LOVE AT HOME 2

Grief-stricken, I imagined myself playing with these children. I shook my head as if to discard the thought. "What have I gotten myself into?" I asked as tear trickled down my soft cheek, I used the back of my hand to wipe it. "I know my cheek would have changed colour and
texture before I leave this place of trial" I sighed.

I sat down forlornly, wondering what my next step should be. I picked a small stick from the ground, bent down my head and began to write in an unintelligible manner, absent-mindedly.

"Happy by day too you
Happy by day too you
Happy by day too you stranger
Happy by day to you"

This were the lyrics that brought me back to life. I raised my head and beheld the youth and children of the village standing shoulder to shoulder around me. I looked around in shock, "who are they singing for?" I asked, a question more to myself  " there was no one but me".

They stared so hard at me, waiting for me to say whatever. I looked down and smiled. I looked at them, each at a time, from eye to eye. I bent and smiled again. 
'Wonders shall never cease' I raised my head.

"But today is not my birthday " I managed to utter. 

"Yes, we ha just welcoming you into
our middle ni". I can't help laughing this time around, I waved frantically at them and turned back. 

As I turned to take my
load inside, my eyes met with two others which with a thunderbolt force held me to a spot. I stood rooted to the ground. I raised my hands
and waved at her. But She only gazed at me.

She was wearing an old torn Ankara gown, and a pair of different slippers. Her hair was brown and unkempt. Her nails were irregularly long. Notwithstanding, her beauty kept me
rooted to the ground. I opened my mouth, but no word. I shut it and swallowed hard 

"She was one of them but not part of them"

I dropped my loads and moved toward her. This was the beginning of the journey, follow me, closely...

To be continued...

By Onifade Oladimeji Samson Dlog

Picture from omgvoice.com