Chapter 3: Death Came Knocking...

Amara walked down the lonely road with slow, tired steps. Her handbag hung loosely on her arm, but her eyes were fixed straight, seeing nothing, only emptiness.

She felt like somebody moving without life inside her body.

Four years ago, she had walked into marriage with Alex because her parents wanted it, not because her heart wanted it. She had hoped things would change, that maybe with time Alex would warm up to her.

But instead, he gave her a heart filled with wounds. His heart had always belonged to another woman, one who had walked away from him to follow wealth.

And since that day, Alex never forgave Amara. In his own mind, she was the reason he lost love.

Four years. Four long years of marriage where she carried every weight alone. She was never wife to him; just somebody that filled space in his house.

Today, at last, her eyes were open.

And she was free finally of that prison of a marriage. But was she entirely free?

She was diagnosed of brain cancer and had only few weeks if not days to live. And the thought alone hit in her head like rough hammer. She was free of one pain only to die of another.

Yet, that death was worth it.

The thoughts sat heavy on her chest. Amara lifted her right hand and stared at the gold wedding band shining faintly against her thin fingers.

That ring was supposed to mean joy. Instead, it tied her to pain. Four years it had stayed there, mocking her with every passing day.

She closed her eyes, held it tight, then whispered with trembling voice, “Starting today… we go our separate ways.”

With the last strength in her, she pulled the ring off. She stood by the bridge, raised it in the air for one last look, and then threw it deep into the river. The sound of the splash echoed in her ears like final goodbye.

Her chest burned. Her throat closed.

Suddenly, her head started pounding. The sharp pain shot through her skull, dragging her hand immediately to hold it. She bent slightly, her teeth clenched as she struggled for breath.

Just then, her bag began to ring.

She dragged it open, she noticed the medical report wasn’t inside her bag anymore. Maybe she dropped it at Alex’s house.

Her hands was shaking, and saw Adaobi’s name on the screen. She pressed answer.

“Amara… oh my God, Amara, I just heard,” Adaobi’s voice cracked through the phone. “You’re sick? Cancer? Why didn’t you tell me before now?”

Adaobi was her only surviving family. Chief and Mrs. Douglas Akwarandu had relocated to Los Angeles with their two daughters for business and a new environment.

Douglas’ company – the Dougs Electronics Hub flourished within few years of establishment. To keep that expansion and public status, he needed more wealthy allies – investors. That was how he met Mr. Spencer – Alex’s father, who needed a wife for his son. Both parents went into agreement to arrange for the children’s marriage.

Amarachi refused it at first. Insisting to finish her medical school first before marriage. But her parents were persistent. She had to drop out of school, obey them.

Unfortunately, her parents didn’t live to see what became of the marriage. They both died in a crash. Adaobi had being the one handling the family business since then despite the ups and downs.

Amara pressed the phone weakly against her ear. “Adaobi… it’s true. Brain cancer. Doctor said few weeks… nothing more.”

Adaobi gasped. “Jesus Christ. Amara! How… how can you say it like this? Which doctor told you that? We will find another one. We will look for help. You’re not going anywhere!”

Amara’s lips shook. “It’s not only that, Adaobi. Today… I ended it with Alex. I asked for divorce. It’s over.”

“What?” Adaobi’s voice rose in shock. “You… you divorced him? Amara, wait—”

But Amara couldn’t continue. Her chest tightened. Her breath cut short like air was being stolen from her.

She started gasping, one hand clutching her chest, the other holding the phone close as she collapsed onto the ground.

“Amara! Amara, what is it? What’s going on there? Where are you?” Adaobi screamed from the other end, but Amara couldn’t speak.

She lay shaking on the cold ground, gasping, eyes rolling back.

Her body stilled. The phone slipped from her fingers and silence took over.

When her eyes opened again, she was lying on a bed. She blinked weakly, her surroundings slowly settling in. And then she saw Adaobi sitting by her, tears streaming down her cheeks, clutching a folded medical report in her trembling hands.

Amara tried to sit but her body was weak. “Adaobi…”

Adaobi leaned forward quickly, holding her hand. “Amara, you scared me. Do you even know you almost died out there? They just finished running tests on you. I… I saw the report.”

Her tears doubled. “Sister, please, don’t do this to me. I’ll find the best doctor. I’ll search everywhere, even outside this country. Somebody will treat you.”

Amara shook her head slowly. Her voice was faint but steady. “No, Adaobi. There’s no need. I understand my body more anyone would. I’m tired. It’s only a matter of time.”

Adaobi squeezed her hand tightly. “Don’t say that! Amara, please. You’re all I have. Don’t tell me you’re ready to leave me. You still have life in you. We will fight. We must fight!”

Amara’s eyes brimmed with tears. “I don’t want to leave you, Adaobi. But this body… it’s already giving up.”

The two sisters cried together, their tears mixing with the heavy silence of the hospital room. Adaobi lifted her face, anger burning beneath her sorrow. “What about Alex? What did he say when he found out? Did he even try to help you? Tell me, Amara.”

Amara’s lips parted but no word came. Before she could answer, her hands started trembling. Her whole body began to shake uncontrollably.

She groaned, clutching her side, twisting in pain.

Adaobi panicked, jumping to her feet. “Amara! What is it? Tell me, what’s happening?”

Amara struggled to reach her bag on the side table. With shaking fingers, she pulled it close and opened it. Inside, she found the small transparent rubber for her pain relief pills.

She ripped it open, turned it upside down, and shook it desperately. Not a single tablet fell out.

It was empty.

“No… no, no…” Her voice broke as she shook it harder, but nothing came.

Adaobi’s eyes widened in fear. “Amara! What is going on? Talk to me!” She grabbed her sister’s shoulders, shaking her. “Where are the pills? Amara, answer me!”

But Amara could not respond. Her breath came in short, hard gasps, her eyes rolling back as her strength drained away. She slumped back against the bed, her hand falling limply at her side, the empty pill rubber rolling out of her palm to the floor.

Adaobi screamed, grabbing her. “Amara! Please, open your eyes. Don’t do this to me. Don’t leave me!”

Her cries filled the room. She shook her again and again, as if her love could drag Amara back. “Amara! Amara!”