Novels by Obah Gift

ROMANWith a heavy heart I put the last of Ana's books into my duffle bag. I have wrapped them all in brown paper and then stacked them in her new shoeboxes, she didn't even get to wear most of them. I need to get them out of the house without being detected.For the last two weeks I have sat on our bed and read every word written by my beloved and there is absolutely no way in hell I am going to let them become public property in an investigation. She has put her heart and soul onto the paper of these books, thinking of the future we would have had.The level of intimacy that she writes about is nobody’s business but hers and mine. There is absolutely no evidence in them of who did this to her and I will not let them tarnish her in any way with her most intimate thoughts released to the press. I throw my gym clothes on top of the boxed books and take a deep breath. Just let me get them out of the house without being intercepted. I have arranged a safety deposit box in another

Chapter 180RomanI rip my hand from hers. “No!” I scream. “You are not Ana! You will not come with me!” I yell at them.I jump out of the car enraged. “All of you go! Leave!! Get out.” I shake my head as the tears start. “I don’t want you here. Any of you. Go.”“Calm down, Rome.” Sasha whispers trying to make me see reason.“Fuck off!” I yell at them.I turn to the security guards. “You’re all fired, you are totally fucked up!! Get away from me!” I scream at them.Everyone stands around not listening as if they were expecting this and I storm into the house alone, slamming the door behind me.I look around at the huge clean space and my chest starts to tighten. I feel like I can’t breathe, it hurts to breathe. I run to the stairs as i see the fuzzy carpet i placed on the stairs to prevent her from falling and injuring herselfI take them two at a time until I get to our bedroom.Instantly a calmness comes over me and I sit quietly on the bed with my heart beating heavily

ROMANI come back to the present,my mind is constantly jumping between memories of Ana and stupid conversations and little arguments that we've had. I can remember every damn detail about us but not the most important thing. What happened last Saturday night,that’s what I need to remember. I’m digging deep through my mind for a clue but all I keep coming up with is more memories of my beautiful wife. I look at the wall and see the clock turn over another hour and my heart sinks again. Time, how do you stop it,or better still turn it back? With every hour that passes I know the chance drops further of us finding her. It’s been six days since Ana was taken. Police are streaming in and out of our hotel room. I refused to go home to avoid it being tainted by outsiders, photographers and journalists are camped outside. We have the whole top floor of the hotel to ourselves. My friends and Ana's friends are all here. I am surrounded by people who love her and yet I am entirely an

ROMANIt’s 3 am and everyone is in their beds trying to sleep. I can’t lie down. I have been pacing back and forth in my room for four hours. Trying to piece together the events of the previous days in my mind.It’s raining outside. She may be in the cold. What if she has a headache? She has no medication on her. I dry-heaved in the toilet for the fifteenth time in an hour. I need to stay strong.I look out the window silently the street below is quiet.The police cars have all gone, everyone is gone. The reporters, the news channels, Ana.My beautiful Zolotse, where are you? Where are you, baby? Who has you?I can't even search for her on the net cause she was taken from the sea.I can’t stay here. I can’t just sit here and wait. I’m going crazy. I pull on my runners and a tracksuit and pull my hoodie over my head.I’m coming, my love. I’m coming to find you.+++++++++++++++++DIMITRI I am just dozing off when my phone rings. It’s 4 am. I pick it up. It’s Sasha..

ROMANI walk away from the hospital forever a different man. My life will never be the same again.Brutally Scarred.They have succeeded in doing what they have always wanted to do. The ultimate prize has always been to bring me to my knees and they haven’t done just that, they have cut off half of me. I’m a shell of a man without Ana by my side and they knew the only way to hurt me was to hurt her.Where are you, Zolotse?Are you safe, my love?Are you alright? have you eaten?Protected by my security I walk out the front doors of the hospital to hear my name screamed by photographers, paparazzi and the blinding flashes start. I drop my head and walk toward my waiting car.“ Minister Roman Petrov, where is your wife?”“Are you ok, Mr Petrov?”“Is it true your wife has been found dead?” another yells. “Is it true you killed your wife in cold blood, after you found out she's an heiress?”I stop after taken half a step and make eye contact with the fool who has just said that.He

ROMAN I lie in the hospital bed as I await the doctor. “Sasha, get me the fuck out of here!” I snapped at him.“Listen, be calm and they will release you. You are in here because you have been losing your shit and they are worried about your sanity, you're slowly losing your Goddamn mind,” he blurts.I screw up my face. “Sanity, I will show you fucking insanity if you don’t get me out of here. I need to find her. Ana will be waiting for me to come and get her.”His face drops. “Rome,” he whispers. Then he sits on the side of the bed and takes my hand in his. “This situation is out of our control.it has already made the news . The police are doing everything they can to find her. You need to stay calm and you need to stay sane.”I drop my head back onto the pillow.The door opens slowly and Zoran walks in. His eyes are downcast and tired and my fury ignites once again.“Where were you?” I snap at Zoran.He stays silent at the end of the bed.“Answer me! Where were you when An