THE CROWN - EPISODE 47

It felt like pain, real pain where nobody could be able to get me out of it.

The pain that left my back glued to the bed and my eyes to the roof.

My palm searched each other like I was crazy, my lips in a sync. I was weak but the pain made me feel helpless.

I felt presence, I quickly closed my eyes. I wasn’t ready for the world again, I didn’t think I was.

They touched my hand

“omo mi”

It was my parents. My mother’s silent cries and the grief in my father’s voice.

My hand got all wet from her tears, I still refused to open my eyes.

I wasn’t ready, not even for the grief.

“Omo mi” Baami said again. My eyelids flattered

“Omo mi! Omo mi” I called lowly.

I turned to mother and took her hands to my cheeks. I needed the comfort and warmth

“My dear, it’s going to be fine. Atleast you survived” she said. I stayed quiet, it was tiring just thinking about it… too tiring!.

“Thank the gods, they keep giving you back to us” Baami added.

Everybody get their child but I lose mine even before I knew I had it. The child I so longed for, I let it slip away

“I let it slip away, my chance to be a mother” I blurted.

“No my dear, you are still very young and healthy and you’ll have many chances to be a mother”

I closed my eyes and sighed.

Tears?

I found them not

I closed my eyes and rested my head back to face the roof. Who did this to me? Who wanted to kill me?

What have I done to deserve such? I want to cry, scream my heart and let the pain all out.

The burden feels too heavy that I can barely lift myself to embrace the grief.

I rubbed my stomach while mother massaged my temple. I fell asleep.

It was dark and cold, I was freaking out. A place where I give my everything and yet they give me nothing.

They steal from me and tried to take my soul away.

Greed blinds them to the fact that I’m not the enemy.

They bluntly refuse me even so little peace where even in my sleep I feel the pain of their wrath.

I can do the same, I can make life very miserable for each of them that has hurt me.

I can show them what pain feels like in a smile.

My eyes opened immediately, I panicked

“Relax, it’s just me” he said. I calmed down and looked.

Ikenna brought me water and I drank.

He sat beside me and caressed my cheeks. I stared at him without uttering a word, different thoughts .

Who killed my unborn baby? Does it have something to do envy? Truth be told, I’ve gathered enemies since I became his wife.

I don’t think we’ve talked much since I walked to on him with a naked mistress.

“Are you feeling better?” He asked holding my jaw. I turned my face away from his hold.

“Come, you need to get washed and get ready for dinner”

He tried to carry me,

I stopped him and struggled to stand on my own.

My legs were numbed and my body was in so much pains.

I stumbled and almost fell, Ikenna caught me.

I held my fist in order not to cry even though the tears gathered in my eyes. He took me to the bathroom and helped me wash up.

I stared at him, refusing every urge to bulge from the pains at every part of my body he touched, every single flesh was hurting. My bones felt weak and I knew I had a light head.

He took me back to the room and dressed me up in a single piece.

I sat carefully on the bed, he bent down in front of me.

“You’re hurting yourself, you haven’t cried since the news and that was few days ago” He said.

I avoided his eyes, I wanted my calm in order not to blow hot and blame him for everything that has been happening to me.

“Adenike you’re free to grieve, let it all out”

He added. I closed my eyes and tighten my jawlines.

“You haven’t talked to me or anyone else either. I know you’re hurting and we all are too and we’ll only feel less pain if we let each other take away the burden”

He spoke on and on but I paid no attention. All I heard was the cry of a baby and I knew it was my mind playing games with me. Toying with my emotions and messing me up

“Who is responsible for this?” I finally said cutting him off his little speech.

He took his hand off my thighs and stood up. I heard him sigh

“I want you to finish grieving before taking the next step”

He said. He what? Wants me to stop grieving? I lost my first pregnancy even before finding out about it and he wants me to stop grieving?

“I’m afraid of who might have done this, it’ll hurt. Considering all you’ve done for these people around you”

I kept mute and swallowed hard. I simply stared at the floor. We both stayed quiet

“Say something, I’m losing my mind” he groaned.

“You’re losing your mind? How dare you!” I stood up and fired at him.

“You know who did this and you have decided not to act because it’s your mistress and I will have her head immediately. You’re simply protecting your bastard child!! Admit it!”

He looked at me surprised.

I knew, yes I did. I knew that I went too far insulting the innocent child but I couldn’t help it.

“Adenike…” He tried to touch me

“Don’t touch me with the same filthy hands you use to touch that woman. I just.. wait! We just lost our first baby and yet I wake up to an empty bed everytime because you spend nights with that woman” my eyes were filled with tears but more anger.

“Adenike…” He called again

“Since the day we got married up to this very moment, it has been nothing but pains. Nothing I do is ever enough”

I moved closer to him and poked his chest, I had my calm back

“Get out! go be with the mother of your child. Make Love to her all day, bath her afterwards and feed her. I don’t want to see you, leave!”

I said calmly and slowly. My heart was breaking into thousand pieces and my head was arching badly.

I turned my back to him, my feet patted on the floor.

“If you won’t leave then I will, my Father will accept me with open arms”

I closed my eyes

“Please” I added and tears streamed down my eyes.

I opened my eyes and he was gone, I sat on the bed and sighed.

I cleaned my face and carefully laid down. Why does it feel like I’ve lost a child and husband? Maybe she won.

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Ikenna (POV)

I stepped out of the hut and stood by the entrance to hear her break down but nothing, if she isn’t crying then she’s breaking within and that is bad.

I spent nights watching her sleep and left before she wakes up because I was scared to face her.

I blame myself for everything that has been happening to her.

She’s yet to say it but I know she does too.

I’m scared to investigate the food poisoning either, If Chioma is the culprit she’ll be beheaded immediately and my child, I can’t bear the thought of losing another child.

To everyone else it may seem as though it’s okay but not to me.

With everything that has going on, my relationship with Adenike is what is most affected.

I lost a child too and I’m hurting but if we’re not together then we’ll keeping hurting and delaying in making more children.

I will lose myself in all this and possibly my marriage all because of one mistake.

While chasing the attention of another child I didn’t realize the one I prayed for had come.

“Mother, the princess is still grieving and weak… when she is stronger we’ll begin the process of finding out who poisoned her”

I was in the Royal palour with father and mother.

“She’ll continue to grieve until the culprits are caught” Mother said. I looked away from them

“Ikenna, I will send for the Ezemmuo tomorrow and that is final” Father said

“No father, this is my family and I will handle this my way”

Mother placed her hand on the back of my shoulder

“But Ikenna my dear….”

I stood up at once

“Please let me handle this, one day I will be king and I will take decisions on my own. Excuse me” I bowed and left.

I ran into Chioma on my way, I stood and looked at her.

“Greetings my prince” she bowed. I took her hand and pulled her with me heading for her hut.

“My prince you’re hurting me” she whined. We went inside her hut and I let go of her. She looked at me, massaging her wrist

“Tell me, Did you poison the princess?” I bluntly questioned in all authority

“Why will I do such your highness? Besides on that very day I was not in the palace, I visited my maternal aunt”

“Who is your alibi?”

“The maids and guards all saw me leave the palace that day and also the maids and guards who accompanied me”

She said.

“Who permitted you to leave with escorts?”

“The Crowned Princess”

The princess again, she does everything for this mistress of mine. A wife that does so much for her husband’s pregnant concubine. Too much to be poisoned

She held my arm “I’ve missed you” she said.

I looked at her disgustingly and walked out. The maids ran Helter skelter

I ran to the chamber, mother was there. Adenike was shivering

“Her fever is very high, I don’t know what to do” mother said.

I went over to the other side and climb the bed, her temperature was burning and her teeth gritting.

I heard her hand and rubbed it, she opened her eyes and they fell on me. She pulled her hand away from me

“Di.. didn’t I.. tell you tha..that I don’t want to see you? Get out!” She said.

I looked at mother sadly, she nodded her head and gestured me to leave. I nodded and quietly left and stood outside. The herbalist came too.

Mother stepped out

“Nne, ọ dị mma?” I asked her. She placed her hand on my shoulder

“Everything will be okay, give her time” she said, smiled and went back inside.

How much more time? What if it ends up drifting us apart? I really don’t know what to do to make things better.