Sister Deborah episode 18 – 19

SISTER DEBORAH 💝💖

Episode 18

Like a blooming sunshine upon a seemingly long night, the only living witness that could truly testify the real truth about my case — which was none other than Deborah, who had been in a serious state of coma for almost three days, had now miraculously surfaced at the last brink and the last point of time; after I had almost lost all ounce of hope.
I felt repelled by her appearance, especially seeing her on a wheelchair wrapped up in bandages on almost all parts of her body, while her step-mother pushed her gently from behind into the visiting room, accompanied by another police officer behind them.

There was silence in the room. Thick silence, cascading in the atmosphere as tension increased in us. Annabel, Deborah, Deborah’s father, her step-mother, the two police officers and I exchanged unknowing stares altogether in silence.

The elderly man, Deborah’s father, eventually broke the silence.

“May we all have our seats, please,” He gestured with his bold baritone voice, pointing at the two wooden benches behind where I and Annabel stood.

Reluctantly, I heeded to the elderly man’s request and joined them as they all took their various seats on the bench. I noticed Deborah’s quietness. I observed how she stared and glared at me without a word, probably surprised at my sudden and unexpected change of attitude towards her. She obviously wasn’t aware that her secret had been cast out in the open and that I knew all about her outrageous act. I felt she had something to say but could not. I wondered if she could even still speak.

“I feel a huge burden on my heart as I speak to you all.” The elderly man addressed formally as he began. “I feel very guilty for a painful cause and reason. I don’t even know where to begin, for my heart bears great burden.”

All the while he spoke, his eyes and focus remained fixated on me all through. After heaving a deep sigh, he continued speaking.
“My son, I seek for your forgiveness today, for I have wronged you beyond measures. I beseech you to please find a place in your heart to forgive me and my family as a whole.”

To say I was confused would be a mere understatement. I was plainly lost and dumbfounded. I had no idea or clue of what he was talking about.

“Permit me to ask, sir, but what is this all about? We all seem to be lost here, as you can see.” One of the police officers interceded eventually.

“Officer,” Deborah’s father addressed him in a low tone, “this young man you see here is innocent of all he has been accused of.”
Those words came as a beam of hope for me. I smiled slightly. Annabel and I glanced at each other out of shock and plain excitement.
“But sir, how can you prove that?” The officer pushed on adamantly.
“Officer, he didn’t rape my daughter. She was raped, certainly, but not by his doing.” The elderly man explained to our hearing. “She miraculously recovered from her state of coma today, during the early hours before sunlight, and he was the first thing she mentioned upon her revival. She cried and insisted that she needed to see him one on one after we explained everything to her, and that is the main reason why we brought her here.” He finalized.
The officer looked baffled. “Young lady, is this true that the accused who has been acclaimed for rape is truly innocent?” He asked, addressing Deborah.
Deborah nodded with affirmation. Thereafter, a short silence ensued again before the two police officers whispered amongst themselves and then stood up.
“This is a big mess, sir.” One of them said, addressing Deborah’s father. “With all due respect sir, we don’t have valid prove yet, irrespective of the victim’s claim about the suspect being innocent. He is still a suspect, in as much as your daughter was raped. What do you want us to do, sir?”
“Officer, I demand for his release.” Deborah’s father stated bluntly. “He is a wrongly accused victim. He has been through a lot already, officer. He is innocent and I hereby demand for his release, immediately.”…

SISTER DEBORAH 💝💖

Episode 19

Within an hour of rigorous paper work, signing of documents and collection of statements between I and Deborah’s father, I was officially bailed out and released from prison. I was cleared of all charges charged against me. However, the police officers still offered and granted me the permission to file a case against Deborah’s family. I had every right to sue them in court if I deemed to, but I declined the offer and insisted to overlook it instead, regardless of everything they made me pass through.

Annabel called and informed my roommates about my release the moment we were done with the procedures. Deborah’s father on the other hand, had offered to take me to a hospital in order to get me treated of my wounds and bruises, but I declined his offer. He further insisted and offered me a ride back to my hostel coupled with a huge sum of money as well, but I still didn’t budge to his offer despite his pleas. Iʼd made up my mind not to collect a dime from his family. I didn’t want to have anything to do with his family anymore, either in this life or the next.
His daughter, Deborah, on the contrary — had not spoken a word from the onset. She had been quiet since she came. When asked a question, she only nodded in response. She barely talked or said anything. I began to wonder if the ghastly incident also took her ability to speak, perhaps. Had she lost her voice? I wondered.

However, within a few moments more, I eventually left the police station. Annabel accompanied me to the school’s clinic where I received proper treatment and medications. Surprisingly, she paid the bills for my treatment on her own accord. She settled the bill for my medications as well, and we also had to stop by a nearby bank where Annabel withdrew some money from and bought fruits and other beverage along the way.

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“I’ll be back soon. I promise.” She assured me with a warm smile. I had asked her why she wanted to leave. We had just dropped from a taxi, precisely at the front gate of the male hostel.

I heaved an exasperated sigh, before speaking. “I don’t really know how to thank you enough, Annabel. I am more than grateful for everything you’ve done for me. I have nothing but a heart of gratitude to give to you. Thank you very much, for everything.”
She smiled shyly. “You are most welcome, dear. You don’t have to thank me, what are we friends for?”

She pulled me into a slight hug and added. “Moreover, I still have to return to my hostel to prepare something nice for you. I’ll come back soon. I promise.”

“You promise?”
“I promise.” She affirmed with a smile and pulled me into a warm hug once more. Thereafter, we both said our goodbyes before she turned around and headed back to her hostel.

On getting to my hostel, friends and neighbours around readily welcomed me with surprise and sympathies. It was funny how the news of my arrest had suddenly gone viral. I greeted each and every one of them as I walked into my room.

Out of shock and surprise, my roommates; Timi, Hakeem and Fatai all jumped to their feet from their various positions and rushed towards me. They embraced me warmly altogether. Afterwards, we sat down together and I narrated the whole ordeal about my experience to them.

Later on, I had a thorough bath since I hadn’t bathed in days, and then I had a proper meal and took my prescribed medications as well. In the middle of my leisure time, a faint knock came from the door. Timi responded to the door and opened it. The moment he did, a tall man dressed in suit walked inside, followed by a lady behind him, who was pushing another lady on wheelchair ahead of her. I recognized the man in suit to be Deborah’s family driver. Divine was the lady aiding Deborah on the wheelchair.

My change of mood was instantaneous on sighting them.

“What are you looking for?” I spared no time to ask as I stood up to my feet, fuming with anger.

“Sir,” the man in suit addressed me formally, “please, do calm down. We come in peace.”

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“Are you okay?” I disregarded his polite manner of approach, due to my aggravating anger. “Are you nuts?”
Timi and Hakeem were pulling on my cloth from behind, giving me signs and gestures to ease up and calm down but I ignored them.
Divine chipped in. “Mr. Fabian, please excuse us. I’ll handle this on my own.”
Hesitantly, the tall man nodded and walked out of the room as Divine requested. She averted her gaze back at me again.

“Chinecherem, why are you doing this?” She began. “I understand how you must feel after being falsely accused for a mistaken identity and after everything you passed through. Yes, it is painful, I know. I know how you feel, but is that enough reason to shut her out of your life? An innocent lady who was raped, landed in a coma and evidently had no hand in your arrest. Is this how you want to treat her? She doesn’t deserve this, for God’s sake.”

“She deserves worse.” I retorted angrily. “She is a cheap s–t and a pathetic hoe. A shameless good for nothing prostitute. I curse and regret the day we crossed paths!”
Timi pulled my arm from behind forcefully. I dragged it away from his grasp instantly. In the heat of that same moment, the door slowly opened and Annabel walked inside, holding two polythene bags.

Deborah’s eyes had become filled with tears. She was sobbing pitifully, using her hands to cover her face.

“I want you two to leave this room, now.” I lowered my voice, trying to sound calm.
“My love, won’t you at least give me a chance and hear me out, please!” Deborah pleaded in-between sobs.

“He said you should both get the hell out of here. Or are you both deaf?” Annabel intervened abruptly.

“Debbie, let’s leave this place.” Divine said to Deborah who was still sobbing, while she pushed her towards the door on the wheelchair. A few steps away to the door, Divine turned back and sent me a straight, cold glare.
“You will regret this. I promise you…..

Tbc