CHAPTER ONE: AN ANGEL IN A DEVIL’S CLOAK

-
It’s been five years since our last encounter; and I can’t help but imagine of the things that would have been if she had ever existed. I named her jewel, and I speak to her even when she’s not here. Her opinion, ideas and imagination of things or people is what keeps me going. But I seem not to find her in the people I meet. After our first encounter, her existence is the only thing that drives me to bed; and when I search her in our place of solitude, she would always be under a tree, with her braids packed up and in an African printed dress, holding a book with an unusual name. “You finally came!”, she said after our first encounter, “I thought you would disappear on me after I scared you”, she said while laughing; My God! She has the most beautiful laughter I have ever heard, I continued to admire as she threw her head backwards and laughed; this time in slow motion while I played one of Chad Lawson’s songs in my head. “You are beautiful,” I thought aloud. She stopped and stared at me; she got up as walked up to me. “Hello Stranger,” she said. I am sorry, I apologized feeling embarrassed that I did not introduce myself from the start, “I am Nonso”; I brought out my hand to take hers as she gently placed hers on top. “I know, but I like Stranger better.” She began to walk down the hills; and what do I call you, I asked her as I walked behind her, “you can call me whatever you want to”, she replied with her beautiful smile. “What?! You don’t have a name?!” I asked surprisingly. “I do! You just haven’t figured it out.” “So you come here often?”, I asked her, “No, I live here.” “With your family I guess, where are they?” She stopped and laughed; she seems to laugh a lot. “No I live here alone.” I stopped. “Alone?!” “Yes, alone”, she replied. “Why are you here alone?” I wondered around as I asked her, “You made it happen”. “I did?” I asked quietly and in a confusing way. “Who are you?” She said nothing as she placed her hands on my cheeks. Instead she said, “it’s time to go”. Before I could say a word, I heard my name come out of her mouth but with a different and familiar voice. I closed my eyes and woke up to the face of my intruder, Ife.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

THE DILEMMA OF A FATHER by Casmir Ekoh

-
Image
A father begot several children, and three of them among the men became very prominent and outstanding! They jostled for superiority and influence among them and in the society. They spared nothing to achieve this. Of course, they were casualties in the process, even leading to unintended deaths, and the siblings took sides among the three, leading to divisions along that line. Each of the three prominent men of that man was buoyed up by the fellowship  they commanded, and each time any of them looked back and saw the crowd they commanded, they spoiled for war the more. Each was jostling for the attention of the father to side with him. But the father knowing the implications of doing this, refused to take sides. He implored them to see themselves for what they are, brothers, knowing there are less fortunate fathers envious of him. He knew the enemy could use any of this his squabbling children to gain access into his family and destroy it. He preached peace to no avail. Each...
Read more

REGINA

-
Image
The room always went quiet when Regina was disappointed. Not because she shouted. She rarely did. But there was something about the way she spoke that made people listen… or shrink. “What we should be focused on,” she said, looking at them one after the other, “is the people.” Three employees stood in front of her. A young man and two women. None of them could hold her gaze for long. “Their voices. Their experiences. Not what we think they want. Not guesses.” She paused and rubbed her forehead for a moment, like she was trying to hold on to her patience. “I’m not impressed.” The words were calm, but they still landed heavily. “No ma,” one of the women said quickly. “We actually went out. We spoke to people...” “Then show me that,” Regina replied, cutting in gently but firmly. “I want to see it in your work. I want to feel it. People who have actually lived through abuse, not something that sounds imagined.” Silence. “Next week,” she added. “On my desk.” “Yes ma,” they said...
Read more

THE PART SHE PLAYED

-
Image
A s she stood at the entrance of the building, Zina asked herself: What exactly brought me this far? Love? Her passion for acting? Or the reminder of what they owed her? But there were three things Zina knew for sure: One — she was born for the stage. Two — Dare’s smile still did things to her stomach. And three — Obinna still hated her guts. Ivory Reel Productions buzzed with laughter, camera clicks, and the clipped rhythm of ambition. It smelled like stories in the making. She told herself she was just dropping by. A quick hello. A peek at how far they’d come. Zina paused at the glass door' not to check her reflection, but to steady her breath. Inside, nothing had changed: Black-and-white frames of film history. The electric tension of dreams.  The scent of sweat, lights, and nerves. They built it together; Dare, Obinna, and Kenna. The three boys who once ruled her childhood like rowdy gods. She was the odd one out back then, the girl they laughed at on the school b...
Read more