Nadir

The scent of coffee is what wakes me up. I don’t know how I slept because I did a lot of tossing and turning when I got to bed.

‘What in God’s name Martha?’ I complain when she opens the windows.

‘Yes things are bad at the moment but you need to get out of this room, it is starting to smell like a piggery.’

I smell myself. I really can’t remember when last I even bathed.

‘Yes you smell Nandy.’ She says as if reading my mind.

She comes to sit on the bed and hands me the cup of coffee which she had put on the table next to the bed.

‘Drink this, it will wake you up.’

‘The only time I manage to sleep you decide to wake me up?’

‘You have slept enough, now let us go and do something.’

‘I don’t want to do anything.’

‘Some time out will make you feel better.’

‘What do you have in mind?’ I ask taking a sip of the coffee. It is really strong.

‘I deliberately made it strong so that even a few sips will make you alive.’

‘Noted.’

‘Really?’

‘You and I are not friends Martha.’

‘I know, I don’t even want to be your friend but I am not going anywhere so you will have to deal with me.’

‘You know you are not only irritating but.’

She puts up a finger to make me stop talking.

‘What?’

‘I am irritating but I am your sister.’

‘Whatever fam.’ I say shaking my head.

I take the cup of coffee with me to the bathroom. I have always had this habit where I go to use the loo in the morning whilst drinking coffee and people would judge me except Joshua who accepted me like that. The thoughts of him make me spill the coffee in the sink as I sit on the toilet seat. How can one person come into your life and change you that much that now you have to be conscious about everything you do or say.

In an hour, I am out of the bathroom. I took the time to shave, exfoliate and just generally clean up and I feel a lot better.

When I get into the room I find that Martha has cleaned and made the bed. She even took the liberty to pick an outfit for me. I don’t spend too much time dressing up because I am not wearing any make up. Once done, I look at myself in the mirror, the baby fat is still very visible but I look better than I did after giving birth. Could be because I haven’t been eating much.

‘Welcome back to life.’ Martha says.

I roll my eyes.

I love the jeans she picked out for me. They are elasticated and have enough room for me to breathe in. the blouse too is loose so it’s hiding the excess fat that I gained.

‘Now we can leave.’

‘Where are we going?’

‘It’s a surprise.’

I shake my head when I see her getting my car keys. We head out, she locks up whilst I go and make myself comfortable in the car. She comes to join me after she is done and we drive off.

‘Music?’

‘The silence is good.’

‘I see.’

She drives us away from Lusaka on Kafue road, I find myself thinking of Joshua’s place.

‘So whose house was that that Joshua used to take me to?’ I find myself asking.

‘I don’t know.’

‘Ems never told you?’

‘Emmanuel could never tell anyone anything, I am sure he wanted you to find out on your own.’

I shake my head.

‘He was loyal to his family.’

She turns away from the main road and gets into a gravel road.

‘Where are we going Martha?’

‘There is a private residency just a few kilometers from here, I thought it might do us good to be away from home.’

I am not sure if it will but I lean back in my seat as she drives the five kilometers to the place where we are going to. At the gate we are welcomed by security personnel who tell us that we need to drive another five kilometers before arriving to the residency. She drives us there in silence and at some point I lift the chair because the scenery of the green trees everywhere captivates me.

‘Finally here.’ She announces finding a spot in the car park.

Someone comes to welcome us and helps with our bags, I didn’t even realize that she had packed bags.

‘Good afternoon, my name is Joshua. You are welcome to Palm Calabash resort.’

‘Joshua? Right.’ I say taking a deep sigh.

‘Don’t mind my sister, her dog Joshua just got hit by a car. I am Martha and she is Nandy.’

‘I am sorry about your dog.’

‘He deserved it.’ Martha and I say at the same time, and we end up laughing. The gentleman looks confused.

‘Don’t mind us.’ Martha says as the man leads the way.

At the reception Martha tells the friendly receptionist about the reservation. Once it is confirmed, the man leads us to our chalet. I am wondering how exactly it looks inside until we actually enter and I am in awe.

‘Can we just live here for good?’ I ask walking out to the balcony, it is overlooking a private swimming pool that looks inviting.

‘I packed bikinis for you.’

‘You did?’

‘I had to.’

‘You are the best.’ I say and I mean it because this already looks like it will be a good getaway.

..

Kwenje’s Girl

Winnie

🙇🏾‍♀️