"As your best friends" started Gozie, "we are entitled to some benefits na"
   My Dad had just sent me #100,000 to celebrate my birthday coupled with other gifts sent through Nosa, the family driver. This man thinks money is everything sha. I mused as I saw the credit alert, then a message from him which read "My Coco, you'd forever be my baby girl. Happy 19th birthday dear. Pops loves you"
My Dad was not a man of many words. After the incidence 3 years ago, he had taken it upon himself to be annoyingly overprotective.
"I love you too daddy" I murmured silently before replying his text message

"See them" I laughed " The locusts in my life
"Haba, what a nice name for us" Myra said feigning hurt.
"Speaking of which Lima" Gozie spoke loudly "Your constant zoning out is becoming alarming o. At the mention of words or things relating to that incidence, you just freeze and it becomes evident that something is wrong" she continued.
I folded my arms and rested my head on the wall as she spoke.
"Babe, it's never gonna repeat itself again, he's never coming back and you're never gonna be hurt again" she said "We'd make sure of that" Pointing to herself and Myra.
"Left to me ehn...death should have come to him teytey. God should have struck him dead. Thank God, man's not God" Myra said sounding pissed.
"You know it's not easy forgetting all that happened, they tend to come in flashes". I cringed as I shut my eyes trying to wade the recurring memories off.
God, why don't they just go away.
" Hey, hey" Myra continued, clicking her fingers causing me to open my eyes. "I understand, but guess what?" She added
"What?" I asked wide-eyed
"It's all gonna go away" She said "pretty soon"
"How can you be so sure?" I asked her genuinely, not minding the voice in my head telling me it won't.
"I just am. It's one of those things you know is going to happen. The Sun's going to rise tomorrow. The clock's going to strike 12 at midnight and Jesus' coming too" She chuckled softly and so did I.
I sighed. They both had a way of putting my mind at ease.
"That would happen quickly if you begin to socialise and not isolate yourself Lima" Gozie said cautiously, knowing I would fight that idea.
"Don't......." I started but she shut me up almost immediately.
"Stop there. I've been treading carefully on this topic but it's high time I spoke seriously  on it" She nodded at Myra before continuing
"We won't sit and watch you allow your past prevent you from enjoying your present and creating a better view for your future. It's not right. It's not just right" She said shaking her head. "I know you're entitled to making your decisions and all but ......" She sighed "This is not what I want the life of my friend to look like. It hurts when I see how what you've been through is affecting you know. Jesus doesn't want this for you. God said in His word that if any man be in Christ Jesus, he's a new creature, old things have passed away. Away Lima. Your past has gone with your life before Christ. Your being a Christian gives you an edge over everything Lima" she said, teary-eyed .
  I stared at her as she talked and I resolved to take steps in ensuring I don't drown in hurt, regrets and pains from my past.

                      ••••••••••
8:15pm
"Beep, beep!" Gozie's phone sounded
She turned, rubbed her eye and picked it up from her bedside. She was a light sleeper but she never answered messages that come in when she's asleep.
As she opened it, a smile lit her face
"What's making this one blush?" I asked, curiosity eating me up.
"Gozie, when did you start replying messages that come in when you're sleeping" Myra asked, quirking a brow.
"It's one guy I met at the hospital last week" she started, dropping her phone on her bed.
"Uh..uhhh.. I knew it had to be a guy" Myra said, clapping her hands as she spoke.
"Aunty, shut up and allow her speak biko" I said glaring at Myra.
"Defender of the strong, I'm sorry" She said, giving me a mock salute.
Mouthing a "you'd see", I hissed and faced Gozie who had already started laughing.
" So how did you meet him" I asked
"Well....very funny circumstance o" She smiled causing me to smile too. Gozie never took guys serious since her relationship with Obi crumbled. The schmuck wanted sex and didn't respect the fact that she wasn't having sex till marriage. I mentally rolled my eyes as I remembered the whole event.
"The receptionist called my name, she didn't add my surname as per being a regular customer now"

Gozie was sickle-celled.

" We both stood up. Apparently we were both Chigozies" She said making air quotes with her fingers. "He was at the other end of the reception .The nurse had to then indicate which Chigozie she called. As I got out of the doctor's office into the reception, he stopped to say hi, we talked and then I found out he was a resident Doctor who came to speak to the Chief Doctor of the hospital about some medical stuffs I really don't remember now sef. We sha exchanged numbers and as they say...the rest is history" she said smiling.
"Does he know you are......." Myra said, gesticulating
"No, no not yet" she said looking down
"So what's he like?" I asked again
*He's light skinned "
Gozie thought some more "He's tall,taller than I am, like six feet four, maybe a little over. Nice shoulders, very cute dimples and a very gorgeous face" She concluded, reaching for her phone again.
"She asked what he was like, not what he looks like"Myra replied, exasperated.
" Hey, you notice stuffs like that too, girlfriend " Gozie retorted. "Don't act all superior. I don't see you describing guys by talking about their personalities and stuff.
" Ohh, Gozie, did you see the honesty and sense of humour on that guy? " She continued, imitating Myra's voice. "And his sense of ethics is amazing, don't you think?"
I was already sprawled on the floor, laughing so hard that I didn't hear my phone beep . Myra threw a pillow at my head.
"Lima, your phone. If you like spill your intestines" she said, handing my phone to me.
"My God, Gozie you're something else but I'm happy that this guy makes you smile" I said
"Yeah, he does. But don't get any ideas, we're just friends...still getting to know him" Gozie replied
"Whatever" I said, smiling as I tapped my phone to see the message.
All the colour drained from my face as I read the message of four lines etched on the screen of my phone. I didn't know when I voiced out a "No way" causing Myra and Gozie to stop talking.
"What is it?" They asked in unison, facing me.
A traitorous bead of sweat rolled down my face and my heart began to race.
"It's Ellen" I said, holding my chest.

             *********************
My fingers hurt from typing fast. I had to make sure I put this post up tonight.
I hope you enjoyed it. More characters are coming in and.........( Let me keep that part hanging)
Please don't forget to share. Your comments would be highly appreciated.
  
                                           Love,
                                           Dassah