Desperate Moves

7

7

I stepped out and closed the door gently behind me. Cynthia was outside on a bench that was positioned under the mango tree in the compound. She lifted her eyes from her phone when she heard me close my door. I gave her a stiff smile and walked over to join her on the bench. As I sat, my arm brushed hers and she exclaimed.

“Edi! Your temperature is very high. Are you ok?”

“I’m ok. It’s probably because I’ve been indoors since. You know inside is very hot.” I said casually, trying to brush off the issue.

“Where is Tosin?” I asked, in a bid to change the subject.

She hesitated for a while before responding.

“He is inside, probably sleeping.”

“Who is looking for me?” I heard Tosin call out from his room.

“Edidiong was asking of you.” Cynthia supplied.

He dragged himself out of the room few seconds later, his hair looking ruffled. He had a shirt thrown over his shoulder and was battling with the zipper of his three-quarter shorts. He came over and sat between Cynthia and I. He had barely sat when he shot me a concerned look with his forehead furrowed and asked.

“Where is Sam?”

“He is inside.” I responded without much ado.

“Alone? Is he sleeping?”

“No.”

The look on his face indicated that he was not satisfied with my response, but then I think he felt I didn’t want to say much, so he let the issue drop.

We sat for a while in awkward silence, with Cynthia focusing on her phone and Tosin and I focused on our thoughts. The silence was broken when Sam came out, his shirt drenched in sweat. I looked up and our eyes met. His face was unexpressive, as he walked up to the bench. I adjusted a little closer to Tosin in order to make room for him to join us. I felt a pang of guilt hit me. Sam must be feeling frustrated, with his effort to help me and me pushing him away.

“Sorry about the heat.” I said, more for want of something better to say.

He turned and looked at me. Then, the frustration in his eyes became clear.

“It’s ok.” He said, after turning away.

“I’m sorry...” I started to say, but couldn’t seem to find my voice to continue.

He turned again to look at me and I could feel heat rush up my face. After what seemed like ages, he responded.

“I’m only trying to be of help, but you are pushing me away, making it look like I’m the bad person.” He kept his voice very low, so the other occupants of the bench will not hear.

“I’m sorry.” I repeated. “It’s just that I don’t want to be reminded of the incident on a daily basis. It is bad enough that I’m being tormented by the vicious image even while asleep. I don’t want to add to it.” at this point, Cynthia and Sam’s attentions had been drawn to the conversation.

“Will you be able to sleep knowing that the perpetrators of this dastardly act are out there, probably looking for the next victim? At least, if not for anything, I know you always seek for the well being of others. You never know, you may be saving another lady from this menace.” He was trying to blink back tears from his eyes by the time he was done talking.

That really got to me. Trying to hold back the tears was an exercise in futility. Sam placed his left hand on the small of my back and patted me. Tosin looked past me at Sam and asked him what the issue was. He heaved a sigh before responding.

“I’m trying to make her see the need to get the police involved.”

“That’s a necessity. Edi, please listen to him. They cannot be allowed to get away with this.” Tosin said, with sympathy.

“But she says she does not want to keep remembering the trauma.” Cynthia peeked in, and then added, “The most important thing is that she is alive.”

“If we allow this people to walk free, after committing such a heinous crime, what if they decide to strike again or do it to another person?” Tosin said, looking at Cynthia.

“Remember, it’s like they came just for her. I don’t think they will come back, and then, the likelihood that they will r**e another person is very small.”

“Stop! Please!” I said, still sobbing. How would they carry on like that as if I was not there?

Both of them fell quiet for a while, and then almost simultaneously said,

“Sorry.”

I was bent over, with my head propped up in my hands, still sobbing. Sam still had his hand on my back, gently rubbing, trying to soothe me. He gently whispered,

“Edi, we are trying to help. You will be fine. Remember you are a strong woman.”

“When are we going to the police station?” I asked, without raising my head.

I heard sighs of relieve, before Sam spoke up.

“Whenever you are ready, we’ll go.”

“I’m ready now. Let’s go.” I said, slowly raising my head, trying not to aggravate the headache that was gnawing at me.

“Are you sure? I think you should take your time.” Tosin chirped in.

“As much as I would have loved her to take her time, we will have to go to the station today, so I can be there.”

It had not really occurred to me that Sam will have to leave soon because of work. I tried to find a way around the lump that had suddenly formed in my throat, then repeated,

“Let’s go.”

“Why the hurry? Since you’ve made up your mind, you can as well go tomorrow or Monday.” Cynthia said, furrowing her eyebrow.

I had almost forgotten she was there. I simply shrugged my shoulders and said,

“Let’s just do it and get over with.”

Tosin got up, went in and came out shortly afterwards tugging on the waist of his jean trousers, trying to fix the belt. He still had his shirt draped over his shoulder. Sam stood up when Tosin came out. He held out his hand to help me get up. i took his hand and made to stand up. Just then, Cynthia asked,

“You guys are going without me?”

“Did we hand out any special invitation for those who want to join?” Sam asked sarcastically, a scowl visible on his face, then continued, “If you had wanted to go with us, why didn’t you go in to dress, or, are you going like this?” he held out his left hand in an up and down movement.

Cynthia was dressed in a blue bum short and a yellow tank top that exposed some part of her breast.

“I wouldn’t be surprised anyway.” Tosin mumbled under his breath.

“What is the meaning of that?” Cynthia shot back.

“Nothing. Just go in and dress if you are going with us.”

If eyes could kill, Tosin would have been dead. The glare Cynthia shot at him looked deadly. She reluctantly stood up and took her time in walking down to her room.

“I think we should just go. After all, she doesn’t really need to be there.” Tosin said, sounding really pissed.

“Let’s just wait for her, so she doesn’t feel bad.” I responded and sat back down.

Tosin grew impatient after we had waited for close to ten minutes without seeing Cynthia. He glanced at his watch for the third time before screaming,

“Cynthia! Are you giving birth inside that house? It’s almost four o’ clock o!”

“I’m ready.” We could hear her shout back from inside.

“Then come out!” Tosin shouted back.

I wanted to feel amused, but I seemed to have lost every sense of humor in the past five days.