Episode 16: Beyond the Bloodline
Kemi’s POV
I waited patiently with Jide for hours for the supposed patient they had called on the phone regarding the mix-up. The tension in the waiting room was unbearable. Jide threw suspicious glances at me every now and then, his silence louder than words. I could feel the weight of his distrust pressing on me, and my heart ached. What would he say or do if this entire situation didn’t add up?
He had been upset with me ever since I missed the doctor’s appointment for the procedure. And now, with this fresh confusion, I was scared that I was losing the trust we had worked so hard to build. I couldn’t bear the thought of losing him—Jide was everything to me. He had given me a sense of belonging, something I had never experienced in my life.
My thoughts wandered back to my childhood. Raised in an orphanage, I never knew who my real parents were. Life there wasn’t easy—food was scarce, clothes were always hand-me-downs, and the caregivers, though well-meaning, were stretched too thin to give any child individual attention. At night, I would lie awake, listening to the muffled sobs of other children while I silently cried myself to sleep, wishing for a real family.
At 13, my prayers seemed to have been answered. A kind woman came to adopt me. She was warm and gentle, the mother I had always dreamed of. She treated me like her own, showering me with love and care. For the first time, I felt like I belonged somewhere.
But life was unfair. My foster mother became really ill. She had Leukemia which was the reason why she initially refused to get married and opted for an adoption instead. She passed away a year later. Her death shattered me. Her sister, who had always been against the idea of adoption, took me in.
Unlike my foster mother, she was cold and strict.
From the moment I arrived, I was made to replace the house help. She constantly reminded me of how much of a burden I was.
“You’re nothing but a liability,” she would say. “I told my sister not to adopt you, but she wouldn’t listen. Now look at what she left me with.”
She complained incessantly about how much money her sister had spent on adopting me and treated me like I owed her a debt I could never repay. My life became a cycle of endless chores—cooking, scrubbing floors, fetching water, cleaning the bathrooms, doing the laundry, and even washing her grown daughter Fumi’s underwear.
Fumi is actually older than me, and the apple of her mother’s eye. She was pampered and spoiled, often referred to as “my baby,” even though she was far from one. She never lifted a finger to help and delighted in making my life even worse.
One fateful morning, Aunt received a call that her son would be returning from the States. The house was abuzz with excitement. I was tasked with preparing everything for his arrival.
On the day he was to arrive, I rushed to the market to buy groceries. On my way back, overwhelmed by the weight of my errands, I failed to notice an oncoming car. It screeched to a halt, and the items I was carrying scattered across the road.
A tall, well-built handsome man stepped out, his face etched with concern. “I’m so sorry,” he said, his deep voice calming. “Are you okay?”
I stood there trembling, it was as if my spirit left my body momentarily. My legs refusing to move. “I… I’m fine,” I stammered. He came close and held my shoulders to calm me down. His sweet, masculine smell filled my nostrils. His arms felt strong and comforting and for a moment, I nearly forgot I was in trouble. The things I bought were scattered all over.
“Let me take you to the hospital,” he said.
“No, sir, I’m fine,” I replied, though my voice betrayed my fear.
“Okay, let me take you home at least, please”. He said. I looked around. People were already helping me to pick some of my things.
He helped gather the remaining few, then he hand me twenty thousand naira to replace some of the damaged items. I removed the supposed amount and returned the rest. He smiled, revealing a nice set of gap teeth. I felt some sense of sweetness in my stomach and wondered if I had butterflies in there. For a moment, I almost forgot how to walk. He held my hands and wanted to enter the market but I objected. “Please don’t”. “People will tell my aunt and I will be in worse trouble. He smiled again and then proceeded to wait for me in the car.
He offered to drive me home, and despite my protests, he insisted. Upon arriving, he noticed my hesitation to enter the house. “Let me explain to your aunt,” he offered, sensing my fear.
“No, please don’t,” I pleaded. But he wouldn’t take no for an answer.
We finally got to the front of the compound. “Wait, is this where you live?” He asked.
“Yes”. I responded shyly.
He stepped into the compound, She was seated outside with two canes tied together, waiting for me. I hide behind the man wondering what my fate will be. The moment she saw him, her mood changed.
“Jide! Omokunrin mi!” she exclaimed, dropping the canes and rushing to embrace him.
Her daughters ran out, squealing with joy. I stood frozen, watching the heartwarming reunion unfold.
When the excitement died down, Aunt turned to me, her expression cold. “What is this thing doing with you?” Madam, so I sent you to the market and you were busy parambulating. What is the time now?
Before I could speak, Jide interjected. “Mummy, please, don’t be hard on her. I almost ran her over on my way here. It’s all my fault.”
Please pardon her. By the way, who’s she?
She didn’t waste time telling her son the story of how his late Aunty left me, a burden to her. Jide calmed her down.
Her face softened slightly, and we all went inside.
From that day on, Jide had a soft spot for me. He often stood up for me, despite his mother’s disdain. I also felt the same or more towards him. He took after his Late Aunty. Very kind unlike his mom. He gave me a small phone to communicate with him secretly, and we would chat late into the night.
One of those evenings, he sneaked into my room after everyone had gone to bed. We talked for hours, and the connection between us deepened. One talk led to the other and we ended up in each other’s arms. He had a wine-like sweet smell on his lips as he leaned in and kissed me. I felt my heart stop. His touch was gentle, his embrace warm and protective. I closed my eyes as I couldn’t even resist. He was my first, so he kept on apologizing, saying he wouldn’t have if I had told him.
It was then clear to me. He was a partially drunk. How come I didn’t even notice. I was really scared.
The next morning, he was gone. I woke up really late. I hurriedly went to do my chores. Fumi had gone to my room, unlike her. I was in a hurry to do my chores and I actually left my bed unattended. She saw everything and wasted no time reporting it to her mother. I felt my spirit leave my body.
The beating that followed was out of this world. Aunt accused me of sleeping with the gate man or a neighbor, refusing to believe Jide could have had anything to do with it.
“Oh, because we were so kind to give you a room of your own, you decided to turn it to boy’s quarter”.
Jide came back barely recognized me. With bruises all over my face. He was really furious. “This is inhumane, Mama! You can’t treat anyone like this!”
He took me to the clinic for treatment. After his short stay, he insisted on taking me along with him. Despite his family’s protests, he stood his ground. That was how I left with him. We got married married months later after so many obstacles and opposition from his family especially his mother and here we are at the hospital six years later.
I looked at Jide with tears welling up in my eyes.
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