A somber atmosphere descended upon Ekene as he returned home that night, his mind a whirlpool of confusion and intrigue following his mysterious meeting with the king and Princess Adaeze. As he entered his uncle's house, he called out into the darkness, eager to find solace in the company of his family
"Uncle, I'm back!" Ekene's voice echoed through the empty halls, a note of desperation tingeing his words.
Yet no response came, leaving the young man to search the shadows for any sign of his uncle's presence
Panic gripped Ekene's heart, a cold and primal fear, as he stumbled upon his uncle's prone form, lying motionless on the floor of the darkened house. With no time to lose, Ekene sprang into action. He knelt down, his hands trembling as he touched his uncle's cold skin. He rushed his uncle to the clinic with all the urgency his exhausted body could muster, the weight of his body a testament to the life that was fading
At the clinic, the doctor moved with practiced urgency, but his expression was grim. After what felt like an eternity, the doctor emerged from the room, his face a mask of sorrow
"Doctor, how is he?" Ekene inquired, tears streaming unchecked down his face
With a gesture, the doctor beckoned Ekene to his office, offering a semblance of privacy for the difficult conversation that lay ahead. As Ekene took a seat, his heart pounding in his chest, the doctor leveled his gaze and delivered the unimaginable report
"Your uncle was bitten by a snake in his anus," the doctor revealed, his voice heavy with the weight of the baffling revelation. "There is only one explanation for this. The snake must have struck from the water closet"
Ekene's mind reeled as he struggled to process the incomprehensible nature of the attack. "What? How?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper
The doctor shook his head, his own bewilderment mirroring Ekene's. "I don't know. It's a mystery. But if we investigate properly, we might figure it out"
As the reality of his uncle's bizarre affliction settled upon him, Ekene forced himself to focus on the present. "Alright, so how is my uncle doing? Is he alright?" he inquired
The doctor's eyes filled with sorrow as he relayed the news that shattered Ekene's world. "I'm sorry, you lost him"
Ekene's grief erupted in a torrent of anguish, his wails filling the confines of the office as he collapsed to the floor. The weight of his loss was more than he could bear, and as the night stretched on, he found himself unable to return to the home that now stood as a cruel reminder of all he had lost
Seeking refuge in the cold embrace of the hospital, Ekene passed the night consumed by his sorrow, his dreams haunted by visions of serpents and shattered memories
The morning sun bathed Amosu village in a golden glow, but the warmth did little to soothe the tension in the air. Princess Adaeze walked towards Ekene's uncle's house, her steps purposeful, only to find Grace seated alone on the porch
"Grace, how are you? It's been a while," Princess Adaeze greeted, warmth in her voice that belied the turmoil within
"I'm fine, and you?" Grace replied, her eyes searching the princess' face for any hint of the true purpose behind her visit
"I'm fine too. Please is Ekene in?" Princess Adaeze inquired, her gaze flitting to the closed door of the house
Grace's brow furrowed as she consider the unusual circumstances. "No, he's not in. His uncle isn't in either. The house is locked. It's strange because they don't leave the house this early"
"I just want to see Ekene," Princess Adaeze said, a flicker of desperation in her voice
"Is something wrong?" Grace asked, her concern mounting as she observed the princess' agitation. "Whatever it is, you can talk to me, you know?"
"It's kind of complicate-" Princess Adaeze's words were cut short by Ekene's sudden, sharp voice ringing out behind her. "What do you want?"
The girls snapped their heads around at the sound of Ekene's voice, their eyes widening in surprise as they took in his disheveled appearance. It was clear that he had been out all night, his eyes swollen, and reddened by tears, his hair dusty and unkempt
Grace's concern only grew as she pressed for answers. "Ekene, what's wrong? Did Adaeze do something wrong?"
Ekene, his gaze locked onto Princess Adaeze, ignored Grace's question and asked Princess Adaeze directly, "What are you doing here?"
Princess Adaeze took a deep breath, steeling herself for the difficult conversation that lay ahead. "I came to see you, Ekene. Abou-"
Ekene cut her off, his voice raw with emotion. "I don't want to see you!"
Grace's eyes narrowed in surprise, confusion giving way to a sense of unease as she struggled to understand the source of Ekene's pain. "Ekene, what's wrong? Did Adaeze do something wrong?"
Ekene drew in a shuddering breath, his eyes still trained on Princess Adaeze as he revealed the source of his anguish. "My uncle is dead."
The weight of Ekene's words hung heavily in the air, the shocking revelation casting a shadow over the small group. Grace's sob echoed through the still air as she mourns the loss of Ekene's uncle. Princess Adaeze stood beside Grace, her own tears streaming down her face in a seemingly endless torrent, her attempts to staunch the flow proving futile in the face of such heartbreaking news
Ekene, his gaze, never wavering, remained fixed on Princess Adaeze, continued, "He died last night. According to the doctor, he was bitten by a snake in his anus. I couldn't save him"
Princess Adaeze, her lips trembling, tried once more to reach out to Ekene. "Eken-"
Her words were cut off by Ekene's cold, resolute tone, his voice now devoid of any warmth. "Please leave my house. I don't want to see you ever again"
Defeated and heavy-hearted, Princess Adaeze turned away from Ekene and Grace, her footsteps carrying her out of the compound and back into the harsh light day. As she walked away, her tears only seemed to fall more freely, her grief and helplessness overwhelming in the face of such devastating news and Ekene's rejection