At the
base of the staircase, Mabel felt a stronger wave of dizziness hit her and fell
into Coker’s waiting arms. Coker staggered a bit but held her strong.
“Mabel, are you
okay?” he asked her.
She
blinked her eye repeatedly as she tried to remain conscious. Coker blew air on
her face, trying to stop her from fainting. After a while, she stood up straight
but with her hand around Coker’s shoulder.
“I don’t understand
this kind of dizziness,” she said, shaking her head in a bid to shake it off.
“You are physically
and emotionally stressed,” Coker said. “You might need to see a doctor o?”
“No. I will be fine.
When I get to my mother’s place, I will rest. That’s just what I need now.”
She turned
to leave the building.
“What about your
phone?” Coker asked.
“I forgot,” she
said. “Let me get it.”
Mabel
made to climb the stairs but Coker stopped her.
“Do you want to
faint?” he asked. “Give me your keys let me get the phone for you.”
“Ok.”
Mabel then
realized she was not with the keys.
“I think I left it
in your car,” she said.
“This is serious o,”
Coker said, worried. “Where do I find it in the car?”
“I don’t know where
exactly. I just know I brought it out from my handbag. Check the back seat
where I sat.”
“Ok, sit here let me
go and get it.”
He helped
her sit down on the first step.
“Please hurry up,”
she said, leaning her head on the rail. “I don’t want people seeing me like
this.”
“Ok,” Coker said and
left her. He did not walk fast to avoid attracting attention. He got to the
car, searched the back seat but did not see the key. He then checked the floor
and saw it. He took it back to Mabel.
“Is this it?” he
asked her.
“Yes,” Mabel
replied.
Mabel told
him how to open the door.
“Where exactly
should I look for the phone and the purse?” he asked.
“I don’t know
exactly where. Maybe I should just manage and go with you.”
“No please. I don’t
want to take that risk.”
“Ok. Just search
everywhere; my room and kitchen precisely.”
Coker
went upstairs. Some minutes after he was gone, Risi came back from buying
something and met Mabel sitting on the step.
“Aunty are you ok?”
she asked, touching Mabel’s shoulder.
“I am ok my dear,”
Mabel said.
“But you are looking
sick. What are you even doing here?”
“I just feel a bit
dizzy, that’s all.”
“Like someone that
wants to faint?”
“No,” Mabel said,
forcing a smile. “Like someone who is tired.”
“Let me tell my
mummy.”
“Don’t bother her. I
will be fine.”
Risi
left her and went upstairs to their flat. In no time, her mother ran down
carrying a bowl of water. The sound of her running feet made Mabel turn back
immediately.
“Mabel are you ok?”
Mama Risi said as she got close, ready to pour the water.
“I am ok,” Mabel
replied, looking surprised. “What is the
water for?”
“Risi said you
fainted. I wanted to pour it on you.””
“As you can see, I
am ok ma”
“Ah ah.”
Mama
Risi turned to Risi who was standing behind her.
“Why did you make me
run like this?” she asked her daughter. “I will just pour you this water.”
“Don’t pour her
please,” Mabel intervened.
Risi went backward out of harm’s
way and spoke her mind.
“Mummy, Aunty Mabel
is sick but she doesn’t want to tell you. If she did not faint, why is she
sitting on the step like this?”
“It is true,” Mama
Risi said and turned to Mabel. “What are you doing here? I though you said you
forgot something? Where is that young man you were with?”
“Which one should I
answer first?” Mabel asked, smiling.
“What are you doing
here?”
“I just feel dizzy.
That’s all.”
“You should have
told me since, so we will know what to do about it.”
“I don’t want to
bother you. When I get to my mum’s place, I will take care of myself.”
“Is there any
particular problem? I noticed that you have not been yourself since weekend and
you have not been going to work.”
“I think I stressed
myself too much. I just took some days off.”
“Sure?” Mama Risi
asked, unconvinced.
“Yes.”
“You need to take
things easy,”
“I am trying.”
“You need to take a
lot of water, fruits and rest.”
Just
then, Coker came downstairs with her phone and purse.
“What happened?” he
asked, looking from Mabel to Mama Risi who was still carrying the bowl of
water.
“My daughter told me
that Mabel fainted,” Mama Risi said.
“Is that true? Did
that happen after I left?”
“Not at all,” Mabel
replied.
“OK. Thank God. We
need to go before it gets late.”
“Did you see the
phone and the purse?”
“Yes I did.”
“Ok.”
He
helped Mabel get to her feet. He wanted to hold her as they walked but she told
him she could go herself.
“I don’t want any
attention,” Mabel said.
“Ok,” Coker said. “By
the way, you missed several calls from your sister and your mother,” he told
Mabel as they walked to the car.
“When we get to the
car, I will return the calls.”
Mama
Risi walked behind them, still carrying her bowl of water. When they got to the
car, Coker opened the back seat door and Mabel sat in. His brother came to
Mabel and asked if she was ok.
“I am fine thank
you,” she replied.
“Drive,” Coker told
his brother.
“I want to sit
behind with her and make sure she is fine,” Coker’s brother said.
“I said I am fine
o,” Mabel said again, smiling.
“Ok if you say so.”
He went
to the driver’s seat.
“Why don’t you want
to drive?” Mabel asked Coker. “Are you ok?”
“I am also feeling
dizzy,” Coker replied.
Mabel
burst into laughter and he joined in. That helped ease the tension.
“Mama Risi you can
go back now,” Mabel told Mama Risi. “I will call you when I get to my mum’s
place.”
“Ok my dear,” Mama
Risi said. “Please take care of yourself.”
“I will.”
Risi
waved at Mabel as she went back in with her mother who was still clutching her
bowl of water. Mabel waved back. Coker sat in, put on his seat belt and his
brother drove off. Mabel sunk into her seat and sighed.
(...to be continued)
Nedu Isaac
No comments:
Post a Comment