NYSSA
“Remember somethin’ like what?”
“I don’t know,” he mouthed, takin’ a seat on the couch. “You don’t want to tell me, isn’t it? Are you scared of me? You give me the impression that you are scared of me in a way.”
“No!”
I walked to the couch and took a seat. “I am not scared of you, Kazmir.” I erupted into laughter. “Do you think I’d remain here if I was scared of you? Do I need to remind you that you have given an opportunity to run away on several occasions? Did I run? Of course, I didn’t.”
He nodded.
A sigh ran out of his mouth and I thought to myself that it was a sigh of relief. “I thought I scared you in some way. I don’t know so I needed to ask, so what was it you were thinkin’ ’bout?”
I wasn’t even thinkin’ of anythin’!
I had only imagined that we met somewhere in the past but at the same time cannot place it in my head. “It’s nothin’, Kazmir,” I got on my feet. “I want to take some rest, do you mind?” I bent low to peck his cheeks. “I’ll see you after my nap, at the table tonight.”
The week passed by, and another week came again. With the help of Ember, I was not bored in the house.
Even though Ember did her best to keep me company, I knew in my heart that it wasn’t enough. Even an introvert had more than three people as friends, talk more ’bout me who wanted to be out of the house at every moment.
Ember had just left the house.
I was back in the livin’ room and chillin’ with a show on the screen of the television when a call came in.
“Ember, what is it?” I asked the woman who had just left. “Didn’t you just leave the house? Or did you forget somethin’?” I looked at the couch and the only thing’ next to it was a table with nothin’ on it.
“No,” she sounded from the other end. “The only thing I forgot was you, Nyssa. I was callin’ to tell you I’ll be taking you out tomorrow. So get ready in advance and tell Kazmir ’bout it while I do the same on my end. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind for a moment.”
Out?
Did she just say we were goin’ out?
I dropped the call and let out a shout of excitement, while my legs rushed to the couch and I took a seat, took the remote, and turned off the television. At least, another thing to keep me busy for the rest of the day.
I walked into the room I share with Kazmir, headin’ to the wardrobe.
In moments, I had taken out a few clothes from the space and spent some more time thinkin’ ’bout which to take. It was only an outin’, after all.
Where were we goin’? I knew I should have asked! I wanted to go back to the livin’ room and dial her number but I changed my mind when I figured the telephone does not call but receives calls rather.
Then, I knew I should take my handbag. I strolled to the room area where the bags I owned existed. My eyes moped at them one after the other – makin’ up my hand on the one to select.
Finally, I made up my mind.
My hand reached for the shelf and I picked one from the many selections, a smile on my countenance. I smiled ’cause of nothin’ but the fact that I was at a place I had developed a likeness for. The same bag that was selected was the bag I used for the art gallery outin’ on that day.
Memories of my presence in the hall came back to my head once more. I walked to the bed with the bag and took a seat, openin’ the bag with many thoughts in my head. Maybe I should stop rememberin’ the man from the welcomin’ party and even the restroom.
“This is not good,” I mouthed and got up, stoppin’ in my tracks at the realization of somethin’ wanderin’ ’bout inside the bag. “What is this?”
I took out the card shared amongst us in the hall on that day, knowin’ also that I should not have left it there.
What if Kazmir saw it?
Another sigh ran out of my mouth as I dumped the bag, rushin’ to the bin in the room and tearin’ the card into tiny bits.
“You’ll not be the end of me, card!” My voice echoed in my head when I was done and I turned back around to walk back to the spot where the bag was dumped.
There was another card.
Not a card. A piece of paper.
I bent low to pick it up and looked at it, wonderin’ where it came from. Maybe it fell off when I dropped the bag on the floor, I thought and picked up the bag to see that there was nothin’ more inside of it.
The piece of paper.
It looked like there was somethin’ written on it, but it was on the other end. I flipped it over, seein’ a handwritin’ and a note – more like a letter. “It is me again, I guess. I see you are in the house of a man who should be your enemy. Don’t you think you should be very careful, especially when he might have a thing or two to do with your current condition? You know we could always meet in the within the area, a spot you’ll love so much. It’s a garden in the area and the only one existin’. I have the keys to it, also. I am there as soon as you leave the gate and want to go out in the name of goin’ for a work.”
I stopped readin’.
How did this get into my purse, to begin with? And how does he have the key to a garden in the Estate of my husband? My breath was shaky and I looked around the room, quickly headin’ to the window to be sure Kazmir’s car was not on its way into the compound. When I was certain there was nothin’ like that, I faced the piece of paper once more. “We both know that I am the love of your life, Nyssa. It is funny how you don’t remember who I am no matter how I try to make you recall. It is important that you also know how beautiful and stunning you looked at the outing in the gallery hall. My house address is attached to the note. What more do you want me to do to prove to you that we know each other from your past? It is me. Maybe Lysander or Kazmir. Pick your choice.”
That was all?
That was all?!
I looked around and fear was the only word describin’ me.
“What is this?”
Even my voice was shaky and I feared for my life the most. How did the piece of paper walk into my bag? It must have been at the art gallery outin’ from two weeks ago. Why didn’t I check my bag when I sneaked back to the house?
I started with the piece of paper, tearin’ it down to the last piece. When this was done, I picked up one of the pieces and looked at it to ensure there was nothin’ like someone seein’ through it and guessin’ what the note was ’bout. Nothin’ like that, and now I picked up the vacuum cleaner to clear the space.
What do I do?
Was it too late to run away? Or do I stay back to figure this out? I lay on the bed later that day to think, with fear that overwhelmed me. The door suddenly opened and I sat up in fear also. “You’re back!” My voice must have scared Kazmir who moped at me as though he had seen a ghost. “Welcome back home.”
“Is-everythin’ okay?” He walked further into the space. “First, your voice scares me and next, there is a vacuum cleaner on the floor. Many clothes on the bed and a bag also. What is goin’ on?”
I laughed, straightenin’ my back. “It’s nothin’, Kazmir. I cleaned the room and also selected a few clothes you’ll pick from. I have an outin’ with Ember tomorrow evenin’. She was here today.”