A SHROUD OF DARKNESS #5

*Knock! Knock!*

“May I come in Miss Sole?” a female voice said outside the door to my ward. The knock had disrupted my thoughts…it’s good, I thought to myself, I do not wish to continue to remember that dreadful night anyway.

“It is I Dr. Magdalena Nuhu” the voice said as the door creaked open, “I’ve come to check up on you.”

In walked a plumpy young woman who looked like she was in her early thirties; she had perfect set of white teeth, natural African hair which had held into a tight bun; she wore a white lab coat with a stethoscope in her left hand.

After performing her checks, she mumbled something about my SpO2 being low and so put a mask over my nose and mouth which was supposed to be supplying my lungs with oxygen. It helped make breathing easier as I was struggling to breathe moments before she walked in.

“How are you feeling Ms. Sole? Do you still feel faint or dizzy?”

“Yes, Dr…” I quickly looked at her name tag, “Nuhu, Dr. Nuhu. I was feeling dizzy a few minutes before you walked in but it’s much better now, thank you”.

She smiled, “That’s great. You’ve been in the hospital for 6 weeks Miss. Sole”

I gasped and stared at her in disbelief for a moment, as though she was waiting for me to say something, she stood watching me silently.

“What…what do you mean? I have been hospitalized for that long?!” I managed to say.

“Yes Miss. Sole. Your Mother rushed you in to our hospital 6 weeks ago. When our staff went out to help her bring you in, we found you covered in a thick gooey substance which turned out to be blood; you were unconscious at the time. You had lost so much blood and were in shock...we thought you will not make it. But our staff put in their very best. You are lucky to be alive Miss. Sole.”

“Dr. Nuhu...I...I don’t know what to say. I had no idea I had been in the hospital for that long, oh my goodness...” I said in between sobs.

She gently pats my back, “It’s okay, you’re safe now, it’s alright.” I have no idea whether it was her act of patting my back that me cry even louder or remembering the ordeal I went through.

“Miss Sole, you must speak with the police and tell them whoever did this to you, do not allow the scoundrel to go scot free”. I could sense the seriousness in her voice without even looking at her.

“Dr. Nuhu” I said, “I can’t go through the social stigma that comes with this situation. In this part of our world, it’s a woman’s fault if such a thing happens to her, the opposite sex is always in the right when it comes to such situations. I cannot file a complaint, I just...” I whimpered as warm tears flowed down my cheeks and trickle down to the lower portion of my neck.

“Miss. Sole, despite what you might think about the stigma associated with such situations, i still strongly advise that you file a complaint against whoever did this. Society will forever be society, they will judge you without knowing you, and accuse without remorse; what matters is that you have a family that loves you no matter what. When it becomes tough, rely on them. You are not alone Miss Sole.”

“But Dr. ...I”

“Rose...” I was startled by the way she called out my first name with such compassion and concern, “You sustained severe tears in your perineal area which we had to suture. It will take time to heal, but the process will not be easy. Because of how much blood you’ve lost, you’re not going to be able to work for a while, we’re giving you a period of “excused duty” until further notice.”

At this point I was upset. “Dr. I need to work. How the hell am I supposed to take my mind off what has happened? Huh?! WORK! I need to WORK!”

“Work will not heal you, work will not take away the emotional breakdown you may experience, work will not keep you from getting depressed or take the ordeal away. Work will just hide the pain and release it when you least expect it. I’m sorry Rose” she answered calmly, “but you’re not going to work. Also...” her voice suddenly got lower than it was a few minutes ago, and she kept darting her eyes back and forth obviously avoiding eye contact.

“What is it Dr.? What aren’t you telling me?”

“Rose, you’re pregnant.”

Immediately the words left her mouth I felt a strange darkness overshadow me, and the light around me began to get dimmer and dimmer. I could hear voices around me and they were speaking on top of their voices. I felt someone grab my hand and felt a prick as something went through my veins. I wanted to speak out so bad but it felt as though someone had sewed my mouth sealed shut. What is happening? I thought.

Then I heard Dr. Sole’s voice in my ears, “Rose! Rose! Can you hear me?! I need you to breathe!! Breathe in Rose, stop holding your breath!!”

Holding my breath? Was I holding my breath? Why can’t I speak?!