"Sola"
"Sola!"
"SOLA!"
"SOLA WAKE UP!"
I sprung up, chest heaving so hard my sister clutched my shoulders.
"Calm down"
I was frantically looking around for Brielle. I tried to even out my breaths before forcing out a few words.
"Where is she?" I asked, my throat constricting.
"Who?" The moonlight reflected on Taye's eyes. They were the only things visible in my dark bedroom.
"Brielle. Where is she?"
"Sola. She's not here, okay? I need you to breathe. Relax"
Relax? Why should I relax?
Ironically my breaths were more even, but still. Why should I calm down? She called. I heard her shouting my name just now-
"WHERE IS SHE?" I screamed, tears lining my eyes. I looked for the corner of my duvet and tried pushing it off my body so I could get out of bed.
Taye pushed me back and sat on me. I started kicking and screaming but it was no use. It's too late, I've lost her. I've lost it all.
"CALM THE FUCK DOWN SOLA SHE'S AT HOME" Taye screamed in my face. She looked scared for me.
It took me some time to fully register what she just said before my head dropped back onto my pillow and I cried. I cried so hard.
My sister finally got off my body and moved to her side of the bed. "This is the sixth time Sola. Sixth time. Are you sure you don't want to see someone?"
I couldn't hold in my cries. My chest hurt. It hurt as I breathed. Taye moved over to hug me. She let me cry on her while she rubbed my back.
She let me cry myself back to sleep.
~
"My baby" my mother walked into my room and looked at me with pity. She sat down on the edge of the bed right beside my stomach. She took in my appearance and her gaze lingered on my bare shoulder. But she didn't talk.
I was grateful for that.
"Em, do you want anything to eat my dear?" She rubbed my shoulder gently.
We were the only ones in the room. Taye had long gone, she was probably the one who sent her here. My brother avoided my room at all cost.
"No thank you ma" I croaked. Her forehead wrinkles doubled as she frowned.
"Sola you haven't eaten at all today. Ah ahn. You need to eat something. Let me get Kenny to bring some cereal, mmm?" She faced the door and screamed. "KEHINDE! Gbe cereal ati abọ wa!" (Bring cereal and a bowl)
I grunted in protest but she wasn't having it. Seconds later, Kenny came in with a tray of milk, Lucky Charms, a spoon and a bowl. I smiled at him in an effort to ease his cringing attitude. He cringed even more and placed the tray on the bedside table. He hated dealing with other people's emotions as he felt it was awkward. This was why he avoided me because he didn't know how to show empathy.
"Thank you" I said to him.
"You're welcome" he said and practically ran out of the room.
My mother started pouring the cereal into the bowl. "Is this okay?" She asked and paused.
I hummed and she put the box on the floor and poured in a bit of milk.
"Oya, drink up" she handed me the bowl and stuck the spoon in it.
YOU ARE READING
DELUSIONAL
General Fiction"I really don't know what to say to her anymore. She's so stubborn. She won't talk, she won't even sit down on the couch. She stands for thirty minutes and leaves without a word. I want to help her, I really do. But she acts like she's alone when I'...
