UNRAVELING.

Mrs. Akinseloyin enters Camille's room after knocking softly on the door. She opens the door and steps in to see that Camille's bed is still made and has obviously not been slept in.

With a sigh, she turns around and exits the room, making her way to the room set up for Michael. She repeats the action of knocking softly on the door and enters to see Camille seated in the chair, sleeping, her head resting uncomfortably on Michael's bed. Her guess was right; she knew she would find her there, as it was habitual for her to sleep beside Michael despite the inconveniences. She sighs and moves into the room to draw the drapes to let in the morning sun, thinking of how she was going to talk to Camille about what was on her mind. She intended to put an end to the nonsense she has been doing since. She never leaves Michael's bedside and has abandoned the running of the hospital to her partners. The only time she leaves the room is to get essentials. She is always hanging around him, bathing him, talking to him, checking his pulse, and reading his vitals for changes. Always making threats against anyone who urges her to take a break and leave his side, no one has been able to convince her to leave.

However, Mrs. Akinseloyin has had enough of it and intends to talk some sense into her.

Rustling awake from the sound of the drapes being drawn, Camille yawns and sits up on her chair. "Hi, Mom."

Mrs. Akinseloyin leaves the window side and pulls out a chair to sit beside Camille, a serious expression on her face. "Good morning, Camille. Did you sleep well?"

Stretching and cranking her head in discomfort, she forces a smile. "Yeah, I did."

Seeing through her charade, she shakes her head unconvincingly. "You can lie to me, but what you can't do is fool me. You and I both know you haven't had a good night's rest since Michael was moved in a month ago."

"No, Mom. I have been sleeping fine; I wake up each day feeling replenished."

"Don't lie to me, young lady. I see the pain relievers you have been taking secretly. You are a doctor and should know better. I know how uncomfortable it is for you to sleep in that position every night for about a month. There are beds for you to sleep on in the house; why torture yourself like this? I even suggested we move a bed in here for you, but you refused because you said it keeps you away from Michael. I won't take that anymore; just take a look at yourself and see how miserable you look. You haven't set foot at work in a long time; is that how you want to run a successful hospital?"

"I got everything in order, Mom. I talk to my colleagues every day, and everything is going fine. What if I leave and he wakes up? I want to be here for him at all times."

"You have to be prepared for the fact that he may never wake up. He's my son, and no one wants him to wake up more than I do. It took me many years to come to this conclusion, and while we are hoping for the best, we have to be prepared for the worst. I cannot stand by and watch you torture yourself like this, all in the name of love. You are gradually wasting away, and I would not have it."

Jumping excitedly to her feet, she rushes to the table and gathers some files. Holding them up, she turns to Mrs. Akinseloyin. "Don't lose hope yet, Mom. I swear there have been changes; I was reading his vitals the other day."

She cuts her off,"And what? I know you want to believe there have been changes, and I want to too. Look around you, Camille; it's been over ten years and there have been no changes. You have abandoned Mitch and everything you care for. You still haven't reconciled with your parents, and you are here day in and day out, clinging to something that might never happen. Go to work, Camille, make time for Mitch, and talk to him. Let him understand all that's going on, leave the house, reconcile with your parents, hang out with your friends, meet people, and go on dates. Michael is my son, and he is in safe hands. You sitting in his bed all day won't change anything. You are just digging a hole for yourself by ignoring the outside world. Don't be like that, please. I already take you as my daughter, and it's up to me to tell you the truth, even if you end up resenting me for it. The house is yours; you can stay here for as long as you want. I just won't let you waste away anymore."

Camille slumps her shoulders in disappointment and walks back to her seat after dropping the files in her hand. "You have given up hope, and you are sounding exactly like my dad." You should be the last person saying this."

"I am not giving up hope; I am just facing reality. I have had more than ten years to do that. His father and I talked about you at length, and we have decided that we won't allow you to continue this way. You just hate your father for telling you the truth, but as much as it pains me to admit it, he is right. You have made your entire life revolve around Michael, and it stops now."She says it firmly.

"You want me to leave him? Who is going to talk to him and do all the things I do for him when I am not around?" She asks in a hurt voice.

"I don't want you to leave him; I only want you to take a break. We have been taking care of him long before you came, and we can get a nurse for him if it matters so much to you. We hired a nurse for him while he was at the hospital; he wouldn't have been there for that long, but because of the relationship we had with the doctor, we knew it was pointless to keep him at home and watch him decline every day. He is safe and protected here. You just have to move on. Go on dates and meet people. Numerous specialists told us only a miracle could wake him up, but even though I'm a devout Christian, I don't believe it. Why would you want to pause your life for something that's nowhere near possible?"

"But where do I start? I can never love anyone the way I love him. It can't happen." She says it in a shaky voice, now close to tears.

Placing her arm gently on hers, she said, "Start anywhere; just take the first step. How about you go and take a shower? I made breakfast for you, and you are going to work today. Step out of the house and start anywhere; you would be fine."

Nodding her acceptance, she goes into Mrs. Akinseloyin's outstretched arms for a hug.

Releasing her from the hug, she stands up and pushes the chair away. "I would be waiting for you downstairs; I need to talk to Kassim; he called me earlier to say he had made some progress on the investigation already."

"Really? Did he give you details about it?"

As she makes her way to the door, she turns back. "No, he didn't. I intend to find out soon." She walks out of the room and closes the door softly behind her.

Camille blinks back tears and regards Michael for a while before bursting out. "You see what you are making me go through? You heard what your mother said? She wants me to move on; how can I when you are like this? Everyone is acting like you are already dead, and a part of me wants to kill you myself for what you are making me go through. You made me lots of promises that you didn't keep; you are a coward, and you don't even have the decency to give me the explanation you owe me. How am I supposed to explain to Mitch that the father I told him was dead is in a coma and may never wake up? How dare you act so cowardly and leave me to face it all by myself? How dare you do this to me? I would move on, like so many people have said, but it's going to be difficult. I am waiting for you, you coward, to wake up and prove people wrong. Wake up and prove that I am not mad and that I saw changes, or am I? Damn you! Michael, damn you to the deepest pits of hell! You selfish coward. You prefer to escape from it all than face it; I hate you."

Sniffing, she stands up and takes one last look at him before heading out the door.

Michael blinks and yawns after her exit; he opens his eyes to take in his surroundings and falls back to sleep.

Camille has just finished attending to a patient scheduled for surgery and is back in her office. She had earlier had a meeting with her colleagues to discuss the activities that went on in her absence, all of which went smoothly. She had just taken her seat when her phone began to ring. Pulling it out of her bag on the table, she sees it's Mr. Akinseloyin calling her. She picks up the phone with a puzzled frown, trying to think of a reason why he might be calling her, and concludes it may be about Mitch since he's always hanging around his grandfather. They had bonded since the first time they set eyes on each other, and Mr. Akinseloyin had spoiled him silly by being Michael's son. Her heart skipped a bit at the prospect that something might have happened to him since Mr. Akinseloyin hardly ever calls her. It's not because they were not close, but because he prefers to talk to her in person whenever he has anything to say to her.

"Hello, Dad. Hope, no problem."

"You have to come home, Camille. You should leave whatever you are doing right now and come home."

He responds briefly and drops the call before she could ask any questions. "

Jumping up to her feet and hurriedly locking files in her drawer, she snatches her bag off the table and runs towards the exit, only stopping to tell the nurse at the counter that she was gone for the day.

She jumps into her car and drives home with mixed feelings, her heart racing in her chest. She parks outside the gate upon her arrival at home and runs into the house.

Mrs. Akinseloyin meets her halfway through the stairs and hugs her tightly, smiling at the confusion on her face.

"What's going on, Mom?"

Camille asks, stepping back to look at her in confusion.

"Dad called me and said I should come home immediately. Where's Mitch? Is he okay?"

Mrs. Akinseloyin takes her hand and leads her up the remaining stairs to Michael's room.

"Go in and see for yourself. Miracles really do happen."

She points to the door of his room. "Mitch is in there."

Giving her a curious look, she turns the doorknob and steps into the room cautiously. Looking around the room, her eyes rest on Michael sitting on the bed, a pillow propped behind him, and Mitch sitting beside him on the bed, holding his hands. Mr. Williams is leaning by the window, grinning happily and beckoning to her.

"Come over here, Camille."

She gasps and steps back in surprise, almost bolting for the door.

"Am I dreaming?"

"No, you are not."

Mr. Akinseloyin says he is pulling Mitch off the chair and quietly leaving the room with him.

"I'll leave you two to it."He announces this as he walks out.

She stands frozen to the spot, oblivious to their exit. Michael cackles out loud and urges her to come closer.

"Come here, babe. I have missed you."

"Is this real? Are you real?"

She asks, taking slow steps towards him.

"I am as real as something solid. Don't look so shocked; it's me."

Her bag falls off her hand to the floor as she runs to give him a hug, laughing and crying at the same time.

"I knew it! I knew I wasn't crazy. How did this happen? When did you wake up?"

"I woke up a couple of hours ago, but my dad insisted on having a doctor check me out before calling you."

"Why wasn't I the first call? I could have done all that."

"You could have, but you know, Dad, he wanted to make sure I was fine before calling you. My doctor, fiancee, even though you haven't had your residency."

He teases her, smiling weakly.

She sighs,

"I have my residency already, and I have my hospital set up in town. You couldn't have known, though; it's been too long."

He rubs his head in thought.

"How long have I been in a coma? My parents didn't tell me anything; I guess they were waiting for you to come."

She averts his gaze and instead kisses his hand.

"Tell me, Camille. How long have I been bedridden?"

Sighing heavily, she looks away.

It's a little over ten years."

His eyes wide as saucers, he shouts in surprise.

"Ten what? It can't be. I have been like this for ten years. This is quite an expensive joke."

"It's not; I went for my residency not long after the scandal and your accident. I only came back to the country to set up my own hospital a few months ago."

"Oh! Lord no!" He cries out. "Ten fucking years? I have been here for ten years while the rest of the world went on without me."

He looks around him wildly.

"I've been on this bed in this house for ten years."

He asks incredulously.

"You were in your family friend's private hospital until I came around and decided to move you home."

"She takes her seat beside him on the bed, studying his reaction.

"Why didn't I just die? A whole ten years. What happened to me? I feel like I have been dreaming for a long time. I kept seeing your face every time; I thought I was dreaming. What happened to me? Why was I in a coma?"

"How can you wish death on yourself? Where would that have left me? You don't remember what happened?"

He shakes his head.

"Just bits and pieces."

She oats his hand gently in reassurance.

"Don't worry, it will all come back to you; it might take time or not, but just take it slow. As far as I know, your car was tampered with, and you had an accident that resulted in your coma. You were coming to see me that day when it happened. You were coming to see me because my nudes were leaked from your Instagram account, and you wanted to explain your side of the story."

Swallowing hard, she continues,

"I dropped the call on you because I was angry, and you called me back, but I didn't pick up your call, only to learn that your car flipped over the express bridge on the way to my house."

He cups his face in his palm in shame.

"I remember that, Camille; I do. I am sorry; there's something I should have told you that I didn't because I hesitated and I paid dearly for it. Can you find a place in your heart to forgive me if I tell you now?"

"Your resurrection is enough reason for me to forget all your transgressions. However, you can tell me about it later, not now. You need to focus on your recovery."

"No, I made that mistake once; I won't do it anymore."

He replies, setting his lean cheeks sturbbonly.

"I guess I can't make you change your mind. Okay, tell me."

Propping his pillow comfortably at his back with help from her, he narrates the story of all that transpired between him and Lara up to the point where they had dinner and parted amicably.

"I am sorry; I never should have hesitated. I trusted her and paid with ten years of my life for my stupidity. I just want you to know that I didn't release those pictures of you. I would never do that to you, no matter how hard we quarrel. As a matter of fact, I think your cousin and her boyfriend did, because he went away with my phone for a long time. I was going to come clean and explain everything to you when that unfortunate incident happened. I would spend the rest of my life making it up to you. I am sorry for all you went through on my account. I deeply am."

Nodding her head in acceptance, she also narrates her side of the story, including discovering Lara was living with her ex-boyfriend, Kay.

"I was too trusting, and I almost lost you for that reason. She is evil, and I strongly suspect she has a hand in what happened to you. I can't believe she would do that to me when all I have ever done is treat her like a sister. I promise she won't go scot-free for this; I swear it with my life."

"I know, babe. What would I do with the rest of my life now? She took a lot from me that I'm never going to get back."

"It's alright; you still have me, and you have Mitch too."

"Speaking of Mitch, why haven't I seen him? His son has been here with me since I woke up. He even named him after himself. My brother is so vain."

He says he is smiling.

She smiles back at him and shakes her head.

"Mitch doesn't live here anymore, and I am sure he will come around soon. And by the way, Mitch is not your brother's; he's your son. I named him after your brother because I wanted a part of your family with me, and it would have been too obvious to name him after you. I didn't want any more scandals.."

"Wait! What? Mitch is my son? How come?"

He asks in surprise.

"I discovered I was pregnant when I fainted after Lara told me you were dead. The doctor ran some tests on me, and it turns out I was pregnant. I traveled out of the country with Mitch still in my womb and had him outside the country. I had to juggle work with taking care of a baby, and I hired a full-time nanny that helped."

"You gave birth to a child for me? He should be about ten years old now, right?"

"Yeah, he's almost ten."

He bursts into tears and pulls her closer to him for a kiss."

"Thank you, Camille, for giving me the best recovery news ever and for staying strong for me. I owe you everything."

"You don't owe me anything, Michael; he was a blessing to me. I am just glad you got to meet your son."

"You know, deep down, I heard your voice. I heard everything you said to me, but I thought I was dreaming. I heard you call me a coward and many names. It was the thought of you that kept me going and pushed me back somehow."

Chuckling,

"I am sorry I called you a coward; I was just frustrated. It feels so good to have you back. I still can't believe you are here. How are you feeling?"

"I feel like something is stuck in my back, and I feel so weak."

"Don't you worry, I would get drugs for you to deal with that; you would be back on your feet in no time."

They keep gazing into each other's eyes silently, communicating unspoken feelings between them. The knock on the door interrupts them, and Mr. Akinseloyin enters with Kassim.

"Sorry to interrupt you lovebirds, but Kassim here has some information to share, and he wants to say hello to Michael."

Mr. Akinseloyin announces, pulling out a chair to sit.

Kassim pulls out a chair, taking his seat and exchanging pleasantries with Camille. "

"It's good to have you back, Michael."

He smiles and takes a seat in a vacant chair.

Michael grins in acknowledgment.

"It's good to be back. I see my father still has you on retainer."

"He does. I told him to sign a lifetime restraint with me, but he refused.

He doesn't want to come to terms with the fact that he might be stuck with me for the rest of his life."

He smiles at his own joke and gets up to give Michael a hug.

Michael smiles back at him while Camille looks on.

"Don't mind my father; he thinks he's immortal and doesn't want to have to pay you forever. I see you haven't met each other yet." He says this, pointing at Camille.

"That's my fiancee, Camille. Camille, meet Kassim, my family's private investigator."

Kassim and Camille exchange handshakes while Kassim goes back to his seat. He clears his throat and pulls out a folder from the bag in his hand. He clears his throat again, raising an eyebrow in Camille's direction to ask if he could talk in her presence.

"Sure, go on. She's the mother of my son and her family; you can say everything you have to say in front of her."

"That's right."

Kassim settles comfortably in his seat and begins.

"Your cell phone was recovered from your car after your accident, and thank God it's waterproof. I was able to get some information off it with my team of specialists. I wanted to investigate and get to the root of the matter then, but your mother refused. I have kept the phone with me since, and once your mother called me to reopen the investigation, I made some interesting discoveries."

Michael and Camille are both listening with rapt attention, eager to hear what he has to say.

"Your phone was hacked the night prior to your accident, and all the information on it was transferred to another phone. I tracked the phone back then and discovered it belonged to one Kay Newman."

He pauses to open the file with him and passes some pictures to Michael, who stares at them in open-mouthed shock.

"That's not Kay; his name is Frank, and he is Lara's boyfriend. I met him the night I had dinner with Lara, and she introduced him as her boyfriend."

He passes the pictures to Camille, who stares at them without reaction.

"Is that the Frank you said you had dinner with that night?"

She asks, still staring at the pictures.

He nods slowly, still trying to understand what is happening.

"His name is not Frank; his name is Kay, and he's my ex-boyfriend I told you about, the one that now lives with Lara. It's all starting to make sense now."

"No wonder he deleted the pictures we took that night; he didn't want to risk you seeing the pictures and identifying him. But what is happening? What do I do to him?"

He muses to himself, his fingers tapping the bed.

"That's not all,"

Kassim continues, "

"Your accident wasn't an accident; your car was sabotaged, and I strongly suspect he's responsible. I couldn't get much information on that front because your car was submerged in water and all traces of fingerprints had already been wiped. I can't even discount that he might have used gloves. We might be able to get a confession if we press him enough. I have been able to locate his current address and that of his accomplice, Lara Williams."

He pauses for effect.

"Camille's cousin. Her name popped up when we went through your contacts, calls, messages, and chats and discovered that you exchanged a few calls and messages with her, and it was discovered that she was blackmailing you."

Mr. Akinseloyin blurts out from where he's seated,

"Camille's cousin? How did that happen, and why? How come we didn't know all this? What do I pay you for? Weren't you supposed to stay on top of this?"

He asks, pointing at Kassim accusingly.

"Are you sure you want to do this here, sir?"

"Do what? You idiot! I pay you good money to keep my family's affairs clean."

"I did try to keep the family business clean, but you dirtied it the most."

Kassim fires back, starting to lose his temper.

"What do you mean? Tell me right here, right now."

Mr. Akinseloyin spits, standing from his seat and kicking the plastic chair away.

"Did you tell Michael everything? Did you tell him that you are the foundation of everything that happened? Did you tell him you didn't push for me to investigate the accident for selfish reasons of your own? I'm tired of covering up for you."

He turns to Michael and Camille who have both been watching the exchange in silence and confusion.

"Brace yourself, Michael, for the bombshell I'm about to drop."