Sing Of A Tree In The Wild

Elfrida

Dedicated to
AbdulrahmanTosin AdeyemiAshalejo and
oluwura

Elfrida

25th of April

14:09

Matthew's flight was scheduled quite early. I've managed to console myself and at the same time, withstand the flaming arrows constantly fired at me by my mother. The ride to Murtala Mohammed Airport was bleak and quiet. I held Matthew's hand tightly throughout the ride. I held it as though I'd never see him again.

Maybe I'd never see him again.

I can just die peacefully in my sleep. Better still, I can try commiting suicide again tonight after telling Dennis of my scars. I don't think I'm psychologically capable of living out the consequences of my soon-to-be-taken action.

Speaking of Dennis, he said he wasn't even coming. Accompanying that thought is a feeling of disappointment. Today is too perfect for him to throw away. Both of us are clearly not ready.

But man, he really wanted to know my secrets.

I reach for my pen and notebook as I make my way out to the balcony. I haven't written in a while.

"Elfrida!"

It's the gatekeeper. He looks pretty happy today. There's something odd about his joy, I can tell.

"Good afternoon sir. Is there any problem?"

He doesn't say anything. Rather, she steps aside to reveal an oncoming Dennis.

Are you kidding me?

The edges of my mouth curve up, against my will. Dennis, however, doesn't smile back. He looks as serious as he can get.

"Your love strong o! See as you dey look am eye." The gatekeeper looks at the both of us gleefully. This time, Dennis corroborates me by giving the gatekeeper a straight face. Realising that we are not joking with him, he bows respectfully and exits the living room, leaving the both of us to an empty room and an uncertain future.

"You said you weren't going to come, Dennis."

"I changed my mind."

Silence.

Unbroken eye contact.

Slowly, he edges towards me. "I'm sorry again, Elfrida. I was pretty rash and rude. I didn't even bother to clarify anything. I just took you on a guilt trip for an erroneous assumption." He smiles afterwards and looks aside. I edge towards him without looking at him, before sitting on the couch's armrest. My eyes return to his, although temporarily.

"You don't have to apologize again. I didn't realize how amusing your reaction was until I thought about it again. The pain, the look on your eyes. You have a secret too, Dennis."

Dennis slides his palms into his pockets. "Today's meeting is supposed to be about you."

"That's where you're mistaken." I say as I stand up from the armrest. "Today's 'meeting' is about our future as friends. You do not know me as much as I know you, and as close friends there's supposed to be an almost-equal level of interpersonal knowledge." I draw much nearer to him. "Are you truly ready to meet me, Dennis?"

"Yes. I am. I am ready to meet the real Elfrida."

My eyes shift to the nearby window as I return to the armrest. Dennis makes to join me on the armrest, but I cut him short.