CHAPTER 8: AFUFUMAGU ( MY SUFFERING HAS ENDED)

It has been 5 days since I gave birth to the boy and I still couldn't find a name for him. my mom named him "Chukwudaluu" meaning "God I thank you," while my dad, named him "Onyekachi" meaning "who is greater than God". I couldn't really find a name for him. when he was 6 days, my parents disturbed me to name him. While they were talking, a call came in calling my mom saying she should that come back to work because the items that were missing were found with someone who had a quarrel with mum and with an apology that part of her salary for the months she was sacked would be given to her as a compensation. They even increased the income, my dad was also called back to work because the finances in his place of work were stabled. I absentmindedly said "Afufumagu" meaning " My suffer has ended". It was then it dawned on me to name him Afufumagu.

The day he was to be named, my mum's cousin visited her and after we narrated everything to her, she said I should come with her to her house, so she can put me in a trade and for schooling when I can. We thanked her, after she left, I saw more reasons to name him Afufumagu. My suffering did end , when Afufumagu was weaned, I went to my mom's cousin place. I learnt tailoring, then continued schooling in class SS2. Even I was far from home, I still kept in touch with my parents and Afufumagu, he knew I was his mom. I finished secondary school,I got admitted into the university of calabar to read medicine. My mom's cousin sponsored my schooling. When I got there, I saw Emeka he was also reading medicine. I resented him.

One day, in my second year in the university, I just finished a class and was going home, the rain started pouring heavily so I ran to a covering only a see Emeka there too.

"Chidiebere, how are you, I've tried making friends with you but you keep avoiding or ignoring me", Emeka said.

I didn't even respond, I was just looking at the rain hoping it would stop so could run from him.

"So now I've finally got the chance, can I get your number" he said stretching his phone to me. I looked at him and his phone with irritation.

"Emeka, I said pointing to him, "I don't want to insult you, please leave me alone, don't try me," I said very angrily.

"Chidiebere, why are you saying such, Ebere I did not put anything in the meatpies, please believe me, I did not rape you". Emeka said

"Emeka, stop, leave me or I will leave you here" I said. Emeka kept shut, when the rain reduced, I hissed and went home.

When I checked my phone I saw 5 missed calls and all of them were from mum, it was so surprising. I called mum.

"Hello" I said

"Ebere, I tried your line severally you didn't respond".

"Sorry, I've been very busy."

"Ok,"

"how is Afufumagu and you guys?"

"That's why I called you, Afufumagu had a dream he said he saw a man who you hated and Afufumagu fell into a river because you hated the man you didn't allow the man to save Afufumagu and you could not save him either. Is they anyone you hate?" my mum asked.

"No I said." I didn't tell them that Emeka was in the same school with me.

"Ok ooh." She said "your boy got first position he's intelligent just like you."she continued.

"Oh, really, let me speak with him" I said.

"Oya hold on" ,

She gave Afufuagu the phone and Afufuagu spoke to me.

"Mummy !" he called excitedly.

"Oh sweetie" I called back.

"Mummy guess what? "

"What my dear"

"I got first position in my class"

"Seriously that's wonderful "

"Mom, you promised me you buy me a gift if I come out best in my class" Afufumagu said

"Really, did I? "I asked pretending not to remember my promise.

"Yes , you did ooh you want to deny it now" he said protesting.

"Ok, fine I remember,once I come next week, I'll buy it for you".I said

"You're coming next week,! Yes! Yes, I've missed you a lot" he said screaming.

I giggled.

" I miss you too darling". I said

"give it to grandma" I added. He gave it to my mum.

"Are you coming next week?" My mum asked after collecting the phone.

"yes, I'll be coming "

"Are you on break ?"

"Not really, but I'll be free next week ",

"Ok, Ijeoma ooh "(safe journey)

"Oh".

* * * *

" Mummy!" screamed Afufumagu when he saw me a stepping down from a motorcycle.

"Afufumagu!" I called back.

"Grandma, Grandpa come and see Mummy is here," I still remember him screaming excitedly.

Afufuagu came to hug me. He actually jumped on me he seemed so happy in seeing me. We went inside and I gave him his favourite toy for his excellent performance in school. I came in the evening, so not long after supper we retired to bed. The next day, Afufumagu slept unusually, he slept for a very long time and when he woke up, he looked moody. The excitement of last night seemed gone.

"Kachi, what's the matter, you look worried" my mom asked him.

"Grandma, I saw the man again" he said sadly

"Which man? "I asked entering the conversation

"The man you hate" he said talking to me.

"How does he look like?" My dad asked talking to him.

" I don't remember, he tried saving me from drowning but since mum hates the man you she did not let him save me, yet she couldn't save me either, the man who could have save me, she told him to go and I drowned". Afufumagu narrated.

"Forget about the dream, come and eat." My mum said leading him to the dinning table.

"Ebere", my father called me, this dreams your boy is having is getting too persistent, this is not the first neither the second time he had this dream. Before your mum called you he had the dream about 5 (five) times. Ebere look at me, is there anyone you hate and now you are seeing him or her". My Dad asked me.

"Em, No" I said.

" Eziogwu (really?) "he asked.

" Yes". I said.

"So, when are you going back to school?" my dad asked changing the topic.

"Haba, are you tired of me already?" I jokingly asked.

"No, ha, how can I be tired of my angel" he responded smiling .

"Ebere" my mom called from the dining table.

"Ma," I answered

"Your friend, Ijeoma came back 2 days ago she asked for you."

"Eziogwu (really?)"

"Ehh. go later and see her ,"

"Ok."

* * * *

"Onyenunor" (who is at home) I knocked at Ijeoma's family residence in the village.

"Ebere", Ijeoma's mom said as she came out of the house.

" Good afternoon ma."

"Afternoon dear, kakunume (how are you)?"

" Ayinorfuma (fine), I am looking for Ijeoma."

"Ok, she's inside bahunor (come inside) Nor (welcome)"

"daluu (thank you)",I greeted.

I went inside their house, Ijeoma apparently seemed to be in her room. Her mom went to call her Ijeoma came out .

"Ebere when did you come back?" She asked as she entered the living room.

"Just yesterday", I answered.

" how is school life?," Ijeoma asked again.

"Fine and yours?".

* * * *

"Am so glad this housemanship is over" I told a course mate of mine .

"Abi, self, am so tired of it, and now we are professional, qualified doctors" she replied

"Is like you know, I can't wait to see my baby boy. "I commented

"I really missed my family. "

" When are you leaving for home?" l asked

"Next weekend and you?"she replied

"Next 2 weeks Friday",l answered

"safe journey home "

"you too" I said as we parted ways .

I went home that day only to see 2 missed calls.

One call from mum and the other from dad. I called mum.

" Ebere" she called, her voice sounding very worried.

" Ma, sorry my phone was on silent mode, you know this housemanship is almost like we are actual doctors" I explained .

"Ebere, my spirit is not really happy, things are getting odd," she said worry sounding in her voice.

"Kiame (what is happening)?." I said surprisingly.

"Remember the dream Afufumagu had about the man you hate" mum said.

"Yes but that stopped several years ago or didn't it.?" I asked.

"That's what we thought but last night all three of us had the same dream", she said.

"What exactly did you see?" I asked.

"We all saw you telling a man you hated him then, Afufumagu was in a burning house, the man ran to save him but you stopped him ,still you couldn't save Afufumagu instead Afufuagu died in the fire, it felt so real. Is there anyone you despice?" She asked.

"em No, I don't think so" I said.

"Please if you hate anyone, please I don't want to lose Afufumagu, He's the son I never had please" she said almost in tears.

"Mom, relax, I won't, besides I don't hate anyone "I said before I could talk again she ended the call.

Emeka has finished schooling probably built his own hospital by now. I would have asked Ijeoma but I don't care to know.

* * * *

"Ebere !" Ijeoma screamed in the call.

"Ijeoma, why are you shouting". I said

"where are you?" She asked sounding troubled .

"In school, my apartment to be precise'. I answered wondering why she was sounding troubled.

"please, come down to the village, come to the general hospital" .she said

"hospital kwa?" I said standing up.

"Afufumagu, he just fainted and he is in the hospital come fast." Ijeoma said.

"Afufumagu, my boy!" I screamed as I dropped my phone on the ground, my son! my son,! I screamed and entered the house to get money, I didn't pack my clothes and belongings. I just entered a taxi and rode straight to the village without negotiating the transport fare.

I came and I saw my entire family in the hospital, Ijeoma and her family were also there.

"Where is my son?" I asked no one in particularly.

"He's inside, the doctors refuse to let us into see him," Ijeoma mum said almost in tears, My mum was already swimming in a pool of tears.

"For how long have you been waiting?" I asked

"for over 3 hours,"my dad said.

"Jesus !"I screamed. The doctor came and I rushed to him.

"Doctor, is my son alright?" I asked anxiously.

"Is this the mom?", the doctor asked my mom .

"yes" my mum answered wiping her tears.

"please, only his close relations should come to my office," the doctor said and led the way into his office. Me, mum and dad entered the doctor's office.

"If she is the mom, who are you guys?". The doctor asked seating.

"they are his grandparents". I answered.

"this boy has supraventricular arrhythmias"

" eh!" my parents said in unison surprised at the long medical term the doctor said.

"supraventricular arrhythmias" I echoed," but I thought it was developed at birth, this boy did not have it at birth" I said further.

"yes, but his own has not been noticed at all, and he has a hole in his heart. The doctor said

"wait, what is that thing the doctor said." My mum asked me.

" Arrhythmias is an irregular type of heartbeat either too fast or slow but his own is been too fast, it is developed at birth" I said.

"He needs to be transferred to a specialist hospital for proper treatment, you guys might need up to 6-7 million naira for his treatment, that's if he's not sent abroad " the doctor said. We were all shocked. We came out and we told Ijeoma's family the news .

"Where can we get the money from now", Ijeoma asked.

"Look, I can give up to 1.5 million and sorry to say I can't afford more than that" Ijeoma's dad said.

"Thank you very much sir " I said.

* * *

"Has Afufumagu improved,?" Ijeoma asked as we were strolling to nowhere in particular. Weeks after we were in the hospital.

"No, he hasn't ooh," I said sadly

"How much have you guys discovered ?",

Ijeoma asked.

"Hmm "I sighed. You dad brought 1.5 million and my mum's cousin brought seven hundred and seventy-five thousand,my parents has about 100,000 in their account , I've been running around and I have up to 50,000. a friend of dad brought 25,000, mum's close friend brought 5000, so all in all is 2.5 million naira". I accounted.

"I know someone who deals with this heart treatment, he can treat him for less because am his cousin"Ijeoma said.

"Eeh?, please where is his hospital, what's his name" I asked.

"em, you might not like it, but for the sake of your son, to save his life eem Emeka Adams." Ijeoma said.

I was already getting angry

"Please, don't mention that name to me, ah ah, you know how I despice him and you expect me to accept help from him. Ijeoma, come on, you know me better than that after all he made me pass through. Please I don't want to know anything about him. " I said.

* * * *

"Afufumagu" I called in the hospital room, he opened his eyes weakly and said mummy.

"Afufuagu, am here". I said

"Mummy, where is Grandpa and Grandma"? he asked so weakly

"they are in church," I said

"mummy, will I die" he asked again.

"no, you won't die" I said as tears rolled down my cheeks.

"Mummy, don't let your hate kill me please I want to go school and see my best friend Angelina, I want to play with her." I still remember him saying .

"I will not, you won't die", I said crying.

"Miss Ebere" the doctor called out entering the room interrupting our conversation.

"Come to my office"

"ok" I said," Afufumagu I'll be back" I added and left the room, heading to the doctor's office.

" how much do you have in hand for the surgery" He asked

"Well, only 2.5 million naira" I said using my hair scarf to wipe my tears. That's not even close the amount needed for the surgery, he has just a few days to live", the doctor announced .

"No, no, It can't be possible, no way, my son cannot have just a few days to live." I said in agony.

* * *

"What is this,? Afufumagu have only a few days to live" my mom said crying after I've told them what the doctor said .

"Where are we going to find 6 million," my dad lamented

"We've gone to everyone and everywhere to borrow money yet it's not enough" I said swimming in pool of tears.

Later that day, alone in my room mediating the doctor's words. His words echoed in my ears. I remembered Ijeoma's advice but my hate for Emeka. Then I remembered Afufumagu pleas. My mind was an express way of different thoughts. I didn't know when I drifted into sleep ,I dreamt about the rape incident. I woke up with hardened heart unwillingly to listen Ijeoma advice.

I didn't tell my parents about my conversation with Ijeoma, I kept it to myself .

2 weeks later, Afufumagu passed on. My parents couldn't take it, my mom couldn't bear it. I almost lost my head, my mom kept saying" I won't see him again." I wanted to see my boy's body, but dad said No that it would bring back sad memories and we can't bury him in a rented apartment. So they took his body to the cementary.