We always said goodbyes without knowing when we are saying the last one but I knew. Each time he walked out that door, I stored memories because I do not want to forget how happy he once made me.
It's up to four months since he walked out that door, I remember holding onto the scent of him, I remember standing at the window and waving even when he could not see me, even when I knew he would never turn to look at me. I knew then that while he mumbled a goodbye at my door before he left, it could have been the last one. It's also seven days exactly from the last time he came to my place and I ruined his clothes with bleach water.
It is me, I have never loved enough to fight for anyone but this time I was going to try. That's why I'm in Delta, the same state that he is in. I don't know know the city or even his address. I did not ask before he left but I am here, I know I would find him before I leave. I just h
Harmattan. It was my favorite time of the year. The cold and the dry wind circled around me. It was best at night, when I hid under the duvet, enjoying the little warmth it could offer. I could sleep peacefully ; no insomnia or thoughts that loved to revitalize in the darkness of the night.I stood at the balcony outside my shop to see the road. It was busy, not as busy as it used to be. Most people were not back from the Christmas voyage but those huge trucks that spoil the road still caused traffic.The breeze swished past, making the litters on the balcony rise in the air and move to a different point on the dusty floor.I happened to be the only one in the whole building of about ten shops. My neighbors always resumed the second week of January. The permanent honking of cars
Sometime in the past that was not so distant, I used to be excited to see his face. I would have walked with a bubbling excitement to meet him. But that day, I took my time.I closed the car door and walked towards him. He sat on the pavement just outside my apartment."I have been trying to reach you. " he said."Mathew" I breathed out, pausing infront of him before I climbed upto the balcony ,"Did something happen? "That was me, being civil in the best way I could. I was being the Lady Uncle Joe knew me to be, calm and polite even when I wanted to bring out the perfume in my bag and smash it on his head.I climbed onto the balcony and he jumped down from the pavement . "I want to talk to you " He said.In that moment I imagined my voice would get too loud and I would entertain my neighbors even without them seeing me. I stayed at the last floor of a duplex with three ot
It was Mid January when work started to come. It was a time I needed to get my mind off things . Clothes and needles came to the rescue so I gathered alot of work till my legs started to hurt. I had lots of work. I did not mind but the urgency they always stated was maddening! I knew I could meet up. Most days, I worked midnight like I'm conducting a clothe vigil.Aku mostly sold the clothes on display and she was good with the customers, especially the ones that wanted to eat off my profit and cost price. She was good with all of them, she was a beautiful girl, cheerful and easy going. She was always patient. I think most of the customers even amused her because of the way she twitched up her lips when they were negotiating. When we had no customers she would sit on a white plastic seat reading an old newspaper or revising her books for JAMB.It was alre
Mrs Idika got her self busy with an Indian movie channel. I tried to join her but I always dozed then came back to consciousness like a security man sleeping on duty."Nene! "I woke up to the sound of her voice . I bent my face and used my hands to wipe off the sleep then I looked at her tiredly, earning her pitiful look."Chai, don't worry, you will sleep. I just heard his car drive in " she said.I arranged my gown that had somehow rolled up half way my thighs then I wiped my face again. My hair was my signature 'bob' which never stood to rebel against me . I didn't know how she heard a car drive in with the generator noise like a loud trombone. I waited, she waited.A minute.Three minutes .Five minutes ."I thought I heard him drive in " Mrs Idika said, resigned. I turned to her and shook my head tiredly."Come
The sun was at work before I got to work. I parked in the restaurant opposite my work building. Coming down from the car, I saw people gathered downstairs. Not under any shelter but outside! Vulnerable to the diligent sun.From where I stood, it didn't look like a peaceful meeting. I wanted to return to the car and wait for the hurricane to pass then I saw the landlord. He was a tall, scary looking man with his bushy beards that could even hide a small chick. My leg started moving before my brain realised.I crossed the road to where everyone was and began searching for familiar faces but! not madam Chinaka that was vibrating in the crowd. Then I saw Aku, sitting on the rail outside Tunde's office. I breathed a sigh of relief and hurried over to her. She jumped down on seeing me."Aku,
I still could not concentrate the next day at work. I could not even hold my head up to look at Tunde for long. He was leaning against the closed door in my office, his legs crossed at the ankles and his hands in his pocket."What is actually bothering you?" Tunde asked as I cleared clothes off my table and dumped them on the sewing machine. I hopped on to the table, burying my head in my hands."I know that you are bothered about her coming down but didn't you ever want her to know ?"I told myself that I would tell her but I also knew I could not bring myself to tell her. I had to be drunk or not in my right state of mind for me to ever tell my sister that we dated the same man. I had evil plans of ending her relationship with Mathew but not telling her."No" I replied him.I raised my eyes slowly to look at him, to see his reaction. But his face bore no ju
Morning came quickly like it supported my self pity. I lay still in bed, staring in the darkness.A loud banging outside caused me to sit up in alert. It sounded like the rumbling of the heavens but this one came too close as if the clouds had descended to my roof.I unzipped the gown I wore to work the previous day and still sat, hugging myself in anticipation of another one so I would be certain if it was a warning of a heavy rain. Then it came again, a loud banging on the door. It seemed like an attempt to pull down the door not a knock.It was still dark. My hands reached for my phone to check the time, it was a few minutes past five in the morning.I made to the front door and because I was expecting my sister, I ignored all security protocol and opened the door. Ada was there. She was wearing something white. She walked past me into the house. I noted the oversized polo she wore before lo
I started my Sunday morning on a painful note. I did not know which side I was on. I reached out for my phone that was always on the stool close to the bed. The stool wasn't there, I rolled, next thing, I was on the floor. I struggled up, trying to find my way in the darkness, I bumped into a stiff object." Damn ! " I cursed through gritted teeth, rubbing my hand on the object to feel it . It was the sewing machine. I realized then, I was in the guest room. I could not remember where I had kept my phone or any source of light. Off I went, farther into the darkness. I did not bother keeping my eyes open, I just shut it while feeling the walls till I reached the door leading to the parlour. I hit my leg on a stool twice before I found a lantern. I slumped into a couch with a heavy sigh.The rest of my Saturday with Ada was uneventful. It was like we avoided ours