The kidnappers, seizing the moment amidst the chaos, made a hasty escape. Their footsteps faded into the distance as they vanished, carrying the ransom with them. It was a bitter defeat for ASP Grace and her team, who had fought hard but couldn’t prevent the criminals from slipping through their grasp.
David, nursing his side where he’d collided with the tree, grimaced in pain. The adrenaline that had masked the pain from his injury now wore off, leaving him with a throbbing ache. He clung to the tree for support, breathing heavily but relieved that he hadn’t been hit by a bullet.
Ugochi’s uncle, shaken but unharmed, joined David near the tree.
I couldn’t stay in the car any longer, my concern for David overwhelmed my sense of reasoning, and I needed to ensure that he was alright.
Without a second thought, I rushed out of the car to the tree. He was still leaning against the tree, wincing in pain.
“David!” I called out, my voice filled with genuine concern. “Are you okay?”
David, though clearly in discomfort, managed a weak but reassuring smile. “I’m fine, Chioma. Just a little banged up, but nothing serious.”
Relief washed over me, and I couldn’t help but let out a huge sigh. “I was so scared when the shooting started.” I said.
Ugochi’s uncle, who had been standing nearby, also chimed in. “Thank God we came out of this in one piece.”
I nodded, grateful that we were all safe but worried that the kidnappers may not release Ugochi’s Aunt because we had betrayed their trust.
ASP Grace and her team were already busy securing the scene and gathering evidence. It was evident that they were determined to bring the kidnappers to justice, despite this setback.
David, still in pain, gestured towards Ugochi’s uncle. “We should head back to the car and let the officers handle things from here. I’ll be okay.”
As we made our way back to the car, I couldn’t help but steal glances at David, though in pain, he looked as handsome as ever, he was my hero. My heart was brimming with gratitude for his presence and relief that he had emerged from the ordeal unscathed.
Days later, to our relief, Ugochi’s aunt was finally released by the kidnappers. The family’s relief was palpable, even though the ordeal had taken its toll, and I worried that her aunt might suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.
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Post-traumatic stress disorder also known as PTSD is a mental health condition that’s triggered by a terrifying event, either by experiencing the event or being a witness to it. People who have PTSD may experience flashbacks of the event, nightmares and severe anxiety. PTSD can begin anytime from a month after a traumatic event up to years after. The major treatment for the disorder is psychotherapy.
Following the harrowing experience with the kidnappers, I found it difficult to stay alone at my parents’ house. The trauma of that night weighed heavily on me, and the constant fear of what could have happened haunted me. I decided to move into the House Officers’ Quarters at the hospital where I was doing my housemanship. It was a block of about 30 studio flats, a modest accommodation for resident doctors and house officers. Each doctor paid a subsidised fee to stay there, and the convenience of being just a 5-minute walk from the hospital made it a practical choice.
David recovered from his minor injuries after a few days. One weekend, he invited me over to his place for dinner. I was super-excited as I felt that finally we were moving forward. Our relationship had not been well defined over the last few weeks. We had been friends, it was obvious that we were attracted to each other but for some reason, I can’t confidently say we were dating yet. He had visited me a lot of times but I had never been to his place. So I felt like him inviting me over was a positive sign.
I took extra care in choosing what to wear, opting for a simple yet elegant dress. The last thing I wanted was to appear too eager, but I couldn’t help the butterflies in my stomach. David was handsome and his handsomeness was intimidating, just the thought of being alone with him sent shivers down my spine.
I finally settled for a deep sapphire-blue dress that elegantly hugged my curves, stopping just above my knees. The dress was simple yet sophisticated, with a tasteful neckline that revealed a hint of my collarbones.
As I stood before the mirror, admiring my reflection and adding a final spritz of my favourite perfume, the knock on my door caught me by surprise. I wasn’t expecting anyone and it couldn’t have been Ugochi because she was on call that weekend and busy in the theatre. “Could it be David arriving earlier than agreed to pick me?” I wondered. It was about 10 minutes to our agreed pick up time.
Starting to feel nervous, I approached the door and opened it.
There, on my doorstep, stood Rowland. His sharp features and fitted T-shirt couldn’t hide the air of arrogance that clung to him like a second skin. I felt a rush of anger and fear, not just at his unexpected appearance, but at his words that followed.
“How did you find me here?” I demanded, Rowland’s lips curled into a self-assured grin as his eyes raked over my attire. “I’ve got my ways, Chioma,” he replied, stepping closer. “And I must say, you look absolutely stunning tonight.”
I began to feel uneasy as Rowland’s gaze lingered on me. I took a step back, my anger now outweighing my fear. “You need to leave now” I ordered.
But Rowland didn’t seem inclined to leave. He leaned in closer, invading my personal space, and his voice took on a seductive tone. “You can’t deny the attraction between us, Chioma. We had something special, and I know you still feel it.”
My jaw clenched as I shook my head. “No, Rowland. What we had is over, and it’s not coming back. You need to leave now.”
Rowland’s expression darkened as he took another step closer, his hand reaching out to touch me. My heart pounded as I moved away from his grasp, my voice firmer this time. “I said, leave!”
But instead of leaving, he lifted me in his arms, gently throwing me on the bed. “What do you think you’re doing?” I shouted landing with a soft thud on the bed, “bringing back old memories” he replied, taking off his shirt to reveal his muscular arms and all too familiar six-pack that always made me melt like butter in a microwave. “You need to leave now” I repeated as he got on top of me, holding my wrists above my head and pinning them to the bed with his hands.
I felt too weak to fight back, I was both physically and mentally weak, Rowland was strong, he overpowered me but also, the sight of him shirtless was bringing back memories that I was fighting to keep away.
I was still struggling with my thoughts and emotions and trying to find the courage to fight Rowland, when suddenly, the door to my flat swung open, Rowland had left the door slightly ajar in his bid to have his way with me and David had just walked in with a bouquet of red roses, only to find me lying on the bed with a shirtless Rowland on top of me.
Find out what happens next, tomorrow in episode 12 #checkwithdoctoro