Could This Be Me

By Ebere Cathy Njoku

Olanma is face to face with the dreaded oracle of Urode. She has been forced to swear before it that she had no hand in her husband, Tom’s death. It didn’t matter that while he lived, he constantly abused and cheated on her, it didn’t matter that far from being the “born again” Christian he claimed, he was a voodoo practising fraudster!
As Olanma stood there, the shocking events that led her to this point in her life are replayed in her mind and she resolves never to give in to their threats. She will stand firmly on her faith!
A gripping, inspirational yet entertaining story. A novel that everyone can read and glorify God!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ebere Cathy Njoku
• Release date: Jul 21, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370142750

Ebere Cathy Njoku

Dr Ebere Cathy Njoku is the founder and driver of the Wholesome Inspirations Network. She is on a mission to "create a change in our collective mindset toward a more wholesome way of doing everything" by flooding our environment with wholesome products and services especially in the area of the written and spoken word. She is the author of Could This be me? The Darkness in my Past Edge of a Cliff My Personal Book Journal

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

OGBA, LAGOS, YEAR 2000

The tension was everywhere. I could feel the pressure building up until it was almost at bursting point. All my nerves were tingling; every sound around me was magnified. I knew without a shadow of doubt that something was about to happen but I could not for the life of me tell what it was or when it would happen, all I knew was that something evil was brewing and it was going to affect me, in a big way.

CLANG!!!! CLANG!!!! I swiftly turned around with my heart in my mouth to face the slamming door. 

Mummy!  Mummy! Where have you been? Daddy is looking for you! screeched Nnaemeka, my three year old son, running into my arms, and he looks very angry, is he going to hit you again? 

No darling I answered, but I want you to go back to your room ok? I will be along and pray with you before you sleep, go on dear, off you go!

I sank into the recliner and held a throw pillow to myself as a sort of shield and began to pray softly pretending not to hear the heavy footsteps of Tom, who incredibly is my husband.

Hey you! Get up quickly! Where have you been? Have you packed yet? You want me to be late abi?

Tom was so busy shouting he didn’t notice I had not responded. In my mind I wondered which question to answer first and if I did reply would it make any difference? He was already in one of the Moods and nothing I could do would calm him down till his anger had run its course.

 I am talking to you, he screamed while pulling me forcefully from the chair, Are you deaf and dumb? Answer me!!!.

 A strange calmness which I can only conclude came from the Holy Spirit, filled my whole being and I just stared at him for a while, then I said clearly I told you I am not going with you to the village this time, I see absolutely no need for it after all its not a festive period and we saw mama just last month, besides I really want to attend the church program that I told you about last week

 What? Are you disobeying me? he yelled.

 At this point Tom lost it and began to slap, kick and punch me with unimaginable violence. Normally I would run or try to fight back but this time I just stood there, inside me was cold, so cold I started shaking and my teeth were rattling but still I stood there. Tom was so far gone he was incoherent, he was sweating profusely and his eyes looked maniacal. I remember thinking that this was the devil I had been living with. In my heart, I said a silent goodbye to him, I knew I could no longer live this way. This was the end of the marriage for me. Goodbye Tom, I said in my heart and dragged my pain racked body out of his way. I walked with my head held high and never turned back. Little did I know that was the last time I would see him!

Events began to quickly unfold; I rushed to my son’s room to find him fast asleep. I was glad because I couldn’t bear to have him see me like this yet again. The effects of the tense atmosphere we lived in were telling too much on our son. For instance, Nnaa never spoke to his father, never even went near him. He was so fearful, even the slightest sounds made him come running to find me. He also suffered from a bad case of asthma and would stutter the few times he spoke to anyone apart from me. I always told people he was just shy while I prayed for a miracle in my home. The staff of the pediatric hospital nearby knew us so well because Nnaa was a frequent patient. 

I went silently to his bathroom to tidy up as best as I could then crawled into his little bed and snuggled up to him. As I held him I shut my ears to the sounds of banging doors and Tom slamming out of the house. I didn’t let him go until I heard Tom roaring off in his latest Mercedes Benz. Only then did I breathe a sigh of relief and release Nnaa from my near stranglehold.

 I got up from the bed bearing in mind I had no time to waste and started packing the few personal belongings which I felt were absolutely necessary to get by the next few days: my international passport (which I had carefully hidden in my church hat), my school certificates, some dollars I had saved from my last trip abroad, and an immediate change of clothes for Nnaa. We were going to travel light.

 I quickly remembered the cheap phone I had hidden from Tom loaded with credit for such emergencies as this, you see this wasn’t the first time I had run from home but I swore it would be the last. I dialed the intercom for the security man and asked him to go down the road and buy me a bottle of maltina to enable Nnaa take his medicine, I did this to divert his attention and make sure he was out of the house when I made my escape with Nnaa because he was Tom’s chief spy.  I also dialed the cab drivers' number and told him my son was not well and had to be rushed to hospital, it was all I could think of to say since many of the neighborhood cabbies were on Tom’s payroll and constantly spied on me. Luckily he responded swiftly and as soon as I heard his beep at the gate, I bundled up Nnaa, picked up the tote bag and we were off. 

I hope no problem madam? asked the cab driver.

 Nothing too serious oh, it’s because Oga traveled that’s why I had to call you. Nnaa was still asleep giving credence to my story about ill health.

Please open the door for me quickly! I said.

 While he got out to do so I turned around for one last glance at the place I had called home for the past four years, for some bizarre reason I started unconsciously taking stock of what represented great wealth and importance to Tom: his thirteen cars, the large size swimming pool, the glittering pillars of the great house which had been a prison to me, the long driveway and the perfectly manicured lawns. I looked with great detachment at this show of materialism and heaved a sigh of relief, at least this is the end, I thought to myself. 

Let’s move! I told the cabbie. 

Yes ma! he replied and in that split moment when our eyes met I knew that he knew. I didn’t stop to question the pity and understanding I saw in his eyes but sat down and firmly locked the door. 

Where to ma? asked the driver.

Number 13 Coventry Street, Ikoyi, and go as fast as you can.

The rest of the journey progressed in silence till we got there. I thanked God it was evening and because we were driving against traffic, we arrived very quickly. 

CHAPTER TWO

13 Coventry Street is a beautiful, white colonial style house where my elder sister, Nkechi, lived with her six year old daughter, Nicola. She is a single mother and very set in her ways. She never hid her dislike for Tom and could never understand why I remained with him. 

Wake up darling, I shook Nnaa, we are at Aunty Nkechi's place. 

Oh Mummy I'm still sleepy, moaned Nnaa.

Don’t worry love, you will soon go back to bed. As I paid off the taxi he wished me well and sped off.

 I walked briskly carrying Nnaa to the front door while I steeled myself as I pressed the bell against Nkechi’s disappointed look for I was sure she had already seen us via her CCTV.

 The door opened and Nkechi stood there, tall and regal, she had always been the beautiful one among us four girls, but at this moment she had a big scowl on her face as she looked at me. I am sure she took in the swollen eyes, puffy cheeks and the pain in my eyes. 

Go and drop in Nnaa in Nicola’s room, then let’s talk, I will be in the living room upstairs.

With that, she turned around and walked away. I followed her at a more sedate pace all the while grateful to the Almighty for providing succor for me but dreading the interrogation which I knew I had to face with my sister. 

After I had once again, tucked Nnaa into bed this time right