"THAT NIGHT IN ROOM 401” (5)
©Opeyemi Akintunde
I sat in that position for over 7 minutes analyzing what my best option was.
With hands like Jelly, I picked up my phone and I found myself dialing
Larry's number. That was the only person I could think of calling. It rang
just twice...
“So?" What is your conclusion....?” He said with the most emotionless
voice I have ever heard from his mouth...
“Daniel is dying" I summoned all the strength to say it...
“You did it?... what did you use? Rat poison? I knew you could do it, I will
be on my way right now, to help you finish it up... We will make His death
clean without implicating you.... “I couldn’t believe the words pouring out
of his mouth and for the first time it seem like I saw who Larry was... He
was the devil sent to finish me... The love I felt for him suddenly became
hatred and fear...
Larry's place was just 10 minutes’ drive from my place. It suddenly hit me,
Larry was on his way to kill Daniel... Was that what I wanted? I think I must
have heard the Holy Spirit, because ever since that night in Room 401,
the voice of the Holy Spirit was far...
I heard “Get Daniel out of here fast"...How was I going to get my big sized
husband out of this house...? At this point... I was not sure I could drive....
My legs felt like Iron...
I decided to call our doctor to send the ambulance, which I did, but he told
me it would take about 25 minutes because of the distance...
As I rounded up the call with my doctor, I heard the banging of the gate...
I froze... Larry was around already? ... I curled up beside Daniel saying
the only prayer that I could utter... “God, please don't let Daniel
die...please send Larry away”.

My phone started ringing, I didn't have to check the screen to know who it
was... Suddenly, the banging stopped, I heaved a sigh of relief. Larry was
gone....
Or so I wished until I heard a loud thud, Larry had jumped the fence into
the compound... Oh my, there was no stopping him. As a close family
friend, he knew our emergency entry into the house through the roof...
Larry was going to kill Daniel...
I sat down defeated on the floor, as I heard his footsteps on the roof, the
door... Yes... The door to the room. It was a difficult door to break. I jumped
up and locked the bedroom door. Larry got into the house and was calling
my name in the most loving way I have ever heard...
“Grace... Bae....Where are you? I know you are scared...We can handle
this together... Sometimes bad things have to happen to others, for us to
be happy"
By this time, he was at the door of the bedroom...
“Open the door Grace...Lets do this before the day breaks... You know I
love you baby, this is for us, When we are done with this, I will divorce my
wife, so we can be together... "
I didn’t move an inch... I sat beside Daniel who was already in a coma, as
I kept checking if he was still breathing...
“Larry, please leave me, I don’t love you any more" I said with the little
strength in me... My eyes were gushing out tears on its own accord...
“No you do, you love me and I love you... you are just stressed up"... He
said trying to convince me...
" Larry you are destroying me, Is that what you came for?...I thought you
came to help my music, but my music does not mean anything to me any
more... , If you want to finish me, please do, not my husband, he is a
Good man... “I cried bitterly
“I love you, is that a crime? We are soul mates, if you had not married
early, maybe we would be married “Larry was saying using his sweet
cajoling voice, but I noticed Larry was moving around as he spoke... I didn't understand why until I saw the door knob moving... He was
obviously trying to break in with a knife or something...
Larry was going to kill Daniel.... Just then a Miracle happened... We heard
the siren of the ambulance...
“You called the police on me, Grace?” Larry asked with disbelief
“NO...I mean it is... “I tried explaining it was an ambulance, but then it hit
me... This was the way out... Larry thought the ambulance was the police,
this was the best opportunity ... I didn't utter any more words... Larry got
furious...
“Grace you are going to pay for this, you called the police on me?” He left
the door, opened the Back door of the kitchen and jumped out through the
fence...
With shaky hands and feet, I went out to open the gate for the ambulance.
We got to the hospital in time... But it was too late...
Daniel was already a vegetable....Alive but no more active... My one night
of adultery was giving way to more than I bargained for...
I had two problems now... First, what do I tell my Igbo in-laws....?
Secondly, I have to face Larry’s wrath..., Larry, the handsome devil I
thought I knew before, at that moment I didn't know what he was capable
of doing next...
Before I continue my tale, which actually just started, do you have any
comments for me?