(A Darn Good Year..Episode 5)

The next morning came quickly and Sam found herself humming softly to a song she always used to sing to Jason as a boy, while Segun glared at her but she chose to ignore it. Later Segun said “and why do you have to hunt me with your song, we lost a child”. She smiled and said “I know, but my life goes on after a loss and I deserve to be happy. Everyday with you has become unbearable, you have rightfully blamed me for his suicide and I have accepted it, what more do you want of me……..death”.  Segun did a double take as she stormed out of the room to the bathroom. Sam had never raised her voice to him before and this was coming as a surprise. When Sam came out of the bath Segun had left for work with a note on the table that read “ you owe me an apology”, she simply tore it and left it back on the table. She dressed eagerly, picked up the rumpled newspaper and convinced herself that she had to give it to him, after all its his property. Feeling like a child again she looked at the mirror one last time smiled, chinned up and drove to the lounge in search of the unknown. At 1pm the lounge was already in the mood for business, chattering, eating, gawking…..the world is really pretty she thought, and pinched herself for all the loneliness she had being enduring. She booked table 49 quickly and even paid double the amount to reserve it and started the waiting game. Turning and tossing at every baritone voice she heard and even made imaginary phone calls to keep herself busy.. The hospital {2:45pm}Kojo parked his power bike at the only available parking space removed his helmet and looked so helpless. He had spent his early morning drinking and reflecting on his life and contemplating on the best way to end his life……a suicide note and a free ride on his favorite bike to hell, a dip in the lagoon or death from use of steroids. None of it appealed to him because he just did not have the heart for it. He had been running all his life, he ran from his step-mother, he ran from women into exploitation, life on the fast lane can always end suddenly like a game of card, now he his about to face a result due to the life he had chosen for himself and felt like running away again, but he really needs to know. Fiddling with his hands he walked up the balcony and went straight for the kill. As he passed the waiting section, he coughed repeatedly and a nurse turned sharply and apologized for the oral vaccine that smells when administered and causes irritation in some people. He smiled shakily at the consolation but was almost sure it was part of his initiation process to the dreaded community of people living with A.I.D.S. He went to the rest room and tried to freshen up, but kept seeing a caricature of himself and almost jumped out of the restroom. He tried to remain calm and cool his nerves but it wasn’t working, sweat broke out of his face and walked quickly to vend a cold drink, gulped it down and jumped when a door opened and he was standing face to face with his doctor. Clearly confused, Dr Fred checked his file and said “you are not the patient I’m scheduled to meet” Kojo visibly shocked said “I don’t know how I got here, I’m scared”. Dr Fred went to his desk and called that his scheduled patient be assigned to another doctor as he would like to have his break now. Bending, breaking and recreating new rules had always being easy for Kojo as he always had the charm, charisma, smoothness or a times forcefulness to make things work for him, but now…….. “So which do you think is worse Kojo, cancer or A.I.D.S” brought back to reality Kojo could not find a suitable reply, took a deep breathe and answered “I just want to know the truth” Dr Fred began, “Kojo I have not only been your personal doctor but a good friend too. I know the dangers of doing what you do as you are very susceptible to A.I.D.S. I really don’t have the right to judge your decision to do whatever you want with your life or preference in sexual partners and yes I know I am blabbing right now but please try and quit your habit. I got your results this morning and I am praying and have never for once stopped praying for you……what about your love for photography…and” BAM!, came a thunderous bang on his table, Kojo’s face turning red demanded as gentle as he could be “ please, let me know my fate” “okay , I am sorry for putting you through this but I will need to prescribe some drugs as your panic attack seems to be returning otherwise you are as fit as a fiddle from the results of the test and let me inform you that we used four different laboratories for precision”