Although it was a quiet dinner, my heart was pounding hard through my chest like it could dash out any moment. I was tense just thinking about what Nancy had told me. While nothing happened the first day, in the following days, my mother started looking at me quite strangely.
Breakfast and dinner had started becoming moments in which I was constantly tense. But nothing happened in the following weeks and she never asked me any questions. I regularly got in touch with Nancy and she told me that Ola was feeling much better. While I was happy everything went well, I was about to have the biggest shock of my life.
A month had passed since I fainted while I was about to sign the papers that would give me Ola's shares of properties. My father didn't make mention of it again. It was a Monday morning and while in my office, he sent one of the staff to call me. When I went to see him, I didn't see the father I had hoped to see. He seemed bothered by something and I couldn't tell what it was.
"Is everything okay, dad?" I asked feeling worried.
"Tola, since the last time you fainted you haven't asked me about the papers you were suppose to sign." A sudden frown engulfed me and I felt withdrawn. I had nothing to do with Ola again and this meant signing those papers was of no use. I had to tell my dad that I wasn't going to sign them.
"I mean the offer is still valid. And it's something me and your mother are hoping you accept."Â I saw desperation in the way he said it. What was going on that he refused to tell me? Were they in financial difficulties or what?
"I hope there's nothing wrong dad?"
"No, nothing. So what is your decision?" I sighed, as what I was about to say, could perhaps devastate him and eventually my mother. But I had to say it.
"Dad, I've given up on so many things. And I'm not sure I should bother myself anymore about signing those papers."
"So are you saying you are not going to sign them?"
"Dad those papers are still a reminder of the answers I couldn't get. I want to have enough peace in my life right now."
"That's a definite no, then?" I nodded.
"Fine then. In that case I will let the Segun family know you are not interested." He quickly got on the phone and called his friend and right where I was sitting told him I was not interested. When he finished he stared at me.
"You better prepare what you are going to tell your mother." I rolled my eyes. I knew that my mother would make a scene out of it. But I had already taken my decision and wasn't going to change it. I knew I wasn't going to have an easy time with her, but I had to confront her. I got home surprised that my dad had come home earlier than usual.
I greeted them and went to my room and closed the door. I was nervous and held my breath while I closed my eyes. Soon my mother would shout my name, I told myself. And sure enough, she was punctual.
"Tola? Tola?" I came out of my bedroom and went to the sitting room.
"Sit down." She told me. I sat down and waited for her to tell me what I didn't want to hear.
"Tola why are you refusing to sign those papers?"
"I don't see any sense in signing them."
"Why? Don't you want a better future?"
"I do, but not a future that reminds me of answers I couldn't get or will never get."
"So are you still looking for answers? Is that why you are refusing to sign them?" I nodded. My mother took a deep breath. I could see that she was boiling. She was about to get angry.
"Since you came back, I've noticed that you don't wear your ring anymore. What is this all about?" I looked at both parents sitting down trying their best to convince me to accept the offer. Why were they so eager? Was it for the money or what?
"Mum, dad, I saved a man's life a few weeks ago. It was on the day I was released. I told you I was with Nancy and we were about to go into a restaurant when a car going at full speed raced passed us and dropped a body a few feet away from my car."
I stopped and looked at them to see if they were listening.
"Go on we are listening?" My father said.
"It was a man, he was still breathing so we had to rush him to the hospital. He needed surgery and I signed so he could have it. After that day, I didn't set foot in the hospital again until Nancy told me he had regained consciousness." I bent my head down and wiped the tears from my eyes.
"Dad, I saved a man's life. I saved a man, Just like your mother did." I paused briefly to see my dad's reaction. I must have shocked him as he folded his hands and stared at me. My mother looked at me and then looked at my father surprised.
"Kunle, what is she talking about?" All my father could do was stare at me. He knew I was right and that on this he couldn't argue with me. I continued,
"Having regained consciousness, I decided to pay the man a visit at the hospital. I stood by his bedside and watched as he opened his eyes. But much to my surprise, this same man I had saved didn't recognize me. That's when I pulled off my ring. Dad, mom? I am not signing any papers as I'm done going after something that has only caused me so much pain."
"Tola, what did you just say?" My mother's voice was getting louder.
"I just told you I am not signing those papers."
"Are you with your senses at all? Do you think you are still a small girl? So you want to depend on us to feed you when you are being made such an offer?"
"Mum I have told you I am not signing those papers. I have nothing doing with that family any more. Let them take their son.
"Is he not your husband?"
"No, not anymore. When he gets better I'll get a full divorce."
"And who will shoulder your burden when the time comes, me? Ah no, wake up o."
"Why are you talking like that?"
"So you look me finish say make I still dey feed you as old as you are, when you are the one to be feeding me and your father, Tola?" This was an eye-opener. Nancy had the sense to tell me all of this might happen. I was beginning to see it right before my eyes. I knew right this moment, no argument put forth would be convincing enough to make them understand why I didn't want to sign those papers.
I got up from where I was sitting and looked at my father. He had nothing to say. He had still not overcome the shock of hearing me say, I had save a man's life just like his mother did.
"Mum, I'm sorry. I never knew it has got to this point." I replied. I went to my room and got my handbag. I was going out, where ? I just didn't know. I only wanted to be alone and think.
"I'm going out and may not come home. But don't worry about me. I'll be fine on my own." I went out of the house banging the door and got into my car. I had a house I could go to, but I wasn't prepared to go there. What if Ola coming out of the hospital was going to stay there? This bothered me.
I shook my head as I started my car. I drove out of the house and went to the one place I could relax and think of what to do next-the pub. When I got to the pub, it was a little deserted. The usual spot I always liked to sit down was already taken, and so I decided to hang out at the bar. I told the bartender to give me a glass of wine. When he did, I took a sip and looked around.
Looking around, I noticed someone that looked like the stranger that had once come to sit down with me. I took my glass and headed towards him. He saw me and smiled.
"My stranger friend, I never knew you liked coming to bars."
"Shh, you know you're the only one that can see me?" I nodded.
"I take it you came specifically for me?" I asked, as I sat down.
"Only to see how you are doing after my last visit. And you are not doing quite well."
"I'm doing very well." I answered
"That kind of self-encouragement isn't working. You're deeply in pain and you can't deny it."
"So should I hang on to the pain or live as much as I can?"
"You are much stronger than the pain you carry."
"Am I? " He nodded.
"You saved a man's life in spite of how much he hurt you." I sighed as he reminded of Ola again.
"Yes, I did save a man's life. But I only realize now that it was a waste of time."
"Let's say by saving him, you forgave him for what he did to you."
"Forgiveness?" I would never forgive that man." He shook his head.
"You had a friend tell you to leave him to die. But you didn't. Why?"
I knew Nancy had told me not to help Ola. But I had refused.
"Your friend told you three times not to help that man and three times you said no."
"I didn't realize I said no that amount of times."
"You said it because you knew, he was still yours." I knew he was still mine, but I had already taken a decision. I wasn't going back to him. My decision was final.