Over and Over

Jere

EL-BAAZ MANSOR,
KANO.
NIGERIA.

LAYLA'S POV

I made my way back to Hakeem's room, trying to suppress the nervous energy bubbling beneath my skin.

Sasha greeted me at the door.

"Ma'am your bath is ready," she said, her hands offering me a fluffy white towel.

I accepted it with a smile and entered the bathroom, letting the heat of the steam and the scent of roses calm my racing thoughts.

I sank into the warm water, my fingers lazily twirling the rose petals floating on the surface.

But my mind refused to quiet.

What if Vikee's rumours were true?

I couldn't shake the uneasiness I felt.

Absentmindedly, I scratched at the small scar on my back, a reminder of that day.

It had been a woman on the bike, not a man, or else I might have believed it was Hakeem that day.

After my bath, I stepped out of the bathroom and sat at the vanity.

I methodically smoothen coconut body lotion onto my skin, followed by a sheen of cocoa oil.

The familiar ritual soothed me, momentarily pushing aside the whirlwind of thoughts.

I slipped into my wine-red bou bou, its Egyptian cotton brushing softly against my skin, tinged with accents of pink and white.

Just as I picked up the hairdryer, a gentle knock interrupted my solitude.

"Yes?" I called, and a domestic helper entered, her head bowed slightly.

"Lalla, His Highness requests your presence at his chamber immediately," she said.

I paused, weighing the request, but before I could answer, Sasha spoke up.

"Lalla, what if he’s injured?" Concern laced her voice, and I turned to meet her worried eyes.

A flicker of panic crossed my mind—what if Ummu was on her way to confront us? I couldn’t afford that right now.

"Okay," I finally agreed.

Sasha, always prepared, handed me a maroon Chantilly veil.

I draped it over my head, but the bou bou’s short sleeves left my arms exposed, the delicate lace of the veil doing little to cover me properly.

"Sasha, I need a bigger veil," I said hurriedly, glancing toward the door.

Before she could fetch one, I heard Ummu’s voice echoing down the hallway.

Fear gripped me, and without thinking, I bolted from the room, Sasha close behind.

We slipped through a side exit, the cool night air hitting my face as we made our way through the garden.

The sky was pitch-black, the storm overhead blocking out the moon and stars.

The wind whipped around us, carrying the scent of rain and anticipation.

By the time we reached Hakeem’s chamber, I was breathless.

I dismissed Sasha with a nod and was escorted by a ba fade to the grandest door I had ever seen.

Massive and intricately carved, it stood like a fortress between me and whatever awaited on the other side.

With a deep creak, the ba fade pushed the door open, revealing a dimly lit room beyond.