knitted hearts

two

Narrator's Voice

The next morning,

Ara was humming the lyrics to a traditional song while she did the dishes.

As usual she could hear everybody's thoughts around her, every gift was supposed to be a blessing right? She thought to herself, Not my gift though. I have hidden it for so long from everyone except my grandma.

Before her demise she made Ara to understand she was special and needed to protect herself because there will come a time when this gift which seemed like a curse will be essential for the human race.

Well, it didn't seem like it now, Ara said to herself, Her ability to hear people's thoughts was so tiring, she knew her father loved his concubines more than her mother and her mother preferred her brother over her simply because he was a boy and was considered of more value in her town than the girl child, Ara knew her boyfriend Adio just wanted to get in between her legs before he ended their relationship and was in fact in a love affair with Fola, her best friend.

Still, She pretended to be oblivious to everything, her ability had taught her how to suck in her pain and channel her energy on more important stuffs like school and accquiring the tailoring skill she so much desired, there had been nights she had tied a rope on her neck and attempted suicide but she never really went through with it.

She wanted a normal life so desperately and was thirsty for genuine love.

Later that morning on her way to meet Adio so they could go sightseeing, she noticed a pair of grey eyes staring at her behind the gigantic trees.

She knew it was Ifa, she was so sure she wasn't mistaken.

She went after him running as fast as she could till she fell and then yelled out in anger " you promised to help me"

He came back and pulled her up, her face was soiled in mud "you remember me?"

She nodded wiping the mud off her face and dress "we had a deal, after helping you, you still showed how much of a jerk you are, you promised to help me out of this town".

"You have said it all," he smirked "I am a complete jerk and Do jerks keep their promises?" No he replied himself.

Ara yelled with tears streaming down her face, what are you doing here? Are you here to remind me of the past?"

I have business here, actually, I am looking for a girl that is capable of hearing humans thoughts.

"Why?"

if I am able to help her out of her present misery I will be able to see the past, present and future again and return to the realm of the demigods

Ara scoffed "I hope you find her"

I will then I will become a complete demigod again...he bluffed

Goodluck then! Aralola turned and left holding back the tears that were threatening to spill.

she remembered how she got lost as a child following after a butterfly.... while still looking for a way back home she heard heavy footsteps directed at her path.

The man running towards her had an unusual glow and an enchanting presence "help me get away from him, he is trying to kill me" he said panting

"Who?" Young Ara asked confused staring into his grey eyes

"The man coming behind, tell him I went the other way" (he rushed to hide behind a bush)

Have you seen someone who looks like me? The terrifying man asked when he came across her.

Yes, yes she replied anxiously... he went that way and immediately he followed the path she pointed out.

"You can come out now, the coast is clear". She alerted him. "Please take me with you" she told him

"I cannot" he replied coldly

"Why? She asked taken aback, you promised"

"Jerks don't stick to their promises" he slapped her hand off him before turning into a fiery wind and disappeared until now.

So it wasn't like Ara didn't believe in the trio but the experience she had with Ifa and then Ade left a mark on her heart.

Ara's POV

(At the ile_ife museum)

I was left in awe at the ancient but beautiful bronze and terracotta artifacts, the collection of art from modern and contemporary Nigerian artists, the brass and ivory works and then beads and pottery making.

I was so glad I came here alone and was still so engrossed in taking pictures when an old woman's thought became audible for me to hear

"She is the chosen one" the old woman laughed out loud

I looked around to see if there was any other lady but there was no one else.

"She can read my thoughts, I said it...she is the chosen one" the woman's thought rang in my ears as fear coursed through my body.

Who are you? I went to confront her

Quite audacious huh? She turned to face me smiling. You are very beautiful my dear.

Who are you? I asked again looking at her cautiously.

Hmmmm.... your grandmother and I during this celebration used to come here to admire the relics of our fathers, you see, we have a lot to talk about, you should see me some other time when you are chanced, I stay in Araromi, the next town."

A smile crept on my face at the thought of my grandma while we admired "a carved out head " adorned with beads ...I fell in love immediately with this particular artwork.

**********

(That night)

(Narrator's Voice)

Aralola could hardly sleep as she kept on rolling on the bed, she was hurt...it all made sense now, all along she had been thinking Ifa was going to come back for her one day but the person she saw today wasn't even remorseful.

"I so want to end this miserable life" Ara broke into sobs

The soft knock on her wooden window brought her back to the present, the knock came again a little louder this time.

Adio! She called out softly, it was really late...what will Adio be doing here at this time of the night even though she had texted him earlier to give him an excuse why she ditched him, She thought as she sat up.

There was a knock on her small wooden window again, now she was beginning to doubt if it was Adio...and as if to confirm she heard the sound of thunder outside and on its own accord the window opened.

She couldn't make out anything in the dark except for a grey pair of eyes that kept staring at her....the eyes danced on its own, where is the body ? She asked in fear as she found herself being drawn towards the presence outside, her body

no longer obeyed her, her voice got stuck in her throat and it was right there and then it dawned on her_ she was face to face with the demigod of lightening and thunder.

Rain had began to pour and all she wanted to do was shout but she couldn't, her mouth didn't obey her, all she could do was see and hear, As the celebratory noises grew louder, the fear in her heart heightened_she had surely seen her end or so she thought.

Aralola! His melodious voice called her name and she felt her knees get weak, you are one special human and I see why I am finally here.

She still couldn't speak

You know I have watched you since you were a child, your love for your family, your then best friend now lover, Adio and I have seen your passion to give your people a better life. Aralola! His voice was so soft and clear that it melted her heart as she stared into his grey eyeballs. For years I have seen the way you stare out of the window every night when I come visiting and how you hate the man who eats the food the women have prepared for me but you should know I don't eat. I see the big love in your heart for Adio and your planned future to get married and leave Ile_ife but then It's where I draw the line and it's why I am here.

"Why?" She finally found her voice or should I say was finally given the chance to speak.

"You cannot die now"

"Why?" She asked

"How do I survive? You are my soulmate Aralola"

The soulmate of a demigod? She asked not believing my ears.

What about my life here?

What about Adio?

What about my school?

What about my family?

"I don't want to marry you" she told the truth

What if I stay in this realm? he asked and just as she long expected her body gave way and she fell unconscious... pretty much to her delight.