The Size of our hearts

1

I always found it easy to let go- to move on but that's probably because I never had something really important to hold on to,

***

"Nevaeh you have a plane to catch, close that diary and get in the cab!"

That was my mom, quite the opposite of me, wild, daring, and charismatic. People always said I was more like my father, quiet and weird. I was moving away to go stay with him so my mom could travel the world. I didn't mind much, My Dad was easy to live with. 

We finally arrived at the airport it was 4 am and freezing cold which is normal here in October in London but my mom said I wouldn't get much of that in Nigeria. We rushed into the airport as my mom grabbed my passport out of my hand to go get all my stuff sorted even though I told her I would do it myself.

Soon enough the announcement for my flight came shooting out from the intercoms, I hugged my mom for the sixth time and proceeded to board. Six movies and two naps later I was in Nigeria. As the tires of the plane hit the floor, I whispered the words bravo to myself, something I had done since I was 3. I got up from my seat and attempted to get my bag from the compartment above my seat but failed to do so as a middle-aged woman pushed me back unto my seat while impatiently outing the words "please move madam"

"Um, yeah sorry" I muttered as I tried to get my left earphone back into my ear, in an attempt to do this my right earphone fell out, I bent down in between the tight space between my chair and the chair in front of me, I grabbed my earphones and was about to get up when I saw two feet shift beside me. My eyes flashed towards them, they were sandals, well not quite they looked like slippers in a way, as my eyes gravitated slowly towards the face of the stranger, I noticed he was wearing a shirt that stopped at his calves with matching trousers.

"Here," He said awkwardly, his voice barely deep as if he didn't like speaking, as he handed me my bag.

"Oh you're welcome, I mean thank you," I said stupidly as I put down my hand that I awkwardly raised to shake his. His eyes flashed towards my hand and back to my face and to replace the words "your welcome" He tightened his lips to suppress a smile and nodded his head quickly and walked out of the plane. As he walked away I tried to remember how he looked, He had brown sandy skin and eyes almost Asian-like, He looked seventeen and had such straight shoulders it looked as if he wasn't breathing. I smiled to myself and walked out of the plane.

I made my way to the bag collection area. Everyone was standing around the bag collection area reaching for the items, except for him, the guy that helped me with my bag on the plane. He had earphones in and his eyes were closed, His bags were brought to him on a silver trolley, "Hamid" the guy pushing the trolley said as he slowly removed his earphones and opened his eyes he stood up and followed the guy and just before stepping into the V.I.P lounge glanced at me then shut the door behind him. I looked back over to the baggage reclaim area and noticed that my bag had already passed me, I sighed and waited for it to come back again.

I made my way to the arrival lounge to wait for my Dad, but he was already there sitting down rubbing his knees, I took a deep breath and made my way towards him. At the sight of me he stood up, He didn't look as tall as I remembered. He smiled at me and embraced me as he said: "Neveah, it's nice to have you home". As we let go slowly he took my bag out of my hand and rolled it all the way to the car.

It was an awkward car ride as he asked me basic questions like, How was School and my Mom. I gave the most basic answer "fine" and he gave the most basic response "Good, good" and none of us said anything else till we reached the house, the only thing altering our silence was the quiet buzz of the radio.

The house was just as I had remembered it, way too big for one person. I stepped out of the car and felt the relief as the warm dusty air washed over my skin.

My Dad showed me my room even though I knew the way and after a while, he left, I stared at my suitcase and decided that I would unpack tomorrow. This was something I did often, procrastinate not because I didn't have time, but because I overthink, this is also something I did often, making things seems more stressful than they really are.

As I made my way down the stairs, I realized that pictures of my mom and Dad still hung on the wall. It made me sad realizing how my Dad still hadn't gotten over my mom.

"Um... Dinner's ready if your hungry" My Dad's tired voice interrupted.

"Oh yeah, I'm starving," I said as I managed a chuckle. He smiled at me and stepped into the kitchen well the living room/kitchen it was sort of one big room. "Wow Dad this smells good"

"Oh it wasn't me, It's miss Patricia she works here in the afternoon"

I nodded and dished myself out some rice and chicken. We sat and ate together in silence until my Dad broke it.

"Your new school is about seven minutes away from here, would you like me to drive you or would you like to walk there yourself"

"I'll walk" I responded as I took his plate over to the sink he stepped into the living room and shrunk unto the sofa. "Night Dad."

"Night," He said as I made my way upstairs and back to my room. I collapsed onto my bed without changing and stared into the darkness of my room. I put my earphones in and tried to imagine what my first day of school would be like.

I had many things to think about that night, but the last thing that came to my head before I drifted off into a deep slumber was dark eyes, Asian-like and kind.