A life for a life!
Elizabeth has been married for 15 years with no issues. Her husband Chibuzor has no problem with this predicament, but he's family became a problem in his marriage. About seven years ago Elizabeth was forced to visit an herbalist after a series of complaints and maltreatment from her mother-in-law - Her Mother-in-law showers insults at her every single day of her life. It became worse when her mother-in-law relocated from the village to live with them in the city. Elizabeth complained to her husband about his mother's attitude towards her after years of perseverance. The husband promised to settle their differences once he's back on leave but urgency at work always kept him away. There wasn't anyone else to help her solve her problem.
Several times she had gone for a check-up together with her husband to see if they could diagnose them to see if anything was wrong or if there was something they were not doing right but yet nothing was found. The doctor said she and her husband were Medically fine.
Since this is the case, she has to try the native means to get things solved. Elizabeth embarked on a four-hour journey to Ijebu-ode to seek for solution from the great herbalist ọkunrin àrá. The herbalist consulted the gods of live "awọn oriṣa ti ifiwe" and they showed him the only possible solution. The herbalist informed her about what the gods revealed. The gods have promised to grant her request. The gods said:
"My child you will give birth to an obedient boy, one with a great destiny but it comes with a price, you won't be there to watch him become the man he will be". And so she was scared of taking the risk. Lossing her life wasn't a good option for her, so she went back home with a heavy heart. She stayed this way for another seven years praying for a miracle to come by. Now she's completely fed up for her marriage is at stake. She thought of accepting the offer of the herbalist. And this time she's ready to give up her life for a great child to come in. A life for a life!
Important Questions:
- What's the moral of the story?
- Do you think she's making the right decision?
- Is there any other solution to her problem?
- What will you do if assume you find yourself in the same situation?
A life will be lost for another to live (Part 2)
The choice of a life!
Ready to sacrifice her life for her child, she went back to meet the herbalist at Ijebu-ode to grant her wish. The herbalist told her she had returned at the right time and her problem had been solved. She went back home happy but she wondered why the herbalist didn't give her any medicine or instruct her to take any step. But that's least important as she awaits a miracle to come.
Two months after Elizabeth visited the herbalist. Now she's pregnant with her doom. She shed tears of joy. The gods did as they promised, so she thought. Her problem is fully solved. Now everything is working out for her good, Her Mother-in-law treats her with all the care she deserves - what a life?. Now her mother-in-law regrets her past actions towards her precious daughter (daughter-in-law). Unaware of the choice this woman (Elizabeth) has made just to please everyone.
The fact that Elizabeth and Chibuzor aren't getting any younger and Her mother-in-law wasn't too old to care for her child if she died after childbirth makes her choice a good one. Knowing that her child would still be upright and great she was completely pleased with her decision.
For a second she wanted to tell her husband about the choice she made but she had a second thought and felt it was best to keep it a secret. And if the day comes when her life is taken, then everyone will take it to be fate.
It's three months away from the promised day, and Elizabeth is already feeling the pain of her kicking baby. She and her husband had to visit the Anti-natal for a proper check-up. The doctor ran a scan on her and told her everything was fine and that they should be expecting a bouncing baby boy. The husband was so amazed at this news, he turned to face his darling wife but to his greatest surprise, the wife wasn't happy. The doctor called to see her husband privately, her husband sat with the doctor and the doctor disclosed the truth behind the scan. He said: "Mr. Chibuzor, from your wife's scan and test rests she might not survive these, it's either she dies or her child dies" The husband felt terrible and speechless knowing he had to choose between his wife and his unborn child!.. The Choice of a Life!
To be continued...
Questions
- What is the moral of the story?
- Is it wise for Elizabeth to keep this choice a secret?
- Why do you think the herbalist didn't instruct Elizabeth to carry out any assignment?
- Who do you think Chibuzor will choose to live? If he has to choose
Part 3
The Nightmare!
Days after the doctor told Elizabeth's husband the risk behind her delivery, he kept this a secret from his wife. He informed his mother about the situation at hand and they both prayed everything would turn out well.
Elizabeth suspected all wasn't right as her husband wasn't really happy after seeing the doctor that day... With his silence and calm attitude, Elizabeth was worried. So she asked him if everything was okay and he replied: yes everything was fine. But his character shows the direct opposite.
It turns out the home is more secretive at a time of fear.
Lately, every member of her family had been having a series of nightmares.
Elizabeth was the first to have this nightmare... She dreamt of her unborn child. In her dream, her son was sad learning of her sacrifice for him. She pleaded to him that it was the best option for her to take just to end the suffering. And every loving and caring mother will do that for her child. But he was so angry full of rage he shouted "No mother, make a new option Mother. Fight for me mum, bring us back together. I need your care and love, you should be the one to raise me and no one else". It all looked real to her before she was tapped by her husband and then she woke up.
That same night, Elizabeth's husband dreamt of losing his wife and his unborn child. In his dream, he was in the hospital waiting for his wife to deliver. After hours of screaming in the labor room, he was panicking and waiting for the doctor to tell him if everything was fine. But when the doctor came out of the labor room the Doctor told him they lost both souls.
This was a very scary dream team and his dream was this way because he couldn't make a choice between his wife and his child and it was only a few months away from the promised day.
Every one of them was worried and scared of what might befall them.
Elizabeth's mother-in-law was also very scared of what might happen on this day as she dreamt she was with her daughter-in-law and then suddenly she disappeared and then she fainted in the dream.
Every scary nightmare they had was pointing to the fact that a life would be lost. What a NIGHTMARE!
is there any other possible solution?
Question
- *What is the possible solution? if any
- *What do you think is the reason for their Nightmare?
- *Do you think any of these nightmares will turn out to be true?
The Reveal (Pt. 4)
After months of Nightmares, the whole family was forced to open up to each other so they would know exactly what was going on. But it all seems too late!.
The mother-in-law was the first the reveal her hidden secrets but first to her son Chibuzor. The mother-in-law told her son how she dreamt similar dreams on different nights and how tense they made her feel. She exclaimed! "The dreams were messing with my mind, it was like I was going insane my son." She explained how it affects her daily most especially when she's with Elizabeth. Seeing her with the same clothes as her dream gives her a flash of black memories and she ends up messing up things in the kitchen. For a month plus, she has felt this way around her daughter-in-law and she knows Elizabeth will have begun to suspect all wasn't right with her. Elizabeth asked her several times but she claimed to be affected by the shock of old age. She tells Elizabeth that she will understand when she gets old like her and they both end up laughing the whole thing out.
But she knows it's only a matter of time before the truth is revealed.
Chibuzor was really surprised his mother was having the same terrible Nightmare and kept it from him. But the mother was more surprised as he revealed he also spent his one-month holiday with worse Nightmares. He told his mother that he felt guilty always waking up beside his wife and keeping this whole secret. Following the doctor's advice here seems wrong. He wished he had told his wife the whole thing from the start and he concluded that this was the reason they were having these Nightmare. He wonders if his wife will forgive him for what he has done, but his mind is made up and he's ready to face any trial after telling her.
The day was full of more surprises than they all expected. Elizabeth came out from the room; facing her husband she said "I forgive you". The husband and his mother were shocked to hear these words. Elizabeth continued: "I overheard everything you both said, though I suspected you both were keeping things from me. I don't feel hurt by your actions because I caused all of these". I think is time I tell you how it all happened...
To be continued...
The Reveal Pt 5.
It all started 8 years ago... She narrated "My friend Ijeoma advised me to see an herbalist to know the cause of my bareness at first I rejected her offer as she promised to take me to an herbalist in her village. But with time, my thoughts changed because of your mother. She maltreated me like I was the cause of my own problems and then I had to make this stop. I contacted my friend Toyin at Ijebu-ode and informed her of my predicament. She told me she knew the right person who would solve my issues so I gave her a try. So she showed me the shrine and I went there alone. I didn't care to ask what was the cause of my problems, instead, I requested a favor of a blessed child, and in exchange, the gods will take my life."
Chibuzor was so surprised as he never knew that was the reason she traveled to Ijebu-ode. He Questioned: "Why did you make such a choice?.. And how come you didn't get pregnant 8 years ago?.. then she continued.. "I didn't accept the choice at first, I endured for another seven years. And I see I wasn't getting younger to take a drastic action. Every woman in need of a child takes drastic moves like I did. I'm really sorry for keeping this all to myself."
Her mother-in-law quickly apologized to her hearing all she did to save the family lineage. Chibuzor is her only son and his father died a long time ago ever since then she has been the one who catered to him and raised him to become the man he's his now. She expressed her sadness. Treating her daughter-in-law badly was something she did regret. Elizabeth told her she understood her reasons for her actions and that was one reason she tolerated all she did.
No one could blame her for what she did. Now they all stood confused thinking of how they could solve the problem of death. But it was too late as her water just broke. Her husband quickly carried her down to the car while her mother-in-law rushed to get important things from the house. He drove faster than ever so they could reach the hospital on time. The mother-in-law was at the back of the car with Elizabeth trying to calm her down. The road was very busy, but they managed to get through it. They arrived at the hospital and quickly she was taken straight to the labor room immediately.
It was a Happy and sad moment for her husband. He felt so bad knowing his wife would not come out from the labor room alive... According to what she revealed to them. It was clear she would die...
To be continued...
Part 6
The Birth and the Death
Two straight hours in labour yet no sound of a crying baby. The doctor came out sweating on his pants. This case is more severe than he thought, Elizabeth loses so much blood in the process, and yet the battle is still on.
The doctor went back in with an injection, I guess that was something to reduce her pain. The doctor injected her with the syringe and that worked really fast. Within the next 15 minutes, the baby cried out, and behold a soul was born "The Birth". The mother shed tears of Joy. This is one day she has long waited for and here it comes with a greater sacrifice.
Still unable to see the face of her baby after the long battle, Elizabeth still could breathe and wonder if she was going to die. She asked the doctor if everything was all right with her or was going to be okay and the doctor replied that she was fine and apart from losing blood she seemed to be very ok. so the doctor instructed the nurses to get dripped fixed on her so they could do blood transfer. The nurse did as the doctor said and quickly they connected the drip for the transfusion. The doctor went to break the news to her husband and her mother-in-law about a successful delivery of a bouncing baby boy and they were very happy and glad to hear this. Although they were not surprised. The doctor told them that Elizabeth was doing fine and they both turned to look at each other in surprise but they couldn't ask the doctor if she would die. It was clear that the doctor must have forgotten what he once said.
Chibuzor asked to see his darling wife and child the doctor told him to go in and see them both. He entered with his mother who was singing a joyful song in her Igbo dialect, working towards Elizabeth and her baby (Her baby was handed over to her shortly after the nurses cleaned it up). She was looking so fine and it was more like she wasn't going to die.
It's really a weird thing to be expecting your death, no one prays to be in such a condition, not even her. Soon what she was expecting (Death) gave her a strike. With pain times ten times birth she fell into a deep coma and she's off to another world!.
To be Continued....
1)God time is the best
ReplyDelete2)Not at all (wrong decision)
Because devil never gives someone everlasting solutions
3) Yeah
4) i will be patient
b) total trust in Allah
c) be very prayerful
d)i will be going medical treatment
1.That life is never a bed of roses
ReplyDelete2. It could be a Yes or No....Her decision right now could end up either positively or negatively because after she ended up her life for a child to come in, there might still be repercussions for the child
3.sure, there is...
4. I really don't know, not until am in such situation, cause experience they say is different observations...and actions speaks louder than voice