Chapter 39 Pained Girl

Women like them are rare, they pride in their printed attires, they flaunt their kinky hair and dark chocolate skin, they give enough love and support to their loved one's they live for love. They are African women. –Cinmisola

I remember waking up thinking I was in heaven. The air was different, everything around me was draped in white, and everyone around me was in white. I saw White angels sometime, and at other times, I saw black ones. Heaven was definitely inter-racial. However, most of all, I remember smiling at the thought that I actually made heaven, who would have thought so. I remember lying still, awaiting an order from one of the angels to take my seat beside Jesus. Sometimes I would also wake up and wonder why I was in pain, was heaven also painful? Wasn't it supposed to be all peaceful and Kumbaya-ish?. But screw the pain, I was happy, happy to know that I was going to meet Rotimi (wait, what if he didn't make heaven?), well then I was sure I was going to have mum and dad to console me instead. We would all look down at the sinful and pitiful place called "earth" and pray for Roland together.

"She's awake, Ro" I heard a woman say in a singsong voice.

Yes, fellow angel, I'm awake.

"O my days! You're really awake!" I heard Roland's unmistakable bass voice.

Why is he looking down at me? I should be the one looking down at him. Or did...is he also...

"Listen to me, Rem. Don't say a word....you've been a lot. Just nod when I ask you certain questions okay?"

Why is he the one asking me questions? Are all the angels on paid leave? Anyway...

"Do you know who I am?"

What do you take me for? Asking me questions as if I've got amnesia.

I nodded, wondering where his questions were leading.

"Thank God for that. if she can nod, then her neck movement is definitely unhampered with" he said to the lady in white beside him. "Rem, Do you know where you are?"

Heaven, duh! I really shouldn't be giving attitude especially now that I'm in the graceful abode of the most high. Don't make me sin, Roland.

I nodded. And watched as he gave a confused look to the woman in sparkling white.

"Do you think she could have taken...during...surgical...procedures"

"That's impossible, she's been sedated throughout, and she might be experiencing a little phase of hallucination."

What's the angel talking about?

"Listen, Rem, I'm glad you're responding to treatment. But I'm going to take you out for a while. I don't want you going through pain, we'll talk much later, hang on sister"

And I was out, flowing and dancing with the angels.

....

The next thing I felt after opening my eyes was pain, a ridiculous sharp pain all over my face. I tried to touch it but I felt no contact with skin, it felt as if my face was completely covered with bandage like I was a mummy returning from death. I began to scream. I kept screaming till I passed out only to wake the next morning feeling a more thumping pain. When was the agony going to end? I began my fit of screams and almost immediately, I passed out clean.

I opened my eyes and found myself at home, mum was cooking, and daddy was on his laptop. Rotimi listened to music and I did my schoolwork. Then suddenly mum stopped cooking, daddy stood up from the laptop and Rotimi unplugged the music from his hears. The all gathered around me and when they tried to talk, blood gushed out instead. They kept trying to talk but blood only poured out the more, Rotimi raised his hands and I noticed that all his fingers were chopped off, the same situation aligned with mum and dad but they kept moving closer to me, gushing blood all over me.

"Revenge us" Rotimi croaked out and spat more blood out. They all began to chant, "Revenge us" continuously.

I flew awake, feeling myself sweat profusely. Someone has staring at me. I could see the person even though it was dark. It was Roland.

"You're awake," he whispered. I could tell from the sound of his voice that he had been crying.

"Roland" I called his name in a soft whisper.

"Shh, don't talk, sister. You're the only one I've got left. I need you to gather all the strength you can gather. I know about everything, we're gonna get revenge, You, Remilekun, are going to help us get revenge."

"How—how do you—"

"You said everything during your temporary unconsciousness. You told me everything. You kept calling their names."

"Rol—I'm supposed to be dead. How—I don't understand"

He took my hands softly. "Listen to me, technically, you're dead. In fact, in Nigeria, we had a funeral for you"

"Roland—mum and dad—it's all my fault"

"Maybe it's your fault, maybe it isn't, but we are going to make them pay"

"Where are we?" I asked, finding my strength.

"Hong Kong. "

"What? How—"

"Don't bother yourself for now; you just went through a major recon structural cosmetic surgery. It went well, as soon as your face is completely ready, I will fill you in on everything you need to know. For now, just rest and get all the rest you can. Life is going to get a little bit messy very soon. Moreover, we'll be putting those people in their places soon enough. Rest, sister. rest."