The next morning, Biola woke up feeling very refreshed, she showered and got dressed with very loud happy music on; it had been almost a year that she felt this chirpy in the morning. She loved to get dressed for the day with music playing but she dropped that habit when she moved in with Umar. She wore a navy blue skirt suit, the skirt was three inches above her knee with a one-inch slit in front, and she made a nice bun with her braided hair and wore large costume earrings.
It was a very happy morning, she was good to go, swinging her handbag happily as she walked into the sitting room then she stepped on blood… thick clotted blood… Umar’s blood then the memories from the night before slammed her like a 100 tonne grand piano playing confusing sounds as it landed on her “oh my god!” she screamed kneeling astride close to Umar’s body. There was a slight frown on his face and his mouth was open; she wondered what his final words could have been then she slapped him “damn you, doing this… killing you was not supposed to be an option… damn you!” she slapped him again and called the only person she felt she could ask for help… Seyi Francis Adeyemi.
Seyi did not wait to hear the full story over the phone all he needed to hear was that Umar was dead and he rushed to her immediately, Biola told him the truth; she told him everything that had happened and to her surprise, Seyi was not cross with her. He just hugged her. His reaction surprised her so much that she began to cry
“Don’t worry … I will take care of everything” he said and so he did. Seyi got people to take Umar’s body to the morgue; he called people to clean up the entire apartment. He was there when she called Umar’s parents to tell them their son was dead and also in the shadows throughout Umar’s burial preparations.
Although Biola was afraid that Umar’s family might suspect her, Seyi was her pillar of confidence; he told her to tell them that they were attacked by drug dealers that Umar refused to pay. Indeed, Umar’s parents suspected foul play but the moment they saw her, the bruises on her body, the despair in her aura from Umar’s death all their doubts flew away never to return.
The next day, Umar was buried. After the burial rites, Biola disappeared as fast as she could; she whispered to Efe and within minutes they snuck into the car and drove off. Efe looked at her friend and said “I am sorry about Umar…” “Why? … why are you sorry” Biola asked “Efe, I am finally free” a smirk appeared on her face “yes you are…” Efe replied as they exchanged smiles knowing each other’s thoughts without speaking.
Finally, Biola could breathe again; she thought of the enormous relief she felt when Umar’s frowning face was lowered into the ground and the smile she fought back when she watched them pour sand on him. The chapter between her and Umar was now closed forever.
A week later, Biola sat in her favourite thinking spot. The bench in front of Mrs Adamu’s house close to the sea and watched the empty cool sky; the weather was neither cold nor hot and the sun did not shine as bright. She sat there with a blank mind doing something close to meditation when Amin’s voice opened her eyes
“Hey B!” he shouted from the kitchen window, she turned and smiled at him “I just finished making lunch, do you want to join me?” he asked, Biola shrugged and accepted his invitation. Things were slowly going back to normal in the Adamu household, Mrs Adamu was back at work at her massive shop in Balogun market selling lace while Amin was back in school although he visited home so often that his mother complained.
“I am fine, you don’t need to come back home this often” she tried to convince him but he didn’t listen. “Where’s your mum?” Biola asked making herself comfortable in the dining area “she is at work” Amin replied as he served them rice, stew and chicken “oh okay that’s good… I’m glad she has started leaving the house” “me too”.
They ate, talked and laughed, hours went by but they didn’t notice “I haven’t laughed this hard in a very long time” Biola said cleaning tears from her eyes “me too” Amin replied and disappeared into his bedroom then came back with a small gift box “here… open it” he placed it in front of Biola.
She hesitated for some seconds before opening it, it was the pearl necklace Amin bought for her months ago; it was very beautiful made with the rare kind of pearls “I’m sorry… I can’t accept this” she said and quickly put it back in the box “why… c’mon, I bought it months before Salim died” Amin said, his eyes begging her to accept the gift “put it on… let me help you” he took out the necklace and put it on Biola.
As she glanced at him to ask him why he bought it for her and thank him for it she was drawn by his eyes, it possessed a desperate longing she had never noticed before “I should start heading out” she said and reached for her purse when Mrs Adamu walked in.
She was very happy to see Biola to the point that she didn’t let her go, they sat in the living room with Amin and talked for another hour; she gave Biola one of her new laces and when Biola told her that she was apartment hunting, she told Biola to come live with them “I miss you… come and stay with us” she said. Biola found herself agreeing to the offer without thinking about it and within a month Biola moved in with them and life was somewhat okay again.
