I MET HIM ONLINE

Chapter three.

We have our dinner in silence. She prepared beef stew, vegetables and ugali. She loves that meal.

I Make sure to force myself to eat but she notices that I'm not my usual self and has to get explanations.

Nelly; spill it Emali, you won't get any sleep in that state.

Me; what state? I am good I know it's a lie but I feel like I bug her a lot with my personal issues.

Nelly; shut up! Don't lie to me in my face. And please don't you go quiet on me.

Nelly and I met when I lost my job at the photocopying bureau, she was Betty's client but we became close gradually. She housed me when I had no place to go to. She covered me so much that no one ever got to know I had lost my job. I have told her so much, I mean we share so much that I can't make a lie and survive with it. I swear she won't take the lie.

Me; Okay baby girl, my mum's health status is eating me up. I got to do something about it.

Nelly; I know darling. I am here and will always be here for you and for us. We'll find a solution soon. Your mum will be well.

I feel encouraged, I feel good. That's why I love Nelly so much. “You know if I had a brother I would have gotten you two married” I say smiling widely.

Nelly; What's with you and marriage these days? You are really talking about it of late. “Maybe I want to get married” I say with a wink. She laughs heartily and tells me, “Trust me darling, your husband will be very lucky. That son of a woman who will meet you better be a good man. You are going to make a good wife, unlike me who can't afford to be controlled around” she shows how strong she is, but at the end of the day, every single person has a weakness.

I pat her shoulder lightly to assure her that we’re together and that I'm not getting married any time soon… She looks at me and we both burst out laughing.

We hug very tightly as an assurance that we belong together. Friends forever, a sister we each never had. A tear escapes my eye dropping down my cheek and trust me Nelly and I share this deep love and affection.

Just then I decide to check out my phone, I have several notifications but, something catches my eye and I blink a few times to make sure I am not wrong. You remember the guy from telegram whose number I dialled by mistake? He's sent me a message. He's saying it's OK. That I shouldn't worry. That's after I told him that I'm sorry for dialling his number by mistake.

Nelly notices my curiosity on the phone and yeah! I’m telling her what's going on. So? Respond! Just say thank you for understanding. It's Nelly's idea but I pick it up.

Me: Thank you for understanding.

Him: I said it's OK. Don't worry about it. When I hear that I feel something I don't know. But I don’t respond to it.

Few minutes later he is conversing again.

Him; So how have you been? I shoot Nelly a glare but she doesn’t look like she cares. ‘’This was your idea, big head.’

Nelly: What has happened? I give her an answer without sparing her a glance ‘’He has just asked how I have been’’ I say and she comes close to me. Pick up the conversation darling. She says and I can’t help but raise an eye brow.

Well, I know it’s not very easy to argue with Nesh so I do as told.

Me; I have been okay yourself?

Him; I’m fine just about to wake up

Me: Surprised how now? I haven’t even started sleeping yet. I mean it was around 10 pm so you guys can understand my surprise.

Him; I know. Time difference. Where are you in Kenya? I think for a few minutes then tell him I am in Nairobi. Aah! That’s the reason why I am out of the country (name withheld for security purposes).I love the gap in your teeth so cute I hope I will see the gap in person one day. Sorry for getting too close and personal.

Me; No worries thank you for the compliment though. I’d love to go out of the country when I grow up.

Him; I hope it’s still safe for you to chat. Are you married? (Thing is I don’t know why but I was clicking really fast with him. I tell him I am not and ask why he wanted to know. He says he doesn’t want to cause problems,) By the way my name is Felix, and I know you are asking yourself how or why me? I don’t know if its pure coincidence but I have been checking out your profile and snooping on your photos, sorry about that.

Me; I am Emali. And by the way I am not seeing a stalker in you?

Him: No no no I it assure you it was pure coincidence. My friend. If I can call you that? everything happens with a reason maybe someday you will call me something different. (He says and sends the winking emoji)

Me: Something like what?

I ask him and he replies immediately saying he doesn’t know but will let time and nature take their cause.

The chatting goes on for a few weeks. We exchange numbers and it becomes frequent and after some months he tells me that he would be coming home. He confesses that he really had fallen for me. The feeling was absolutely mutual but, haven’t you ever heard of people who met over f******k and one partner ended up preyed on and even resulted to death? You are right I have heard of the same and so because of that I couldn’t just confess my love for him. Trust me I had grown attached, I was fond of him. I could feel really bad when I could sleep without a good message from him. If he told me he was unwell I would feel very sad and unsettled. You know that feeling of your loved ones status affecting you?

Yeah, now I had that too to worry about.