[Story] Empty promises – S01 E18

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 18

They asked me why I was driving so late and all alone.

I began to sob while explaining to them that my husband was involved in an accident and I Just got the call that night.

I have to ask our maid to look after the kids while I hurry down to the next state where my husband works to see him in the said hospital.

And the car I’m using is also his own car since mine was faulty.

I showed them my fake wedding certificate and the car papers.

My cry turned into mourning, as pretentious tears run down my face.

The officer began to pity me. They wanted to give me an escort to follow me down but I told them that I will be alright, I don’t need escort.

They bid me farewell and I drove off.

Through out the night till the following day I was driving.

I got to Lagos towards the evening the following day and went straight to the apartment I use to occupy before but it was taken.

The owner gave it out and packed up my things into a store.

I searched for a very cheap hotel checked in.

I know is matter of days and I will be running low on cash.

I took the car to a dealer and within few days he sold it off and paid me my own percentage.

I rented a house, a room and parlour self contain in the main land and moved in.

I’m going to start my life all over again, although it will be hard but I’m willing to try.

There is something I have in mind to do and that is paying Israel a visit to let him know that I’m back to Lagos.

Three days later, I thought of calling Israel but it will be better I pay him a surprise visit.

I quickly got dressed and left to his place but I was informed that he has relocated to another area.

I asked if they have an idea of his new address but most of them don’t except the care taker who remembered me and was also Israel’s friend.

He gave me the address, I thanked him before leaving.

It was another long ride, going from bus to bus before I finally arrived at the place.

The house was a big flat and it’s environment was clean.

I knocked on the door twice after readjusting my cloth, my hair and I made sure my makeup was still sparkling.

I practiced a smile while waiting for Israel to open up.

After sometime the door swing open, my well plastered smile turned into a frown.

It wasn’t Israel that opened but Diane. She was carrying a baby on her shoulder.

My stomach tightens and I lost words to say.

She seems cheerful on seeing me and ushered me in.

I quietly followed her to the sitting room and sat down before my shaking legs will give way to a fall.

I looked round and saw her wedding pictures with Israel. I also saw some of the baby’s picture hanging on the wall.

My hand began to sweat.

So Israel is married to Diane and they already has a baby.

I remembered my own lose pregnancy, I could have being a mother too but Tony beat the babies out of me.

I had two miscarriage and lost everything I ever worked hard for. I went to Jalingo with high hopes and with plenty but I left with nothing, no job, no husband or baby and no money, as poor as a church rat.

When I thought I will start all over again with Israel another disappointment kicks in, dashing all my tiny remaining hope to the ground.

How do I cope with this shock and how do I tell Diane that my supposed handsome, PhD and Harvard business school husband was all a scam.

Tony was a perfect pretender filled with empty promises which he never kept even one.

Tony was a good liar, he was violent and hit me until I loose my unborn child, Tony was a cheat and was sleeping with Halima who was supposed to be my maid. They make out even in my matrimonial bed and I never knew that they were partners in crime who were planning how to drain me off and destroy me.

They finally succeeded, leaving me to lick my wound.

I wasn’t going to let them go free with that, my only consolation is that either Tony’s leg is amputated or he will never be able to walk normal ever again.

I gave him something to remember me for. An everlasting mark that he will never forget in a hurry and Halima could have gotten her own share out of it but I spared her because of her unborn child who is innocent of all their crimes.

Tony and Halima will have alot of regrets coming for them in the future.

My only pain now is that Israel is married to Diane who was supposed to be my friend.

Everyone keeps disappointing me, everybody I trust kept on disappointing and destroying my high hopes.

It was Tony and Halima and now is Isreal and Diane.

The baby in Diane’s arms was supposed to be mine and not hers.

The wedding pictures which hung on the wall was supposed to be me and Israel and not Diane.

Why is my life so unfortunate.

“Is being ages Avala, how are you doing and what brought you to Lagos?

Diane asked me readjusting the sleeping baby in her arms and bringing me back to reality.

She try to lay the baby on a couch but he awaken again.

I watched silently as she began to gently tap the child until he was stable.

Diane quietly got up from the baby couch which was in the center of the living room.

She went to the fridge and came back with fruit juice and a glass cup. She brought a small table and placed the drink.

She left again and came back with Peanuts in a saucer. She placed it beside the juice before taking her seat opposite me.

I was supposed to be the one married to Israel and serving her as a visitor whenever she visits us, It wasn’t supposed to be the other way round.

Diane asked me the same question again of what brought me to Lagos.

I stammered as I try to lie but the lie did not come out smooth.

“Is work that brought me..my company transfered me back again. My job in Jalingo is over.

“What of your husband? I mean is he joining you here in Lagos or you will be traveling down to see him in Jalingo?

Diane asked making me speechless. I breathed in and try to change the question.

“Your baby is quiet cute? What of Israel?

“Thanks! baby Timo is just nine months and act so much like his father. My husband is not back from work yet but will soon be home.

I tightened my fist as she mentioned her husband instead of addressing him by his name and why is she giving me details about her baby Timo, I never asked her his name or how many months he was.

Maybe she was using it to spite me. That is what people do, they spite me with every giving opportunity they get.

I wasn’t going to pretend and hide the way I feel about she and Israel, I will tell her exactly how it is.

“I never knew you were already married to Israel and had a baby for him. Israel supposed to be my man and you were supposed to be my best friend. How can you betray me like this? How could you go ahead and marry my man, that is the highest betrayal Diane. I never expected such thing from you…

I raged like a jealous housewife.

Diane gave a sarcastic laughter before saying.