chapter 31

Surgery

It was exactly 4:25 a.m when they wheeled Sarah out of the operating theater into the recovery room. The surgery had lasted for an hour and 25minutes.

Helen was in the waiting room when the doctor came to meet her. 

"Doctor, how is my daughter doing." She said, her eyes huge with fear and worry.

"The surgery was successful, a nurse will take you to her in a bit." The doctor smiled at her as he talked. 

"Thank you, doctor." Helen wiped tears from her eyes.

"Your daughter is a fighter." He patted her hands and left her.

She sat on a bench in the waiting area and said a silent prayer of gratitude to God. Relief washed over her and she felt at peace for the first time since finding Sarah unconscious in her own vomit.

"I will take you to your daughter now." A middle-aged short plump female nurse with golden curly hair said to her. She was wearing light blue nurse scrubs pants and a pair of flat brown sandals.

Helen stood up immediately and followed the nurse to the recovery room where Sarah was. 

"You are only allowed to stay for 15 minutes then you leave, she is still unconscious but would wake in about 5 hours time. Just sit down quietly beside her." The nurse told Helen as she checked Sarah's pulse and readjusted the Intravenous (IV) drips before leaving the room.

Helen sat on the chair close to the bed and watched her child sleep tears flowed down her eyes. She held Sarah's free hand and caressed it "I love you, baby." She whispered.

She was so tired and dozed off her head on the edge of the bed. The sound of footsteps entering the room woke her up.

"Have you been here all night?" The doctor said to Helen when he saw her. 

Helen only nodded in yes, she had not meant to sleep off.

"Alright, go home and freshen up. We want to examine her now, before you come back she would be awake. Also, bring some light food for her when coming."

"Ok doctor," Helen said glancing over at her daughter one more time before she left for her home.

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Helens Pov

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I feel exhausted but grateful, Sarah's surgery was a success and she would live. That's all that matters for now.

The doctor had asked me to go home and once I get home, I would take a hot bath and get an hour of sleep so I won't break down. Hopefully, I will get back to the hospital before 9:00 a.m. The first person I saw once I arrived at my house was Mazi's wife, she was standing in the front yard with a broom in her left hand and a bucket filled with water beside her. My heart skipped as I walked closer to her, my face flushed as I remembered my sex escapade with her husband last night.

"Good morning ma." I greeted and continued towards my own apartment. I was surprised when she responded to my greetings.

"Hope Sarah is better now." She asked 

"Yes, she is thank you." I was feeling guilty already and hurried inside.

I ran a quick bath and once my head hit my bed I slept off, it was almost noon when I woke up. I overslept but it was much needed. 

I made African corn pudding for Sarah because it was easy to digest. As I was going back to the hospital I saw Mazi's wife again with the other women and they all asked me about Sarah, I was grateful for their consideration and well wishes for my daughter.

Sarah was awake when I got to the hospital though she was a little disoriented she was able to talk to me. She slept and woke up at intervals and towards evening she ate the corn puddings I brought for her. She made a quick recovery and was discharged from the hospital 6 days later.

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Some months later

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I have been avoiding Mazi for so long to no avail, I really regretted what happened between us in the past however I'm really pressured right now. My petty business is not enough to pay my rent, cloth, or feed Sarah and me, not to talk of Sarah's school fees. The hours I spent under the sun has made my skin darker and wrinkled, I don't wear makeup anymore and it used to be one of my favorite things in the world. Sarah would soon be eight years but she has matured beyond her age because of the circumstances revolving around us, I have failed her as a mother.

"Mum, I'm hungry." Sarah's soft voice broke my reverie.

"There is some leftover bean porridge in the pot," I replied, my stomach growled as I spoke. 

"The food is so small mum, are you eating too," Sarah said.

I was hungry but that was the last food in the house. "You can finish the food darling."

I watched her eat the whole food while she was standing, the food wasn't much but it would hold her for some hours. Hopefully, I would have some money to get groceries and prepare a meal for us later in the day.

The following days became tougher and as if Mazi was aware of my situation he pressured me more into dating him. He made mouth-watering promises to me but I didn't bulge till his wife and her friends made snide remarks about me and my condition when we were all gathered around the well.

"You look like an old hag now, when you first came here you flaunted your beauty to us and our men. But now look at you, no man will desire you ever again." Mazi's wife trolled me and her friends laughed.

"She is as poor as a church rat." Another lady said laughing.

"She is a rejected whore." The thinnest amongst the ladies said.

I didn't say a word to them but waited for my turn to use the fetcher to draw water from the well before carrying my bucket filled with water into my room.

After the incident I accessed everything around me and made a decision, I had been wrongly accused and judged by this woman. I had endured their emotional and mental abuse towards me, and mostly I was tired of being poor and not being able to make ends meet. That was why I gave in to Mazi's demand and became his mistress, we went to hotels at first to have sex he was so insatiable which made me demand more from him. He paid for a two-room apartment for me a short distance from where I lived before and I and Sarah moved into the house. The more money he gave me the more glamorous I lived, I became insatiable and wild.

Mazi tried to keep up with my demands but he was not as buoyant as he used to, he asked me to be patient with him but as my patience wore out I got myself a richer sugar daddy.

Jude was in his 60's and a business merchant that sold Jewelleries, he was pot-bellied which was typical in most rich Nigerian men. He was polygamous with 3 wives and 9 children and each of his wives had heir own apartment separate from the others. He was of average height and close to obesity. I met him when I went to get some bracelets and earrings for myself and Sarah, I was about to pay for my purchases when the sales representative told me her boss would like to see me. Recently I had been getting more dating proposals and I knew what the boss wanted to see me for, I had put on some weight now and my buttocks were well rounded as it used to be in my younger days, I have started using makeup again which highlighted my beauty more.

I followed the sales representative and we made our way to his office as I walked in. He offered me a seat and went straight to the point.

"I'm Jude, the owner of this jewelry store and I have five more stores like this in other parts of the country." He boasted 

"I'm Helen, pleased to meet you," I said smiling.

"Are you married?" 

"No"

"That's good because I would like to date you, you see, I can give you all the comfort you desire."

I just smiled and didn't say anything, then he gave me his business card and some bundle of money before fixing a date for Friday evening at a five-star hotel in town.

I left his store and with the extra money he gave to me, I went in search of a dinner gown and some pair of shoes. It felt so good living the luxurious lifestyle again.

Two days later, which was on a Friday Jude and I went on a date to Sheraton Hotels and suite as we planned, he called me on the phone and I took an Uber and met him there. 

"You look beautiful." He said and I saw the hunger for my flesh flood his eyes.

"Thank you," I replied, I wore a long-sleeved shimmering green gown that stopped at the knees with a pair of high heeled white shoes. My hair was packed in a ponytail with my kinky curls popping all over at the top, my lips perfectly colored bright red. I knew I was beautiful and enjoyed the reaction my beauty gave to these overfed, pompous, rich men.

We ordered Jollof rice, vegetable salad, and deep-fried chicken with a huge glass of cocktail. Throughout the dinner Jude boasted about his wealth and how he grew his business, I was bored but didn't show it, after all, he was my next meal ticket. He kissed me on the lips before I left for my home and also gave me a check with 5 zeros. I was thrilled and knew I had struck gold. We made an appointment for Saturday afternoon being the next day and I came ready. I gave him a blow job and also made love to him in styles I knew were foreign to him.

"Helen you are too much, my whole body is on fire." He said grinning from ear to ear when it was all over. "I will ensure you never lack any good stuff in life."

I smiled caressing his nipples and rubbing my hands all over his pot belle, whatever Jude lacked in physical looks, he made up for it with his wealth. I was more interested in the money and would stick around with him till I find someone better.