ALEXIA VISIT
763 Words
Liana spent the day alone.
But it was a good kind of alone.
The kind that heals.
The kind that doesn’t ask for anything.
She read.
Pages turning.
She danced to _Radiance_ twice.
Twirled in her room.
Arms up.
Eyes closed.
She watched the flowers.
Still standing.
Still fresh.
No work.
No stress.
Just her, the music, and the quiet.
Benin outside the window, but peace inside.
---
Meanwhile, 3 hours away in Benin City—
Alexia sat by the window of a travel bus.
Elbow on the ledge.
She watched the trees sway as the bus moved.
Green blurring past.
"Gala! Gala! Cold mineral!" vendors shouted as they ran alongside the windows.
Slapping on the glass.
Benin was loud.
Hawkers chased buses.
Bike men wove through traffic like they had 9 lives.
Conductors screamed for passengers.
"HURRY! HURRY!"
The bus made a stop and Alexia climbed down with her luggage.
Wheel suitcase.
Handbag.
Confidence.
She booked a cab immediately.
Black car.
AC blowing.
*Alexia: "Wow,"* she muttered, looking around.
*Alexia: "It’s not like I remember it."*
Then she smiled.
A big one.
The kind that plans things.
She was picturing Leo’s face when he saw her at his doorstep.
The shock.
The joy.
The _you didn’t tell me_.
She checked her phone.
She’d already planned everything for her little stay.
Restaurants.
Movies.
Long walks.
Reclaiming.
The driver caught her smile in the rearview mirror but said nothing.
Drivers see everything.
Two hours later, she was at his gate.
5:16 pm.
The evening sky was turning dark purple.
People were rushing home.
Keke.
Buses.
Life.
Alexia called him.
Heart beating fast.
*Alexia: Hi babe, are you home?*
*Leo: Yeah, I’m home,* Leo answered.
He sounded tired.
Worn.
*Leo: Just got in. Long day.*
*Alexia: Sorry about that, love,* Alexia said, smiling.
*Alexia: I actually sent you a surprise. The delivery guy said he’s outside your house.*
Leo laughed on the other end.
*Leo: What did you send? I don’t trust you, this girl.*
He walked back outside, still on the phone.
*Leo: Babe, what—*
He stopped.
Alexia was standing there.
Luggage at her feet.
Arms open wide.
Her smile was as wide as her arms.
Hair done.
Lips glossy.
Benin behind her.
Leo was speechless.
For two seconds.
Then he walked to her and hugged her.
Warm.
Tight.
Familiar.
He kissed her.
Long.
The kind of kiss that says _I forgot you were gone_.
*Alexia: breathed against his lips. I missed you so much.*
*Leo: Me too,* Leo replied, pulling back a little.
Eyes soft.
*Alexia: Liar,* she sneered, pinching his cheeks.
*Alexia: You’ve gotten—*
*Leo: What? What do you want to say now?*
Leo asked, holding her waist, eyes soft.
Like they hadn’t fought.
Like nothing happened.
*Alexia: laughed and hugged him again. Nothing. I just missed you.*
The Benin sky grew darker.
Purple turning to black.
Outside, the street was quiet.
But inside Leo’s house, it wasn’t.
His room was filled with laughter.
With memories in the corner.
Photos.
Hoodies.
With the smell of Leo’s and Alexia’s cologne mixed together.
History.
Empty plates sat on the table.
Jollof.
Chicken bones.
Alexia was throwing herself back in laughter.
Head tilted.
*Leo: You're a bad girl, you know?*
*Alexia: No, I’m not. I’m your baby,* she replied, still grinning.
*Leo: So what’s up, baby?*
*Alexia: Benin has changed a lot in 4 years,* Alexia said.
Looking around his apartment.
*Leo: Yeah, I told you. You won’t recognize us,* Leo said proudly as he got up to take the plates.
*Alexia: burst out laughing again. Benin changed, my babe. Stop feeling all big.*
She got up, chasing after him, laughing.
Bare feet on his floor.
---
_Meanwhile, in Liana’s room—_
She lay on her bed, still humming _Radiance_ by Tems and Dave.
Soft.
To herself.
Phone in one hand.
Thumb moving on the screen.
Eyes bright and innocent.
Unknowing.
_Liana: Hello, hope you’re good?_
That was the third time she’d texted today.
Three times.
No blue ticks yet.
She paused.
He’d said his day was going to be busy and stressful.
Was he asleep?
Was he eating?
Was he...?
She stared at the ceiling.
White.
Cracked in one corner.
Thinking of whether she should call him.
Thinking of whether she should stop.
Outside, her sisters were watching TV.
Laughing at a cartoon.
Inside, Liana didn’t know that in Benin,
Leo was laughing with someone else.
In his arms.
In his house.
In his life.
The song switched to the next verse.
_"Don’t dim your light..."_
Liana sang along.
- Writer
