The world was silent when we died

Work

My job was not all that hectic but the people at my workplace were something else. If they are not gossiping to you about others, they are gossiping to others about you and then they pretend in your face like they love you so much, but not Alora. Alora could pass for a model, she is slim thick, caramel in complexion, has perfect set of teeth, has long hair that could be compared to a bone straight wig, has good fashion sense, perfect makeup and the list goes on. She was friendly but blunt, she would tell you to your face what you did and don’t like or how you did something wrongly and she is ready to go down with you if you get ghetto with her. She worked in the company for a year before i joined and i admired her from the very day i started working in the company, well, we clicked.

As the taxi dropped me at my workplace’s junction, i started walking to my towards it because it is like eight buildings in. As i stepped into the company’s compound with my face looking cloudy i met Alora at the reception holding some files and walking towards wherever. She stopped at the sight of me and observed me, then she reversed from her previous direction and followed me into my office.

“What’s with the long face this morning?” She asked as she shut the door behind her.

“I’m parched” I said as i walked towards the water dispenser but it was empty so I walked towards the mini fridge and took out a small bottle water.

“Does that explain why you are nearly two hours late?” She asked looking at me with curiosity. I sat down and gulped the whole water at a go. “Do you see me as ugly?”

“Whoah, where is that coming from now?” “I’m i terribly fat?” “Calm down Kaima, what happened, why these questions, where are you coming from?” “ my boyfriend’s house, i have been at his house for about three days now” she gave me a look to continue but i just stared at her not knowing if i should trust her with my personal issues and take the risk of being judged or not or i should keep my problems to myself. Yes we were work besties but it ended at work, I have never discussed anything not known by all about me before and she hasn’t too, we usually talk about work, the economy and other random stuffs and very few personal stuffs. I have never shared my weight issue with anyone for fear of being mocked or that of my relationship.

“Are you going to say something” her voice dragged me out of my deep thoughts.

“Well i suspect he cheats on me” I finally said

“What does that have to do with the questions you asked me about your weight and beauty?”

“ i don’t know Alora, I’m just caught in my feelings”

“Ohkkk but what makes you suspicious about him though? Did he say or do anything to belittle you or do something to make you suspect he’s cheating?”

At this point, HR walked in and Alora hurriedly left my office.

HR was a flirt who would go after anything in skirt, fat or slim, he flirts with every lady at the office so no one really takes him serious (concerning relationship of course) other than that, he doesn’t joke with his job.

“You came in late today, that’s odd”

“I woke up feeling sick, I’m sorry”

“All good but director needs the Lexir file now” he left immediately and i hurriedly picked the file on the table and followed him out but went alone to meet my director.

“Good morning sir” “Good morning kaima, i asked of you about an hour ago and they said you haven’t signed in yet” “I woke up sick, I’m sorry”, “here’s the file you asked for “ I said as i dropped the file on the table in front of him. “Okay thanks, you can go”

As i left his office Alora came out of no where and hurried me into my office.

“ I asked why you suspect your boyfriend is cheating before HR walked in”

“ funny texts and calls” “hmm that’s how it’s always start” “what do you mean” “well.. kaima, have you asked him about the texts or calls?” “That’s the thing, i asked him about the call he received yesterday and he gaslighted me and walked out, this morning he apologized with flowers and breakfast but then again i saw a funny text in his phone just this morning” “that’s usual for cheating guys, please my friend don’t let that bother you, if he doesn’t value you enough to cheat then he doesn’t deserve you, just ignore him like you don’t care and you shouldn’t really care” “I want to but…:” I stopped, that’s the issue, it would be impossible for anyone to value me because of my weight and skin colour “but what K?” “Nothing really. Anyways I’m hungry now, let me see what hat i can get from the canteen” “Girlll, didn’t you say your man apologized with breakfast this morning? Where did all that food go though?” That was a harmless question but i made myself subconsciously think it was because of my weight “well, after i saw the text in his phone this morning i couldn’t eat” I said as we both walked towards the canteen.

Work was work today. After hours of working and receiving unsolicited advices on how to loose fats and side hurtful comments on how big i looked or downgrading comments from my colleagues who thinks i can’t do nothing reasonable or creative for whatever reasons they have, the day finally ended and i went home. Home, my father’s house not my boyfriend’s house, I didn’t really want to see him today so i went to one of the places i hated more, my father’s house.