'We know what her name is Dr Deji, it’s Shade but the man is in a stable condition even though he received a severe blow to the head and a gunshot wound to his shoulder ’, Nkechi added. ‘He woke up for the first time last night but does not seem to remember who he is or recall what happened, we’re hoping it’s temporary amnesia ‘. ‘Any enquiries as to who they are from anyone?’ Dr Deji asked. ‘No sir, even the people who brought them here did not return to find out how they were doing and they refused to report the case to the police because they thought they would be arrested’, Nkechi replied, ‘I just felt I should let you know because my four day shift ends today and I’m not back till Monday’. ‘Ok, that’s fine’, ‘What of Lillian, when does her shift start?’ ‘At eight sir’. Dr Deji nodded, ‘that’ll be all’ he said moving towards my bedside.
‘Hello young lady’, he said cheerfully, ‘I thought you were sleeping’. ‘How are you today, I heard you woke up for the first time yesterday morning since you were brought in here three days ago’. ‘Much better’, I said hoarsely. My first thought was of Kunle and what I had overheard then the pain in my right leg hit me like a wave. I moaned and smarted my eyes. ‘Where is Kunle?’ I asked strenuously. ‘Can I take it you mean the man that was brought in with you?’ Dr Deji asked. I nodded slightly. ‘He is in a stable condition but let’s worry about you for now’, ‘Can you talk?’ he asked. I nodded again. ‘If you don’t mind, I’ll need to take some notes and if you can give me details of anyone to contact, we’ll be able to do that immediately’. ‘Fortunately for you the gun shot to your leg missed your Tibia or shinbone and so it’s more or less a large painful wound but you’ll be fine’. ‘Kunle seems to have lost his memory and we were hoping you’d be able to help with that’. I nodded again. ‘Ok, Dr Deji said. ‘I’ll ask the questions and you just answer’, ‘If you feel tired or want to stop please let me know’. ‘Ok’, I whispered.
‘Who is he to you….you’re Shade right, the nurses found that out yesterday’. ‘Yes, he is my husband’. ‘I guess your rings must have been taken as well?’ Dr Deji quizzed. ‘Uhum, it was terrible’. ‘Do you have any relatives that I can contact?’ he asked gently. ‘Not really, all our relations live in the U.S and in England except for Mama Tunde his old aunty and she is in the village so there’s no need to contact her’, I said slowly. ‘What about work?’ Surely they would need to know’ he asked inquisitively. ‘My husband retired early but you could contact our housemaid’. ‘I could give you the maids mobile number and you could ask her to come here’. ‘As for our relations abroad, I’ll call them myself once we’re out of here’, ‘there’s no need to worry them’. ‘And the bills?’ he asked. ‘No deposit was left, how will it be paid?’. ‘I don’t have my check book here but I could pay as soon as the maid brings my things’.
‘With the way you’re both responding to treatment, you could be discharged within two weeks but the complete healing process will take anything from 3-6 months with your husband wearing a sling for the last 3 months’. ‘His shoulder blade tissues have been badly damaged, he must not drive or lift heavy objects once discharged’. ‘Ok, when can I make the call?’ I asked. ‘Now, if you want’, Dr Deji said enthusiastically. Two weeks came before I could say the words. True to their words Kunle’s memory was gone. How long it would last I did not know. The Dr’s conclusion was that it was temporary. I was hoping more like eternally permanent. Kunle was mine I said to myself and then the thought that I could lose him if he regained his memory gave me a panic attack and I started whizzing. I kept telling myself it was only for a while and I would contact Tade and the rest to let them know as soon as we were both fine. It was just a little lie to bide time. ‘I’m doing what’s best for me and my child’, I muttered to myself as we left the hospital in the taxi. I still could not shake of the anxiety. ‘How long can I keep this up for?’ the tiny voice of my conscience asked. I squashed it. ‘Since when did that matter after all he had lied to me’. My boss had been so understanding. She had even raised a donation to pay part of the bill. Meanwhile my darling, dearest Kunle clung on to me like I was his last breath, sucking up every word about being his wife and us expecting a child and how we had lost our rings. I had been told not to tell him anything about the ordeal but to give him time. I shrugged…..suited me fine……no…….perfect. Easy enough for me to live a lie but how was I going to lie to the rest of the world?
