Dedicated to  Pacesetter12

The hospital monitor didn't stop the irritating beeping sound. As much as I hated the sound and wanted to turn it off, I couldn't. The beep was our only confirmation grandma was still breathing. She was still unconscious, an oxygen mask connected to her nose. A drip pipe was inserted in her right forearm and something that looked like a clip was on a finger. Her eyes were still closed since she collapsed yesterday and her face was looking pale.

The doctor wouldn't give us any information about her illness. All he told us was she had sliped into a coma. I was her only family here but I was underaged so I called my parents to inform them about the whole situation.

My stomach rumbled and I shifted in my chair. My head was placed on the edge of grandma's hospital bed. It was impossible to sleep here. Throughout the night, I had to deal with mosquitoes making deafening sounds in my ears and them feasting on my flesh. And I'm sure it's very impossible for one to sleep on this white, plastic chair.

Sighing, I sat up and stretched out my legs. They were starting to ache. My stomach rumbled again, louder this time then the baby moved. Poor foetus. The only thing I had eaten since the incident yesterday was a spicy Jollof rice and egg Jazz got for me at some buka outside the hospital.

When my stomach growled again, I went to the water dispenser next to the door to get water because it seemed the stupid baby had started to feast on my organs. I gulped two cups of water then someone knocked. I pulled open the door to reveal Felix's mom.

The huge, middle aged woman had on a fitted Ankara gown and a lunch bag with her. I greeted her, collected the bag and sat on the edge of the hospital bed then unzipped the bag. I brought out the big food flask, opened it and began to eat the yam and egg sauce. I would have preferred bread and tea but I was too hungry to care.

Shutting the door, she chuckled and walked to the plastic chair. "I brought food for you." She sat on the chair. "I hope you aren't too hungry?"

"I'm famished." I replied, mouthful.

"Sorry." She murmured with a sad smile. I noticed her eyes flicker to my protruding stomach. The blue polo T-shirt made it worse because my protruding stomach was very obvious in it. "Has the doctor said anything about her?"

I shook my head. "He only came to check on her early this morning. The nurses gave her some shots of injection. That's all."

There was silence as I ate. Felix's mom looked like she had something to say, her facial expressions were uncertain and even though she stole glances at my stomach, it was very obvious. She shifted in her seat multiple times and the yam wouldn't just go down my throat anymore. Did she poison me?

I covered the flask and returned it into the bag. "Thank you for the food, ma." She gave a smile. It was supposed to be a warm one but she failed miserably at it. I moved to the water dispenser and poured myself a cup of water.

"How about Jazz and Felix?" I returned to perch at the edge of the bed and took a prolonged sip from the styrofoam cup.

She crossed her arms. "They're doing fine. Felix has gone for his lessons." Her thin framed glasses slipped from her nose. She scrunched her nose thereby pushing her spectacles in place.

I took another sip from my cup and began to run my fingers on grandma's toes. The skin on her legs, just like the rest of her body had ridges. Gently, I pulled the skin and was awed by how much old age had caused her skin to crease.

"Speaking of the boys..." I raised my head to get a look at Felix's mom face but I still continued playing with grandmaster toes. "Your pregnancy."

I raised an eyebrow waiting expectantly for her next words.

"Are the boys..." She trailed off, eyes lingering on my stomach.

"No." I bowed my head. "It happened before I met them."

I heard her let out a breath of relieve. "Does she know?" She pointed at the woman laying still on the hospital bed.

"It's the reason I'm in Modakeke."

A knock made us avert our gaze to the door. A nurse walked in and behind her was mum and dad. I stood, mouth slightly agape. I dropped the cup carefully on the floor and ran to embrace mum. I buried my head deep in her chest and wrapped my hands around her slender body sobbing and inhaling her scent which I missed. I heard her sniff, trying to pull me closer but my bump was an obstruction.

When we broke the hug, mum took both her hands and gave me a long hard stare, scrutinizing my features. She broke into a sob. "Oluwatobiloba."

My heart wrenched at the sight of tears in her eyes. I breathed, "mummy." Tears streamed down mum's cheeks as she observed me then she released my hands and walked out of the door.

I broke into tears as I felt my heart fall into my stomach. I finally get to see my mum since all these months and this happens. Was she ever going to forgive me? Was our family going to be the same again?

A cough brought me out of my thoughts. With tears in my eyes, I saw the blurry standing figure of Felix's mom. She stretched a hand to dad, "Mrs Adesoye. Mama's neighbor."

"Thank you so much for staying with maami and my daughter." He took her hand with both of his. "Adetunji Oyesile."

Felix's mum nodded and exited the hospital room to give us space. Daddy moved closer to his mum who was lying still on the bed.

"Everything is falling apart."

Daddy sat in her bed and took her hands. He reiterated, "maami, everything is falling apart. I can't loose you now." I heard sobs coming from him.

I could tell he needed space. I also needed to breath. I had been in the hospital for over twelve hours, I didn't get enough sleep. I needed to stretch so I let dad have his moment.

After wiping my wet face, I put my hands into my joggers pocket while I walked down the hospital halls. My eyes widen in terror as a woman in labour was being wheeled as fast as possible. I stopped in my tracks to watch as she was screaming and pulling her disheveled hair. A ball formed in my throat and I gulped nervously. My gynecologist had said pregnancy was different for all. Surely, my labour wouldn't be this painful.

When I got out of the hospital, I took a deep breath and let it out. Mum wasn't in sight. Jazz walked in with plastic nylon with him and  stopped when he got to where I was. "What's up with you? You look so tired."

"I am tired!" I snapped.

He took my hand to one of the benches under a tree. We both sat and he took out a styrofoam plate from his bag. The familiar smell of the spicy Jollof rice hit my nose and a strong desire to have it overwhelmed me.

"You should go home. Take a shower and rest." He took off the lid and put in a small plastic spoon.

"I can't. My grandma."

My eyes followed as he took a spoonful of rice into his mouth. I could have sworn there was saliva in the corners of my mouth. My eyes lingered on the very red rice while Jazz looked up at me.

"How is she doing?" He asked mouthful.

"No improvement." I answered, eyes on the food.  "My parents are back. I hope to get more information about her health from them."

Jazz put a hand round my shoulder. "Everything go dey alright."

When? I just need a specific date for when things were going to be alright. Everything seem to be falling apart when the stupid baby happened. Each passing day, things got worse. It was a curse. The baby was a curse. It came to ruin my life. I didn't realize I was crying till a drop of tear reached my palm.

Jazz pulled me closer to him, "don't cry." I started to cry harder and louder. He set aside his food and put my head on his shoulder. "Everything is going to be alright. Mama Oye is a fighter, she'll come out of this."

Nodding, I took his plate of Jollof rice on my lap. Jazz had his mouth agape when I took my first from the delicious rice, I moaned in delight and my taste buds bursted in excitement yearning for more of the spicy food.

"Tobi, na my rice you dey chow."

I started to sob again whilst taking another spoon. He decided to leave the rice for me and proceeded to take the chicken but I beat him to taking it and took a large bite.

"This is really delicious." I announced.

"I know." He frowned. "Na why I buy am for myself." He made sure to lay emphasis on his last word causing me to feel ashamed but I carried on eating.

"Is Felix okay?"

Jazz hums. "Anything the matter?" His brows pulled together forming a crease.

"He's been airing my messages and ignoring my calls." I answered after another bite from my chicken.

"Felix is probably just busy. You know he'll be at his lessons by this time."

My spoon with rice didn't make it to my mouth as I returned rice back into the plate and gave a frown. "Felix never misses my calls even at his lessons."

"Tobi, he's just busy."

"Too busy to return my calls since yesterday?" I arched an eyebrow.

"He's just busy." He took out Fanta from his bag and took a sip. "Stop over thinking things."

I nodded and focused on the drink in his mouth. He took a look at me after the bottle had left his mouth, his lips were already taking an orange color.

Sighing, he passed me the bottle and I downed it all in one gulp. After giving a loud, unladylike burp, my stomach did a rumble.

"Thank you, Ja-" Just before I could finish my sentence, I rushed to the gutter to throw up.

Glossary
1)Maami - mother.
2)Buka - A local restaurant.
3) Chow - Eat.

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