Lost Once, Forbidden Now, Episode 4

By Adebanke Abel

Adaeze had barely touched her food since Chidi’s first visit. Her heart felt like a prison filled with unspoken words, and the more she tried to bury the truth, the more it ate her from within.

It's been six days. Yes, six days of torture to both mother and daughter. Adaeze couldn't live with herself, watching her innocent daughter tiptoe around her, thinking she had done something wrong by bringing home the man she loved. How could she say that the same man Ifunanya called her future was once the only man who made her heart beat after years of numbness? But on the night of the sixth day when Chidi visited, Adaeze decided to hit the nail on the head without minding if her finger will bleed in the process. Her daughter does not deserve such treatment, neither does she deserve to be unhappy because of a love that didn't work out.

On the other hand, Chidi’s heart was restless. He had fought battles with secrets before, and each time, he had lost the woman he loved. This time, if the relationship would end, it wouldn’t be because of his choice to intentionally keep this secret from her. He made up his mind to tell Ifunanya the truth, regardless of the outcome.

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As Ifunanya was driving home after the close of work, her phone rang. It was Chidi.

"Hey babe," his voice was soft, "I need to talk to you about something. Can we meet up?"

But Ifunanya, excited that her mother had finally invited her on a date, politely declined.

"Not tonight, love. My mom wants to take me out on a date. It is a ritual in our home, but it's been a while since we honoured it."

She intentionally did not tell him anything about her mother's cold attitude since he came to the house so that he will not start having funny feelings about their relationship or that her mom does not like him. She also did not mention the little chat her mother had with her in the morning how she would like to take her on a date for a change of environment and also to speak about what is going on. Ifunaya had gladly accepted without thinking twice — she would do anything to bring her mom back to her normal self.

Chidi’s heart skipped, even though he didn't know why. But, he only said.

"I understand you dearie, but can we reschedule for tomorrow. It is very important"

"Yes babe. That is not a problem. I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?" she said.

Before he could respond, the line went dead.

Chidi exhaled heavily, knowing that the storm he feared was already brewing.

Ifunanya rushed home, dressed in her finest gown, and met her mother at a high-end restaurant in town. She was excited. She had been dying to understand why her mother had suddenly gone cold after meeting Chidi. Finally, she would get her mother back. Adaeze, on the other hand, looked pale and distant. The moment they settled into their seats, silence fell between them.

Ifunaya noticed the way her mother’s hands trembled as she reached for her glass of water.

"Mom," she called softly. "Whatever it is, just tell me."

Adaeze’s eyes slowly filled with tears.

"Ifunanya... I’m sorry."

"Sorry for what?"

"I know Chidi," she said in a shaky voice. "I met him before you did."

Ifunanya’s face twisted in confusion.

"What do you mean you know him?"

Adaeze’s voice cracked.

"I met him over a year ago. At an art exhibition. I... I fell for him before he disappeared. I never knew he would come back into my life through you."

Ifunanya’s heart dropped.

Her hands shook as her eyes burned with unshed tears.

"Are you joking? How could you have met a man and you didn't tell me about him? Are you sure you are not mistaking my Chidi for someone else?"

"I am serious" Adaeze replied with a sullen face.

"Mom, please don't play any prank with me. You've always told me about every man that you come across, why not him? Why not Chidi? Why?"

"Be...because it felt so surreal. I didn't believe it was happening. His words motivated me to start painting again. I wanted to take it all in and make sure it was real before I told you about him but he disappeared into thin air just to resurface again as my daughter's fiance"

As if something hit her chest, Ifunaya jerked as she asked, "Tell me the truth, Mom... did you sleep with him?"

Adaeze’s eyes widened in shock.

"God forbid! No, Ifunanya. We didn't get so deep. It was just one meeting."

But Ifunanya was already drowning in her emotions. Tears were streaming down her cheeks and she was gradually becoming the center of attention in the restaurant. She never expected to hear what she just heard. She thought it was something entirely different, but definitely not this. She found it hard to believe her mother. When she couldn’t bear to stay a minute longer, she stood up and ran out.

Ifunaya left the restaurant in her car in annoyance, with no destination in mind. She kept driving and crying and driving.

"Why did she tell me this story now? So that I will leave Chidi for her or what? I don't believe her story one bit, she has always discussed with me about every man she met and the ones she thinks she can date, but why not Chidi? Or she just formed this story just to dissuade me from marrying the first man that I'll ever fall in love with because she can't stand me being happy?"

She was furiously driving the car that many drivers had cursed and abused her in one way or the other.

"Infact, Chidi has some explanations to give"

Ifunanya drove straight to Chidi’s apartment, her tears blurring her vision.

When Chidi saw her, he was too shocked to say anything at first because, he was not expecting her to leave her 'date-ritual' with her mom. What worried him more was seeing her makeup smudged and her face wet with tears.

"Ifunanya, what’s wrong?" he asked, concern filling his voice.

She stepped inside, Chidi followed and closed the door behind him.

"Tell me the truth, Chidi. Did you know my mother before me? Was this all some kind of sick game?"

Chidi’s heart sank. He didn't know Adaeze will beat him to the game.

"Yes, I knew her. But I swear to you, I had no idea she was your mother until the day I stepped into your house."

Ifunanya’s tears flowed uncontrollably. She wanted to believe it was all a prank. But, him acknowledging what her mum said made the matter worse. She fell back and sank into the chair. Chidi’s eyes glistened with tears.

"I never planned this. I loved her, yes. But I love you now, Ifunanya. You’re the one I want to spend my life with."

But Ifunanya shook her head, her heart breaking into pieces.

"You can't love both of us, Chidi. You can't!"

"It is you that I love now, not her. We were never meant to be, Ifunaya"

As if she was in a trance and Chidi was not part of the scene, she started talking to herself.

"All I just wanted for my sweet mother was to love and be loved, I didn't care about the age of any man she decides to settle down with if he treats her right and respect her. But, I never said she should fall in love with a younger man that belongs to me. Did I do something wrong by supporting my mother? Chidi is my first and only love. I've never been in love with any man because I was afraid of experiencing what my mother experienced in marriage. Her mistakes formed my life's decisions. I never knew love can be this good until I met Chidi who broke the fragile cocoon and showed me how beautiful the right kind of love can be. I wanted my mom to be happy, but not by sharing the same man with me. Why is she this cruel, sad and jealous? Is it because she sees me enjoying what she never had a chance to enjoy? Am I her undoing? So, she love the way I've been without love for years, it made her feel good since she has recruited another soldier into her battalion. But immediately I brought a man home, her true color came up and she couldn't hold herself around my man. Why would she be wanting what I want?"

Hearing Ifunaya say all of these broke Chidi's heart because he knew she totally misunderstood everything that happened. And hearing her say things like this about her mother — the sweet Adaeze she never got to know broke his heart the more.

"Ify, my love. Your feelings are justified and I am sorry we did this to you even though it was unintentional. But, you're taking this out of..."

"Don't you dare say a word to me you liar. Today made it 7 days since you came to my house, why didn't you tell me the truth that same night you visited if you guys have not been running show behind me and it is your guilty conscience that pushed you out?"

Chidi was alarmed at the length where Ifunaya was taking the matter. That never happened. Even the truth they told her was out of respect and good will.

"I am sorry I didn't speak up earlier, but I was shocked when I saw her and I haven't fully processed it, moreover I was afraid I'd lose you if..."

"Well, now you've lost me"

She said and rushed out of the house in anger, Chidi wanted to follow her because he knew she was not stable to drive herself but she recoiled when she saw him rushing after her.

"I swear to God if you take another step there again, I'll kill you, kill that bitch calling herself my mother and kill myself. Don't follow me you liar, conniving betrayer"

Chidi didn't want to aggravate the situation so he quickly stopped in his tracks before he would make her do something that she might later regret.

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Ifunanya drove aimlessly through the streets, her mind clouded with pain and betrayal.

"Why does my mother's pain have to become mine? Why does her failed marriage prevent me from meeting men and making my decisions for myself? I hate her. I hate myself! Arrgh!!!"

Her tears blinded her as her heart screamed for an escape. She didn’t see the truck approaching from the opposite lane.

The screeching sound of tires. The blinding flash of headlights.

And then...

Everything went dark.

Meanwhile, Adaeze paced the living room restlessly, her heart pounding with fear.

Her daughter hadn’t returned home, nor was she picking her calls. Then her phone rang. She answered with trembling hands.

"Hello, ma. Are you Ifunanya's mother?"

"Yes, I am. Who is this?"

"I'm calling from Divine Mercy Hospital. Your daughter was involved in an accident. Please come immediately."

The phone slipped from Adaeze's hand.

"God... please don’t take my daughter from me."

She grabbed her car keys and rushed out of the house, her heart racing against time.