So, This is Love? Episode 7 – Judith Onyoyibo
I celebrated my 34th birthday alone and sad. I wasn’t really alone because I have a lot of male friends at my beck and call but still, I felt empty.
I changed my line two years ago, so my parents and friends won’t reach me.
I felt like hearing from Lisa because I really missed her.
I carried my bag from the top of my wardrobe. I kept my old stuffs inside that bag.
Immediately I unzipped the bag, right on top of it was the gown Mike bought for me on my 30th birthday.
I became nostalgic. I brought the gown out and saw it was still looking very new and beautiful. I placed the gown on the floor.
I turned the bag up side down and all the contents were scattered all over my room.
My eyes caught my old photo album.
I skimmed through each photo with teary eyes. I saw the photo that was captured when my parents celebrated my 15th birthday. I looked so skinny and innocent. I also noticed my parents were also young in the picture.
“Old sweet memories”. I said.
I saw another photo I took with Lisa and Sandra during our sign out day from the university.
I wore the biggest smile in the picture. I looked so happy.
“Where did this smile go to?”. I wondered.
I brought out smokes from my pocket and lit it up with a lighter.
I drew a very long puff and slowly exhaled it through my nostrils.
I searched for my old sim card. I remember keeping it in the inner pocket of the bag. Luckily, I found it there.
I placed my smokes on the saucer that was right beside me.
I removed my new sim from my phone and gently inserted my old sim card.
I dialed Lisa’s number. I was unsure of her reaction because it’s been over two years since last we spoke.
“Who do I have here? Janet is this you? Oh my goodness”. Lisa said excitedly.
“Calm down mama”. I said smiling.
I can’t even remember the last time I smiled that brightly.
“Where are you? We’ve searched everywhere for you babes. You went completely incommunicado”. Lisa said worriedly.
“I dey okay my gee. Today is my birthday…”.
I was still speaking when I heard a baby crying at the background of other end of the line. Lisa was heard trying to pacify the crying child.
“Babe, who get pikin?”. I inquired.
“She’s my daughter. Her name is Sharon”. Lisa said. I could feel the joy and pride in her voice.
“You have a daughter now?”. I asked completely shocked.
“I got married over a year now. I couldn’t even reach you. I’m still mad at you for not attending my wedding, don’t think I have forgiven you”.
I don’t know but I became sad all of a sudden. My mood went from 100 to 10.
“Happy birthday sweetie. Where are you exactly?”. Lisa asked.
“I just dey one side. Congratulations dear”. I said faintly.
“Sandra is getting married next week. You must be there. Don’t you dare disconnect your line again”. Lisa threatened.
“Wow! Is she back in Nigeria?”. I asked.
“Sincee! Sandra is now a baller oo”. Lisa said excitedly. Her daughter was still crying nonstop at the background.
“Babe attend to your baby, I will call you back”. I lied. I knew I wasn’t going to call her back anytime soon.
“Are you sure? Don’t you dare vanish again. I will call you when Sharon is settled. Don’t switch off your phone please”. She pleaded.
“I hear mama”. I said and ended the call.
I got struck by reality. One of my friends is married and the other one is about getting married.
I picked up our old photo and stared at it intensively again.
“Janet, what is happening to you? Why is your life upside down? What am I even doing with my life?”. I cried out loudly.
I picked up my smokes and got it lit.
I puffed it till there was nothing else to puff. It didn’t make me feel any better. I brought out codeinè and træmadól from my bag. I brought out two tablets from each packet. I grabbed a sachet water from my fridge. With the aid of water, I gulped the drugs down into my system.
Few minutes later, I was completely wasted. My body was as light as a feather. I became suddenly happy. All my pains and bitterness were all gone.
“I feel so good”. I screamed at the top of my voice.
My eyes began to close slowly till I fell asleep.
Few hours later, I woke up with a terrible migraine.
I struggled to my kitchen and dished a mountain weight of rice on my plate. I didn’t even warm it. I ate it cold.
I laid on my bed and fell asleep after a while.
I slept for another 3hrs. By the time I woke up, it was already 6:17pm.
I heard my phone ringing. It was my mom.
“How come? She doesn’t even have my number”. I wondered.
It was later I realized that my old sim card was still on my phone. I screamed.
I already had over 30 missed calls from both Lisa, Sandra, my siblings and my parents.
“That Lisa can’t keep her mouth shut”. I said as I hastily removed the old sim from my phone.
I connected my new sim card back into my phone.
Favour’s call came almost immediately. Favour is my colleague. You know na 🤪
“Sharp girl”. I said immediately I answered the call.
“Where you put phone since? You no wan run the package again?”. She asked angrily.
“Calm down. I go show normally. Same location abi?”. I asked.
“Before nko! Look sharp o. No late o. I know you, you sabi late”. Favour said.
I started laughing.
“Make I smoke one or two before I begin prepare. I need to be in a very high spirit”. I said.
“Na you sabi. Bring one wrap for me sha”. Favour said and we both started laughing.
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