KEILANI UCHE
I am shivering under the duvet and gnashing of my teeth and I don't even want to talk about the banging headache that doesn't seem to go away or the pang of chest pain I can't heal from, the chest ache that has been in existence for as long as I remember.
Today is Sunday, and dad will be banging on my door soon. I hope I can just stay home and rest, I can only hope that it becomes a reality. Sadly, most hope just ends there.
"Honey wo-" mum touches my head and panics as she sits on my bed and her face squeezes into worries.
"Since when? Baby, wait, her-" I hold mum back before she leaves.
"I took pain relief mummy, but it is not working" I manage to speak as my body thrums and my teeth chatter, which only terrifies her.
"Wait" mum storms out.
I hear dad coax from the outside of my door "She is coming with u-"
"She is sick" mum voice is stern, but I don't need to be with them to know dad is unfazed.
"God will heal her. Get ready" his heavy footstep retreats, and like I said, most hope ends at just hope and never becomes reality….. at least never for me.
Mum just stares at me speechless, and I drag my weak and tired body into the bathroom to get dressed.
~
I am dizzy, and my body is weak and begging me to rest before it assists in doing that. It is time for the choirs to sing. So we stand up. I hold on to the table before me, and I yawn every minute, my eyes squinting involuntarily. I rest my elbow on the table and yawn again as my heart beat so fast like a warning sign of what would happen if I don't sit.
I look up at my dad on the altar, his eyes on my face. He gives me a sign to lead the choiresters so I won't lean on anything. My step is sluggish. I stand on the pile and wave my hand as they sing .
A woman caught my attention because her jewelry was blinding my eyes. She is a Korean woman on a port zienna strapless column gown beside her is her husband I think, a dark skin, burly man with bright brown eyes like that of Ethan's, black lips, grey hair and has a stern look with chieftaincy attire on. On her right hand is a young man who should be in his middle 20s. He should be the son of the woman because of the Korean features. He has short curly hair, small lips, visible cheekbone like he has eaten in weeks or maybe months. Even through his jalamia, his muscles are visible.
Lucky family. They are lucky to be seated. I would give anything to be seated right now. My breathing becomes heavy. I just know that if I stand much longer, I will slump to the ground. So I stare at Mum, begging her to save me, but her eyes doesn't meet mine.
I shut my eyes and open it again. My heavy breathing turns into a slow one, and I know that is the last sign my body would give me before I fall. So I just accept my fate.
I tried.
A hand holds my hand, and I look down to see Cyril. His lips widen into an encouraging smile. I tilt my head to dad, and I see double of him. Cyril dragged me out of the church, and everyones eyes stalked us. Cyril sits me on the stairs outside the church and runs off.
Thank God.
A hand taps me, and I look up to see Cyril. He hands me a cold bottle of water. Never in my life have I been grateful to have a younger brother like I do now. I open the water with my last strength. I gulp it all, not caring that water trails down my chest and smears on my face or that my clothes are soaked.
I rest my head on my knee, praying for my racing heart to turn normal and the dizziness to seize. Cyril holds my arm and rests his head on my hand.
"We are in this together" he reminds me, and I nod as a smile creeps out of my lips.
Yes, we are Cyril
Yes, we are.
Dad will punish me for Cyril's behavior later, but for now, let me savor the feeling of not embarrassing my family by fainting in a church filled with congregations.
~
I shut my eyes and inhale and exhale, reminding my brain that I am still here and that it shouldn't shut down. Breathing repeatedly and hurriedly is the reason I am still awake. It sort of gives me the little strength not to slump, and my eyes can barely open wide. My whole body still hurts, but if I sit down, I should be fine until I get home and get enough rest.
"What are you doing?" I open my eyes to see my parents and Cyril out of the car as we are parked in front of a store.
"Da-"
"Get down from the car so that we could go shopping" dad interjects, and I sigh.
I bend down to step out of the car before Mum stretches her hand to me, stopping me from stepping out. I stare at Cyril, who is beside mum as he holds unto mums free hands, his face squeezing into pity. I look away before tears roll down my tires face.
"Baby she is we-"
"We will get her drugs inside" He diverts his gaze to me and continues, "Now get out of my car"
I step down from the car, and mum holds unto my hand. I rest my head on her arm as we walk in.
We come out of the pharmacy shop and into the main store for shopping. We walk for thirty minutes or more, and I can't walk any further. I let go of mums hand. My leg refuses to move, and my eyes slowly close and open as everything closes up on me. I am so dizzy that everything is hazy. My heart beat is slower than it was inside the church, and I don't need to be told what happens next.
My body gives up indirectly telling me it can't go on. My tired body hits the hard floor.