the search

NO LONGER COLD

I stayed there staring at my trembling feet and not once looking at the friendly girl . I told her that it was fine I was not being affected by the cold but she laughed at me saying that my body was betraying me . I had never met a person so persuasive , within a second I had already done what my body was dying to do . I put my arms round her neck and hanged her so tightly as though my life depended on it ,which it actually did.

We were almost the same size accept I was a little bit smaller.I was so lost in the bliss of finally being warm that I had not noticed the boy that was right behind her staring at me as though I was  peculiar . My heart beat was so fast under his intense gaze . I felt his eyes move from one feature to another and finally he stopped and whispered something to my friend.

"My name is Oluchi and this is my brother Obi " she said while gesturing to him . I did not dare look at him until he extended his long arms to me hugging Oluchi even tighter . To say I was a nervous wreck while his arms rubbed my naked back was an understatement . I felt so warm yet I was still shivering .Oluchi giggled and it was so contagious because in no time I was laughing so hard while Obi just smiled at both of us.

As I watched him smile , my eyes couldn't help but to notice his beautiful brown eyes a shade I had never seen before it was as though a mixture of soil and the sun. I was lost in his eyes that I didn't notice the light dimming and all of a sudden I couldn't see his eyes anymore. I felt so sad that I couldn't stare into them but I was also sad that I did not have the chance to analyze  his other features properly for I had a feeling that it would take some time before the muzungu would bring us more oil for the lamp.

It seemed like the dark encouraged Oluchi to speak more for she never kept quiet , not even for a second . She talked about how cheap the white men really were although they had a lot of power. "Wapate kuwa alitekwa me lakini hawawezi kuvunja me" she said with so much energy in her voice . I could not help but notice how good her kiswahili  was though her accent was foreign to me . Obi warned her against saying such for they might kill her and all she did was laugh saying that she would rather die speaking the truth than stay silent. And that was when I knew that we were not only a like in size but also at heart. Our souls burnt with the same flame , a flame of justice.