
They saw only the irritating whiteness of her skin,
The skin of a leper!

A leper,
An outcast,
A reject,
A wanderer.

(She is a leper and other lyrics http://www.labosonline.com/2016/01/lyrical-labos-leper-poetry.html?m=0)

Who cares about her now?
None.
Not even one man to recommend a swim in Jordan.

She was lost to them.
She was a shame to them.
She was unknown to them.
She was a leper.
To be hidden.
To be exiled.

Her Stomach rumbled again, this time tugging her insides and reminding her that even lepers needed nourishment.

She grabbed the stained pitcher of water and drank.
Her stomach grumbled again,
and she smiled through hot tears.

Not long now,
She'd be whole,
She'd be clean,
She'd definitely take a dive in Jordan,
Soon...

She lays awake, in the middle of the night, waiting for a call that would not come...
Yet She waits, hoping she was wrong and you're not gone,
only waiting for the right time to call...

And as day turns to night and night turns to day, the hole gets deeper, the sore gets wider cos you're not there...
I beg you, if her cry reaches you, let your heart be pierced.

If her agony reaches you, let your eyes be shut in remembrance of good times.
If her life means anything to you, save her with your smile and be silent no more...

For in great agony does Eve breathe her every breadth...

"are you jealous" Dave asked me one day.
Was I hearing rightly? Had David actually asked me that?
"what do you mean?" I asked him...how dare he add insult to injury!
"well, I noticed you have been uncomfortable...are you jealous of pheb?" he elaborated and I was disgusted. Was i blind, deaf and dumb? Hadn't I seen and heard enough? Was I crazy if I became uncomfortable?
Why was Dave insulting me?
"Dave, I don't want to talk about it"
"No, talk to me, what are you thinking?"
"Dave please, this is not the time to talk about this...get well and we'll sort our issues" I said close to tears.
"You think I don't love you anymore right?" He asked me.
"I think so" I replied briefly.
"That was why I wanted to see you before this accident happened... I know you think I have stopped loving you. I am highly disappointed. That girl you've been seeing is just a friend, a family friend... We have..." I couldn't listen anymore. Lies, lies, lies! Oh! Was this how much he hated me? Couldn't he just tell me what I already knew and let me go.
The hole was there already. The damage had been done. He was still talking but I wasn't listening anymore... Lies, Lies and more lies!
"...she likes me so much..." (true)
"...she sends me messages..." (very true)
"...although she wants me to date her..." (haba!)
"...not interested..." (Blatant lie!)

"look Dave, you need to rest. We'll talk about this when its convenient" I was shocked at the lies. If only he knew how 'thick' my proofs were!

Proof or no proof, I was in love with Dave and I wanted badly to be with him.
I got the shock of my life when suddenly Dave didn't want to see me, he started giving me excuses, he stopped calling me and when I called, I noticed it was with great impatience he talked to me. I was confused, but I kept telling him of my love, untill he said to me:
"Eve, I need space." that did it. He wanted out. He was the victim, I was the tyrant.
* * * * * * * * * *

Dave recovered, I saw him and regretted so... It was so unbearable, he was hostile, cruel and painfully more... He blamed me for the accident and I saw something in his face which I never prayed to see. I could bear pain but not hatred. I was still thinking of a nice and dignified exit when Phebean came in...it was painful to behold my Love in another's arms, but I stood with all the poise and maturity I had and walked out of Dave's flat and life, blood dripping after me, from the hole in my heart...


Even though it is with great agony I take every breadth, I will survive...
For I am a very Strong Woman!
Link for continuation in Bio

"find help" he whispered to me and gave me his two phones. He was held by two men for his back was in a bad shape.
I rushed away and almost fell on the unconscious bike driver who was lying in his own pool of blood. I ran all the way back to the church. Luckily, I collided with some of my church members who were just leaving the church...
In a daze, I saw Dave been carried into the car, in a daze, I got into the passenger' seat calling Dave every minute. I called Wilson his closest friend with his phone, and I told Wilson to get in touch with Dave's brothers.

At the hospital, Dave was rushed into the EU for first aid and I was told to stay out... With my phone, I called my mum and my friend, I was going to give my friend the name and address of the hospital when I ran out of airtime.
Then, I took Dave's phone and sent a message to her instead... I waited until I got the delivery report, and like it was my tradition, I automatically went into the 'sent item' folder to delete the message I just sent...
...as soon as I deleted, the next message in the folder automatically opened! Without meaning to, I went through this message and with mouth opened, I went through the next and the next and some more.
I sat on the hospital bench, willing my life to end. Tears rolling down my face. What an irony... Every message I had lovingly written from my heart and sent to him had been forwarded to another woman...'Pheb' Phebean Enoh! Pain tore through me like an arrow and I whimpered.
A phone amongst the phones I held vibrated and I checked to see which, it was His phone. 'His love' was calling...
Dutifully, like a mistress, I took the phone to him...
"your phone" I whispered to him, wishing he would just take the phone from me so I could just leave-then die.
"who" he asked, pain evident in his voice.
I didnt reply, just shoved the phone in his face and turned to leave.
"Eve,"
I turned to look at him.
"talk to her when she calls again, tell her what's happened" before I knew it, the phone was in my hands! I stared at him with my mouth agape...oh no no no!
I was going to die, there was no alternative...how could he...the phone was vibrating, I looked at Dave, he looked at me and I turned away before he could notice the tears shining in my eyes. I walked out of the EU before punching on the answer key.
"hello" I said in a voice that would win me an Oscar for 'best performance'
"hello Dave" the girl called.
"listen, this is not Dave. Dave was involved in a minor accident a while ago, and presently he is here at 'Balm of Gilead' hospital Federal rd." I heard something that sounded like a little cry, but I didnt care, I had an assignment as soon as this torture was over!
I was going to end the call when I noticed the voice on the other end of the phone was talking to me...

For more, check(www.labosonline.com)

"who are you?" she wanted to know. Unfortunatetly, I was as ignorant as she was...I didnt know who I was...
"enh?"she called impatiently
"a Nurse" I replied soberly, ended the call and began to cry. Luckily for me, no one thought it necessary to ask 'why' they only deemed it fit to console me while we waited...if only they knew that my pain was in tripple folds.

Twenty minutes later, Wilson arrived with Cosmas, Dave's brother. I met them with tears in my eyes looking more bereaved than a widow.
Wilson held me for a while before I led him to the EU. They were shocked...I stood back and watched, I was so far away. I knew it was over, yet I couldn't bear to think of life without Dave.
Wilson and Cosmas met with the Doctor who told them what she already told me...N20,000 deposit would make them commence treatment.
I also saw Cosmas receive a call and step out of the EU...He returned almost immediately with a Lady whom I recognised at once. And once again like a mistress I stepped away to give her space. She looked at me only briefly before she stepped towards Dave holding out to reach for his hands.
Trust me, my eyes were shimmering again. I didnt wait to see the display of emotions between them. I secretly stepped out of the room and wandered into the night. The assignment I had was to die so I did not care the form it would take. I would only mind if I had to stop crying because that was impossible... I couldn't stop crying.
I did not notice how far I had walked away from the hospital, but I suddenly remembered that I still had Dave's phones with me! Like a robot, I turned back and walked blindly towards 'THE BALM OF GILEAD'!

Dave's big brothers had arrived. Treatment had commenced. Phebean was lying on Cosmas' leg and Wilson was talking to her. I could not hear what he was saying but I guessed he was comforting her. Good. What did I expect? To be in her shoes? Oh No! I was just a mistress even though I knew the exact time they began seeing!
I walked away and stepped into the EU. The Doctors were busy, but Dave beckoned to me. With a blank face, I moved to him and placed his phones beside him. The pain killers were effective and he was in less pains even as the Doctors sew. I stood there and stared at him for a while without blinking...He looked at me, not sure what he saw in my eyes but he surprised me by pulling me down in a fierce embrace and I surprised myself by giggling! Wasn't i loosing it? I stepped out of the embrace and smiled...
"I will see you tomorrow" I said. He looked at his wristwatch and shook his head.
"Late" he muttered
"I know" Ordinarily, if hell had roared and spit brimstones, it would not have moved me to leave his side. But outside, plans had been made and I didn't know if she was staying. Naturally, the mistress steps down. "I'll be ok" I told Dave and touched his face.
"Take care" He told me.
"Like you care" I muttered under my breadth and walked away.

I had no intention of 'taking care' as I stumbled blindly out of the premises. Infact, it was the last thing on my mind! In their order of importance, dying was the first on my mind.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Dave would get better. I was sure. But I would be dead. I was so sure."
Such were the thoughts on my mind as I hid under my duvet weeping. My pain was so great yet I couldn't share. I wanted the whole world to keep seeing Dave as he had being... Sweet, funny and loving. I wanted them to think of him with pity and love as he laid ill...so, my pain was mine alone. I was alone in my agony except for Dave who felt physical pain.
I cried myself to sleep and waited for the angel of death.

Sleep eluded. Death eluded. I arose around around 1:00am, looked at my sleeping neighbor who was snoring gently, evidently asleep. I sat at the dressing table and gazed endlessly into the mirror not seeing myself. I was numb with pain. My eyes fastened on something and I picked it up smiling as I ran my hand lovingly around its texture and shape. It was a sachet of pills. My sleeping pills. I had eight pills left in the sachet...
Slowly, I removed one, then two, then three...would they work? Tears blinded me as I made to open the fourth. God. It was hard. Not dying. Definitely not dying, but it was hard thinking of my family without me. It would break them... It was also hard thinking of a brand new life without Dave who had become my happiness.
I opened my palm, threw one of the pills away and swallowed two. Hopefully, I would sleep and my agony would flee...

However, my agony didn't flee with the night, 'cos there was no night for me.
Dave left the hospital and dutifully, I reported there daily to see him...out of love and duty and every time I got there, there was phebean too. I lost the will to fight or compete, I just sat still and watched things then went home crying...

Tobecontd.

It was a cool Sunday in August. Particularly cool and wet because it had rained earlier while I worshipped in the church.

I remembered I had a call to make, there was this guy I had being chatting with on a social network, his birthday was today and I had promised I would ring him...and I did. It was a very brief call and straight to the point. All I wanted to say was 'happy birthday' and I said it...

He really appreciated the call, was even surprised I called him... He said:
'oh, thanks very much...I'll give you a call'
I smiled and thought to myself...'like you always do...'
initially, I had been sceptical about giving him my phone number, so I just got his'.
But now he had my number...

He called, two nights after. Yet, another brief call...

Another sunday, exactly a week after, another cool sunday...
With my bags and folder, I was hurrying out of my class. All I had on my mind was home and sleep and work the day after.
But it wasn't so...
My phone rang as I got into the bus and I answered, it was the stranger who wasn't a stranger anymore. Dave.
'Hiiiiii' I said brightly.
'I was thinking of seeing you today...' he said simply
'oh'

It was fixed.
My plans changed.
It started drizzling.
And we met.
And it was a joke.
And it was not a joke...

My birthday was 3days later, 10days after his'.
We made plans to have a little celebration.
He tagged it 'Birthday for two' and I didn't even know his surname...
That sunday night, Dave and I planned to meet and celebrate.

It was a supernatural force.
Ordinarily, I wouldn't shun work on a wednesday, but I did.
And it was a birthday for two.
The little cute cake was the magic and my fall...and my rise and my blessing...and a secret not gothic yet scary...

The birthday for two ended.
A promise fulfilled.
A promise broken.
The commencement of a beautiful friendship... Before I knew it, I had fallen magically in love with Dave and I didn't know it. I strongly believed it was an affair that would end before we knew it had started...for me, loving a Man again was totally out of the question after my last relationship.
But Dave was sweet and funny and more...

One afternoon, I was with Dave in his apartment when he called me.
"Eve" He called in that voice I had come to love and adore. I didn't need to answer, I only looked up into his face.
"Do You love me?" Gosh! This wasn't the plan, love wasn't supposed to come in, why should I love him? I did though. He saw the dilemma on my face and held my head fiercely, forcing me to gaze into his eyes.
"talk to me, do you love me, would you like it if we made this relationship permanent? Can you date a guy like me?" The legion of questions kept coming but i held on to just one. "did I love Dave?"

"Yes." I replied in a little voice answering one question and all...tears came to my eyes as Dave held me and promised me the world!
I cried that day and he wiped my tears. Having another man love me was the end of an era and the beginning of another. I desperately clung to the belief that Dave would be the solace I needed.
We were in love (at least i thought we were) and it was the most beautiful thing that ever happened to me. Dave was as playful as I was, as hilarious and as mischievous. We never got tired of each other's company. We loved strolling hand in hand at night, stealing quick kisses when people weren't watching! It was a taboo to end a night without hearing each other's voice, it was a taboo not to profess love in 24hrs! (hell would roar!)
It was a magical affair, that I hoped and prayed would never end. My family and friends loved him and thought of him as an angel! My cup overflowed...

Then came the storm. The feelings of insecurity. That feeling that tells you something is amiss. I couldn't point at it but it was there. I stopped going through Dave's wall on facebook but not until a name and face had been plastered in my memory. Phebean Enoh. Who was she? Why was she always writing things on Dave's wall? How well did they know each other?

Dave changed. We could hardly talk on phone for five minutes, he became easily irritated, he lost his sense of humour, and the big one, Dave did not say he loved me for more than a week! Something was wrong.
Our relationship was just nine months. I tried to talk to him, he became angry. I became docile, agreeing with everything. Still loving him fiercely and hoping that I was wrong and everything would be alright.

One fateful saturday evening around 7.17pm, I was in church when Dave called me that he was coming to see me at home. I told him I was still in church since he had to pass through my church.
'alright, wait for me in church.'he said and hung up. I was happy that I would see him, happy that i would tell him my fears. I packed my things and stepped out of the church. I had waited for exactly three minutes when Dave called me again. Oh! I would be seeing Dave the next minute. At first, I didnt answer the call, only looked around to know where he was. When I didn't see him, I pressed the answer button.
"where are you?" I asked, the voice I heard was Dave's yet not Dave's...
"Eve, walk d-own your church' street, i- a-m- th-ere. I j-ust ha-d a te-rri-ble accident." I became numb. Dave? Accident? I looked left and right, which way was up and which was down? Left, I thought. I was running like a mad woman, yet my speed was like a snail's. I stopped a bike, got on it and started crying. Then I saw the accident. It was an 'okada' accident. I will never remember if I paid the bike man but I will never forget Dave in that sea of blood...his face contorted and twisted in pain, and his left leg? painful to behold! Oh Dave, my dear darling poor Dave... I was confused, I just called his name in a cry that sounded inhuman.

To be continued.