The Rebound Game

Nineteen

Speaking of Christian, I have been replying his texts more frequently. In fact this morning I gave in and finally sent him three photos of me. 

 Of course he replied with adjectives like stunning, gorgeous, pretty, sexy...but it did nothing to my self esteem. Honestly, I feel a little stupid, seeking validation from a fifty year old man. Not to mention that I have grilled him shamelessly about his wife; how they met, how she died etc.

 Here is the fun bit. He was willing to talk about his dead wife, such a personal matter but very uncooperative when I asked him to send a picture of him. It's common courtesy to send photos of yourself when someone sends you their entirely gallery. Even if it is just a blurry selfie.

 Maybe he did not want me to see his wrinkles. That has to be it. And they say women have image issues. The irony!

 Anyway, moving forward. So this is what I gathered. His wife, Lucille, died when Zoe was three. She was a victim in a road accident that cost many lives. The couple had been married since Christian was thirty six and Lucille was thirty.

 They had been trying for a baby for a long time and when Zoe was born, it was like a miracle. They had been to countless fertility clinics and were finally looking up adoption agencies when Lucille got pregnant and was confirmed to be healthy.

 The conversation got a bit awkward from there because I was not expecting a sob story. I only wanted to find out why his wife died and why they had a child so late into their marriage, if they married at early thirties like most people. I suppose that's what I get for being nosy. I quickly backtracked, apologized for asking personal stuff and went offline like the adult I am. I almost messed with my Whats App settings frantically trying to exit in time before his reply gets delivered on my end.
       
Like I said before, replying texts with the speed of lightning is Christian's specialty.
       
Tera Nova is a nice show by the way. I finished watching the final episode at noon and my back hurts a little. Time to go for a walk, then a jog tomorrow and finally progress to long runs early in the morning. I hope I don't get bored too soon.
       
 I change out of my pajama shorts and put on a tank, leggings and a beanie over my braids because I am too lazy to tie them neatly.
         
Climbing down the stairs from my fifth floor apartment is equivalent to a full body work out. I am breathless by the time I reach the final step and buy a bottle of cold water from the shop nearby. I plug in my earphones and start walking in a general direction before settling for a wide murram road that heads south from my block.
   
 It's two p.m and as if I woke on the right side of the bed, the sun is not as harsh. There is a cool breeze that makes me reach for my Vaseline to moist my suddenly chapped lips. I have never paid much attention to this side of town and I am glad to make out from a distance what might be Ngong Hills. It is many kilometers away but from where I'm, I can count three windmills.

  I figure it must be why the nights are cold regardless of the season. Sometimes during the day, it can be quite uncomfortable to lie on the couch without a blanket or a thick sweater.

 By the time I get back, it's two hours later. I am proud of myself for soaking in more vitamin D and remembering to buy groceries. Despite the fact that I did not make new friends (guy friends) today, it has not been a total waste.