OMARI

34: YANDI

Yandi stretched her hand out the car window, the wind brushing softly over her arm. She turned to her side and smiled, looking at Omari in profile as he drove.

He glanced over at her for a moment, before returning to the road ahead. His free hand rested her exposed thigh, a smirk dancing on his lips.

"Why you looking at me like that?"
"Just admiring you," she answered as she usually did.

He then brought her hand to his lips, planting a gentle kiss to her soft skin. "You always say that," he chuckled.
"Because it's true! I can't admire my man?" She chuckled, using his words on him.

"Oh you definitely can." He teased, but then his smile instantly faded, and his tone changed, "You're not here though."
"Wait, what?" She asked, puzzled by his statement. "I'm here, what do you mean, I—"
"Why haven't you come to see me?" He interrupted, his face turned to her, "I'm in a coma and you're not doing anything about it, Yandi."

Her heart pounded, still confused, "Omari, what are you talking about? I was there to see you but-"

"But you're not here."

She fell silent,it felt as though the air in the car was sucked out and everything around her began to grow dim. Her head turned to the windshield and she immediately froze at the sight of the large boulder in their path.

"Omari!" she screamed. "Omari, watch out!"

Yandi's eyes shot open, taking in a staggering breath.

She took a moment to catch her breath and adjust to her surroundings.It was Sunday morning, marking the first week since the accident.

She remained stationary in bed, her breathing now steady.  This was the second time she had a dream like this and she feared falling asleep if it meant enduring the torment of the man she loved reminding her that he was in a coma.

Her door clicked open, and her mother poked her head in.

"Yandi baby?"  She chirped as she approached her daughter. "Happy birthday to you... happy birthday to you..." she began to sing.

Yandi turned slowly with a smile, noticing her mother with her phone in hand, recording Yandi.

"Mommy stop," Yandi giggled, wiping off the stray tear from her eye.
"Thank you."

"Sending this to the family group so they see how pretty you look at 36." her mother slipped her phone in her pocket. "How are you feeling today?"

"I'm..." she thought of the dream she had but didn't want to worry her mum, "better. I'm better."

"Alright my baby. Let's get the day started? I'm preparing some breakfast so you can freshen up and find me downstairs, ok?"

Yandi got into her morning routine and was done by 9am, looking at her reflection as she fixed her hair into loose curls with a middle part. She was yet to get her hair done, but with the way her week was it clearly made it impossible to do so.

Her hands ran down the material of her black turtleneck and blue jeans. She smiled and blew  a kiss walking out her bedroom and to the living room space.

"Oh, look at my gorgeous first born daughter!" her mother praised, Yandi returning a smile. "You know how I loved taking care of your long hair? I am so proud to see you letting it flourish."

"Thank you mama." Yandi smiled, grabbing some freshly cut fruit in a large bowl and plopping one in her mouth.

Just then her doorbell rang, and she turned to the door.