The prison guard had just spoken what she didn’t care to listen to. She had lost touch of her physical environment since the moment her baby was snatched from her loins. She would wake at the middle of the night screaming and banging on the bars that restricted her from fighting the world. Lola no longer cared about her fellow inmates whom were attacking her especially during the pregnancy stage. There was a particular time she was stabbed on the wrist by a fellow inmate whom got offended about the fact that she was pregnant, something she had always wished for herself which landed her in the prison. After the snatching of Lola’s baby by the government agents, Maria became compassionate towards Lola. Her hatred turned to sympathy and goodness. On several
occasions, Maria would protect Lola from other embittered inhumane women whom couldn’t deal with Lola’s attitude of keeping to herself and screaming at midnight. Maria had offered to be Lola’s cell mate when she was taken to a secluded cell for her misconduct, the request was granted.

Maria got to know Lola’s story and felt terribly sorry about Lola’s predicament. She decided to get closer to Lola even though it was evident that Lola had shut the door of friendship firmly having concluded there are no trust worthy individuals in the world that fate had forced her to live in. Maria nonetheless did not retreat after each attempt that seemed unsuccessful, Rather she became much compassionate. Maria appeared to be a woman in her late 40’s she looked old enough to have an offspring of Lola’s age. Maria could speak English fluently as she was an educated woman whom used to travel a lot. Maria realized Lola had become very depressed. She took it upon herself to make Lola smile once again.

Lola stood at the window side, her favourite part of the cell. She preferred her new cell especially, because it had a small window as compared to other cells she had been to. Her cell mate was also giving her a good vibe compared to her last cell mates. She hardly related to the lady and it was ironic that the lady whom was her major enemy in the prison yard has become one who would give encouraging proverbial words at intervals even though she didn’t walk up to her but, each time her cell mate spoke, she knew it was directed at her. They had barely spoken properly to each other but, Lola was beginning to love the presence of her cell mate than being alone.

Lola stood at the window pondering on how her life would have been completely different if they had missed their flight to Dominican Republic for their honey moon or if Tade had gotten an emergency contract that he couldn’t delegate or rather, the wedding was postponed. She couldn’t help but ponder and regret that one move to have booked the flight to Hispaniola Island. She thought to herself we wouldn’t be in prison cells so far away from each other and our daughter snatched from our care. ‘How ironic life is, we came here to spend time together alone but, we ended being so far from each other’ she said to herself. Lola! she heard a loud familiar voice jolting her to reality itself . Lola turned to see the prison guard at the other side of the bars she then asks ‘que
es’ (What is it?) The prison guard announces ‘tu marido huhó de la prisión y se cayó de una montaña escarpada (your husband fled from his prison he fell from a steep mountain) ‘él ha sido
declarado muerto (he has been declared dead!)
Lola slumps.

 

MISUBLU VII

Image Credit: Google images

From the desk of Mary Elebijo