May was sitting on a stool, letting the drops of water, from the shower, to fall on her hair and down her shoulders. Soaking her clothes and making it hug her body. Her eyes were transfixed on the floor and he couldn't tell if she was crying or if it was just the water.
Iby stood by the door and watched her wordlessly. He didn't know what he was to say.
"There is fire. Fire, Iby." She started. Her voice, almost in a whisper.
He didn't know which surprised him. If it was the fact that she had noticed him enter the bathroom and decided to pretend she hadn't or what she had just said.
He looked around, confusion marred on his face. "Fire? Where?" he asked.
She laughed cynically. "You don't get it do you? There is fire in my head, burning in my soul, in my heart. It's burning.. It's destroying everything. I hardly have control over it."
"What are you saying?" He asked with wid
"Wake up." a familiar voice whispered. "Please.. Wake up May."She tried to open her eyes as she held unto the green bed sheets tightly with both hands on her sides as if it was stopping her to. "I beg you, May. Please.. I need you. Maryam also needs you." The voice, from a low whisper, began to echo louder. The owner of the voice sounded desperate.She squeezed the bed sheets tighter whilst trying hard to ignore the excruciating pain coming from her injured wrist. "Please.. Stay. Stay with me."She forcefully flew her eyes open on hearing that. Everything was blurry including the figure who was towering above her, looking at her with a sad expressi
"Big sister?" Iby broke the sudden silence by asking, looking from the young lady (who just claimed to be May's younger sister) to May in confusion."May, is this some kind of joke? Is it true?" He asked with disbelief written all over his face. May tried to find her voice which she seem to have lost due to the shock of seeing her younger sister again after all these years.She stammered, "Uh-Uh. Yes, Iby."Iby gave her a disapproved look. "But I thought you said-""I know what I said." She quickly cuts in then, gulped. She looked at anywhere else but him. She didn't want to see the hurt in his eyes. "Ple
"Woman, you better provide your son or else..." the police man threatened, "We've been to his house but he is not there. You have to tell us where he is right now or you would follow us to the police station."Mama Edric panicked as she kept on dialing Edric's phone number but it was switched off."I can't get to him. Please officer.. " She pleaded as beads of sweat covered her face. She wiped it off with the end of her lose wrapper. "He must've travelled to calabar for the couple's get together thing he is having with his siblings. They informed me about it but I can't remember exactly where they are having it and i have been trying to get to any of my sons but their lines are not reachable. Please officer have mercy. I didn't do anything.""Mtcheww.." Tina drawled, eyeing her from her head to her toe. "Wicked woman. Weren't you aware of your sons devilish behavior before? And what did you do about it? You kept quiet but
May sighed before slowly shaking her head sideways, "My life is totally fucked up.""It's okay, girl." Efua rubbed her arm softly.Mama Edric wrapted her arms around May in a warm hug, "Thank you so much my child. Thank you.""It's okay, mama." May told her with a weak smile. "What about Papa?""He is at his welding shop. I haven't told him that you're here yet because I didn't have the time to. When I received the call, I was at my local restaurant." Mama explained."There is no problem, Mama. I know once he's aware that I am at the hospital, he would visit. Just I have not seen him in a while.""He would," Mama assured. "As for now, Maryam needs to go home so she'll sleep comfortably on her bed. I'll take her home and come back later with a well prepared plantain and peppersoup for you.""Take Maryam where?" Esther quickly asked before May could reply. "
Iby relaxed properly on his seat now and a thin smile appeared on his lips. He watched her as she kept sniffing her tears and as sweats dripped down her lovely face.He caressed her cheeks lightly, "Why not smile for daddy?"That got her smiling through her tears. "Thank you." she whispered."There is no reason for a thank you. I also have a confession to make."Her eyes widened a little out of curiosity as she made an effort to draw closer to him. "What's that?""Do you remember Uche?" He asked.She thought for awhile, "Nope.""Uchenna. The boy that buys alot of oranges from you..."May pat her laps with her right hand on remembering. "Yes. What about him?" She asked but then realisation struck her. "No way! Don't tell me you've been the one behind that.""Uhm... Unfortunately, I have."Her mouth
May raised her brow and blinked her eyes then, laughed out loud making Caroline confused that she creased her brows."First of all, aunty Caroline, I need you to know that a woman's well being doesn't always come from her husband's pocket. If you see me doing fine today, doesn't mean my husband is responsible for that." May told her as a matter of factly, "I now earn little money from my catering school which I am using to take good care of myself and my daughter. Also.... Please don't say I am getting fat. You could say that I am adding a little weight but not fat, my dear."Caroline scratched the back of her ear, drawing herself closer to where May stood."Eh.. If you say so, no problem. But.. What cream are you using on your skin that is making it light and spotless like this?" She asked.May fought the urge to laugh. So this was all what the talks were about? "I'll write it out for yo
"The way you said it." He replied once his laughter subsided."Oh.. Really?" She asked, folding her arms and giving him a pointed look, obviously not finding it funny at all.What an annoying goalkeeper."Come on," he urged her. She rolled her eyes but obeyed him anyways. They began walking back to his house."About your question, you see... That's to simply show you that I am not perfect." Iby answered."I've heard."They walked quietly, hand in hand until he broke the silence by asking, "So how is your health? How you feeling?"She shrugged, "I feel healthy. Thank you.""That feels good to know."Iby came out from his ensuite drying his wet locks with his white towel, looking all hot.Water was
May gave a curt nod -feeling her voice would fail her if she speaks- and before she knew it, a body is pressed against hers in a bone cracking hug. "It's really nice to meet you," Ebiere told her. Then she held May's shoulder with both her hands on the sides and looked into May's eyes, "I've heard so much about you from my cousin."May's eyes widened slightly, "Really?" she finally managed to ask."Don't believe her, May. She is exaggerating." Iby kicked in quickly before Ebiere had the chance to reply May's question."Oh! Well, come on in now." invited Ebiere, "the others are waiting."The interior was simply designed. They had cushioned sofas, a large, glassy middle table that has a small bowl of different types of fruit inside, sitting on it, a large flat-screen television hung on the creamy wall and there were so many portrait of Ebiere, a man whom May