The African trinkets

Thinking About You

Last night was the first time that Lance had a restful sleep with no interruptions from his troubled subconscious creeping into his dreams and twisting them into nightmares. In fact he hadn't dreamt at all last night and he was grateful. He lay in bed for a few moments to orientate himself and he gathered that he was in his room, laying next to his Nolia and he felt a strange lightness in his shoulders. There was no tension, no ache under his shoulder blades and no weight on them at all.

He opened his eyes and to find his Nolia sitting at his study desk and concentrating on some piece of paper in front of her all the while puffing away at his pipe. She looked like she had been awake for a few hours. Lance quietly got up and crept up behind her chair to scare her, he was feeling playful, but Nolia was well aware of his joining the conscious world, "Good morning Sweet Pea." She said after a puff.

"Good morning, love."He bent down to kiss her cheek then he leaned against the study desk, "Sweet Pea, huh? That's different." He smiled at her and she didn't look up from the paper she was studying.

"I know, just thought of try it. Life is too short to do and say the same things day in and day out." Nolia inhaled deeply and skillfully puffed out ringlets but then had a coughing fit immediately afterwards.

"Ah, so that explains the smoking then." Lance chuckled and took the pipe from her, "Here let me take that from you. You're too beautiful and your constitution too delicate for smoking." Lance put the pipe back in its case and took the pitcher of water by his bedside table to pour a glass for Nolia.

"I hope that water is for you because I will not let a drop of that pass my lips. I've decided that liquor seems to be a more exhilarating alternative." Nolia hiccuped several times as she retrieved the pipe which Lance had taken from her. He suppressed a chuckle and put down the pitcher of water and glass.

"Are you alright, love?" Lance walked over to where Nolia stood as she tried to relight the pipe. She strut across the room and took a book from his bookshelf.

"I'm perfectly alright." She said with as much confidence as she could muster. Although the alcohol and tobacco had done all they could do, her hands were still shaking terribly, "But that is the problem, Lance. I don't want to be just alright." Nolia's robe was loosely tied and one of her sleeves teased its way off of one of her shoulders. Her hair was a droopy, puffy halo and the smoke swirled around her beautiful black coils. She held the pipe in one hand and had the book she had just taken in the other. Nolia's lips had moved a few times while Lance made his observations and her eyes rolled when he came to, "Lance, focus!"

Lance sat at the foot of the bed and scratched his beard. It was too early for focus but he tried for Nolia's sake, "Sorry, love, what did you say?" Nolia sighed and and walked towards him. She sat on his lap and opened the book which turned out to be an atlas.  

Nolia pointed at Africa, "If I carry on with this alright nonsense I'll never see her ever again." 

"Never see who again?" Lance was still groggy and he couldn't connect dots. 

"My sister, Lance. If I convince myself that this lazy being alright business is what I want then I'll never see my sister again. I'll never have a family if I sit on my arse over here in Europe while my family is in Africa." Nolia started muttering to herself about keeping perspective about the things that matter to her while she got off Lance and looked for her dress as if she would get on a ship that very moment and set sail. 

Lance sighed and dreaded having to say what needed to be said, "Nolia, come here, Love." Nolia was on her hands and knees trying to look for her dress. Lance knelt down and continued to urge her to get up but she ignored him, "Nolia, stop. I have to tell you something. It's about your family." Lance tried to force her up but she snapped at him and slapped him across the face. A flash of blind anger was in her eyes but it quickly faded when she saw Lance's anguish.