EPISODE 3: A CHILLING JOLT TO THE HEART

ByAkua Karle Okyere

Jul 9, 2022 Couch, St. Joseph Hospital

That night, my husband didn’t come home at his usual time. All efforts to reach him proved futile. I could sense doom coming from afar. I contemplated calling his mother several times, but something was just holding me back. After 10 p.m., I had lost my cool. I wasn’t going to call his mother. No. I was going to march to her house and show how much of a ‘lady’ I was.

I didn’t bother changing my office dress. I just wore my black flip-flops and took my purse. Before I could step out, the bell sounded. My heart began to race. We’ve never had visitors, and Winston would never use the bell. He always called my phone when he was at the door. I drew the curtains to the side slightly to open the door.

It was my mother. Quickly, I allowed her in. She was panting. Was someone chasing her? I slowly shut the door, waiting for her to catch her breath.

The House! I’m finished! Two sentences and she had already fainted. I screamed. I shook her several times to wake her up and explain what was going on but she didn’t wake up. I panicked and quickly went to get my car keys. Painfully, I managed to move her to the backseat of the car, opened the gate and sped off.

1:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Hospital

The smell of the hospital was nauseating so I stayed outside and paced around the corridors while waiting for mom to wake up. The doctor said she was going to be okay and I had hope for that.

Around 7 a.m. the ringing of my phone woke me up. I didn’t bother checking it. I, first of all, got up from the pavement where I had dozed off and wiped the dust from the back of my dress. The call came in again. It was Winston. I sleepily answered it.

“Hello”

“Where did you sleep last night, you prostitute!” He barked. Whoever you spent your night with matters to you more than you ensuring everything in the house is secured before stepping out, right? Don’t bother coming back. Enjoy your sleep!”

To help the situation, I hurried into Room 4C where my mother was. Her vitals were stable so I left a note beside the bed and sped home.

At Home Later that Day…

I sneaked into the house when I got there. The hall-door was open. “Maybe God loves me”, I thought to myself. But was that the case? I was yet to receive a chilling jolt to my heart.

The hall was literally empty. The couch, television, everything was gone. We had been robbed! “Oh my God!” I said while covering my mouth in horror. Things got even scarier when Winston appeared with a smile on his face. I knew that smile. My knees got weak and my legs gave up on me.

Winston kept getting closer. I wanted to plead but I couldn’t get my mouth to move. I feared the towering figure of my husband that approached me. When he stood in front of me, he gave me that devilish smile again before a kick in the abdomen followed. It left me struggling for air amidst tears and I couldn’t scream.

The last thing I saw was blood trickling down my thighs. Everything went black and I passed out. Is this my end?

To be continued…

Akua Karle Okyere

Author at The Vocal Ghanaian | + posts

Akua Karle Okyere is a lifestyle blogger at The Vocal Ghanaian and also a PR technician. She enjoys researching on travels and tours and writing fictional stories in her leisure time.