NYSSA
The week passed, but my thoughts did not. How was I supposed to tackle this? The voices of the women from the Art gallery outin’ came runnin’ into my head over and over and over again, and I wished over and over and over again that there was somethin’ that could be done ’bout Lysander.
How do I begin with tracin’ ‘im?
From the look of things, there was no way to trace ‘im. I stayed back on the bed this mornin’, lettin’ out my first yawn of the day.
“Awake?”
The lights turned on.
I removed the duvet from my body and looked at the man in his face. “Good mornin’, Kazmir,” I mouthed as I sat up. “I don’t feel so good this mornin’. How was your sleep?” I fell back, watchin’ ‘im walk closer with a smile on his countenance.
“I slept well,” a seat was taken next to me. “I slept well, of course, with you by my side. What is the matter with you, babe? Would you like some water?” Without waitin’ for a response, he was headed to the fridge. When Kazmir walked back and took a seat next to me, a glass of water was handed over to me.
“Thank you.” I sipped, again and once more before givin’ the glass back to ‘im. “I-I don’t know, but can I stay in bed for the rest of today? I don’t feel good and don’t want to add more stress to the way I am feelin’.”
“Who is complainin’, Nyssa Draven?”
Again, I watched the man walk out of the room. My head rested again on the pillow, awaitin’ the next event. The next time the door opened, Kazmir was walkin’ into the room. He had a smile on his face and a tray in his hand. “I brought food for you, but first you must brush your teeth. You can take a bath later.”
The tray dropped on the table next to the bed. I sat up once more, managin’ to stand on my feet and grabbin’ a towel for my face from the wardrobe. “I’ll be back, baby,” for the first time, I called Kazmir ‘baby’ before enterin’ the bathroom where I washed my mouth.
Such a man.
What would I do without ‘im?
Even though I doubted we were married in my past, Kazmir would pass for a husband. He was carin’ , sweet, and adorable all at once. I walked out of the bathroom after some time, sittin’ on the bed and placin’ the tray on my lap. “Have you had somethin’ to eat also?”
“Yes, I have. While you were in the bathroom. How ’bout you walk around the house and not stay back in the room like a sick baby, Nyssa?” He chuckled, watchin’ me eat. “You can visit the art studio and paint anythin’, even though you are not an artist.”
I am not an artist?
Am I not an artist? I wondered, the urge to argue with Kazmir overwhelmin’ but on second thought, I held myself back from speakin’. “I know,” I said instead. “I was not an artist in my other life, Kazmir. But now I think I have a thing for art?”
Was it okay to tell ‘im ’bout my presence at an art gallery outin’?
No! I decided and continued with my food.
“I’ll visit the studio after my meal, thank you.” I smiled and faced the food again, takin’ in the last spoonful of the soup in my mouth. After this, I sipped ginger tea from the mug and got on my feet. “I should take a bath before visitin’ the studio also.”
It dawned on me now.
Kazmir did not prepare for work. Why was that? “You’re not goin’ to work, Kazmir,” I sat back on the bed. “Don’t you have work today?”
“Oh, I do,” he laughed. “You said you were sick so I thought I could spend some time with you, Nyssa. I can’t leave my wife sick in the house, you know.” He finished his statement at the door, opened it, and walked out of the space – leavin’ me to myself.
It was later in the day, after a nap when I walked out of the room. Kazmir was asleep on one of the couches in the livin’ room when I caught up with it.
I had come to call ‘im so we could go together but since he was asleep, I led my way to the door of the art studio on my own – a smile on my face at the thought of bein’ this close to havin’ all my answers.
Inside, I went through the pieces in the sac I met the last time Kazmir caught me. “Here we go again,” I found the piece I was lookin’ for and heaved a sigh. “Where in heaven do I know you from? Can you tell me already? I am runnin’ out of patience.”
The door opened.
“You should have knocked!” I was startled and standin’ on my feet. “Do you have an idea where this portrait is from?” I waved the piece of art at Kazmir who rubbed his face with one of his hands. “It looks familiar – in some way, I cannot point out.”
“Oh, I did that myself.”
He painted himself? How?!
“I-”
He cut me short. “How ’bout a dance, Nyssa?” He knelt next to me and took the portrait from my hand. “It’s been a long time since I danced with you. We used to do it all the time before what happened happened.”
After assistin’ me with packin’ the bag, we both got on our feet. “Where is the song gonna come from?”
“Downstairs,” the man took my hand and we walked to the door. “I hope you recall how to dance, baby. It’s not a problem, anyway – I’ll teach you if you can’t.”
In the livin’ room, I settled on the chair. Kazmir was busy checkin’ songs on the television where he connected his phone. While waitin’, I knew I should sip some water since I hadn’t done that when I woke up. With this, I rushed to the kitchen center, poured some water into a glass, and started sippin’.
“Let’s dance!”
He was next to me when I was back in the livin’ room. His fragrance filled my nose, and I smiled, closin’ my eyes with an intention of enjoyin’ the moment – although I didn’t ask for it.
“Are you ready?”
I opened my eyes.
“Is shuttin’ my eyes not enough proof that I am ready, Mr. Draven?” I questioned and shut them again, feelin’ his hand touch my waist. “Now let’s dance.” One last time, my eyes opened and I shut them, concentratin’ on the song rhythm and now, began to move my legs.
His hands.
On my waist.
They brought sensation to my body. Not ’cause he touched me there but ’cause there was somethin’ we must have had – before now.
What was this feelin’?
I opened my eyes, meetin’ his gaze. But our gazes didn’t lock ’cause his eyes did not meet. The urge to run out of his grip and throw questions at ‘im was overwhelmin’.
“Are you okay?” He opened his eyes and our gazes met. “You look somehow, babe,” he said and turned down the volume of the television. “What is the matter?” He met my gaze once more, holdin’ my hands but not in a dancin’ way.
“Nothin’, Kazmir,” I let out an unreal smile. “I was lost in the dance. Why did you ask? It was a good dance we were havin’ when you stopped the moment. Why did you do that?”
“I didn’t know what I thought. You were lookin’ at me like I was someone from your past. Do you remember anythin’ at all? Tell me.”