ANOTHER MORNING

Leap of Faith

"I wasn't sure you would still want to see me," Mrs Chioma said.

"I am still not sure why I am here," Gbenga replied.

"I am really sorry about Aba, you have to understand that I couldn't leave my wife in-"

"I understand, but what I keep wondering is why someone who practically stalks me and has sent me over million messages, gets me in the car alone and doesn't say a word?"

"You got my messages? wow" he replied.

"My receptionist actually filled me in, and I am truly sorry"

Gbenga wanted to ask her about his wife's session but she took the words right out of his mind.

"I'll love to meet with her, that's if you don't mind"

"I really don't have your fees at the moment, but in a few weeks-"

"Don't bother about the fees, this one's on me"

Gbenga's eyes watered and he managed a smile.

"Thank you so much," "I have to ask though, why are you in Portharcourt?" he quickly added.

"If I wasn't in Portharcourt, I wouldn't have met you, would I?" she asked.

Gbenga smiled.

Teniola sat on the armchair in the sitting room, staring at the television but paying no attention to what was showing. She picked up the remote and turned off the TV. She stood and toured the entire house, looking for anything at all that would help her remember. She saw a photo album under the centre table and opened it up.

There were pictures of her riding piggyback on Gbenga, both of them on a boat ride with lifevests. A picture of their first kiss properly labelled, she wondered why they decided to take a picture of their first kiss, who does that? She looked so happy in the pictures, it was obvious that she loved this man very much.

The key turning in the keyhole got her attention, she adjusted her robe and sat down properly with the photo album in her lap.

"Hi"

"Hi" she replied.

Gbenga looked into the kitchen, everything seemed in order.

"Can I ask a selfish and unfair question?" he asked.

"Sure."

"Do you remember anything from last night?" he asked.

Teniola smiled, she could only imagine what this felt like for him. Of course, she remembered last night. Her core still burned from last night and she felt funny just thinking about it, but she had to play it cool.

"I remember clearly," she replied. "But everything is still hazy, I still have no memory of this apartment, my wedding, or how much I love you and I am sorry."

"Trust me, there is nothing to be worried about."

"Come here," he said and opened his arms.

"Where?" she asked and Gbenga's heart broke. His woman would have dived him by now. There was still hope he thought to himself.

"Your first counselling session with Mrs Chioma would be next week."

"Who is that?"

"She's a counsellor and one of the best psychotherapists in the country."

"Will she give me back my memories?"

"I want to say yes, but here's what I know. She's our best chance at getting our lives back" Gbenga replied.

Teniola could easily see that he meant it and hoped more than anything else that he was right.

"I got you a brand new hair clipper," he said and raised one of the bags in his hands.

It had been a lifetime since he made love to his wife or had a conversation with her. There was a lively spirit in her at the moment and he wished the moment would linger. He missed gossiping with her, date nights, travelling, and cooking. His life had been on pause for the longest while.

He wished he believed in God, she was the Christain. Most nights he would kneel and thank God for saving her. He found himself vowing to start going to church the very day she remembers who he is, it was at a point where he desperately needed strength his mind and body couldn't give him, but it's a promise he made himself and intends to honour.

Teniola sat on the floor while Gbenga took his time with her hair. He combed through the hair and remembered what it was like when it was fuller, now there was basically nothing left. He reduced the sides of her hair with the clipper and evened out the centre before properly fading the sides once again.

Teniola looked at herself in the mirror, Anita baker was a perfect fit for her head shape. She couldn't deny the fact that she was beautiful, a beautiful girl without her memories, she thought.

Gbenga opened up the wardrobe to safely put away the new hair clipper when it slipped from his hands and hit the floor. He turned and Teniola had frozen in front of the mirror. He sensed the noise the clipper made as it hit the floor triggered something. He walked up to her and touched her.

Teniola shouted and backed up towards one of the walls. She was very confused, her environment immediately felt strange. Where was she, she thought.

Gbenga took a few steps back and raised his ring finger. He used his right hand to point at the silver-plated ring.

"Husband" pointing at himself.

"Wife" pointing at her.

"Marriage" he pointed at the picture frame with both their faces on it. Teniola studied the man in the photograph and also the one that stood before her. She bent and picked up the photograph, she looked at the man and back at Gbenga, there was a striking resemblance. She was married... she thought.

She raised her left hand and saw a matching pair of the same ring Gbenga was wearing. She relaxed a bit.

"Can you sit?" he asked calmly, and she did.