Chapter 1
891 Words
It was a slow and gloomy Tuesday afternoon. I observed how the tiny drops that remained from the previous rainfall raced down the windows of the office I was currently sitting in.
Swaying my head to the soft tunes of the popular classical, 'Je te veux' by Erik Satie playing in the background, I took a sip of the steamy coffee that was offered to me earlier by the receptionist.
With every sip I took,I felt the warm feeling envelope me before it dispersed and was replaced with the chill of the air conditioner.
"Welcome back" I looked up, finally acknowledging the woman seated across the room– only a small table which was placed at the centre of the office, separating our distance. She was seated on a sofa identical to the one I was also seated on and oh– let's not forget the little jotter that she was scrawling on with a pen.
God knows what she writes in those things...
"Thank you Anjola" I replied, taking another sip of my coffee before placing the cup gently on the table.
Anjola is a small framed woman; who you could almost mistake for a secondary school students if not for her robust curves.
She was wearing a high waist office trousers and a white shirt to pair with it. Her long natural hair pulled up in a neat bun and wrapping the whole dressing with black heels.
My therapist of three years now, she was one who I told almost everything.
Almost...
"So...How was your day?"
"Well things have been hectic since yesterday, but we thank God"
"Anything you would like to talk about today? Something disturbing you? Stress? "
" Nope. I'm totally fine thank you"
" Can I ask you a question Anita?" Anjola said sitting up from her comfortable position and leaning in closer.
I shrugged, acting as if I didn't already know the question she wanted to ask.
"What do you hope to accomp..."
"Accomplish in therapy" I completed the sentence for her, causing her to raise an eyebrow at me
"You've been asking me that question almost Everytime I come here and I always you the same answer. Why do you even bother?" I retorted earning a glare from her
"And I'll keep on asking you until you tell me what happened that night!!" She replied, raising her voice and discarding any proffesional voice that she was using earlier.
She realized what she just did as she took a deep breath and readjusted on her seat, dropping the notepad beside her.
"Why are you here Anita?" She asked but reducing her tone this time.
"You tell me... You were the one who said I could use therapy. I never wanted to come here" I retorted
" But you always had a choice to either come or skip and you haven't skipped a session for the past three years." She said
Well she has a point...
My subconsciousness mocked me
"When is this going to be over again?" I asked, ignoring her question and gaze by fiddling with my Hublot watch that I got as a present from one of my customers for my 23rd birthday, two weeks ago.
"You're avoiding the conversation" she stated dryly before sighing in defeat
"Wow... Surprised much?" I replied sarcastically before taking my bag and standing up.
"Thank you for the tea anyways" I said before making my way to the exit of her office.
" See you tonight... It's your turn to make dinner anyways" I heard her say before I stepped out.
Anjola is also my housemate/best friend. We've been living together since we both finished with our University education three years ago.
I heard a beep from my phone, signalling that my Uber was here.
Coming out of the air conditioned building, my skin was again faced with the scorching heat of Ibadan's sun.
Drivers blasting their honks, Commercial buses swaying back and forth on the roads like a ballet dancer dancing passionately, the loud noise of chattering and hawkers advertising their goods; You could always tell by the noise that you are in OkeAdo, Ibadan.
The moist surfaces and commercial bikes,racing our of the places where they hid to avoid the rain,could explain the traffic that was presently almost unbearable.
"Good afternoon" I muttered to the driver, as I entered the front seat beside him.
He was a middle aged man. Probably going to his fifties. He had a big,bloated tummy which was barely covered by the green top he wore. He wore a faded blue jean to match with a leather slipper.
He didn't reply before he started the car and drive off,taking his place in the traffic as he stopped again.
Rude much...
The sound waves of blaring horns from different parts of the road was penetrating the windows of the car, making it hard for me to concentrate as I pulled my earpods from my bag and started playing Thinking out loud by Ed-Sheeran.
So honey now...
Take me into your loving hands,
Kiss me under the lights of a thousands stars
Place your hand on my beating heart
I'm Thinking out loud
Maybe we found love right where we are.
_______________________
- Writer
