Episode 10
“How did this happen?” I asked
in shock. I just could not believe my eyes, could not believe what had happened
to our room in such a little time.
“I was reading oo.. Nkechi and I placed the candle on the chair – A white plastic chair that had melted to the
ground – and laid on the bed. I wanted to rest my eyes for some minutes,
suddenly, I woke up to a loud noise from someone banging the door. It was
Tosin, - our next door neighbor – he had been screaming my name when he started
to smell the fire. I quickly jumped off the bed and everywhere was hot and
dark. I ran to the door and let Tosin in. The damage had already been done
before we could put off the fire.” Ada explained.
“This makes no sense to me.
What kind of sleep were you sleeping that all these things were burning and you
did not even smell it? You could have died in the fire you know?” This wasn’t
the time to point out the obvious but everything that was happening didn’t just
make sense to me.
Ada started crying. This
again, was not the time for tears. So I ignored her and went to Florence’s bag
to see if any of her clothes could be savaged, but everything was burnt to
ashes.
“Oh Nkechi, what do you think
I should do? What do you think Florence would say? Would she think it was an
intentional act?”
I had never seen Ada like that
before, so scared and vulnerable. The fear in her eyes was real, so I went to
her and gave her a tight hug.
“What nonsense are you talking
about?” I whispered into her ears as I slowly rocked her from side to side.
“Who burns anyone’s clothes intentionally? It is not possible my dear. You do
not have to worry; we will handle this together.
Have you called her though?”
Ada shook her head, half-heartedly. “You know we
have to inform her right?” She nodded. She was scared, I could tell but I did
not know what else to do or say, so I broke off from the hug and searched out my
phone from my bag full of books, then called Florence.
“This one that you are calling
me, I am sure something must be wrong.” Florence said immediately she picked
the call. I wouldn’t blame her for thinking so because I barely spoke to her
talk more of calling, I thought to myself, then replied,
“Yes, actually, something is
wrong Florence.”
“Oh my gosh, I was just being
sarcastic oh, what is the matter? I hope Ada is fine?”
“Yes, Ada is fine, it is just
that the room got burnt today and your bag got burnt with it.” This wasn’t the
best way to relay such a devastating message to anyone but I was short of options.
“What do you mean my bag got
burnt and the room got burnt? Is it just my bag that is in the room? Did your
bag get burnt too?” Florence was shouting now.
“No and no.” I replied.
“Ehwo, you people have killed
me. Is it only my bag that is in that room? How can it now be that it is only
my bag that got burnt?” Florence asked and ended the call.
Ada just sat on the floor at
the left corner of room with her head to the ground and her legs folded into
themselves. She was scared to her bone and I pitied her but I did not know what
to do. Then it occurred to me, ‘I had forgotten to check for my diary. What if
it got burnt somehow?’ I quickly ran to my box at the other corner of the room,
opened and searched for it. “Thank God!” I exclaimed and shut my eyes for a
bit.
When I opened my eyes, I found
Ada staring at me, in tears.
“She will really be pissed at
me.”
I just nodded and remained
silent.
*************
The knock persisted. The
person knocking must be enraged with anger. I lazily got up and went for the
door.
“Where is the girl from
Anambra? Where is the girl that burnt my daughter’s cloths?” Florence mum
blurted out as she forcefully entered the room.
I couldn’t believe my ears.
Why would she think I was the one who burnt her daughter’s things? Because I
was from Anambra. I didn’t know when I let out a long and disgusted hiss.
Ada jerked up from her sleep
and began to cry, saying,
“No mama, it was me who burnt
the cloth, not the Anambra girl.”
At that point, I angrily walked
out of the room and made sure I slammed the door loud enough for my feelings to
be properly communicated. I went straight to the entrance of my hostel, where
the cult boys sat to smoke marijuana and sat with them.
Martins sat at the other side
of the bench and the moment he saw me, he got up and asked the guy sitting
beside me to excuse him, then he sat there.
Martins was a cult boy that
found me really attractive. He always looked at me in a ravishing way and
everyone knew he could not wait to fulfill his unholy desire.
“What is the matter Nkechi?
You look worked up.”
“Florence’ mum thought I was
the one who burnt her daughter’s clothes, because I am from Anambra.”
“Stereotypes and tribalism is
all that paddles round the world these days.” He responded as he took another long
drag of the marijuana in his hand, inhaled it deep down his soul, then let out
a hiss as though he was disgusted, yet still giving way for the smoke to pass
out.
I stared deep into his eyes,
trying to figure out if he was talking out of the influence of the marijuana or
if he actually was a smart person.
Not knowing what to respond, I
got up and walked out of the hostel. A long walk was the only thing that could
keep me sane at that point.
*************
“I am sorry about what Florence’ mum said. It must have
hurt a lot.”
“It is I who should be sorry for leaving you here to face
it all alone. How did it go?”
“Horrible. But it is over at least. Florence insisted she
did not want me to buy her anything or pay for anything. She said all her
dresses were sent to her from Germany and she would beg her sister to send her
new ones.
Nkechi, this girl called her sister in my presence and
reported me. Her mum just kept on cursing anyone that wished her daughter evil.
Nkechi, I died and resurrected like seven times over.
“We cannot stay with her anymore, I am not comfortable
staying with her, I have never been.”
“Yes, I thought so too but we can’t do that now or anytime
soon. I just burnt all of the girls clothes remember. Housing her is the least
we can do.”
I understood Ada but I wished I had a better option.
*************
Two weeks after the ordeal, Florence was back to normal;
just this time, Ada payed her closer attention. She exchanged friendliness for
the money she should have paid and Florence just relaxed and enjoyed the ride.
They started to go out together. Florence took Ada clubbing
and partying every other Friday night. My girl was losing it. She stopped
reading her books and started missing classes. I knew I needed to stop her,
before she wrecked herself, but everything I did was fruitless. Each time I spoke
to her about it, she would become remorseful, only to go back to leaving the life.
The final step I took in the bid to save my friend's life,
broke the camel’s back.
*************To be
continued*************
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