A story that ends with if I had known I would have listened to my father
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The day came and I saw him waiting for me in front of the hospital. He told me he came earlier so he was able to book an appointment for us. On entering the room I met an old man whom I presume to be the doctor. He was quit friendly as he asked us why we wanted to do a medical checkup. He asked different questions which we both answered. When he was satisfied he wrote on a piece of paper, called a nurse and told us to follow her. She took us to a lab where we did some couple of tests. I could see it on Rotimi’s face that he wasn’t comfortable and that whatever he was doing was for my sake. I was very impressed with him for that.
We were later told by the nurse to come back in three days to see the doctor and that our tests would be concluded by then. Happy about what he did for me I decided to take Rotimi out even though he eventually paid the fees. We talked, laughed and joked all through, then I asked the question that was at the back of my mind. “Dear, why were you uncomfortable at the hospital? Anything you would like to share with me?” he shook his head slightly, “nah, I just don’t like hospitals. I visited it quite a lot when I was a child.” This caught my attention and I know he knew I was curious as he laughed, “ha! madam I want to know all” he joked with me. “I am a sickler. Now do you understand?” I think I froze when the words came out from his mouth because when I looked at his face I saw horror written all over it. Now I understood why my parents said he looked like someone who would die anytime. “Kikelomo, are you okay?” he asked me, I could see his worry. So, I had to tell him that I was okay but he was not satisfied, “please I am the sick one here, don’t give me a heart attack.” He continued to joke. That night I couldn’t sleep as words from my parents flashed in my head. I didn’t know what to do. The next three days, Rotimi and I didn’t see each other but agreed to meet at the hospital to get our results. On sighting him when we met, the joy I felt within made me realised I couldn’t let something as simple as being a sickler come in between us. There and then I decided no matter what the result was I wasn’t going to tell my parents the true status of his health. As if I knew the result wasn’t going to be favourable, the doctor told us we are not compatible, that I am ‘AS’ and he is ‘SS’, so if we were thinking about going deeper into our relationship we had better forget it. I think I wasn’t the only one depressed that day because I had never seen Rotimi so down casted before that I was afraid he might faint on me when he heard the news. Though we went our separate ways after the depressing result, he called me in the night. His voice, grave “are you leaving me?” he asked. I didn’t know what to say, I wish I could but I didn’t know. my head was not clear to decide anything yet. So seeing the situation we decided to give ourselves a break but after a week I began to miss him so much that when I saw his flash I called him immediately. His voice sounded small “are you okay?” he asked and just hearing his voice I knew he missed me too, then the dam I have been trying to hold up let loose as I cried my eyes out. Though I was at the other side of the phone I believe he was also crying alongside with me. We met the next day and the joy of just seeing each other made us decide we were going to be together no matter what. So against my parent’s wishes we got married. Though they attended and participated in my wedding but I could see it in their eyes that they were not happy. As for his parents, it was like I was a dream come true for them. I had a huge wedding.
A month later I took in, though we were happy I conceived, we were both scared if the child won’t be a sickle cellar. When I gave birth, all was okay, there were no complications and he wasn’t a sickle cellar we were happy but it was short lived as the problem started when I took in of my second child. It was as if my first child was waiting for me to take in as he suddenly became so sick that we had to rush him to the hospital in the middle of the night. It was there we got the heartbreaking news that a mistake was made and that my child is indeed a sickle cellar. I almost convulsed that day, as I felt heat pass through me. I am still surprised how I didn’t lose my pregnancy. Anyways he soon got well and we took him home. Some few months for me to put to bed, my first child’s health started deteriorating fast. With all the stress taking care of him I went into labour. I had my second child and I wasn’t surprised she was also a sickle cellar. So here I am facing the stress of both children being sickle cellars and me being in the midst of the storm. What can I do? What should I do? It’s not easy watching my children in constant pain especially when the crisis hit. I wish I listened when I had the opportunity, but I guess it is too late for such regrets.
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