Chapter 3

Dave walked into the hospital room with flowers and my favorite chocolate in his hands. 

I was sitting up, reading a book I'd gotten from Emma so I wouldn't die of boredom.

He was surprised to see me awake.

He threw the flowers away and charged towards me so fast that I genuinely got scared.

He hugged me very tightly as he kissed my forehead and stroked my hair.

The doctors gave him a diagnostic report, They told him that I could be discharged the next week if nothing else came up.

He looked at me and I saw a drop of tear fall from his eyes. 

He held me tightly and whispered in my ear, "I'll never let you go Teddy, Never again". 

Tears welled up in my eyes as I hugged him again. 

He was truly my world. 

I couldn't believe I'd let him suffer like that for 2 years.

Worrying about my safety, and being in such a fragile state. 

We held onto each other for a while longer, He smelt like cinnamon and bubblegum and I realized how much I'd missed that smell.

He kissed me, slowly igniting a spark that I didn't even know I had in my soul.

It was slow and passionate, It was the kinda kiss that said "I'll never let you go".

I held his chest and couldn't stop myself from crying, he gently stroked my hair and told me everything would be fine.

Emma smiled at me from the door, I had only just noticed her watching me from the door.

"I just need to check your blood pressure ma'am, and I'll give you guys some room" she said, almost giggling.

"How are you feeling, I hope I'm not hurting you, I'm really sorry" Dave said, finally letting go of me.

I loved how innocent and cute he was.

"I feel like I just won a chance to live a second time," I replied jokingly.

He smiled at me. 

"You must be starving, I should probably order some food for you. We need to ask the doctor what kinda food you can't eat now"He added.

The Doctor told him I needed to start off on fluids and soft foods.

Apparently they needed to monitor my digestion and see how well I could swallow.

The Doctor advised me to start with water and juice for the meantime.

I couldn't object, I had just been given a new chance at life and I wasn't gonna waste it. 

Dave and I had a lot to catch up on, I had missed 2 years of gossip and my ears were itching to hear them all.

Dave started with random changes in town.

We lived in a small town in Italy called Portofino.

But I was actually from a small town in Nigeria.

I was from Ibadan, Nigeria and I swore never to return after everything I passed through. 

I remembered how I left the country at the tender age of 11.

I remember running as fast as my little legs could take me.

I ran and ran till I came face to face with a church and I went into it.

It was a Catholic church and as soon as I entered I saw the priest.

I ran straight to him crying.

I told him everything about my uncle and aunty and how I'd managed to escape.

After my aunt left me in the old man's house, he turned me into a full time housewife.

He never let me go outside, and always threatened to kill me any day I stepped my foot anywhere near the door.

We lived in a small house which had only 2 rooms and 1 bathroom.

One room was always locked and I was never allowed to go in there.

He slept in the other room, while I slept on the parlor floor.

There was only 1 chair in the parlor; His wooden chair and a little wooden table.

He was a hunter and had the skulls of different animals on a shelf.

He treated them like trophies, I was made to clean them every morning and evening.

He had 2 guns in the house.

He kept one locked away in his cupboard, and was always with the other one.

It was always by his side, he even slept with it.

He looked like he was in his late 60s or early 70s, but he was definitely stronger than he looked.

He told me to always call him sir, I never really understood why.

On the night before my tenth birthday sir called me to his room. He told me that I was finally going to a woman and he would show me what it meant to be a wife.

He said it was finally time for him to reap the fruit of his labor.

I was scared for myself, I didn't understand what he meant, but from the sinister look on his face I knew I was in danger.

He told me to sleep well, he had a lot to teach me the next day.

I couldn't continue staying in the house, so I decided I would make my escape that night.

My plan was simple: steal the keys to the door from his bedside, then run as fast as I could to anywhere.

Or so I thought it was.

I slipped through the door like a shadow immediately I heard him snoring.

My heart was pounding within my chest. This very mission would determine my life.

His rhythmic snore filled the room, reminding me of the risk I was undertaking.

I could see the key, lying steady on his bedside stool.

I took a deep breath and moved slowly, not wanting to look at him. I was scared that the slighted glance at him could wake him up.

The floor creaked under my weight, and I froze, holding My breath, My heart pounding louder than ever.

When no movement came from the bed, I continued, inching closer until I was within arm's reach of the key. 

I picked it up slowly, silently celebrating within myself.

A cough came from his bed and I froze. Accepting defeat, I turned but he was still asleep.

I breathed in heavily, Thanking God for my narrow escape as I slipped out of the room.

I headed straight for the door, Triumph filling my head as I beamed with joy for the first time in a really long time.

I inserted the key into the lock, ready to finally be free but a familiar voice stopped me.

"Get away from that door, before I blow your brains out" sir screamed at me.

I was so close to my escape, I couldn't leave this opportunity so I quickly twisted the door handle and made my escape.

I was about to run but he was faster.

He gave me the hardest slap I had ever received in my life.

He dragged me by my hair into the house and locked the door behind us.

He pulled out his belt and proceeded to hit me mercilessly till I passed out on the floor.

I woke up in the basement, I'd been tied up and there was blood everywhere. 

My blood. 

I tried to wriggle my way outta the ropes, and this earned me another slap.

My head felt like I'd been hit by a mountain of rocks.

My whole body ached and all I could do was cry.

I heard sir laughing in the background.

"You must be very foolish, child" He said with a stern face. " You think you could just sneak a key away from me ?. I fought in the war and survived, Nothing gets past me, especially not you little twerp".

He left me down there for 3 days.

I spent my birthday in bitter tears, wondering how life would have been if my parents were alive.

I was only given water once daily and denied food.

That was my breaking point, I swore to escape as soon as I got the chance and it came sooner than later.

Sir went out one cold evening for his usual evening strolls.

He always locked the door behind him anytime he left, giving me no opportunity to escape.

I had been cleaning the house when I saw a key under his bed.

I couldn't find a lock for it until I remembered his cupboard which I could never get open.

I quickly rushed to it, and without hesitation the key unlocked the cupboard.

There was a gun neatly seated in it, It was loaded and I took it out.

I was still examining it when I heard the parlor door creak, I quickly locked the cupboard and hid the gun in my dress.

I placed the key where I'd found it and resumed cleaning.

Sir came into the room and smiled at me.

For a moment I thought he had seen me and I would get another beating, instead he touched my chin.

"I see all your wounds are finally healed" he said and I nodded.

"Tonight I shall finally make you a woman," he continued, giggling.

I got scared, really scared and the only thing I could think of was to run away again.

Night fell faster than ever and I heard sir yelling my name.

I pretended to be asleep on the floor but that didn't stop him.

I felt his hands on my underdeveloped breasts, I hoped that if I stayed still he would stop.

He didn't.

He touched me again and I couldn't take it anymore, I felt disgusted and I stood up abruptly.

He told me to follow him to his room and I refused, I said I preferred the floor.

He wasn't having it. He pulled me to his room where he asked me to undress, but I refused.

The gun was still hidden in my dress and I was scared he'd find out.

I begged him not to touch me but he pushed me to the wall.

He was about to hit me but I pulled out the gun.

I told him I would shoot him if he didn't open the door for me to escape, but he laughed.

He told me to drop the gun or else he'd kill me.

I shivered, feeling scared and alone.

I threatened him again but he charged at him, I panicked and pulled the trigger. He fell hard on the floor.

I shot him.

I was scared, I wasn't ready to go to jail.

I threw the gun far away from the room.

I didn't mean to shoot him.

I saw the house key in his pocket, so I put my hand in to get it.

He held my hand.

He was alive, I had shot his leg but he wasn't backing down.

I kicked his hand off me and ran to the door.

I opened it and ran without looking back. 

I ran and ran, and after what seemed like hours I came face to face with a church.