CHAPTER 21


    Doctor Dwayne sighed. "Well, I did everything I could, ran series of tests but we couldn''t diagnose the


    real cause of IK''s breakdown. I suspect it is a reaction to stress or sleeping pattern, but that shouldn''t


    have elicited such level of pain. You know this is a small hospital, I think you may have to take him to a


    bigger hospital, preferably a government hospital, since they have several machines at their disposal."


    he paused slightly as bimbo shifted in his chair. "But that may not be necessary. I''ll prescribe some


    drugs. If he improves after using the drugs, then you have nothing to worry about."


    bimbo took a deep breath and swallowed. "How much are we looking at?"


    Doctor Dwayne smiled. He had known bimbo for a while and he was one of the pastors Dwayne had


    give you the drugs at cost price"


    bimbo let out a breath as a small smile crept up his face. "Thank you, Dwayne. God bless you"


    *****


    Florence opened her eyes heavily, feeling extreme fatigue like she had been grinding pepper


    throughout the night. She blinked severally and suddenly jerked out of bed as something shed


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    through her mind. "IK" she murmured as she rushed to the bathroom to wash sleep off her face. They


    had arrived home reallyte the previous night, it had taken some time for IK to wake up at the hospital


    and he had fallen right back to sleep when they got home. bimbo had carried the sleeping children from


    their neighbor''s ce into their beds, and after much prodding, bimbo had been able to lull her to


    sleep.


    Florence pushed her legs into the first pair of slippers she sighted - her husband''s - and quickly exited


    the room. It was just the crack of dawn. The night''s darkness was yet to lift off the earth. Florence


    picked thentern at the passage and turned it up, till the orange glow spread out opIKally.


    Noiselessly, she opened the door her son''s room and sighted him on the bed sleeping peacefully. For a


    moment, his lifeless form shed through her mind, causing her heart to skip wildly. Taking a deep


    breath, she walked towards his bed and heaved a sigh when she saw the steady rise and fall of IK''s


    chest.


    Florence sat at the edge of the bed for God knows how long, deriving pleasure in watching her son


    sleep. He looked so innocent and peaceful. She couldn''t imagine life without him - without any of her


    kids. Florence ran her fingers gently through IK''s hair and bent fractionally to kiss the top of his head.


    "Be okay for me, IK" she whispered. "Be okay for mummy"


    Florence felt eyes on her and turned to see bimbo watching her carefully from the entrance. She was


    surprised to find the room bright, she didn''t know she had stayed so long there.


    She stood up. "Good morning"


    bimbo walked into the room slowly. His eyes rested on IK as he put his hand slightly against his neck to


    feel his temperature. Satisfied, he drew to his full height and peered at Florence. "You''ve been crying


    again"


    She shook her head.


    He cupped her cheek, tracing a wet line with his finger. Florence swallowed, she had no idea that she


    had tears on her face. She bit her lip nervously, looking at her husband''s shirtless chest.


    bimbo tugged her lips free of her teeth and leaned in, kissing her gently. For a moment, Florence forgot


    everything as she leaned into bimbo, allowing her hands and mouth drive away her fears. As bimbo''s


    kisses grew deeper, Florence suddenly imagined her children walking in on this sight and nearly broke


    intoughter. It is not everyday you find a pastor kissing his wife so passionately; what a spectacle


    they''d make.


    bimbo pulled back. "It''s a relief to finally see you smiling"


    Florence blinked. "There hasn''t been much to smile abouttely" she ran the tips of her fingers over his


    chest. "What... did the doctor say yesterday?" she hadn''t had the boldness to askst night, partly


    because she was scared of what the response would be.


    bimbo was silent for a while. "We may have to... take IK to general hospital for a checkup"


    Florence stared.


    "Mummy?" Florence spun like a top at the sound of IK''s voice. His eyes were open, peering at his


    parents with a nk look.


    Florence was at his side in an instant, sitting beside him on the bed. "IK my son, how are you? Bawo


    ni? How do you feel now?"


    "Sorry mummy" he murmured as his eyes sobered up. He looked at his dad. "Sorry daddy"


    Florence and bimbo nced at each other in confusion. "Sorry for what, IK?" bimbo asked.


    "For... making you worry so much yesterday"


    Florence released the breath she was holding and kissed the top of IK''s head. "You have nothing to be


    sorry for, IK. How do you feel now?"


    "Do you still feel pain with in your chest?" bimbo added.


    IK lowered his eyes. "A little" he said. "I just feel a little tired. It would go soon"


    Florence nodded grimly.


    *****


    Days passed. Each day adding it''s own measure of worry. IK seemed to grow weaker by the day.


    Florence and bimbo grew more restless. Dark circles formed under their eyes as they barely slept at


    night; they were either praying or checking up on IK repeatedly. IK''s siblings were always by his side


    and Selena''s eyes were eagle sharp, looking out for even the slightest change. Happy times dropped,


    worry sheated their faces. The days became dark, the nights grew darker...


    Four dayster, Florence and bimbo Onaje took IK to the General Hospital for a checkup. After series


    of tests, they were asked toe back in two days for the result. bimbo had always preached on faith,


    preached against fear and anxiety, but now, as they walked into the General hospital, bimbo was at his


    rope''s end. He felt like an overstretched rubber band, ready to snap.


    bimbo walked into the overcrowded waiting hall of the General hospital, holding IK''s left hand firmly


    while Florence held IK''s right hand. They approached the nurses at the reception. "Good afternoon. We


    need to see doctor Johnson, we have an appointment for today" he said, pushing their hospital card


    forward.


    The nurses barely spared them a nce. "You have to wait like everyone else. We would call you when


    it is your turn" one of the nurses answered drily.


    Florence shook her head as they turned away from the nurses. They quickly spotted an empty bench


    and went for it before it was taken over by someone else. Different people with unknown illnesses


    roamed around and the unsmiling nurses seemed to care less whether the people lived or died. They


    screamed at whoever tried to disturb their peace, preferring to chat freely amongst themselves rather


    than do their jobs.


    IK leaned his head against Florence''s shoulder and she turned instantly. She put the back of her palm


    against his neck and her eyes nearly popped in rm. IK''s temperature had risen drastically and his


    skin was painfully pale. "IK" she called sharply. "IK? Are you okay? How are you feeling?"


    IK shook. "I''m feeling cold"


    Florence moved his head onto herp as bimbo shrugged out of his jacket and covered IK with it.


    bimbo jumped to his feet and headed straight for the counter where the nurses sat, chatting freely


    amongst themselves.


    "Nurse" bimbo called. "Please,


    we need to see Doctor Johnson now, my son is very ill"


    A gum chewing nurse looked at him nkly. "Everyone here is very ill" she returned.


    "I know but my son needs immediate attention" he almost yelled.


    "Listen young man, if you cannot wait for your turn, I''ll ask security to throw you out of here and-"


    "Nurse"


    bimbo turned and sighed gratefully immediately he saw Doctor Johnson.


    "Follow me" Doctor Johnson said, looking at him.


    bimbo rushed off to where Florence was and lifted IK in his arms. Florence matched the strides of her


    husband, not letting go of IK''s hand for a second.