FAMILY HOUSE (A SHORT STORY)
“We all have secrets we would die with”.
This was the thought running through my head as I sat next to my wife in this crowded hospital room, surrounded by my in-laws. I hate hospitals so much, but I couldn't flee the strong stench of drugs in the air — at least not today.
The doctor had just broken the news that Baba had a stroke, and the family was exploring various avenues of expressing shock and showcasing grief.
I just sat there, still as a stone, staring at the outdated Christmas decorations, feeling the wetness of my wife’s tears on my shirt sleeves. Suddenly, her brother, David, who loves playing the detective, looks at me and asks how a healthy man like his father had a stroke.
How the hell should I know? I just found him sprawled out on the floor in the kitchen.
Or did I?
See, truth be told, I love my wife, but I have never liked staying with her family. Rich parents, big house, festive rowdiness and an imposing father figure who always insisted we spend the Christmas holidays as a family. The perfect setting for everyone to forget I exist.
I never really liked it here, until last year when she came.
Yes, her. Timma — David’s shy wife.
I understood her shyness and she understood mine. We were just two outsiders trying to navigate this circus of a family. Baba had encouraged us to socialize, and that’s what we did. But I think we went too far one night when the whole family went to greet the ‘Igwe’, and we opted to watch the children. Although we shook it off and blamed the alcohol, that was the highlight of my year, and I couldn’t wait for this year’s Christmas to come along.
It did — and we did it. After three consecutive rendezvous in the dark corners of the garden, we realized that it wasn’t the alcohol. It never was.
Late last night, While sneaking back in through the back door, we walked into Baba taking his medicine.
He froze in confusion.
We froze in realization.
He knew — and we knew he knew.
Baba took a breath to exclaim in shock as I rushed towards him and landed a heavy blow on his chest. All that came out of him was a silent gasp of pain as his glass dropped to the ground as I eased his body to the ground also.
Now tell me, How am I supposed to explain that to David?
I looked up at my brother-in-law, then at his wife. She looked away, evading my gaze. Wow, so now I’m the villain?
I kept staring at her till she looked back at me. And although she was quiet, I could hear her loud and clear; I could read her teary eyes.
Baba’s death brings this family together.
His survival scatters it.
And we all have secrets we would die with.
