…Continued from last week.
There was a long, chilling, silence.
“Why, Dapo, why? So, all our plans were mere dreams?”
“I’m sorry Florence”, was all Dapo could say, scratching his head. Flo, believe me, I still love you. I don’t know how… I don’t know why… believe me when I say I’m sorry, I really am”.
Florence raised her head. Her eyes caught the time. It was exactly three hours after she got there.
“I’m going home,” she said, getting up.
“I’ll drop you, let me get the key”.
It was a silent drive home.
“Turn off the engine and park properly. Uncle Dave represents my family here. You should be there when I tell him the wedding is off.”
“I’ll come back to see him.”
“So, you want me to tell him alone? Her face was red with anger, as she withheld herself from tearing him apart. “Just turn off the ignition. We’re going up together.”
As Dapo opened his mouth to protest, all her pent-up emotions exploded. She held the collar of his shirt, her voice quivering with pain as she shouted at him. Her voice woke the night guard. Some lights came on too. Thinking he was being attacked, he picked up his bow and poisoned arrow, creeping stealthily towards them. Then he noticed that it was only the lady who was shouting, while the man just sat with head bowed, hanging from the collar she was still gripping tightly. As he moved closer, he recognised Florence as the hysterical lady. And was that not Megida she was screaming at? By this time, even Uncle Dave had come downstairs.
“Kofi, who are those people?”
“Oga, na Auntie Florence and Megida, Aunty just dey shout since.”
“Call them in. Just call them in. Tell them I’m calling them,” Uncle instructed Kofi, wondering what could have led such a scene. Once inside, he demanded an explanation.
He sat in silence as Florence in her tear-filled voice narrated the evening’s events. Dapo just stood with his head still bowed. After it, all Uncle Dave simply said, “Dapo, please leave my house, now.”
It was too much a wrong to be put right. Dapo left without a word. Turning to his niece, he said, “I’m sorry, Flo. I know it hurts, but try and pull yourself together, please. Try and get some sleep. We’ll talk in the morning.”
That night, he called Nigeria and told them the wedding is off.
A few weeks later, two days before the proposed date, she took her decision.
She had been going around like a zombie – from work and back home – since the day it happened. She packed some of her papers into her briefcase, got out of her office, and dropped her keys with the receptionist.
“Please tell Oga I’ve gone home. I’m not feeling fine”.
“Okay, ma.”
At home, she hurriedly packed a few things she would need.
She brought out a sheet of paper and wrote:
Dear Uncle Dave,
I’m on my way to Nigeria. I really need to get away from this environment for a while. I’m sorry I have to leave like this, but I’m sure you understand. I’ll call you as soon as I arrive in Nigeria. Thanks for everything, Uncle Dave, and God bless you evermore.
Always fond of you,
Florence.
As the aircraft touched down, Florence found herself in tears again, as she thought of home. Too much had happened since she left.
Home, sweet home!!
I will settle here and not have anything to do with any man again in my life, she muttered to herself, as the plane taxied to a halt.
Only time would tell.
First published in the now rested Celebrations magazine.