NYSSA
It was another day in the apartment – an apartment I shouldn’t be in if the man who claimed me for a wife treated me well or, rather, showed me the respect I knew I deserved.
I came awake with a slight headache and relaxed on the bed some more, waitin’ for the right time to stand on my feet and go about the day’s activities.
When was the right time?
I jumped off the bed and walked to the bathroom after snatchin’ a towel from the wardrobe.
While in the shower, I reflected and thought ’bout what my day would look like.
When I was done with my bath, my legs led me back to the room for a dress-up and as soon as that was done, I fell on the bed again, standin’ up the next moment to clean the space before leavin’ the bedroom.
“Good mornin’, Lysander!” I shouted when I stepped out of the room. “I hope you had a good night’s rest.” I walked into the livin’ room space, headin’ back to the store so that I could take a broom and cleanin’ tools I would use for cleanin’ the house.
Lysander, who should have given responses when I called ‘im as usual, didn’t say a word, and now, I believed that somethin’ was wrong.
“What is the matter?”
I was done cleanin’ the house ’bout an hour later and walking to the door of his room so I could knock. “Are you in there, Lysander? What is the matter with you? Why scare me at such an hour in the mornin’?”
“Nyssa?” He called from inside, and the next thing I heard were footsteps.
“Good mornin’.” The door opened, and he flashed me a smile. “Why did you say that? Is anythin’ the problem?” He looked at me from head to toe and commented. “Did you-clean the house?” He walked out, and I walked behind ‘im, watchin’ ‘im shake his head in disapproval from behind. “You didn’t have to, Nyssa.”
“I wanted to,” I mouthed and walked to the door of my room. “I’ll be back. I need some time to look better.” And I walked into the room, snatchin’ my towel once more and headin’ to the same bathroom I walked out of not long ago for another bath.
There was somethin’ different ’bout today. Somethin’ I couldn’t place a hand on. I was done with my moment in the bathroom, and by the time I returned to the room, I changed into another outfit before walkin’ out of the room with a smile I planted on my face. “What are we havin’ for breakfast? I would love to cook for us.” I announced when I reached the livin’ room, and Lysander, who was engrossed in a show, turned to look at me with a ‘what did you say?’ gaze.
“I said I want to cook. What are we havin’ for breakfast?” I took a seat and asked, relaxin’ my back on the couch and lookin’ at his face the very next moment. “You know what?” I jumped on my feet. “I’ll toast bread for you and me this mornin’. You don’t have to worry anymore, Lysander.”
Before I could reach the kitchen, he rushed me. “No, baby. You don’t have to cook for us. I’ll handle it. Come take a seat.” He urged, and I refused, makin’ up my mind to handle our meal on this day. “You can’t even cook, Nyssa. Have you cooked since you came here? No. Why then should I trust your cookin’?”
I heaved a sigh and turned around. “I can cook; I know this. And even if I can’t, it doesn’t mean I can’t make ordinary bread. Toasted bread!” I was in the kitchen, takin’ out stuff I thought I needed to make the bread. When that was done, I set to work, and somewhere in the kitchen was Lysander, starin’ at me with doubt in his eyes. “I can handle this. Give me a chance and stop starin’ at me like that.”
Moments later, the meal was ready. I served the man I live with a tray and ate in an ordinary plate. When he sipped from the mug of coffee, I asked. “How do you see the meal? Is it as bad as you thought it’ll be?” He looked up and shook his head. I nodded and let out. “Even though I can’t recall everythin’, I think I recall how to make certain dishes.”
“Right.” He looked up with a smile and let out. “I’m very sorry for doubtin’ you in the first place. You deserved a chance, although I got scared that you’ll burn down the house.” He joked, and I burst out laughin’, facin’ the meal once more.
When we finished, I moved to the kitchen to do the dishes. Many things went ’bout in my mind and at the realization of realizin’ who I was in a few weeks, I didn’t know the better reaction to happiness but I was so happy inside of me and lookin’ forward to the day I get to recall everythin’ I needed to know ’bout myself and the past part of my life.
How did I make toasted bread?
How else if not seein’ it in my dream last night while I slept? A smile came on my lips, and I let go the very next moment. “Is anythin’ the matter?” Someone asked, and I looked up.
“You’ve been havin’ too many thoughts since you came awake and out of that room this mornin’.”
I smiled.
“I think I’m gradually rememberin’ who I am, Lysander. It’s nothin’ serious, actually, but I think I’m gettin’ back on my feet.” I explained, and there came a look on his countenance. “What-? Is anythin’ the matter? Why do you look unhappy ’bout this news?”
“No-” he shook his head.
“I am more than happy, baby. It just came as a shock, and I honestly wasn’t expectin’ it. How-how come? How did you know ’bout it?” He asked, and I sat up, ready to tell ‘im ’bout my dream.
“Wow!” He said by the time I was done sayin’ my dream to ‘im. “This is good news, Nyssa. I am so happy for you. This is beautiful.”
I nodded.
There was somethin’ off.
What was the matter?
Did I say somethin’ wrong to ‘im?
I thought ’bout it and shook my head. He wanted me to recall’ who he was before the accident, and I couldn’t.
Shouldn’t he be happy I was ’bout to recall?
So many thoughts went ’bout in my head, and while I was at it, Lysander jumped on his feet and walked away without sayin’ a word.
The door to his room shut, leavin’ me stunned. There was no need to stay in the livin’ room when he wasn’t here, and I also wasn’t seein’ a movie or rather, a show on the television screen. I also jumped to my feet and walked to the door of my room, shuttin’ the door and walkin’ towards the bed.
I spent the rest of the day in the space, readin’ a book I lay my hands on after a shower that evenin’. Suddenly, somethin’ was off. Somethin’ went off in the entire house, and I wasn’t sure what it was but got on my feet to see what had happened. “Lysander?” I called, headin’ towards the door and them out of the room to meet somethin’ I wasn’t supposed to meet.
Gas!
How did it get to the house?
The atmosphere was filled with toxic air of gas, and my breathin’ changed.
“Lysander!” I shouted at the top of my voice, but there wasn’t an answer which scared me the more. Was he okay? I was runnin’ towards the door of his room when I blanked out.