Coma

Jewel packed the things she will be needing while visiting her parents. She also bought lots of gifts for her parents and the children in their neighborhood.

The journey to her Father's house lasted for 3hours and when she finally reached his compound, little kids rushed out to greet her.

"Aunty Jewel! We missed you so much!" They all screamed in unison out of excitement.

"Junior, take these goodies and share it equally among you." She handed the gifts to the oldest among the kids.

"Thank you, Ma!!!" they chorused again.

When Jewel entered their living room, her Dad was lying on the settee looking very graceful in sparkling white Jalabiya.

She wanted to rush to hug him when she discovered something was wrong.

Her mum is also seated on another sofa, looking at her husband with worried eyes.

"Mum, what is happening? Dad talked cheerfully the last time we talked."

"Daddy, please, don't do this to me. You are the only man that I know."

She went close to him and found him almost motionless but looking healthy and handsome as usual.

Jewel hugged her Dad tight and glanced at her mum with lots of questions in her eyes.

"Darling, we're not your real parents. We adopted you from infancy, when your mum passed away mysteriously by a roadside. We were in dire need of a child, so we gave your mum a modest burial, travelled with you to a faraway place and only came back to this city after a decade."

"This made everyone to believe we birthed you. Please, forgive us." She pleaded with tears forming at the corner of her eyes.

"Mummy, even though I'm yet to come in terms to this yet, you will remain my parents forever. You both have been kind and flawless in raising me up."

"But, how's this connected to the state Daddy is?" she tearfully asked

"Okay, my dear. I hope when I finish telling you, it will make sense to you. Your Dad told me about an apparition of seeing a young man in royal regalia 4 days ago, telling him it's time for you to know who you really are."

"He confided in me and we both prayed about it. The man came to your Dad again, touched him, and it made him convulse terribly."

"He managed to tell me what happened before his speech slurred and he became motionless."

Still holding on to her Dad, Jewel cried out to no one in particular:

"Please, whoever you are, don't take him from me. He's all I have. Take me instead. I am not belittling you, please, release him from the bondage you put him."

Jewel suddenly felt a painful throbbing sensation in her head, but she stubbornly held on to her Dad. Then she blacked out.

******

Jewel later woke up to find herself still lying on her Dad's chest. He's now awake and holding her close too.

"Daddy, I am sorry for everything I made you pass through."

"It's not a big deal, dear. We're in this together." He replied

Her mum, who just looked on as the inseparable duo kept talking, chimed in:

"Let me get pounded yam and Egusi soup ready for you both. I will be back."

she said and left for the kitchen.

Alhaji Kareem's POV

When Jewel entered to see him in his motionless state, he was aware of her presence, as well as the discussion that ensued between Jewel and his wife.

It hurt him so badly when Jewel told the strange entity to take her so as to free both of her parents. He could only beg the entity in his heart not to listen to her. He should take him instead.

When Jewel blacked out, he panicked but powerless to do anything.

He then saw the strange man again, this time, standing by the sea shore.

"I am Olokun and Jewel is my wife. The love I just witnessed between you both will move the devil himself."

"Kindly guide her to know who she truly is. She has lots of mission to do here."

With that, he touched Alhaji Kareem and vanished.