ISH

ISH: Why are you in my dreams?!!

"Zee, please wait up, Zee!" "What is it exactly? What do you want from me?" I asked the young man who has been chasing after me all around the market. He was tall and handsome, yes, I admit that, but I also know what He wants. Yes, these men can never see a young girl passing by without calling out to her. Wait a minute, how did He know my name? "How did you know my name?" I asked Him as He stood trying to catch His breath. "How do I know your name?" He asked back smiling, "look mister man, I'm not ready for your silly games today, I asked you a question and if you don't reply me, I'll make sure to report you to the police!" I said pointing my chubby fingers at Him. He still looked calm, unbothered by my threats or better still warning, and the annoying part of it all was that He was smiling. "Are you a roasted goat?" I asked, because His calmness and the love He had in His eyes were annoying but then again it got me thinking, "why will this man follow me around". I decided to turn back and return to my apartment, but then He held my arm.

"You wonder how I know your name, but you don't seem to care why I follow you, everytime I see you", He said, His voice deep and soothing, I could fall asleep.

"I've known you even before your mother birthed you, I've always adored you, Zenom, I know everything about you, I've waited for you for thousands of years. Zenom I've bled for you, all I'm asking of you is a chance, a chance to show you how deep My love is for you, to show you how much I adore you". He said longingly. I was taken aback, "hehehe" I chuckled, "how can you proclaim such love for someone you just met? Men these days have really gone mad", I retorted and continued walking but He followed.

"This man, leave me alone nau, who did I offend to have you follow me around?" I complained being the Nigerian that I am. It was becoming annoying and frustrating, He was stressing me and I don't like being stressed. Yes He's handsome but I'm not ready for any relationship, intimacy? Oh hell no!

"For how long will you keep running away from me? For how long will you choose to dwell in your pains, for how long will you keep going round and searching this market for a commodity that is always unavailable?" He asked me, this time trying to take the load from my hands, I refused and took two steps backwards. "You are crossing the lines, I didn't ask for your help!!" I screamed and woke up from the dream.

Yes it was a dream, for three consecutive days, I've heard the same dream, or should I say similar dreams, it has always been this same man and always at the market place and He was always following me. "Who could Him possibly be?" I soliloquized, "why is He always following me? Why is He always professing love to me?" I wondered.

Everytime I dreamt of Him, I always woke up sweating and tired. This Man is literally tormenting me, I got up and prepared for lectures because life goes on, I've been surviving, not living, I can't relax when others do, or catch fun when they do, I cannot be a failure.

I've been absent minded in class, I keep on thinking about this Man, even though I don't want to, I think I miss Him?

"What's going on Zee? You look stressed", Ama said touching my cheeks. "She's always looking stressed and tired, as if she has the whole world on her shoulders", Mina added. I don't really like Mina, I don't really like a lot of people, Mina is Ama's friend, Ama is my friend but that doesn't mean I want Mina as a friend, plus, she's so nosy and noisy. Oh well I need to seek Ama's counsel about these dreams,besides, she's the love doctor amongst us.