STORY BY UMMEH W.

It was one of those unusual incredibly bright days in the city of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Not only the weather was bright but more importantly, the brightness was radiating in the moods and emotions of each and every member of the Ikennas and Ajibolas. It was the most important day in the lives of two very young people.

I was on a month leave from the hospital where I worked. I was a surgeon, and was fondly called “the Nigerian Ben Carson” – even though I wasn’t a Neurosurgeon in actuality. I had arrived my hotel room alongside some of my friends a day before the D-day, to get familiar with the area because my house was a bit far from where the knot was going to be tied. The only reason a fashion designer was not really rented for the event was my mom. She was the one that picked the right suit, colour, tie and all – how dapper I was destined to look!

The stage was set, the chairs had in the hall had been clothed in nicely gold and white-coloured chair covers, the hall was glittering, the band was ready and the confetti was set. You couldn’t have asked for a better sight of a wedding ceremony hall, really. #Waltamanda2k16 was preordained to be lit!

I woke up on the best side of the bed on the 6th day of the 8th month of 2016; havind had dreams of what an iconic day it would be in both my life and Amanda’s. Amanda. My fiancé. The love of my life. She had lodged in another hotel in a nearby town. We chose to be farther apart to miss each so much that when we would be together on our wedding night, it would feel like we just met. She hoped to rise up early and come rushing to her Prince Charming. I and Amanda had dated since our Level 100 days in the university, we had become integral part of each other’s dreams. Our love had grown beyond measures. We had unforgettable memories together despite the fact that we were a part of the “no-sex before” marriage bandwagon; defeating the unearthing belief presently clouding the minds of today’s youth, that if you’re on that bandwagon, you were a jew and is ordained for a failed love life in marriage.

……………………………………………………………………………………….

“Hello, Walter”, a familiar voice, about to burst into tears, said.

“Yes?”, I immediately recognized Vanessa’s voice, Amanda’s best friend.

Before I could utter another word after the quick thought, Vanessa had started crying uncontrollably.

“What’s the matter?”, I asked with overwhelming calmness.

“It’s Amanda, she was involved in an accident……a fatal one, and we’re at the hospital right now, your hospital”.

My phone touched my cheek while unceremoniously dropping from my hands onto the tied floor of the hotel room. I grabbed my car keys and in 10 minutes, I had covered a daily 30-minute distance drive to the hospital where I worked. I left with utmost urgency and didn’t even reply the chasing questions from my best friend.

……………………………………………………………………………………….

“Where is Amanda?”, I asked Vanessa, trying the hold back the tears.

“They took her to the emergency ward”.

Those were the only words I could decode from a speech that escaped out of a teary and hear-broken face.
Before I got to the emergency ward, tests and scans had already been done and it was discovered that Amanda had a broken spine and was bleeding profusely from a head injury. This was a similar case to what I handled during my internship years, which earned me the “Nigerian Ben Carson” nickname. But this was bound to be a different situation entirely.

“You’ll be fine, baby”, I whispered into her ears as I rushed into my office removing my suit and rolling up my sleeves, getting set to do the surgery on the love of my life.

“You can’t perform the surgery, Dr. Walter”, Dr. Fred, a senior colleague of mine, said behind me.

“Wait. What? Why?”, I paused.

“You’re not in the right state of mind to perform the surgery right now”

“You’re kidding, right?”, a tear finally ran down my cheek from my left eye. “I’m almost the only one that can save her right now”.

“It’s part of the rules, and I think you know that. A doctor can’t treat a loved one or family. I’m sorry”.

“Damn the rules, Dr. Fred! Amanda better make it out of that room alive.” I tottered off, hoping and praying to a God I had not talked in a while.
Mom and every other family member, nuclear and extended, had arrived the hospital during my conversation with Dr. Fred.
“Don’t worry, Walter. Amanda is going to make it”, mom comforted me with a hug.

The surgery began at about 11:55am and I alongside Mr. Ajibola, Amanda’s dad watched through the translucent glass window of the Emergency Ward.
Everyone in the waiting room, every single person, was praying to God for Amanda; with the hope that God would descend in His majesty and fix Amanda.
After nearly 3 hours of abortive attempts to stop the bleeding from the deep cut on Amanda’s head, she was slowly dying. The doctors could not fix the spine after tearing Amanda’s back open, it was broken beyond reparation. The doctors removed their surgery apparels and called both me and Mr. Ajibola in.

“She is going to die”.

I broke down in tears and went on my knees with my face against Amanda’s pillow.

“Walter. There’s something I need to say to you. I love you. And if something happens to me, I need you to hear this now; I, Amanda Ajibola, take you, Walter Ikenna, to be my lawfully wedded husband. To love and cherish you, till death do us part.”

In that moment that I held Amanda take her last breath in my arms, it felt like eternity. I had lost everything I ever had, including myself. I was totally broken.

KAJOLE & IAMVICTOR PLEASE RESEND YOUR STORIES IN DOCX FORMAT AS THE FORMAT IS BAD FOR NAIRALAND ON PDF.

Thanks

I'm tired and exhausted guys, I'll post the links later today so everyone can read on the spot.

If your story hasn't been posted yet, please let me know.

kinwayne:
KAJOLE & IAMVICTOR PLEASE RESEND YOUR STORIES IN DOCX FORMAT AS THE FORMAT IS BAD FOR NAIRALAND ON PDF.

Thanks

I'm tired and exhausted guys, I'll post the links later today so everyone can read on the spot.

If your story hasn't been posted yet, please let me know.

Done!

It would have been better if the writers were unknown. Everyone now has it easy. They just scroll through until they find a 'big' name and read. Budding writers won't even have their stories read. It would have been okay but there are some who are very good but unpopular. Some of them might have done better than the big guys but we will not read their works, sadly.

Please I'd like to know, the stories shared are they from the ones who qualified or each and every story written?

OluwabuqqyYOLO:
It would have been better if the writers were unknown. Everyone now has it easy. They just scroll through until they find a 'big' name and read. Budding writers won't even have their stories read. It would have been okay but there are some who are very good but unpopular. Some of them might have done better than the big guys but we will not read their works, sadly.

Bro chill!

I've read through all the stories on Page 2, sure there were 'big names' and 'small names' and they all did really well in their own unique ways, except for few who didn't adhere to the rules of the competition.

Believe me when I say, expect fair and impartial judgement. No sane person will go through just the stories of the 'big names'.

Left to me, only the budding writers would have competed, atleast to encourage them to write and give it all their best, well, it's still okay to give everyone whether big or small names the equal opportunity to compete.

OluwabuqqyYOLO:
It would have been better if the writers were unknown. Everyone now has it easy. They just scroll through until they find a 'big' name and read. Budding writers won't even have their stories read. It would have been okay but there are some who are very good but unpopular. Some of them might have done better than the big guys but we will not read their works, sadly.

If we are to follow your suggestion, it doesn't reason to logic.

Why would we make the story writers unknown when the goal is to make them known?

Even if that's to happen, That's the reason why judges judge the stories not their fans

I hope I've answered you?

A lot of writers failed to proofread their works. Their writing were quite poor and ill structured.

THE PHYSICIAN WHO COULD NOT HEAL HIMSELF BY IAMVICTOR

I never knew life could be so cruel and wicked neither did I know that help may abound for someone and yet still remain helpless. My story is not the one that requires great inspiration to tell but the one that spurred out of great distress.

"Dolu! Mother called out my name as she entered into our sitting room which was only large enough to occupy two old sofas and an ancient black and white TV which was a remnant of my late father who died about two years earlier.

I am the first born and the only son of my family, I have a younger sister who was then in JSS3 and I have just completed my SSCE and matriculation examinations.

"I just got your admission letter, you have been...." I didn't allow Mami, as I usually called my mother to finish talking before I snatched the letter from her hand " You have been offered provisional admission to study Medicine and Sugery in Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife Osun state. I was full of joy as I read the texts I hugged my mother tightly as she rained down praises and prayers on me.

That day was the happiest day of my life,I always smile each time I remember the lovely day.

My first day in the university was not as exciting as I imagined; I was on a queue for more than two hours, sweating profusely and waiting to complete my registration in other to secure the clearance certificate which is needed for my accommodation.

The only spark of light came when a beautiful young lady came out of no where and tap my shoulder. She asked me for a favor which I could not refused.

"Could you please hold my hand bag for me? I need to go and ease myself" her voice was like the whistle of birds and like the harmony of angels. I couldn't speak a word, I only nodded my head in affirmation to her request.

She was the sliver lining in my gloomy day and I could already envisage the close relationship that will ensue between us in the near future. she came back some minutes later with a smile on her face and a she told me her name is Omolola and she was admitted to study Nursing Science, I was excited and managed to whisper my name to her as I could hardly speak a word.

The cause of my timidity could not be far fetched; that day was actually the first time I will speak to a beautiful lady.

She brought out her phone and asked for my contact which I could not offer because I do not own a phone infact I had only seen a cell phone the day I graduated in the secondary school but I got her number and promised to call her later in the day.

My day was refreshed immediately and this was noticed by a guy in front of me. It was soon my turn and I was glad to submit my documents which was well scrutinized by an elderly man whose glasses looked like that of the famous Obafemi Awolowo whose name the university was named after.

"Olabintan Dolu you are in Awolowo Hall you can take your load and follow this young man" The voice of the Dean of Students Affairs echoed into my ear and I walked after the young man who is to be my lead to the hall.

"My name is Ojo Oladele but many people call me Oladole; I am the hall president" I shaked hands with Oladole and in less than five minutes I reached the room where I would live for that year.

"I am sure you will enjoy your stay here" Oladole whispered as he left me to sort myself out.

Although the room allocated to me was so small that it could only occupy a student mattress and a study place it was still one of the best places I ever lived, the only enemy I had were the big rats which can eat off your toe when you are asleep.

I called Omolola latter in the evening via a phone booth which is not far from my hall and we decided to meet under a tree infront of her hall of residence, we discussed at length and knew each other better.

My stay in the university would not have been successful if not for Omolola, she did not only help me financially but also academically.
Omolola has always been a straight A student and she really influenced my academy and I soon became the best in my class.

I choosed to be a Medical Doctor not because I love to treat people or save lives, in fact I wanted to be a Soldier like my late father who died a pupper but Mami told me that the only way I can save our family from its wretchedness is to become a medical doctor and a medical Doctor I became.

Omolola was the one that thought me how to value people's life rather than people's money, She spent more than six months working for an NGO that caters for children without collecting a dime as salary she even donated her first two months salaries to an orphanage home.

I got engaged to Omolola three years after I finished in the university, I spent the first two years working for private hospitals and I got a government job in a teaching hospital which allowed me to pay the debt incurred by my education and to successfully sponsor my younger sister in the university.

"I am traveling to Abeokuta tomorrow, I heard that Mama is not feeling fine" I said as I used a glass of water to push the bolus of eba hanging in my throat.

"What! Mama is not feeling fine and you want to wait till tomorrow before you visit her, that is so cruel of you" Omolola said angrily and before I could say anything she grabbed her car key, packed some provisions and went out of the house.

I knew she was going to visit my Mom but I was angry that she would not allow me to explain why I put the journey till the next day.
That morning I drove quietly to my place of work and met the hospital in pandemonium, "She is Oga's wife" a young nurse shouted and I was shocked to find out that the woman lying helplessly in the ER is actually my wife to be, she had a head to head collision with a trailer and she is in dire need of an operation that will save her from bleeding to death.

I was shaking from head to toe, she was fast losing her pulses the Doctor in the in the ER was not a specialist, I am a specialist and I quickly offered to perform the operation but the hospital rule will not avail me such an opportunity. I tried to forcefully enter the ER but as soon as the matron saw my shaking hands and my already soaked shirt she refused.

I was still shaking vigorously when the Doctor came to announce the death of my fiancée. It was the worst day of my life and up till today; I am still expecting someone to wake me up from the horrible nightmare

ROAD NOT TAKEN BY KAJOLE

It was a cold Friday morning, the day started well as always; I got up all refreshed and strong ready to hit the days’ workload as always. I got out of bed, did a little laundry and washed up. Something was wrong, I felt it within but couldn’t place it to anyone or any incident, and the more I tried figuring it out the more my emotions clouded my reasoning. I brushed my emotions aside, picked up my car keys and headed straight to my clinic to meet up an early morning appointment with a patient. Over time I had grown attached to this particular patient due to her medical history and the delicacy in her medical administration.

I got into the clinic, few minutes past 8 in the morning, exchanged light pleasantries with Nurse Kate and Nurse Grace. To say the least I was surprised to meet Nurse Kate on duty that early, because she was a perpetual late comer to her point of duty but had this aura that attracts both workers and patients alike to her.

Mrs. Fumilayo was already sitting and waiting for me in the visitor’s room when I worked in. She was one, who kept to time. I also exchanged pleasantries with her, and excused myself for a minute or two to get myself together. As I stepped into my office, my phone rang; it was my fiancées younger sister. I felt reluctant picking the call so that I wouldn’t get distracted for the days job. But she kept calling persistently, and I became worried and at that point that negative emotion crawled in. I picked the call when it rang for the third time with shaking hands. The next words I heard got me shocked.

Tony! Tony! Amaka! Amaka! , I tried calming her down so that I could understand what she was trying to say, but she kept repeating my name and my fiancées name who also was her elder sister. I managed to calm her down and asked where Amaka was. She told me she was involved in a fatal accident 30 minutes ago and she was in a critical condition and was unconscious at the moment. I became brain dead at that moment, the only thoughts coming in, were that of my unborn child in my fiancées womb, our future we both planned together, our wedding coming up in 5 months’ time.

I thought of a lot but was jolted back to reality by the voice of Chidinma my fiancées younger sister. I asked her if Amaka was still breathing and she replied she was still breathing. She also informed me that they had gone to the teaching hospital but was referred to Faith clinic. I asked about how they are been driven and she informed me a Good Samaritan at the scene offered to lift her and Amaka.

Faith clinic, my clinic is a clinic I have been operating for over 3 years. Most critical cases were been referred to my clinic, due to my clinics medical facilities and experience. Chidinma wasn’t aware of the fact that the clinic was mine. Immediately I dropped the call, I rushed out of my office, informed Mrs. Fumilayo that I had an immediate emergency of life or death and rescheduled our appointment for another date. I called on Nurse Kate and Nurse Grace to prepare the emergency room just in case.

I knew I would need to perform an emergency operation on my fiancée to save both mother and unborn child. She was already 8 months pregnant and almost due to deliver. Probably nurse Kate and Grace saw the panic in my expression, they took the instruction religiously and got everything in place and ready the way I would want it, while I kept praying Amaka would be fine. It is well; all is well were the words I kept muttering in me, at a point I started reciting the words aloud “all is well, all is well”.

Exactly 30 minutes later, I heard the clinic gate open, and a car drove in in its urgency, Chidinma was the first to alight from the car, then a stranger. Chidinma kept screaming Nurse! Nurse! Emergency. Nurse Grace with Nurse Kate pulled out the stretcher and headed straight to the car. With the help of the stranger, Amaka was lifted and put on the stretcher and rode straight to the emergency room. All this were happening while I stood by my office window observing all with a heavy heart. The sight really hit me below the belt, I felt weak but duty had called and I had to respond to the emergency swiftly.

I was already in the emergency room when the nurse rowed Amaka in, while Chidinma on seeing me was shocked and dumbfounded but there was no time for pleasantries. I sprang into action with the assistance of my nurses; I sedated my patient and proceeded in performing an induced operation to extract the child from the mother. In less than 30 minutes, the operation was over, and we were able to deliver the child alive and that was when problem struck.

My patient was losing blood excessively than she was supposed to, the cardiometer started reading low, and I knew there was big problem. Called on my nurses to get two blood packs, which I injected her as drip, but she was still losing much blood and we needed to stop it or the situation would be fatal. I kept pumping her heart to jolt her back but all seemed like it wasn’t working. I looked at her face and it looked pale and cold. I kept pumping her heart and at a point she opened her eyes but her eyes looked blanked.

The cardiometer suddenly stopped ticking, I pumped her heart one my time but didn’t get a response from her. I knew it was finished; it was a reality I wasn’t ready for. My legs became heavy, my throat dry.

3 years just ended up in my hands, I wasn’t able to save Amaka, but she gave me a parting gift in the form of my son. My nurses tried consoling me, they knew I had lost a treasure, and they knew I had lost her, whom I
loved to my heart.

@Kinwayne, bro thanks alot for everything; the time and money and every other things you've put into this. God bless you.

I've gone through all the stories and I all say is ''woah! The next generation of Chinua Achebe and Wole soyinka, are really here with me on Nairaland, they all did really well''

KimberlyWest:


Bro chill!

I've read through all the stories on Page 2, sure there were 'big names' and 'small names' and they all did really well in their own unique ways, except for few who didn't adhere to the rules of the competition.

Believe me when I say, expect fair and impartial judgement. No sane person will go through just the stories of the 'big names'.

Left to me, only the budding writers would have competed, atleast to encourage them to write and give it all their best, well, it's still okay to give everyone whether big or small names the equal opportunity to compete.

Did I anyway in that post insinuate that I wasn't chilling Yeah, you have but majority won't. We are used to this. Okay?

kinwayne:
A lot of writers failed to proofread their works. Their writing were quite poor and ill structured.

Hmm that's a shame.

kinwayne:


If we are to follow your suggestion, it doesn't reason to logic.

Why would we make the story writers unknown when the goal is to make them known?

Even if that's to happen, That's the reason why judges judge the stories not their fans

I hope I've answered you?

Nope. It is not done this way. In writing competitions, readers aren't even advised to guess which writer wrote which—so sentiments don't come into play, you see. The names are only made known after voting has been completed.

OluwabuqqyYOLO:

Did I anyway in that post insinuate that I wasn't chilling Yeah, you have but majority won't. We are used to this. Okay?

Yeah, you are right.



Bro, it's still Kimberly o, since the Ramandan period is over, come, let me serve you tea, so you can relax with it while going through the remaining stories.

OluwabuqqyYOLO:

Nope. It is not done this way. In writing competitions, readers aren't even advised to guess which writer wrote which—so sentiments don't come into play, you see. The names are only made known after voting has been completed.

I understand, but that's if the voting process is through their fans. This first stage would be judged by a panel of judges.

If the so called big names are good at what they do, don't write them off just because they've decided to hone their skills and be better. They're good at what they do and we can't raise a leg for others who fail to join these "good people" at being better.

kinwayne:


I understand, but that's if the voting process is through their fans. This first stage would be judged by a panel of judges.

If the so called big names are good at what they do, don't write them off just because they've decided to hone their skills and be better. They're good at what they do and we can't raise a leg for others who fail to join these "good people" at being better.

So, our votes don't count

KimberlyWest:


Yeah, you are right.



Bro, it's still Kimberly o, since the Ramandan period is over, come, let me serve you tea, so you can relax with it while going through the remaining stories.

Lol, no mind me. I was lost in the moment.

You should please make me afang soup too (since Evajael has refused to fulfill her promise). Nisho ni be.

OluwabuqqyYOLO:

So, our votes don't count

I stated categorically that the competition would be judged by a panel of judges. So yes, no voting. I had foreseen the issues you brought up.

kinwayne:


I stated categorically that the competition would be judged by a panel of judges. So yes, no voting. I had foreseen the issues you brought up.

Fortuneteller, wehdone sir! I hear you.

Chidexter:
Please I'd like to know, the stories shared are they from the ones who qualified or each and every story written?

The stories are from people who submitted theirs

OluwabuqqyYOLO:

Fortuneteller, wehdone sir! I hear you.

Its been a while. How you doing? Why you no compete?

kinwayne:


Its been a while. How you doing? Why you no compete?

You no see my first post? I don't know how you guys arranged everything. I found out with the advent of this thread and you sure know registration had ended then. The thing pain me and I'm still sulky about it.

OluwabuqqyYOLO:

You no see my first post? I don't know how you guys arranged everything. I found out with the advent of this thread and you sure know registration had ended then. The thing pain me and I'm still sulky about it.

Next year dey come.. Just dey patient. Prize money go don increase pass now by then

KimberlyWest:
@Kinwayne, bro thanks alot for everything; the time and money and every other things you've put into this. God bless you.

I've gone through all the stories and I all say is ''woah! The next generation of Chinua Achebe and Wole soyinka, are really here with me on Nairaland, they all did really well''

Thank you

Men people dey write o. @op this a nice gesture. I had a nice read too. Atleast someone had a good break from all these Intimacy stories.

kinwayne:


Next year dey come.. Just dey patient. Prize money go don increase pass now by then

Hurray! I'm gonna kill.

The key to winning a competition like this is;

1) Adhering or keeping to the rules of the competition, and the rules were so simple;

i) Write from the doctor's perspective.

ii) It has to be your fiance/fiancee.

iii) Not more than 1,000 words.

Some of the write-ups were even more than 2,000 words and some didn't write from the doctor's perspective.

2) Try to make your opening as compelling and grabbing as possible.

Hope I'm not being too harsh, but seriously, some of the openings were not compelling but believe me they did well with the whole write-up while some openings were as grabbing as grabbing can be and I joyfully went through the rest part of their work.

Four particular write-ups caught/grabbed my attention.

Believe me, as a budding writer myself, for the past 100+ years I've lived on planet earth, I saw really, really captivating short stories which momentarily rendered me speechless.

Abeg, whoever needs a great read should visit my profile or use the link in my signature.

'Of '53, Some Music And The Gallows' is going to be the best you've read in a while. No bragging.

OluwabuqqyYOLO:


Lol, no mind me. I was lost in the moment.

You should please make me afang soup too (since Evajael has refused to fulfill her promise). Nisho ni be.

Bro, just manage the tea.



I can't cook to save my life.

KimberlyWest:
The key to winning a competition like this is;

1) Adhering or keeping to the rules of the competition, and the rules were so simple;

i) Write from the doctor's perspective.

ii) It has to be your fiance/fiancee.

iii) Not more than 1,000 words.

Some of the write-ups were even more than 2,000 words and some didn't write from the doctor's perspective.

2) Try to make your opening as compelling and grabbing as possible.

Hope I'm not being too harsh, but seriously, some of the openings were not compelling but believe me they did well with the whole write-up while some openings were as grabbing as grabbing can be and I joyfully went through the rest part of their work.

Four particular write-ups caught/grabbed my attention.

Believe me, as a budding writer myself, for the past 100+ years I've lived on planet earth, I saw really, really captivating short stories which momentarily rendered me speechless.

Thanks for this!