The room was dim as she packed. She had spent over two hours, folding and unfolding the clothes. Halfway through, she had sat on the small bed with her head in her hands. She wasn't sure how to feel. The events of the past year were the best she ever had in her life. She wiped the lone tear trickling down her right cheek and continued to arrange her clothes in the small box. She was grateful when the tears finally came. On a normal day, packing wouldn't take her more than twenty minutes. But today wasn't a normal day. In fact, nothing in her life was normal anymore.
--
“You have a husband to be? How come I didn't know that?” her friend Uzo was asking one day after their lectures.
That was eight months ago. She never told Uzo about Obinna. She has known him since she was a child. She still remember vividly, the day his parents had come to meet her parents. She was six and Obinna was ten. Everything had started as a joke after she was born. Her mum had told her how Obinna's mother started calling her the future daughter in-law immediately she set eyes on her. Both families always laughed about it but later decided to make it formal. The bride price was paid and the betrothal ceremony done.
She had grown up loving him. Who didn't love Obinna? The girls knew he belonged to her. No other boy had been able to make her weak in the knees. They made every decision together. Their parents' would tease them about how they behaved like a married couple even when they weren't married yet. She believed there was no one else for her.
Until she left home.
--
“I love you,”
She shifted her face and focused. Uche, positioned on top of her was staring right into her eyes. She had never seen such tenderness on his face before. He moved and she moaned. She lifted her fingers to trace the little hairs on his jaw, but the movement was cut short when he thrust again. She closed her eyes, her lips slightly parted.
“I love you,” he said again.
“I love you more.”
--
The affair had started shortly after she arrived at school. She had always wanted to go to the university, had worked towards it all her life. Obinna had a different path and plan for them but he never objected. When she was busy studying and writing entrance examinations, he was learning a business. He would often tell her about how all the girls he knew came back from the university with a man. He used the case of Nkechi as an example. Her betrothed had commited suicide after she she ran off with another man. Although it always sounded like a joke, she knew he was serious and vowed never to disappoint him.
But Uche happened.
She didn't know exactly how it all started. Perhaps it was both their love for languages, or the way he laughed and made her try new things. His mischievous nature got to her first. Uche made difficult classes easy for her. Being two years ahead, he taught her how to get around the uptight lecturers. She didn't know she was falling for him, not until she found herself in his arms that evening, returning his kisses.
--
The call came on a Tuesday. She had just finished at the library and was walking to the bus stop when her phone rang. The breaking voice on the other end was her mother's. When she managed to get the words out of her, she wished she hadn't. Obinna. Leukemia. How? But how could she have known when she hadn't checked in on him for months. She was so busy loving Uche that she didn't notice when he stopped calling. And now, death. No.
Five days and still no tears. She had stared hard at the wall for hours. She would never forget how cold she felt when she received the news despite the hot sun. Was it her fault? Did she break her promise? She taught that she would stop loving Uche after Obinna's death, but the feelings were stronger than ever. Does it mean she never loved Obinna? His funeral was tomorrow and she had no idea what to do.
The gentle knock brought her out of her reverie. She dropped the cloth she didn't realise she was clutching and walked to the door. Uzo was on the other side. Her eyes darted to the box and back to her face.
“Are you ready?” Uzo asked.
She nodded, unconsciously holding her stomach and the little life growing inside.
Somehow, I feel this is incomplete but I'd let you be the judge of that. Tell me what you think.