May 23rd, 2013
Seeing Akunna with Phillip, after work on Tuesday evening, was one of the most heartbreaking episodes I have had in a long time. Yes, I knew she was taking the loss very badly, but, in my mind’s eye, I had only imagined a slightly more subdued version of the old Akunna. I was in for a shock.
The Akunna we saw was almost as lifeless as the baby she had lost. Yes, she was breathing, and speaking, and moving around, but it was obvious that her spirit had died with her son. Her eyes were flat and expressionless, and her voice was barely a whisper. Not even when she’d seen me had she registered any emotion. No anger, no happiness, no shock, no excitement, no relief, no bitterness…nothing. I would have even preferred it if she’d been crying nonstop. At least, we would have known how to deal with that. Sitting quietly in the living room, with nobody knowing what to say, not even the ever imposing Aunty Josephine, was one of the most distressing things I have ever had to endure.
“Wow!” was all I could manage, as Phillip and I drove home.
He sighed and shook his head. “I’m worried…I’m really worried about her…”
“It’s only been a few days. I’m sure she’ll be better as time goes by!” I said reassuringly, trying to convince myself as well.
“I hope so…” Phillip answered, his voice trailing.
Yesterday, Vou arrived, and she had surprised me by stopping over at my office, on her way to her husband’s brother’s house, where she was staying.
“Faith! What on earth are you wearing?!” she had exclaimed, cutting short my excited screams. “Trainers?!! To work??!”
My attempts to convince her that it was the only type of footwear I could manage were futile.
“Girl, you have no excuse! If you’d only just told me before I left, I would have gotten you some very comfortable, and more appropriate, shoes for work! This is unacceptable!”
She was only appeased when I promised to look for an alternative a.s.a.p. As I walked her to her car, and after we’d talked about her, or rather Diana’s, plans for decorating the new house, the topic had trailed to Akunna.
“How is she?” Vou asked, with genuine concern.
I shook my head. “Not good!” I then proceeded to tell her about how she’d been, when we’d seen her the night before.
Vou nodded, deep in thought. “I have a message for her from Diana. Do you think I can come with you and Phillip when you see her today?”
I did a double take, not only because I was surprised that Diana was reaching out to her former rival, or that Vou wanted to see Akunna, but also because I really had no plans of subjecting myself to the depressing melancholy of last night anytime soon.
“Diana was really devastated by the news.” Vou said. “I have to admit, the rest of us were kind of relieved. Yes, as a woman, I feel for her. But even Diana will soon have to admit that this makes things a lot less complicated! But right now, she is so overwhelmed with grief for this Akunna…mainly because she knows what kind of heart ache she is feeling now.”
I nodded, understanding perfectly why Diana would be empathetic, and why the rest of her family would be relieved.
Even though I wasn’t sure how receptive Phillip would be to it, I told her it was okay for her to accompany us to Aunty Josephine’s house that evening. Phillip had been surprised, but had agreed to pick her up, before coming for me. Getting to Aunty Josephine’s house, I was pleasantly surprised to see my Mother there. She had cooked up a storm; a variety of soups and stews, and had even done something she hadn’t done in a long time…baked a small cake. All to cheer up the woman she had despised only a few short days before. But the plated meals sat in front of Akunna, untouched. They could have been plates of sand, for how interested she looked.
Mom had been happy to see Vou again, and for the first time since all this happened, I saw a flicker in Akunna’s eyes, when she realized who she was. The older sister of her nemesis! I tried to decipher what that flicker had been; curiosity or anger? But as quickly as the flicker had come, it had been replaced by the same deadpan, expressionless look as before.
Looking at Vou, I could tell that seeing Akunna’s condition for herself, had melted her heart. She sat tentatively next to Akunna. “My family is really sorry for your loss…” was all she could manage.
Akunna nodded, and managed a small smile.
“My sister would like to speak with you…if that’s okay with you?” Vou asked.
My mouth actually popped open, and I saw Aunty Josephine and my Mom exchange a surprised look. Even Phillip looked confused.
Akunna sat up. “Yes, I’d like that very much.”
Vou nodded, and proceeded to dial Diana on her phone. Handing the phone to Akunna, the rest of us watched her with bated breath, not quite knowing what to expect from this surprise call.
“Hello Diana…” Akunna said, her voice more animated than I’d heard in the last few days. “Thank you…Yes, I know…I know…” and then her voice had given way, as she started crying. “It’s just so hard…It’s all my fault…No, it is…” as her sobs grew heavier, Vou sat closer, and put her arms around her. After a while, her sobs abated, and she started nodding, as she listened to whatever it was Diana was saying. “I’ll do that…I will…Thank you. Thank you so much.”
As Akunna handed the phone back to Diana, and as she wiped away her tears, for the first time that week, I saw the veil of despair begin to lift. I don’t know what Diana had said to her, but somehow, it had helped restore a little bit of life in her. She sat up, and leaned to take a forkful of the meal Mom had made for her.
Trust my Mom! She immediately offered to re-heat the food, which had already gone cold, but Akunna was already devouring the meal like someone breaking a 100-day fast.
Diana had done the impossible, and had made her make a turn for the better.
Photo Credit
- http://www.vectorportal.com
Catch up on Faith’s story here:
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 1: BFP
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 2: Lukewarm Response
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 3: The Struggle
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 4: Tricked
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 5: Keeping her man
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 6: Men are so annoying!
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 7: Bleeding
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 8: The 9 Week Mark
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 9: Festive
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 10: The Holiday
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 11: This thing called love
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 12: The Pregnancy Glow
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 13: The Baby & The Bobo
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 14: Wahala
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 15: The Abortion
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 16: A Good Man
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 17: Joy…and Pain
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 18: Hostage
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 19: Ammunition
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 20: Famzing
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 21: Stress Relief
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 22: Diana
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 23: Bestos
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 24: The Miscarriage
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 25: In God’s Hands
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 26: Crossing the line
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 27: Last Minute Packing
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 28: Ex-Girlfriend
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 29: Not just friends
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 30: Fight for him
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 31: Faded Beauty
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 32: Holiday Glow
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 33: The Proposals
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 34: Baby Kicks
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 35: Celebration Dinner
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 36: Rainbow Baby
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 37: Lunch with the girls
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 38: Wedding Season
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 39: Mama Patrick
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 40: Misplaced Love
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 41: Okafor’s Law
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 42: Forgiveness
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 43: Get it over with
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 44: Family Meeting
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 45: The Goof
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 46: Worship
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 47: Gender
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 48: The Introduction
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 49: Messy
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 50: Passionate Love
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 51: Instagram Drama
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 52: 21 Weeks
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 53: Oppressed
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 54: Age is just a number
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 55: Legally Together
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 56: Monkey on my back
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 57: Your secret is safe with me
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 58: Spring in my step
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 59: Level don change
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 60: It’s my time
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 61: Drama and Baby Kicks
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 62: Love, Joy, Fear
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 63: Owerri
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 64: Untouchable
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 65: Foot Soldiers
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 66: Dem say, Dem say
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 67: The Side Chick and the Fiancee
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 68: Dim-Witted Brother
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 69: Day from hell
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 70: A Cancelled Wedding & a Kept Woman
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 71: From Bad to Worst
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 72: The Confrontation
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 73: Away we go!
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 74: Birthday Girl
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 75: Caught Red-Handed
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 76: Played by a Master Manipulator
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 77: Showdown
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 78: Sad Tears, Happy Tears
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 79: Not the forever kind of love
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 80: My Sacred Vow to You
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 81: Facebook Likes
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 82: Pregnancy Queue
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 83: Braxton Hicks
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 84: The Verdict
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 85: Home Sweet Home
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 86: The Bridal Shower
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 87: The Scare
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 88: Nwando’s Wedding
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 89: Time to face the music
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 90: The Witch Hunt
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 91: Bump Envy
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 92: This Evil Family
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 93: Thankful
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 94: People Watching
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 95: New Beginnings
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 96: Dispassionately
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 97: Old Woman
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 98: The Premonition
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 99: The Girl is Fine
- Faith’s Pregnancy Diary 100: Three weeks from now
A speech from a woman who has been in that same position and is hanging onto faith, praying it wont end up like the past…..
hmm, this Diana is an angel oo
OMG Afi Yeb, I was about to type the same thing, she is such an angel, I hope Philip knows how lucky he is. But I really do feel sorry for Akunna, I dont think anything Diana could have said or even what anyone could have said, that would comfort a woman in such a situation, no woman should ever have to go through that (no matter how wicked they are sef). I pray none of us will ever experience that in Jesus’ name!
I love this beautiful story.
AMEN OOO @Hephziba.
Awww, Diana the lady with the good heart,i wonder what she must have told Akunna.
Akunna i have never liked her but mehn i truly pity her state right now. She doesn’t deserve it but God knows best.
Awwww Diana is such a sweet soul.
Wow! Diana is just awesome ?