The Awakening
She glanced at the table clock positioned at the table beside the bed. She laid there for another ten minutes, reciting words of motivation that would help her get through the day. She tossed and turned on the cotton blue sheets one last time before reluctantly sitting up, sweeping away the bed covers from her plum body structure and proceeding to walk off the bed.
Its been nine months since she resumed work after the tragic accident but she doesn’t feel things are getting any better. The pain and emptiness she still feels do not feel any different from when she first got the news.
She exits the shower after a quick wash. she has been spending less and less time in the shower because that was where the demons in her head scream louder.
She smoothened the edge of her gown as she made her way to the fridge hoping to find a quick breakfast but was met with the emptiness of the fridge, she spun around grabbing her bag heading out to work making a mental note to get groceries on her way back from work.
She glanced at her wristwatch as she sat down at her desk. “08:00 hrs”. From the corner of her eyes, she noticed Julie coming towards her with a rather mischievous look. Julie had been one of the other workers who had worked in this company as long as she had. They both came in as naive fresh college graduates working as unpaid interns and have now proceeded to both be part of the executives of the institution, on multiple occasions she had introduced herself as Toni’s friend to others which she really does not want to haggle over. Seven days ago she had invited her to a party at her place along with other co-workers which she had refused without giving the reason because she felt she did not need any and prior to that had been several other invitations that she had all declined without a reason, unfortunately,
“Hey Toni” Julie called out cheerfully “how are you today”
“ I'm good she replied how are you too”
“I'm fine, I had one of the most amazing weekends relaxing” Julie responded with that same mischievous smile on her face.
She waited in silence for the next big thing that would pop out of her coworkers’ mouth, a few seconds passed with no other form of conversation between them other than the mischievous smile on Julie’s face.
“So?” she finally blurted out
“Okay!” Julie said flaring her hands up in the air as if being jump-started by a jolt of electricity
“So what are you doing five days from now”
“I don't know yet but I think I would be a bit busy”
“it's on a Saturday how come you be busy”
“it is what it is” Toni replied with a shrug
“Anyway, Femi is coming to town sometime next week”
Femi is Julie’s fiance she had met a couple times before, he is a tall dark young man working and resident in the neighboring state, although how do they had managed to their relationship work despite the distance is still a mystery to her. He had proposed to her the last time you came visiting which was some weeks ago and since then Julie does not seem to have any other topic of discussion except for her fiance which is beginning to bore not only her but every other person in the office.
“He wants to meet with one of his friends from college who also works in the same company as him does but in this side of town”
It was then she knew the trouble Julie was brewing
“Nice for him, but I think I have a family function that day, my aunt is celebrating her birthday and has made it compulsory for all family members to attend I really like to go but family matter”
“Ehen?” ... Julie replied in disappointment
“Okay, I will call Toju, make a case for you and tell her you won't be able to make it. I’m sure she would understand”
“Oh, I forgot you were friends with my sister”
Julie’s laughter of triumph in the working area
“So I guess we’ll see u on Saturday. The four of us would have a wonderful time”
A part of her body wanted to protest but the other part is pinning her down, all of a sudden she felt all her energy go down the drain inhibiting her from protesting any further as if they are expectant of what happens next.
She could only then reply with one thing which was a heavy sigh
She was making final touches to her outfit when she heard a knock on the door, “I'm coming” she called out after the knock.
She looked through the peephole to see three people waiting expectantly with Julie arm in arm with her fiance.
She grabbed her purse and proceeded to walk out the door refusing to give a chance of anyone coming in and making themselves comfortable.
“Toni, you remember Femi” Julie gestured towards him still clutching his arm
“Hi Toni, nice to meet you again,” said Femi smiling down at his fiancee on his left arm
“And this is my Friend Emmanuel”, he gestured at the dark complexioned average height man standing behind them
“Hi, my name is Emmanuel,” he said as he stretches forth his hand for a handshake.
She locked her hands with his, “I’m Toni, nice to meet you”
“You look so beautiful”
“Thank you” she replied trying to let go of their hand lock. After some seconds he let go of her hand
“Shall we?” he gestured to the two cars parked in front of her apartment
“Would it not have been more economical to have brought just one car?”
“Well, I happen to have been coming from a family gathering”
She glared back at her friend who had decided to ignore her and her death stares.
After watching a movie, they headed to a restaurant together and had a good meal talking so long on various topics that made her give brief moments of smile and laughter.
They made their farewell with the other couple after leaving the restaurant and headed back to her place.
The car eased to a stop in front of her apartment.
“It was lovely meeting you today Toni, I had a wonderful time”
“Pleasure is mine... And thank you for the outing, its been a while”
“You are welcome” he replied, smiling at her as his eyes darted briefly towards her apartment..with that, she swung sideways opening the door and made her way to her front door.
Shocked he scrambled to open the door peering his head out the car
“So, I will call you later?” he called after her
“Sure” she replied halfheartedly as she proceeded to open the door closing it behind her.
She waited there for few seconds leaning on the door clutching her chest with her hand hoping it will stop her heart from racing. How could she start feeling things with someone else when Richards’ body is not yet cold in the ground?
She blinked back tears as she staggered to the bedroom and slammed her body on the soft welcoming bed either out of exhaustion over emotions or the actual outing, she could not tell the difference.
She left out a huge sigh of frustration.
“That was nice, we should do it more often,” a tiny voice said at the back of her head.
00:00hrs the clock inside the bed beeped.
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