HE LIVES IN ME

By Ikechukwu E. Amadi



This blinking blue light of my desktop charger reminds me of the very night my father was wheeled into the ambulance, its blue light penetrating my eyes with every turn. It was dark……….

“Wow! Good timing NEPA, right on time”. She said grabbing the remote and taking her position on the sofa. In the huskiness of his voice, “Give me back that remote!’

“In your dreams!” she retorted.

They had been having an argument in the bedroom, before the light came on and served as a distraction. Still standing there looking at her sternly.

“What?! My favourite show is on and I won’t miss it for anything”. Taking his words slowly, now with more vex accompanying it.

“I said give it to me!”

“No!” Charging towards her, he furiously grabs it from her.

“You stingy selfish being!”

“What did you say?”

“You heard me right. You are just a stingy, selfish……” It came down hard and fast on her cheeks, nearly pushing her down to the floor, but being so resilient she returned the gesture.

            Now, even more furious and cursing under his breath, reached for the flower vase and launched it at her. She dodged, it hit the TV.

“Coward! You’re just a coward!  You will lose everything…….everything!”

            He launched at her a second time with his arm outstretched……summoning all the strength she could muster, pushed him aside and he went crashing from the TV stand  to the floor, where the broken pieces of the flower vase and TV screen lay. She was breathing heavily. This was the first time she stood up to him.  She knew he wasn’t a quitter and looked intently at him for his next move. His face was away from hers……she got no moves he was still. Her heart pounding faster, she moved closer….”BLOOD!” forming a circle beneath his head. The ambulance came with its blue light blinking brightly outside in the dark.

            But here I was, with a knife on my hand and a pan on hers……yes my WIFE! I was about to launch at her when I turned and saw it…….THE BLINKING BLUE LIGHT. Even though I felt, I held the better weapon, I shook my head, dropped the knife, drank enough water and walked away. She looked at me in utter amazement. Little did she know, I did not want to reawaken the beast…..as, HE LIVES IN ME!