I don’t know if you believe in fate, but I do know that keeping faith in fate can be quite exasperating; It is too whimsical, like a wind blowing wherever it listeth. Life is full of vicissitudes which are sometimes enmeshed with surreal events. When and where you collide with such events, is up to fate. Like a young man perpetually falling in love with older women perhaps for their maturity, or fate plucking away carefreely at the strings of one’s destiny. Whether this story you are about to read is stranger than fiction is for fate to decide.
Being a young boy can be challenging in a fantastic way. I had to deal with all the fantasies brewing in my young head. I vividly remember one my friends and I had in our teens – to date older women. Yes, it was a rather queer desire but we did not care. Just the thought of it got our pubescent hearts racing. Our fantasies found a way into all the discussions we held. We even found ourselves lingering at school long after classes were done for the day. Tuesday was one of my favourite days to stay behind for discussions; It was the day we had English with Miss Peace.
Miss Peace was every boy’s fantasy. One could tell she was special and unique. She was naturally endowed with a taut velvety ebony skin and a pear-body shape – well accentuated by the mini-skirts she always wore. For someone almost petite, she had a well-rounded derrière. We couldn’t help but gape in astonishment whenever she faced the blackboard to write. She was also kinetically gifted. Her body moved with such fluidity and awareness, like a music melody in motion – it made our tender hearts melt in awe. Miss Peace was the template for our fantasies.
I remember a particular incident, when Fredrick, my edgy seatmate, almost got us into trouble. Miss Peace was in class writing notes on the blackboard and she wore a mini-skirt as usual. However, this mini-skirt was unusual. It was translucent and made of satin. I don’t know what Fredrick saw or imagined when she turned but he soon blurted out incoherent words in astonishment. The rest of us were taken aback. Miss Peace suddenly stopped writing. She turned and the entire class hushed. She gave a rather panoramic indifferent gaze at the entire class. She suddenly smirked, turned back, and continued writing on the blackboard. We heaved a sigh of relief and shook our fists at Fredrick.
When I entered University, I made new friends, and with them came enthralling tales of conquering older women-or as they called them; Sugar Mummies. Some would tell of how loving and generous these women were and some of their expert sexual prowess. However, I was only interested in the tales of the former.
You see, growing up, I have always had the theory that older women would be more mature, considerate, and even more logical than girls my age. This was at the centre of my fantasies. I had even dated a couple of girls within my age range to test my theory. I found the girls unfocused, intolerant, and immature. After the entire ordeal, I had more reasons to stick with older women.
For my friends, fulfilling this fantasy was about pecuniary perks. For me, it was about that undying desire to draw from the maturity I believed was present in older women.
So, it didn’t come as a surprise when I began crushing on older women. A particular crush stood out. Adaora. She was a gorgeous Nollywood actress in her early-30s. I knew she was way out of my league, but with my teeth clenched and one eye closed, slid into her Twitter DM, after a lot of self-induced pep talks, of course. You can imagine my surprise when she responded. I was stunned and awestruck at the warmth of her response. One message turned into two; two into five, we were hitting it off! We chatted so often that it became the only activity I looked forward to every day. She was a suitable replacement for Miss Peace as my fantasy, as she fitted right into the template. They were quite similar in looks and body shape. Same taut velvety ebony skin, the same well-rounded derrière, and an almost petite pear-body shape too. However, Adaora had a more cheek-boned oval face and had a penchant for spandex pants. You could tell she was a fitness junkie. I used to call her my Amazon. She loved it.
Even though our relationship was fast progressing, I knew nothing serious was going to come out of it; I had just turned 24 and she was probably 33. Besides, she was a celebrity and I was still trying to graduate from the university. Soon, my school work and final year project took the front row and I began to give Adaora less attention. She too had also become very busy with work, so we drifted apart.
Several months later, I turned 25, graduated from the university, and moved in with my cousin in Lagos. There, I enrolled in a film school and began working as a screenwriter. During that time, I tried dating girls my age again but it was the same old story.
It was at this apartment building that the most bizarrely astonishing event I could only have fantasized about happened.
The apartment building we lived in was a semi-detached duplex with two floors and 4 apartments. We lived in one of the apartments on the first floor.
In the one below ours lived a businesswoman in her mid-40s; A mom of 2 teenage kids, who must have been in boarding school since I didn’t see them around often. She was married but her husband was always away on business trips. For a mom of two, she was still very pretty and plum.
Even though we practically lived in the same house, we didn’t speak until after a month after my moving in. The day we ran into each other in the compound, she was leaving and I was coming in.
“Hi new neighbour, my name is Edna.“
She stretched her hand in my direction and as soon as our hands entwined, our eyes met. I remember feeling the most incredible feeling ever! The combination of her rich motherly yet girly voice, feline eyes, soft touch, evenly tan skin, and warm smile sent an electric current through my nerves. It was all too much to take in. It felt strange but at the same time, it felt like I had known her all my life.
“I’m Obi. Nice to meet you, Edna.” I croaked.
Her gaze slightly shifted and she withdrew her hand. She then fiddled with her wedding ring. It was confirmed-she had felt something too. I quickly mustered a smile to hide my awkwardness. She beamed a smile and tilted her head.
I knew right there and then I was in trouble.
She asked for my phone number the next time we met. I gave it to her and we began talking. We talked so often that she would call when I was away at work, just to know about my welfare. On the outside, we looked like a couple of friendly neighbours but she and I knew that there was a tension and connection magnetically pulling us together. I felt completeness being around her and she gave off the vibes that she felt the same way too.
Yes, I knew it was wrong. The war between my heart and my conscience was driving me crazy. Here I was, finally living my fantasy, but with a married woman. And I couldn’t confide in anyone; Not even my cousin. How could I? She was married, for God’s sake!
You know what they say about emotions – they die hard. Even though I tried to keep my distance, Edna would always do whatever it took to get my attention. My resistance was fast crumbling. Emotions can be very crazy!
It was as if she always knew the exact time I would leave my apartment. It was like she could smell me. Oftentimes, as I was passing by her kitchen window via the outdoor spiral stairway behind the building, she would suddenly pop up to say ‘Hi’ or bait me into a conversation.
I knew that I was no match for my raging emotions, so I avoided being in a secluded space alone with Edna. All the time we spoke was either outside the house or over the phone.
In no time, Edna’s fondness for me grew so much that, one time when I had travelled out of Lagos for a film shoot and spent about a month on that set, she, after failed attempts to reach me via phone calls, repeatedly asked my cousin when I was going to return. When she was finally able to get through to me on the phone, I could feel the glee laced in her voice. The vibe was that of warmth and longing.
I can vividly remember this one time, when she called my phone, asking me to come and help her replace a bad light bulb in the verandah, just outside her kitchen. I got downstairs. Immediately she saw me, her face lit up in glee and she greeted me with a warm smile and gave me a loving stare. We held each other’s gazes for a couple of seconds. I felt a lump move in my throat. Then a jolt of butterflies zapped through my tummy until I saw it- the bewilderment in her eyes.
I could swear that her energy felt familiar. But for the life of me, I just couldn’t fathom why. It was too strange a feeling. And I could sense that even she was flustered, as she gazed into my eyes; lost in time and space as I was too. We quickly snapped out of it. I went on to replace the bad light bulb with a new one.
Afterwards, she said, “Thank You, Obi! You’re a darling!”
In the most heartwarming kind of way. I beamed a smile and strolled back upstairs. But within me, I was dead worried. Something wasn’t right.
A week later, things got more interesting. My neighbour in the apartment adjacent to mine moved out. A couple moved in within a few days. When I met them for the first time, I had just returned from a movie set. I was opening the gate as they were walking towards their car. I inched closer and waved.
“Good evening neighbours!”
The husband waved back and the wife flashed a smile. As the husband moved towards me, he beckoned her and she also moved towards me. They seemed like newlyweds. Their matching Ankara attire made this obvious. The wife was stunning; A fair beauty who looked to be in her 30s. A statuesque, hourglass-shaped goddess with her bust sitting firm like two formidable plum fruits. Her Roman nose and eyebrows made her look exotic like she was Afro-Mediterranean. More like a hybrid of Igbo and Fulani genes. Her husband was stocky, finely square-faced, and balding; on the threshold of chubby and buff. It seemed like he had just started hitting the gym.
“Good evening neighbour, I’m Lanre. It’s a pleasure to meet you,” the husband spoke.
We shook hands.
“You are welcome, Mr. Lanre. The pleasure is mine. I’m Obi, by the way.”
“Meet my wife, Ronke. We just moved in yesterday.“
“Nice to meet you, Madam.”
We shook hands.
“Same here.”
Close up, Ronke was even more beautiful. Her smile was like the first ray of dawn. It literally lit up my face, as I also mirrored her smile. I was sucked in, dazed and jaded just by gazing into her deep-set eyes. It was like I ascended into surreal realms of everything pleasant yet darkly beautiful. I felt strangely high and trippy. Then I remembered –her husband!
I quickly snapped out of my reverie. I was flush with embarrassment and silently hoped her husband didn’t notice my momentary lapse.
“You are both welcome, once again,” I called as I rushed away.
They both chorused.
“Thank you!”
As I went round to the corner to begin my flight up the stairs, Edna popped up as usual, from her kitchen.
“Hi, Obi. How are you today? How was work?”
“Hi, Edna. I’m fine, and work wasn’t bad.”
“That’s nice to hear.”
“So how are you doing, Edna?”
“I’m fine Obi. I came back a bit early today. I had gone to inspect one of the shops. I was supposed to take delivery of some shipment of groceries so that I can restock the shop. But after waiting for a long time, I called the warehouse and they said the shipment will come in a day late. Can you imagine these people?”
“So sorry about that. These things do happen.“
“True, Obi, true. But they should have informed me earlier though. I would have saved myself the stress of setting out very early this morning, to beat the Lagos traffic. They had better not stress me again tomorrow o!”
“It’s OK Edna. Everything will be just fine.”
“If you say so, Obi. By the way, have you seen the new neighbours? They moved in yesterday.”
“Oh, yes. I only just met them a couple of minutes ago, before I got here.”
“A very cute couple. They’re newlyweds, by the way.”
“Oh! I see.”
Then she said wryly.
“But that his wife is too gorgeous sha.”
I drawled.
“Ednaaa!”
She drawled back.
“Whaaat?! Can’t I admire a fellow woman again?”
“OK o.”
“But funny enough, Obi, the wife…erm, what’s that her name again o?”
“Ronke.”
“Yes, that’s it. I think she doesn’t like me. The way she greeted me was kinda cold.”
“Why do say so?”
“I don’t know o, but the aura, when we exchanged pleasantries yesterday, felt like that of two people who had some unspoken longstanding feud but had to be in the same space. You know, like that Obama vs Trump kind of beef.“
I laughed heartily.
“Edna! You won’t kill me with laugh o! You women truly are wonderful beings!”
She smirked.
“Na you sabi. By the way, Obi, when will you ever come in so that I can host you and cook some special delicacy for you?
” Soon Edna, soon.”
“You have been saying “soon” like forever, Obi. Are you scared that I might bite you?”
She laughed wryly and reached for my arm.
I sharply withdrew my arm.
“I know you don’t bite, but soon.”
She gave me a coy look.
“You! This man!”
Her energy! Gosh! Her vibe was just so refreshing and yet eerily familiar. It felt like I had known this woman all my life, probably in some other life. We had to be Kindred Spirits of some sort. That’s the only way to explain this uncanny synergy between us. How else does one explain a phenomenon of this nature? Could it be that there was something more to it?
To be honest, if she were single, I wouldn’t have hesitated to ask her out on a date. Each time we talked I was fighting the urge to kiss her. I knew that pursuing a relationship with her would lead me up a cul-de-sac. I can’t afford to covet my neighbour’s wife, I reminded myself.
Little did I know that things were about to take a mind-bending shape. Do you know that unpopular saying that says, the solution to a problem, is an even bigger problem? Yeah. Exactly.
One evening, Edna and I were having our usual heartfelt conversation at her kitchen window. Unbeknownst to us, Ronke was keenly observing us from the balcony behind her apartment. Midway through the conversation, I felt like we were being watched. When my eyes darted upwards, I met Ronke’s. She was leaning pretty on the balcony-radiating beauty, as always.
Edna’s eyes quickly followed mine and she waved.
“Good evening, Neighbour!”
I also waved.
“Good evening, Madam!”
Ronke smiled wryly, shifting her gaze towards me and waving.
“Good evening!“
I smiled.
“How’s Mr Lanre?”
She flipped her braids over her shoulder, revealing her full alluring face. She leaned forward.
“He’s fine, he isn’t back from work though.”
I nodded.
“Oh. OK. Please extend my warm regards to him.”
She smiled and winked.
“Sure, I will, Obi. That’s your name, right?”
I smiled and nodded. Then it suddenly dawned on me-why did she wink at me? Was I hallucinating? My brows immediately arched and I steadied myself.
“Yeah. It is. Do have a wonderful evening, Madam.”
Ronke smiled wryly and sashayed back into her apartment.
Meanwhile, Edna had stood there the whole time staring at both of us, her eyes darting between us.
“You saw how she acted like I wasn’t even here, right?”
“Come on Edna, you only just met this woman yesterday and you already think she has a problem with you?”
“Don’t you ever talk to me like that again, Obi! We are not age mates!”
“I only made a factual statement and you are getting worked up about that?”
“Can you imagine this small boy! Oh, so because I stooped so low as to flirt with you. You now have the guts to say such nonsense to me, àbí?“
“You know what, it’s fine! It’s just fine!”
I quickly turned and stormed up the stairway.
In the days that followed, Edna and I didn’t talk. She didn’t pop up at her kitchen window anymore to say “hi”; She was clearly avoiding me.
I was also avoiding her; I made sure I stayed out late into the night. My cousin, who was oblivious to all that was transpiring in my life, became worried.
I would simply tell him, “It’s nothing serious.“
Our time apart allowed me some self-examination; How had I gotten so fond of Edna? What was I thinking about getting all cozy and friendly with someone else’s wife? I knew I was treading on dangerous grounds. Yet I had allowed my fantasy and apparent delusive curiosity to lead me there.
One Friday evening, a couple of weeks after my quarrel with Edna, I was spreading my clothes on the hanging line. Ronke suddenly called out to me from her balcony.
“Hi, Obi!”
My eyes swivelled up towards the direction of her voice, in shock. My voice quivered.
“Hi, Madam?”
She leaned forward.
“Please Obi, I need your help with something.”
My brows arched.
“Erm…Something? I hope there’s no problem?”
She smiled wryly.
“Not really, Obi. It’s just that I need help starting my generator manually. The remote isn’t working.”
My eyes widened.
“You said?”
Ronke burst out laughing.
“I meant my backup generator, silly.”
I let out a stifled laugh.
“My bad.”
She chuckled and gave me a stare so seductive that I thought I’d pass out.
“You, Obi, have a vivid imagination. So, are you going to help me or not?”
I was lost for words for a few seconds. Then I quickly snapped back to real-time.
“Oh…OK! I’ll be with you shortly.”
Within a few minutes, I was at the front door of her apartment. I had barely touched the doorbell when the door swung open.
And there she stood, tall and moderately buxom, in a sweat top and a chinos bum-shorts. Her sweet perfume embraced my face in its entirety. I could feel the light waft of the air conditioner caress my face, perfectly blending and guiding her musky perfume into my nostrils. My eyelids dimmed briefly in awe. Ronke stared briefly at me and beckoned me with a smile.
“Come on in!“
As I stepped in, I took the entire living room into view. It was a breathtaking sight to behold. Mr. Lanre and his wife sure had a good taste for luxury. The interior decor was surreal. Just like Ronke herself. I quickly recollected myself from my reverie.
“Your apartment is so cool, Ma’am!“
She smiled.
“Thank you, Obi. And please enough of the Madam, Ma’am, and all that. I’m barely 33. I prefer being called Ronke.”
My eyebrows arched in acknowledgement.
“Oh. OK. I’ll do away with the titles henceforth.”
She nods in approval.
“Cool!”
Then my eyes swept across the room.
“Uhm…So where’s the generator?”
Ronke giggled, with a knowing smirk.
“Come on Obi, there’s no generator up here! Have you forgotten the generator house is downstairs?“
Then it hit me. I shook my head, threw my head back, and laughed out loud.
“Oh shit! Mumu me! And the NEPA light is even on! Haba!”
Why I laughed this way, I couldn’t fathom. Perhaps to salvage what remained of my shredded vulnerability. Still, I felt exploited.
Ronke laughed too. Then sat on a sofa and crossed her legs.
“I felt that I wouldn’t be able to get you to come to me, without a good reason. So I gave you one. The generator’s remote is fine, by the way.”
I laughed once again at my folly.
“Now that was sly. May I sit?”
She gestured.
“Sure, Obi, you are my guest now. I was actually quite lonely and wanted you and me to have a chat, just to keep me company. Moving to a new place with no one to talk to, is really a bore.”
I shook my head in disbelief.
“Well, you got me real good, Ronke. I usually don’t get into my neighbours’ apartments. So this is like a…”
Ronke cuts in.
“…Yeah, I noticed.”
My brows arched.
“For real? How?“
Ronke smiled wryly.
“I noticed you and her always stood by her kitchen door, anytime you guys had those long convos.”
I was a bit stunned.
“You mean with Edna?“
“Yes.”
“Is it that obvious?”
“Mhm.”
“Oh wow-wawu.”
I felt subdued.
Ronke laughed out loud. Then she suddenly gave me an inquisitive stare.
“So, what’s it with you and her? It’s not every day that you find a married woman and an upwardly mobile single man, relate the way both of you do.”
I mustered some courage to stare into Ronke’s face. After trying to hold her gaze for a few seconds, I failed woefully, and quickly shifted my gaze. It fell on her luscious thighs; Well sculpted and plum. My eyes then roved around her full bosom. I shook my head and quickly dragged my mind back to the room.
“I find it hard to explain, but I think Edna and I are Kindred Spirits. We just vibe along very well. She gets me and I get her too. It’s safe to say we’re just good friends.”
Ronke smiled and nodded.
“Now that’s interesting.”
I mustered a smile.
“I guess so. That reminds me, what of Mr. Lanre?”
Ronke sighed.
“Oh, he went on a business trip to Port Harcourt, since Thursday.”
I nodded in acknowledgement.
“OK.”
Ronke leapt to her feet.
“Forgive me for being such a bad host, Obi! What can I get you?”
A wry smile registered across my face.
“I guess I can’t say no. Any soft drink would do. Come to think of it, I won’t hear the last of it, if Edna finds out, that I finally entered an apartment in this compound and even had some refreshments. She’ll be livid!“
Ronke laughed heartily.
“Why won’t she be, when you have refused to enter her apartment for even a drink.”
I looked away.
“Honestly, I was just trying to be careful not to cross boundaries.”
Ronke smiled wryly.
“You’re scared that she might bite you?”
My brows arched.
“Yeah. Something like that.”
Ronke laughed out loud. She playfully adjusted her body frame in front of me and swiped her hand up and down her alluring body.
“And you think I don’t bite? You think all these don’t bite?”
I tittered with embarrassed laughter.
“Oh come on, you won’t only bite, you will swallow!“
We both laughed out loud heartily. Suddenly NEPA cut the power! The entire room went quiet and slightly dim with moonlight. I quickly asked her where the generator’s remote was. She showed me. I went and picked it up. I asked where the change-over switch was. She pointed me to it. I went straight to the change-over box and flipped the switch to the generator mode. I then went to the balcony on the facade side of the building. I pointed the remote towards the generator house. Brrraaam! The generator roared to life and the power came on.
Ronke beamed with a smile.
“Thank you so much, Obi! I’ll get you that soft drink now.”
I smiled and nodded in agreement. I watched her sashay towards the refrigerator. Her hips and proportionately well-rounded buttocks bounced and jiggled at the same time. I felt a lump shoot up my throat. I quickly made a sign of the cross and shook my head and unwittingly blurted.
“No!”
A startled Ronke swivelled back. She gave an inquisitive stare.
“Obi, did you say something?”
I sat tight.
“No.”
She chirped.
“OK.”
With a smirk written across her face, she turned and continued to the fridge.
The memory of my quarrel with Edna suddenly flooded my mind. I was a bit overwhelmed, so it seeped out of my mouth.
“You know, the other day when you saw me and Edna talking. After you went back inside, we quarreled. We haven’t spoken to each other since then.”
Ronke looked up from the fridge. A wry smile registered across her lips.
“Well, maybe it’s for the best.”
From the corner of my eye, a picture caught my attention. It was a picture of Ronke and Lanre, in a warm back hug embrace. I stood up and inched towards it. As I stood in front of the photograph, I could now see why it caught my attention. It was the way Ronke smiled. There was something eerily familiar about that smile.
Ronke stood up with a pack of cookies and a bottle of soda. Wondering why I was suddenly silent, she said,
“Obi…“
I was so lost in thought that when Ronke’s voice suddenly filtered into my thoughts, I felt a jolt I had never felt before hit my consciousness. Was I losing my mind? That smile and this voice! How come?!
I quickly shut my eyes tightly and suddenly began to see flashing images of faces, drowned in light. Then, muffled voices filled my head.
I felt light-headed and dizzy like I was swirling amidst bright lights. I was about to swoon when I suddenly opened my eyes, panting. Ronke was now beside me. She touched my shoulder and I shuddered. I turned to look at her.
“Obi, are you OK?”
I managed to collect myself.
“Uhm…Yes, yes, I’m OK!”
Ronke didn’t seem convinced by my response. Her face bore worry.
“Are you sure? Because you look like you have just seen a ghost or something.“
I wanted to say something but decided to keep quiet. I walked back to where I was seated. Ronke followed closely behind me and sat beside me.
“Here, some cookies and a drink to calm your nerves.”
I reached for the refreshments on the table in front of us and ate silently.
Afterwards, I thanked her and took my leave.
That night, I couldn’t sleep a wink; Thoughts of what happened at Ronke’s apartment kept on flooding my mind. A few minutes past midnight, my cell phone rang. Edna. I answered.
“Hello…Obi, I’m sorry!“
“It’s OK Edna, I’m sorry too.”
“I was jealous.”
“Yeah. I know. I also overreacted.”
“We’re still friends, right?”
“Sure.”
“Can you come over tomo…”
The phone network suddenly became scrambled.
“Damn these networks!“
Beep! I angrily ended the call.
I quickly typed an SMS message and sent it to Edna.
“Yeah.”
Seconds later my phone beeps. An SMS message from her.
“Thank you!”
I smiled and heaved a sigh of relief. I felt my chest lighten like a 100-pound weight of malice had just lifted off it. A few minutes later, sleep finally came.
By midday, the next day I was at Edna’s front door. I rapped on the doorbell. In seconds, she swung the door open.
“Obi!”
She moved in for a hug but stopped mid-way and raised her eyebrows. I nodded my approval and we embraced.
“I’m so sorry for the way I talked down on you.”
I smiled.
“It’s fine, Edna. We all have our moments.”
She gave me a loving stare, with those soul-searching eyes of hers. And for the first time, I took a deeper note of how uniquely beautiful Edna was. For a woman in her mid-40s, she still bore a nubile body. God probably took his time to fashion her into such a comely shape. She clearly had great genes. Her hair was afro-full this time, and beautifully imposing. I could feel that eerily familiar aura build up around us again-the familiar vibe.
I stepped inside, and she offered me a seat, which I took. She went into the kitchen and came out minutes later with steaming bowls of meaty Afang Soup and Fufu, a glass of juice, and a tumbler of water.
She watched me eat in silence.
Soon enough, I had finished all the bowls’ contents and washed it all down with the glass of juice.
Edna cleared the table and returned to the living room and sat beside me. She began.
“Obi, I don’t know how this may sound, but I have grown so fond of you. I can’t seem to help it. It feels like I have known you all my life and it doesn’t make any sense.”
I coughed and quickly drank from the tumbler of water. She continued.
“I know this is all weird given the obvious situation.”
She flashed her ring finger before me. I looked on, feeling a bit awkward.
“But I can sense a very strong connection between us. I’m sure you must have sensed it too.”
I stared at her for a while, without saying anything. Then I steadied myself and began.
“Honestly, Edna, I’d be lying if I say that I don’t feel the same way you feel right now. I am also trying to make sense of everything. We are definitely not related, and the age disparity thing is also there, and I can’t say we’ve met bef…“
My eyes landed on a photograph resting on a cabinet. Oh no! Not again! I pointed Edna to it.
“Can I see that picture, please?“
Edna glanced at the photograph.
“Oh, that. Sure.”
She stood up and strutted elegantly to the cabinet to retrieve the photograph. She handed it to me. It was a picture of her smiling, whilst resting near the driver’s door of a car.
As I stared at the picture, the memory of what had happened to me at Ronke’s apartment flashed across my mind. Why were these pictures pulling me towards them? I asked myself, The images that came into my head while I was at Ronke’s apartment, who were they? I just couldn’t understand. I was still pondering on this when Edna’s voice interrupted my thoughts.
“Obi, I took this picture when I was in my final year...”
I suddenly began to feel a cold breeze envelop my body, from my crown down towards my toes. I felt light-headed and the room began to spin. The chairs, the tables, the TV set, the refrigerator, and every other item seemed to ascend and suspend mid-air, swirling around me. I couldn’t hold back anymore-I was zoning out. I quickly managed to shut my eyes tightly.
All of a sudden, I was seated inside a car. My hands were on the steering wheel; I was driving. I looked beside me, and there was Edna. She was looking as beautiful as ever though she looked different. She was Edna but in a different body; She was wearing a wedding dress. Everything seemed so anachronistic like we were in the 50s. She also looked very frightened.
I peeked into the rear-view mirror, at my reflection; I looked different- like me but in some other body. I was wearing a tux. Suddenly, fear gripped me. What in the world was going on?! I was driving too fast!
Edna kept on frantically glancing backwards. Her lips were moving but I couldn’t hear what she was saying. However, I could read her lips.
“Femi, please drive faster!”
I suddenly heard myself say.
“Lola, I’m driving as fast as I can!”
A car suddenly stopped in front of us, blocking our path. I could see the driver of the car. It was Ronke but in another body. She looked beautifully dishevelled with her mascara running down her face. She beamed her headlights full and before I could try wheeling off, she rammed into our car. Bang!!!
I opened my eyes and there sat Edna beside me, staring at me in bewilderment. The next word I let slip was.
“Lola!!!”
Edna looked surprised and confused.
“Obi, what did you say?!”