After Ayo rushed out, I did not see him for the next two days and lots of worrying thoughts dominated my mind, I was deathly afraid that Richie must have talked him out of visiting me again.
However, on the third day he showed up in the afternoon, with his face badly bruised. But seeing him leading the MD of our company and some other staffs to come and greet me, I could not focused on the bruised I saw on his face.
When they all saw me, they bursts into hot tears, even our MD who always showed the aura of real men don't cry was badly shaken and silently wept for my plight.
They stayed with me for a while, when they were about to leave the MD promised me that the company would be there for me financially if there is anything that the doctors could do about my case, after this promise they left.
When they were leaving, I drew Ayo back and with whisper asked him what happened to his face and why he did not come to see me for two days nor called? He squeezed my hand and said "We will talk in the night" With that promise he followed the rest out.
Later in the evening when he showed up, I asked him about the bruises on his face and he told me it was wounds he got fighting against Richie.
I was shocked to hear that they engaged in fisticuffs over my case! So I told him he should not have endanger himself fighting Richie over me.
But he told me that it is high time somebody stood up to him, because he had never in his life been fair to any lady he walked with, and if he had done it and go scot free over his maltreatment of others, he should not escape reprimand in my case because I am different from others.
Though I felt happy that he stood up to him for me, but on the other hand I did not like him wounded for my sake. And this I let him know and also tell him not to do it again.
Hearing this he said, "There will not even be another time with him, because it's over between us" I was shocked when he said this and I sat up to protest.
I said, "No I will not have that, you have been meaningful friends for a very long time, you will not abandon your friendship because of me, please I am begging you to have a rethink"
Ayo answered, "With what I saw in his place that night when I got there, there will be no rethink, it is over between us"
I asked him to tell me what he saw and he replied, "You don't want to hear it, he is a dirty dirty demon, a person like him should not be called my friend!"
Although he did not want to tell me what he saw when he got to Richie's place, but when I pestered him without relenting he came clean with me.
This was the story he told me: "You know I left this place enraged, but you did not know why and I will tell you now.
We have had a discussion about you in private in which he told me he would bring a mirror to you, that the earlier you see your deformed image the better it would be for you.
And I told him what the doctor said, that it could triggered unresolved psychological traumas that will hinder your recovery, I told him to allow the Psychologist to finish his work with you and then you will see your face at the appropriate time.
But I knew he has lost interest in you since he saw your face, he gave you that mirror so that you would see yourself and give up on the relationship by yourself.
I told him, " I knew that was what he was hoping for and I am not a clinging person that will cling to him without him loving who I am now, if he is looking for a break I have set him free in my heart, he is free to move on.
And if I set him free with a willing mind you need not fight him over me" Ayo answered and said, "Look I really did not go there to fight him in the way we did, I just want to shout on him a bit and then leave. But when I got to his place I just barged in because I met his door unlocked.
I was shocked beyond measure at what I saw, he was there making our with your friend in his sitting room!
" Whaaaat!" I shouted.
"You see now, I was as shocked as you are now! On impulse I launched at the two of them, at the same time shouting, you animals! The scene was so gross as I kicked him and we began to fight.
His neighbours rushed over to separate us, when they heard my complaints about the two of them and I told them that the lady with him is your bosom friend, the people also were so enraged against the two of them.
And while we were making all the noise, your friend who had escaped into the bedroom refused to show her shameful face to the people."
At this point I cut into his words, "Do you konw I am not too shocked about my friend, I have known her to be a very weak person that can't keep her hands off any handsome guy.
And she has been eyeing Richie and flirting with him from day one. I am only shocked that Richie could do this, even if he will part way with me, why must it be my friend that he will settle for. Any way, it is over as you said, I will face my lonely life with God.
Ayo stopped me and asked, " Who said your life will be lonely" I answered and asked, "Will my life not be lonely now that I looked like a monster, don't you see the reactions of people every time they see my face? Some will burst into tears, and others will turn their eyes away from me because I am now a monster that they cannot behold"
Ayo replied, "This will only be for a while, I am doing something about your case, and I know all will be well when I finished with my plans"
To this I replied, "Will all things ever be well with me again?" Ayo replied, "Surely all things shall be well and you will laugh again!"