NEURONE!

3 - Miracle? Or Not

"I am Miles. Say it. Miles." Uju stared wide-eyed at Miles as he placed his hand on his chest. She studied him carefully then placed her hand on her chest. He took her hand and placed it on her chest, repeating his name to her. Her brown eyes sparkled with curiosity as they moved away from his chest and met his blue ones, then they moved to his lips and settled there. She watched as his lips moved and placed two fingers of her free hand on it. Then she placed them on hers and tried to repeat after him.

"Mouse."

Miles nodded his head as he looked at her. He placed her hand that was on his chest on hers.

"You are Uju. U-ju. Say it. U-ju." Uju again studied his lips and his throat and called out her name. Correctly.

Miles turned to Simi, who was leaning by the door, watching them.

"Uju's a fast learner. We just have to teach her everything she used to know. She'll be back to normal in a short while."

"That's easy for you to say," Simi said angrily and walked out of the room. She must have left the house because the sound of a moving car was heard afterwards.

Miles ignored her comment and continued to teach Uju how to speak. She soon began to cry of hunger and Miles brought her some snacks. She fell asleep immediately she finished and Miles tucked her into bed, smiling as she grinned in her sleep and for the second time in his presence.

The next morning started great. At least for me. My best friend, Uju, came back. She had so many questions and I wished I could give her straightforward answers but I was under obligation to answer her with a maybe.

However, when she asked where she was, I didn't reply. I knew she would find my answer absurd. She stood up and began to investigate. I told her to stop but she didn't listen. She went out of the room and into the living room. She saw no one and kept moving to the next room - the kitchen - which was also empty. Then she heard the sound of shattering glass from the basement and walked towards it.

She picked up a baseball bat from beside the door as a self-defence weapon. The door was open and she tiptoed in. I don't know what gave her that confidence but I was happy she had it even though Miles was about to suffer. I guess that's one of the perks of almost dying, you don't fear the little things anymore.

Once she was close enough to Miles, she ordered him to place his hands behind his head and turn around. When he did, her courage disappeared, replaced by rage - one that she always mistook for hate. The funniest part was that the rage wasn't really directed at him but herself. I tell her that all the time but she's always in denial.

Miles tried to convince her to drop the bat but she refused and when he tried to snatch it, she struggled and they both ended up on the floor. Uju had been stumbling backwards and had slipped on a slimy liquid on the floor. Since both of them were holding onto the bat, she inadvertently drew Miles to herself, causing him to fall on her.

She pushed him off her immediately and stood up and when he too was standing, she slapped him across the cheek, threatening to sue him. For kidnap, assault, and attempted murder.

Then she remembered why she was here. She remembered Kyle and his attempt to end her life. Then, she also remembered how Miles had cared for her yesterday, patiently teaching her to speak and for the first time in her life, she felt guilt toward him. She muttered a sorry and ran out of the basement.

She went into the room she had woken up in and searched for anything that belonged to her. The only thing she could find was a pair of flip-flops and a sweater. She put them on and left the room. She saw Miles wallet lying on the couch in the living room and I reminded her we will need money to transport ourselves back home but she ignored me.

She walked out to the street and tried to stop a taxi. For an unknown reason, none stopped for her and she decided to walk home. I entertained her, reminding her of movies she'd watched, ice cream flavors she loved, and I teased her with the thought of ending up together with Miles. She rejected the thought immediately, devising means to divorce Miles if by any chance she was forced into marriage with him. I found it funny as I had already come to like him for saving her life. Or maybe I was just grateful.

Just then, I sensed danger and made her stop in her track. Almost immediately, a truck came speeding toward her. There was no time to run or do anything. Shock and fear engulfed her and all she could think of was for the truck to stop as she shut her eyes, waiting for the impact. It never came.

When she opened her eyes, she saw the truck still, just a foot away from her. She regained her composure and moved away from the truck. She noticed that the door was open, there was no driver and its rear was on fire. There was no explanation for why it just stopped without crushing her to death.

A little boy who had been with his mother on the other side of the road ran up to her. "Woah! How did you do that? Are you a superhero?" He asked, looking up at her with curious eyes. She looked at him and then around her at the people that had begun to take pictures of her. She shook her head at the boy and ran off.

Once she was far away from the scene, she stopped to think. The sudden stop of the train must have been a miracle. She wondered what she must have done to deserve such a miracle. She sighed and wished she were home with Simi. If only she could borrow a phone from someone, then she would call her to come to take her home.

Just then, a phone fell from the pocket of the guy who just walked past her. She called him back and picked up the phone and on its screen was Simi's number being dialed.