💢 #CHAPTER 7️⃣ 💢

Taiwo barely made it to the toilet before her stomach gave in. Bending over the sink, she started retching and vomiting violently, her body trembling as she emptied the contents of her stomach.

The bitter taste made her gag even more, and tears stung her eyes as the pain in her stomach increased.

She coughed, spitting out the last bits of bitter liquid. Her vision blurred slightly, and a cold sweat covered her forehead. A firm but gentle hand suddenly touched her shoulder.

“What is wrong?” a voice asked from behind.

Taiwo flinched slightly at the unexpected touch. She turned her head weakly and saw her mother, Juana, staring at her with a worried look.

“Taiwo, what is wrong with you?” Juana repeated. “Why are you vomiting so hard?”

Taiwo forced a weak smile and shook her head.

“I’m fine, Mum,” she replied weakly. “It’s just a little stomach upset.”

Juana frowned, not convinced by her response. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, Mum. I just need to rest,” Taiwo insisted, trying to stand up, but her legs became unsteady and weak.

Juana sighed and stood up. “Go inside and take some stomach tablets. They’re on the table in the parlor,” she said firmly.

“No, Mum, I think I’m alright now,” Taiwo said quickly, waving a hand dismissively.

She took a few shaky steps forward, but suddenly, her body gave way. Her knees buckled, and before she could stop herself, she collapsed onto the floor. A choked gasp escaped her lips as she kept vomiting some liquid substance from her mouth.

Juana’s heart jumped in fear. “Taiwo!!” she screamed as she rushed to lift her up. Her hands trembled as she held her daughter’s weak, limp body.

The sound of Juana’s panicked scream echoed through the house. Within seconds, Frank and Kehindey rushed out from the dining, their eyes wide with alarm.

“Mum, what’s wrong?” Kehindey asked in a shaky voice, his heart pounding as he took in the sight of his twin sister lying helplessly on the floor.

“Taiwo! Taiwo!! What’s happening to her?” Frank asked authoritatively.

Juana shook her head frantically. “I don’t know! She was vomiting the food she ate earlier, then suddenly slumped!”

Frank ran a hand over his head, pacing in distress. “This is serious. We need to take her to the hospital immediately!” he said.

Taiwo groaned weakly, forcing her heavy mouth open. “No, Dad… I don’t want to see a doctor,” she murmured. “I told you, I’m fine... It’s just a little stomach upset… probably because of the excess food I ate last night.”

Frank and Juana exchanged worried glances. Kehindey, who had been standing silently, couldn’t take his eyes off his sister. He had never seen her this weak before, and it scared him.

Frank exhaled deeply, rubbing his temple. “Alright then,” he finally said. “She should go and lie on the bed. Let’s see if she regains her strength.”

He carefully lifted Taiwo into his arms and carried her to the bedroom. Juana followed closely behind, still feeling uneasy. Kehindey remained speechless by the doorway, watching as his sister was gently carried into the bedroom.

A few days after Taiwo’s sudden illness, her behavior starts changing gradually. She did not go to school that day, Frank told Juana to allow her to stay at home till she fully recovered.

Juana prepared breakfast for her and went to her room to wake her up to come to the dining for her breakfast.

Taiwo walked sluggishly into the dining room, her movements slow and careful. She had been feeling better over the past few days, though there was still an unusual tiredness about her. She pulled out a chair and sat down, waiting as her mother served her meal.

But the moment the plate was placed before her, her reaction changed. The smell of the food, which had always been her favorite, suddenly became unbearable. A wave of nausea hit her, her stomach twisted violently, and she pushed the plate away.

Juana frowned, watching her daughter with quiet concern. Taiwo barely eats her food since she recovered. Her loss of appetite is becoming more noticeable.

"You don’t want to eat?" Juana asked, her voice laced with curiosity.

Taiwo shook her head quickly. "I don't have an appetite, mom." She replied as her face went pale. "I would just have a juice instead." She replied as she stood up from the dining, and headed over to the fridge to pick an orange juice. After which she went to the living room and put on the TV.

Juana stood frozen for a moment, her grip tightening around the edge of the table. A strange thought crossed her mind, but she quickly shook it off.

That night, Frank got home from work very tired and went to sleep as soon as he finished eating his food.

As he lay in bed that night, his mind was half-asleep when he heard a faint sound from the living room. His eyes fluttered open. At first, he thought he imagined it, but then he heard the sound of slow, careful footsteps.

He turned slightly, expecting to see Juana shifting in bed, but she was still asleep beside him. The footsteps continued, soft but noticeable.

Frank rose from the bed and stepped out of the room. He went to the living room and saw Taiwo.

She's sitting on the couch inside the living room while trying to turn on the television in the middle of the night.

Frank hesitated before speaking. “Taiwo…?”

She turned sharply, startled. For a brief moment, a look of fear flashed across her face before she quickly masked it.

“You should be sleeping,” Frank said with a calm but firm voice.

“I couldn’t,” she murmured. “I was unable to.”

Frank watched her closely. There was something unsettling about her, but he couldn't seem to figure out what could be wrong.

"But it's midnight, you aren't supposed to be watching a movie by this time." Frank queried.

Taiwo didn't respond, she just sat there, staring at her father as if urging him to allow her to watch the TV.

"Alright, don't stay too long," Frank finally said after what seemed like ages. "And don't forget to turn off the TV after you are done," Frank warned.

"Thank you, Dad. I won't stay too long." She murmured, clinging to the blanket she took with her.
Frank heads back to the bedroom, and Taiwo wraps the blanket around herself and proceeds to watching the movie.

It was Sunday morning, and the family was getting ready for church, the usual routine filling the house with movement and quiet conversation.

Taiwo stood before the mirror, adjusting her dress. But something felt wrong. The way the dress looked on her body made her uncomfortable. She suddenly felt a slight rumbling in her stomach and a sharp pain shoot through her chest. She winces a little and her hand hesitates over her stomach.

She suddenly felt a wave of frustration inside her. Her chest tightened, and without thinking, she grabbed a scarf from the dresser and flung it across the room.

Juana, who had been passing by, stopped at the doorway. “Taiwo?”
Taiwo stiffened. She hadn’t heard her mother approach. Quickly, she bent down to pick up the scarf, but her hands were shaking.

“Are you okay?” Juana asked, stepping closer.

“Yes,” Taiwo replied too quickly. “I’m fine.”

“Alright, dress up quick and meet us outside.” Juana told her as she walked outside, and few minutes later, they all left for church.

The next morning, which was Monday, Juana stepped into the children’s room to wake the kids up and prepare them for school.

She moved toward the bed, gently shaking Kehindey’s shoulder first. He groaned sleepily, turning to the side before slowly sitting up. With a small yawn, he stretched and rubbed his eyes.

“Good morning, Mum,” he mumbled.

“Good morning, my dear,” Juana replied with a small smile before turning toward Taiwo’s bed, but her smile faded slowly when she saw her.

Taiwo was still lying down, curled up under the blanket. The sheets were slightly damp, and sweat beads covered her forehead. Her chest rose and fell in slow, uneven breaths and her face was unusually pale.

Juana’s heart clenched. She reached out and placed a hand on Taiwo’s forehead. The warmth that greeted her fingers was alarming.

“Taiwo!” Juana called; her voice laced with concern. “What is wrong with you?”

Taiwo’s eyes fluttered open, drowsy and unfocused. She forced a weak smile, shifting slightly under the blanket. “I’m fine, Mum. Just a little tired.”

Juana frowned, pressing the back of her hand to Taiwo’s cheek. The heat radiating from her skin was undeniable. She was burning up.

“You are not fine,” Juana said firmly. “You are sweating, and your body is too hot. Tell me the truth—what’s wrong?”

Taiwo groaned softly, shutting her eyes. “It’s nothing, Mum. Maybe I just didn’t sleep well.”

Juana wasn’t convinced. She reached for Taiwo’s hand, gently squeezing it. “You were vomiting days ago, always sleeping, and now you’re running a fever. Don’t tell me it’s nothing.”

Kehindey, who had been listening quietly, looked over at his sister with concern.

“Taiwo, if you’re sick, you should rest. Maybe Mum should take you to the hospital.”

At the mention of the hospital, Taiwo’s eyes snapped open. She sat up quickly, but the sudden movement made her dizzy.

“No! I don’t need a doctor. I’ll be fine,” she said, shaking her head.

Juana narrowed her eyes, watching her daughter carefully. There was something odd about her insistence.

“Taiwo, you haven’t been eating much, you’re weak, and now you’re running a fever. This is not something we can ignore,” Juana said sternly.

“I swear, Mum, I’ll be okay. Maybe I just need some rest,” Taiwo pleaded, her voice barely above a whisper.

Juana let out a deep sigh. She sat on the edge of the bed, running a hand over Taiwo’s damp forehead. The heat was making her worry even more.

She looked at Kehindey. “Go and bring a bowl of cool water and a towel.”

Kehindey nodded quickly and rushed out of the room. Juana turned back to Taiwo, brushing a few strands of hair from her sweaty face.

“My daughter, I know when something is wrong,” Juana said softly. “I don’t want you hiding anything from me.”

Taiwo forced another smile, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “I promise, Mum, I’m just a little weak.”

Juana sighed again. There was no use arguing for now, but deep down, she wasn’t convinced.

And suddenly, the thoughts she had been pushing away came rushing back, feeling her with an unease.


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