[STORY] BEHIND THE FINE FACE (Episode 04)

Episode 04.

I could barely recognize Bobby (like we fondly called Ezekiel back in school) in this condition. But there was no way I’d ever stand at this proximity from Bobby, regardless of what condition he is in, and not recognize him; it’s just impossible.
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I tried to get words from anyone that appeared to be linked with “stretching” Bobby into this hospital, but no one seemed to know the exact story behind this accident.
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The driver that’d hit Bobby was also in shock; so much so that he was literally shaking like a leaf. Someone else, who’d witnessed this accident, had to drive the car to the hospital.
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Later discovery revealed that it was his (the car owner’s) first day out, alone. He was just a learner. He had ditched “his guide”, believing that driving a car couldn’t have been as hard as most people make it seem. He was doing just fine until Bobby jumped in front of his moving car.
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I was lost in what had just played out in front of me, I momentarily forgot I had a wife in labor. I was in awe, seeing Bobby in that state, that when the news of the birth of my daughter finally came, I didn’t know how to react.
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The details of the accident were sketchy at first but from what I heard in comparison to what I know about my guy; about Bobby, none of it was adding up.
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Bobby, that I know and have even lived with at a point, is not suicidal. I mean, Bobby “love life” and even in our lowest of downs before we all (finally) hit it big when we did, Bobby was always one to stay positive in any situation. Bobby is always one to believe that however terrible a situation might appear today, tomorrow always promises to be better.
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“What exactly is going on, then?” I kept asking myself.
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My answer finally came, three weeks later. Bobby has made a tremendous recovery at this point. He now frequents a counselor’s office to address his suicidal thoughts.

I’d not seen Bobby, since the deal we landed that made us big before we all dispersed many years ago. Seeing him in this condition raised a lot of questions; questions only Bobby could answer.

I tried as best as I could to frequent this hospital. I was there for all of Bobby’s various recovery stages.
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When I finally sat across from Bobby to hear his story, I didn’t know when I busted into a cry. Bobby is too good a brother, to have gone through everything he’d outlined for me.
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“I am currently in a deep mess, bro.” Bobby said, in conclusion to his heart wrecking story, as clouds of tears began to form on his eyes.
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Everything Bobby had gone through was things I found relatable, having been through a similar situation not so long ago, with Rachael. But from all indications, Bobby has been through worse. At this point in his life, he was in so much debt; debt he knew, very much, he could never repay.
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I immediately knew that Bobby’s case was not ordinary. I mean, “No one can be that unfortunate, na”. I reached for my phone and began to scroll through my contacts. I was more than delighted to discover that I still had the “spiritual father’s” phone number on my phone; the same “spiritual father” that Samuel had taken me to, in the past.
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The spiritual father picked my call on my first attempt and called my name before I even uttered a word.
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That shouldn’t be a big deal now, besides, even though I am certain that I didn’t give him my phone number, he could have easily gotten it from Samuel, right?
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I was just about telling the “spiritual father” the reason I’d called when he cut me shut, by asking that I hand the phone over to Bobby.
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He didn’t call Bobby by name, but “How did he know that I’d not called to tell him about myself; how did he know that I had someone sitting right next to me; someone that needed his help?” I kept wondering, all through his (The spiritual father’s) conversation with Bobby.
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Bobby ended the long, seemingly one-sided conversation with “We’ll be there as you have requested sir”, before he handed me my phone.
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“He said I should come over with my wife in a fortnight. He said you can come as well”. Bobby said to me.
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Bobby’s call woke me up that morning, reminding me that today was that day we’d been scheduled to see the spiritual father. I’d forgotten, but I assured Bobby that I hadn’t. Bobby already had the description of the house, and since I had a couple of businesses to attend to that morning, I asked that he go ahead of me.
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I arrived at the spiritual father’s hut that morning, feeling very optimistic for Bobby.
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I announced my presence and was giving the “go-ahead” to come in. I did, to meet the shock of my life.
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Bobby’s wife was none other than my ex-wife; Rachael.

To be continued…

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