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THE LOVE WALK

He likes to think this was the kind of love they shared, a love he is yet to find a name for: she telling him to follow her and he obeying and they walking a long distance and past electric poles and trees and bushes and he asking her where they are going and she saying he will find out and that he should trust her and he halting and saying he won’t move until she tells him where they are going and she saying he should suit himself while she keeps going and he calling her bluff and standing his ground and expecting her to come back but she walking and walking and dread settling in his heart that she is walking away and he realizing he cannot live his life without her in it and him chasing after her and begging her to stop and she walking and walking and he chasing and chasing until he stumbles and falls while she keeps walking and walking.

***

HELLO?

Hello?

Hello? Who dey talk?

You’re the one calling. Or don’t you know who you’re calling?

Na Piro be dis?

Who?

Piro. Na him guy I be.

Oh, sorry. This isn’t Peter. I’m Chinwe.

Chinwe? Who you come be?

I’m Peter’s fiancée.

Ah, Piro girlfriend?

Yes.

Ah. Piro don talk plenty about you. How you dey?

I’m good.

Abeg Piro dey there?

No, he isn’t here. He went out. Left his phone with me. Any message you would like me to drop on your behalf?

Ah, no o. I just wan holla am.

Okay—

Abeg, wait o.

Yes?

You say you be Piro girlfriend?

Yes.

Ah. E get something wey I go like tell you. But I no know how we go be to you.

And what’s it about?

Na about Piro.

Peter?

Yes. See, make I tell you. Piro na my guy. I know am well. De guy na bad, sharp guy. I just wan say make you dey careful wit Piro.

And why is that?

Before before, Piro been date one girl like dat wey him promise marriage. Na so him chop de girl clean mouth. Three years ago, another girl. Same thing.

So…why are you telling me all these?

Me I know you go be beta pesin and I no go like am if Piro just chop you clean mouth.

I see.

Abeg no tell am say I tell you anything o. Just dey watch am. The guy blood dey hot. And, abeg, you fit give me your number make I save am? I go like dey inform you about Piro and him moves. Hello? You still dey there? Hello?

 

 

 

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About the Author:

UZOMA-IHEJIRIKAUzoma Ihejirika is an alumnus of the Writivism Creative Writing Workshop.