Already published!!!
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The cool evening breeze sent chills all over her body. Taking a walk every evening has been a habit she cultivated over the years, one which as much as she liked the evening walks, she avoid thinking about what led to it as the memories of it ends in sadness.
Walking towards the mall, she drew her scarf tighter shielding herself from the chills. Forgetting the memories isn't easy as everything that evening reminded her of it, She wiped a tear off her cheeks.
Walking a little further, she bent to pick up a smiling little girl of about two years. "Hey pumpkin, where's ya mom?" she asked playing with the baby's soft cheeks.
"Mama mall," the baby replied excitedly. She rocked the baby while waiting for the mother.
"Hey Mara," a familiar voice called and she smiled turning back.
"Babe," she screamed excitedly.
"What's up?"
"I'm fine and yourself?" By now, the two ladies were walking away from the mall.
"Been good babe," She replied.
"Yeah Mara, guess who's back?" Jessica screamed excitedly.
"Who?"
"Jacob George," she giggled.
Mara felt her knees go weak, her greatest fear has been confirmed. She had always known he would come back and she thought by then, she would be ready for his coming, but she knew better, she issn't.
"You ain't saying nothing Ma," Jess nudged her bringing her out of her thoughts.
"Oh, that's great." She faked a smile.
"That's all you gonna say?" Jess raised an eyebrow.
"What'd you have me say? I mean I wish him the best and that's it." She replied with a hint of anger.
"Babe, you hurting. You deserve an explanation for whatever happened back then, give him a chance for that whenever you see him."
"Why do I need an explanation for whatever happened? I'm no longer nineteen Jess and whatever happened mine years ago is in the past, I have no interest in it anymore." Bitterness was evident in her reply.
"Babe," Jess called softly stopping under a tree.
"I honestly do not wanna talk about it, to hell with Jacob George." She hissed angrily.
"You really do not mean this Mara."
"I do Jess, I really do." She smiled bitterly.
"You are my childhood friend Mara, my bestfriend. I know when you are fine or not and I can tell you ain't fine." Jess smiled at her friend.
"Jess I'm fine!" She snapped scaring the baby in her hands who gave out a loud cry. "Sorry pumpkin, don't mind Mom and Aunty." She rocked the crying girl.
"Mara."
"I'd rather not talk about it." She raised a hand.
"Okay. I gotta go Ma, I'll see you later."
Mara returned the baby to her friend would waved and left. She started her journey back home, deep in thought.
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Jacob lay on his bed thinking of his past few days in town. His thought went to her, the way he has been thinking of her everyday for nine years.
He passed her door everyday and everyday since he arrived, he resisted the urge to knock on her door. If only nine years ago hadn't existed.
"I love you Jacob," he smiled sadly as he remembered her words nine years ago.
"I love you too," he remembered himself telling her. "I will see you tomorrow." He had told her then, but sadly there has been no tomorrow for them since then.
He knew it was partly his fault, but he was just twenty-one, he was just becoming a man and he really had no choice or he felt he had no choice.
Now back at thirty, matured, rich and influential. Having everything he wants, he still lacked one thing and that's her. He had loved no other woman, not that he had not tried, especially when the chances that she would have forgotten about him is high, but his heart had simply not obeyed him and has went on loving her. Life indeed isn't fair.
He wondered if she had changed. He wondered if she still observe the evening walk, but he doubts it. He was the one who forced her into loving the evening walk.
He stood up from bed, peeping through the window to see if he could just catch a glimpse of her walk through the neighborhood. "How funny," he laughed sadly. It's a big community and he shouldn't expect. As little as Fortca is, one shouldn't expect to see the whole of the city in his room. He went back to his bed defeatedly.
