The doctor and the nurses rushed in to check on her, they asked us to please excuse them but I couldn't, I watched my sister as she breathed her last
Doctor, what happened?
I'm sorry we lost her, the doctor replied
I lost my balance and fell on the floor, we lost my sister?
We lost who? My parents screamed from the corridor
She was talking a moment ago, Tope cannot die, my father said as he rushed inside to confirm it himself, Doctor please wake my daughter, she cannot die, he lifted her up and shouted her name "Temitope please wake up, give us the chance to right our wrong, we love you so much, we were only scolding you then to give you a better future, Tope please stand up, we love youuuuu, my father cried
My mother removed her wrapper and tore her blouse as she began to run, all thanks to the nurses who didn't allow her to run out of the hospital, they held her and told her to take it easy and be strong for me and the daughter she left behind
Bunkunmi came to ask me why was everybody crying but I couldn't answer her
She went to where her mother was laid and beat her to stand up and stop making everyone crying
That was how I lost my only sister, the only sibling I had, what will I do? I have to be strong for my parents, I called some relatives to come pick them, I also called Richard to share the bad news, I could hear him screaming on the phone "Dear Lord what have I done? My wife is dead?
I quickly end the call because I was not ready to listen to his sermon
My sweet sister was laid to rest on the third day, I couldn't watch her corpse, I was scared she could stand up and strangle me to death, "We killed her" I whispered into Richard's ear as I wipe my tears
"Please stop" he cautioned me
Her boss who was also present at the burial told us how kind and hardworking she was
" I was surprised when I saw her at work few days ago, she looked so pale but was willing to work, I forced her to go back home, I was shocked when I heard about her death the next day, she was a very good woman and we would do what we can to ensure we help the family she left behind"
Many people said good things about my sister but I couldn't say a thing, all I could whisper was "Sister I'm very sorry, please forgive me as I cried uncontrollably, our families and friends couldn't stop consoling me, the more they console me, the more I feel guilty
I killed my only sister because I couldn't forgive her and let go of the past, is this what I'm going to live with for the rest of my life? I am in so much trouble
MY SISTER'S HUSBAND
Episode fourteen
After the burial, Richard disappeared to thin air, I couldn't reach him on phone, I went to his house I couldn't find him, when it was time for me to go back to Lagos, I left my niece, Bunkunmi with my parents, thank God some relatives were there to keep them company, I always come home to check on them, I was at work one afternoon, about three months after my sister's demise when daddy called me that my mother had passed on
Mummmyyyyyy is what? I screamed and this attracted the attention of some of the staff
"What happened Tiwa? They all asked
I told them my mother is dead
Oh Lord, what is this? Just three months ago you lost your sister, now is your mom, one of my colleagues said
This is so serious and pathetic, so sorry Tiwa, another one added as I cried
They all felt bad and consoled me, I traveled home for my mother's burial, when I saw her where she was laid, I held her legs and asked for forgiveness, she was giving a befitting burial, I wanted to take Bunkunmi with me but my father insisted she stayed with him, I got a house help for them and went back to Lagos
Six months later, my father died, I had prepared my mind for that because I knew how closed he was with my mother, after his burial, I took Bunkunmi with me
I was at home one afternoon about a year after my father's burial when a strange number called me, I picked the call me, I picked the call and said Hello
To my surprise it was Richard
Richard I screamed
He gave some flimsy excuses about his disappearance and told me he only called me because of his daughter, "I want my daughter"
Do you have a daughter? The daughter you have abandon for .......
I can never abandon my daughter, he interrupted, I am married now and my wife is ready to take care of her
Married? I see, but you should know I can never release my niece to a stranger, no way Richard, do you want this girl to grow up and be bitter like her mother? I cannot allow that, not when I'm still breathing, we had a quarrel and he threatened to sue me
I traveled to see him few days after, the moment I saw him I asked myself why I ruined my family because of him, I felt nothing for him but hatred, I hated him more than I have ever loved him, I pleaded with him to let Bunkunmi stay with me since she is the only family I have left
"No one can separate me and my daughter, I have a wife now and she is ready to accept and take care of her", he explained
My niece, the only family I have in the hand of a stranger? no way
Then let's meet in court, he threatened
I knew I was going to lose so I went down on my knees and pleaded again "If not for anything Rich, at least for old time sake and besides this is the only chance to right my wrong, I'm indebted to my sister, I feel guilty every day"
"So do I, I feel bad and terrible for doing that to her, I'm also indebted to her and the only way I can free myself from guilt is to take care of the child she left behind"
"Richard, you sure know this girl is safe with me," I muttered
After much persuasion, he allowed her to stay with me on one condition, "I must see my child every time I want and I must know every thing going on with her" I agreed to the terms and that was how Bunkunmi became my daughter
I got married three years later to an understanding man who also accepted her as his own, we had a girl a year after, making them two
We love them and treat them equally, no one knows I'm not the biological mother of Bunkunmi, she remains my first daughter and I love her so much the same way I love her sister, Busola.
After reading this story my neighbour couldn't control her tears as she blamed Tiwa's parents for loving a child more the other
That is my story madam, this is Tiwa, standing before you
Your story? You are....... T..... She stuttered
Yes I am Tiwatope, my parent's favourite, this is to all parents, "Do you have a favourite among your children and you are letting others know you love him/her than them? You are digging the child's grave gradually"
How do you deal with your stubborn child? do you scold and correct him/her in love or do you condemn them and make them lose their self esteem thinking you are doing them good?
Parents should love their children equally, scold them when necessary and correct them in love, we should mind the words that come out of our mouth to them because those words go a very long
My neighbour asked if she has not failed her daughter, I told her no because she can still right her wrong now, she hugged me and went back to her flat
A week later, her daughter brought a cake for me and told me thank you for talking to her mother, she is now enjoying the company of her mother
I was happy I could help the family
May we not fail as parents
God bless and keep our children.
THE END