Monday, 4th January 2016.
I had only seen David once since work resumed in the new year and he went in the opposite direction as soon as he saw me. I just finished clearing my desk when Mr Lanre showed up.
"I see you're all set, Miss Fayola, please follow me," he said.
I finished arranging my belongings in the new office. When it was past noon, the landline rang. I sat up and answered it."Eni, I didn’t see you downstairs for lunch today, where are you?" Melody asked.I stifled a yawn as I replied. I must have dozed off.
I froze when my boss turned to speak to me.“Did you write that down?” Mr Jacobs asked with his gaze focused outside the tinted windows. I couldn’t open my mouth to speak for fear of losing the little control I had over the nausea. I mumbled something which I hoped sounded affirmative.
Friday, 8th January, 2016.I received a call from my mother. I rarely received calls from her on my personal line when I was at work so I was surprised. "Good afternoon, maami."
I sat up in my chair and wondered if he was about to announce their divorce. I couldn’t say that it would come as a surprise to me but I wondered how Laide would cope. I took in a deep breath and slowly released it. “I’ve been diagnosed with Hepatitis, it is a liver infection.”Dad and mom glanced at each other before he continued.
Saturday, 5th February 2016.I could not bear to suffer alone in silence at my house anymore. I decided to visit Lara, she lived not too far from my place. I laid on her sofa with my head on her knees as I cried miserably. I told her about my father’s diagnosis and she was just as shocked as I was when I first heard of it. “I don’t e
Meanwhile, somewhere in Lagos.Bayo ignored the first few rings of his mobile phone and focused his attention on the TV screen. His phone rang again and he groaned in annoyance. “What is it, Tega?” He growled when he picked up the phone.
Wednesday, 17th February 2016.I had walked as far as possible but I couldn’t find her. I hoped Laide would come to my place that night but I couldn’t just sit around and wait for her to show up. I sighed and ran my hands over my face as I fought back tears. I couldn’t imagine where she could be. She didn’t go out often so there weren’t many places she could’ve gone to.
Later that night, I sat down for a long talk with Laide after the disappearing act she pulled. I knew it was a difficult time for the whole family but she needed to learn how to handle problems with more maturity than that. She narrated her ordeal, about how she wandered and got stranded in an unfamiliar place without money. She met someone who helped her get home and I was grateful to the person.