NYSSA
In the livin’ room – after checkin’ around the space to be certain there was no camera in it, I waited on a couch in the space for the man who is my ‘husband’ to get back from work.
What was keepin’ ‘im from gettin’ back home? I wondered, standin’ on my feet and walkin’ to the window to take a peep out of the space. There was nothin’ like a car drivin’ its way into the compound, or parkin’ in the lot.
“Where is he?” Concern written on my countenance, I walked back to the couch and took a seat on it. It was gettin’ late and also, I couldn’t wait any longer. Now it dawned on me that I needed a phone, and also that Kazmir was not late at all to the house, but my curiosity made it look like this.
How did I forget to make food for the man? I got up and reached the kitchen, lookin’ around for a camera and not seein’ any. Why did the camera have to be in the art studio? Why not the bedroom or some other part of the house? I took out a pot and with this, I started with makin’ a meal for us both in advance.
My appetite was lost at this point.
Many things went on in my head, and I wondered what my life used to look like. What was I? A wife to Kazmir? If I was a wife to ‘im, why does it feel like he was not a loyal husband, and is not a loyal even at this point? What would I do to find this out? I wondered again, my thoughts going deeper.
By the time I finished cookin’, I walked out of the kitchen with a tray of food dished for ‘im.
Now I heard the sound of a car comin’ from the compound, realizin’ also that the man I waited for was back from work.
“Who is home?”
As usual, his voice sounded.
I watched ‘im drop his briefcase on the couch and head in my direction. “I missed you so much, baby. How did your day go, Nyssa? Why do you have that look on your countenance? Did somethin’ happen?”
I managed a smile, wonderin’ how to go ’bout the confrontation. “Nothin’ happened,” my cold stare fixed in his eyes. “You are back. Will you take a bath before you eat or eat before bathin’?”
“I will take a bath before eatin’,” he walked to the couch and picked up the briefcase before headin’ to the stairs that would lead ‘im to the bedroom. I watched ‘im do that – openin’ the door and walkin’ into the bedroom, while I sat on a chair in the dinin’ area waitin’ for ‘im to show up once more.
Half an hour and he is walkin’ back to the livin’ room area. I lifted my head and looked in his direction, composin’ myself so he didn’t suspect much. What is there to hide, anyway? He would hear all I had to say in the end, after all.
“You’re sure you’re good, Nyssa?”
The man sat on the chair opposite me. “You’ve been somehow since I got back from work. Is there somethin’ you want to say?” He opened the tray and sniffed the meal. “Nice, as usual.”
“I wanted to talk with you, Kazmir-”
My legs got on their feet and I walked to the part of the livin’ room where the camera was hidden all this while.
“How are you enjoyin’ the meal, though?” I took a seat at the spot once more, heavin’ a sigh and managin’ a smile at the same time.
“Okay, I’m confused.”
Exactly what I wanted. ‘im not eatin’ the meal. “What is the matter?” He asked. “First you serve me a plate of food and the next thing you walk to the livin’ room and back with questions like me enjoyin’ my meal. Did you poison me, Nyssa? What’s goin’ on?”
What was he tryin’ to say?
“I don’t understand. What’s ’bout me poisonin’ your meal? What’s that supposed to mean?” My tone went from normal to worse and it shocked me more than it shocked the man. “Are you sayin’ I have tried to poison you before now? What’s that supposed to mean? I want an explanation, Mr. Draven.”
“I didn’t say that-”
“No, that’s enough,” I chuckled, placin’ the broken camera on the table. “What is this? Do you want to explain to me what a camera is doin’ in the art studio?”
I got on my feet, folded my arms, and studied his face. “Are you my husband from the past, Mr. Kazmir Draven? Do you want to tell the truth or not? Especially what Lysander was doin’ at a welcome party hosted for me, sayin’ he was my boyfriend before the accident. Tell me how I’m married to you if I had a boyfriend before the accident!”
“Woah. Woah!” He jumped on his feet. “Where’s all these comin’ from? What does a camera have to do with you doubtin’ that I was your husband or not?”
“Why did you put a camera in the art studio?!” My tone increased even more.
“Why? What am I doin’ in a penthouse I don’t recognize?!” I walked closer to the table, picked up the camera, and dropped it on the table, in front of ‘im – next to his plate.
“Tell me already before I do the unspeakable.”
“Nyssa!”
Did he just shout my name like a dog?
Why?
I watched ‘im get on his feet.
“What is this nonsense, Nyssa?”
“Why accuse me of what I don’t know? Is there somethin’ wrong with keepin’ a camera in a house we share? Do you have a problem with that? In case you don’t know, the camera was there long ago even before the accident. What’s goin’ on? You knew ’bout it, even.”
“I don’t believe you!” I shouted.
“Tell me what connection I might have with Lysander. Tell me what’s goin’ on or I’ll run away!” My voice was calm a little, and I stepped back from it, scared of the unknown. “Who is Lysander and what do I have to do with ‘im? I ask you again!”
“I don’t know!” He shouted back.
“You were my wife before the accident. We actually had a lowkey weddin’ which is why there are no weddin’ pictures, Nyssa. Even if, can’t you see the other ones around the house? Is there not enough proof? How ’bout your finger?!”
I looked at my finger.
I still didn’t believe ‘im, not for one moment. “I don’t believe you,” I took a seat on the chair while he did the same. “I don’t believe you. You have given me more than enough reasons not to. But until now, I wonder why you think I would add a substance to your meal.”
“I didn’t mean it that way, Nyssa-”
Before he could say another word, I was on my feet and headin’ to nowhere in particular.
My legs, in moments, led me to the entrance of the livin’ room. I walked in and shut it with the anger that I felt inside of me. A loud shout ran out of my mouth while I hated the fact that I was dumb and unable to remember who I was. If only I did, we would not be here in the first place. I would know what my past looked like and also, know who was tellin’ a lie and who was bein’ honest.
“Nyssa?”
It was ‘im – callin’ me from the inside part of the house. I said nothin’ but kept walkin’ away from the house, headin’ towards the gate and catching up with it. Finally, I was out of the compound and could still hear Kazmir callin’ out my name. When I blinked twice, there was a man in front of me.
Lysander.