Talitha kum – ANNIE PART 1

She groggily opened first one eyelid then the other and blinked. Her throat felt hoarse and her eyes heavy. Awareness of her surroundings hit her with it memories of the events that led to the moment.
A pained moan escaped her throat, squeezing her eyes shut she pulled the tails of her shirt closer to her body and rolled up into a ball.
She was on her bed fully clothed complete with shoes and gold-chained purse now hanging across her chest. The bottle of sleep pills she considered emptying into her mouth earlier lay forgotten on the floor she ended up taking just enough to help her sleep. Albeit briefly.
She felt dirty, very dirty. She did not think a bath was enough to clean her but it was a start. She winced as she got up from her tiny student bed the memory of the ordeal intensifying her pains. she hobbled to the kitchen reached for her electric kettle and filled it from the tap while ignoring the telltale marks on her wrists.
She placed the kettle on its hub.
Changing her mind, she got out the ring boiler from the lower kitchen cabinet filled up a 25 liter bucket, placed the ring boiler in the bucket and connected it to the power supply. While waiting for the water to boil, she drifted towards the bathroom, reached for the light switch and shielded her eyes from the intensity of the fluorescence bulb. moving to stand in front of the mirror hanging above the bathroom sink she dared to look at her reflection.

The eyes staring back at her didn't seem like hers.
Hers were vibrant, these were empty. The ever-present spark of good-natured mischief that danced within her gaze had burnt out.
She was in pain both physical and emotional.

She felt a chill trickle down her spine but did not move. She continued to stare. With a pained sigh, she let her mind wander to earlier that day.

The day it all went wrong.

Pumping an excited fist in the air she spoke loudly so she could be heard over the music. “Udeme, I’m having so much fun!” Annie wondered why her elder brother Murray had warned her off him, he seemed like such a cool guy. She checked her wristwatch. It was a few minutes to seven. Emptying her glass of chapman, she reached for her purse and made to stand while talking “Udeme, its getting late. I have to start going back to campus, my bestie’s group is presenting tomorrow, I want to give her emotional support.” She giggled. He reached for her. “Come on girl, relax, you just got here. We haven’t seen in like 2 years. Relax.” He nudged her back into a sitting position. “You know what? Come up with me to my room, I want to show you something. Do me a favor and I’d have my cab guy drop you at your doorstep.” She raised an eyebrow and gave him a cynic stare. “Yeah right, Udeme I’m not that type of girl biko, let me be on my way and FYI if it’s the same cab guy that brought me here, I chatted with him while coming he told me he was closing for the day.” He finished his drink. Signaled for the bartender to bring the bill and hopped off his stool. “Come on Annie, don’t be like that. Your brother is my very good friend. Do you think I’d do anything to hurt his little sister? I am checking out of the room today I want to pack my stuff and move to GRA please, please come with me?” he pouted and batted his lashes at her. She laughed. “okay, lets go.” “great!” he dropped some Naira notes on the table shook his head at the bartender to forget about the change and lead her towards the rooms. Reaching his apartment, he used the keycard and stepped back to let her pass. He swirled around in the middle of the room and spread his arms above his head in an eagle like fashion. “nice?” she clutched the strap of her bag tighter and spoke in a whisper. She was anxious. “Udeme pack up your things quickly please. Its getting late.” He picked up his phone. “I’m calling the cab guy okay?” “okay.” She let out a sigh of relief while he spoke to the cab guy. “oya talk to my friend, she no believe say you dey come.” He handed her the phone. The cab guy assured her he’d be with them shortly and was going to drop her on campus then disconnected the call. She handed his phone back to him. Not liking her pensive mood he stepped back and pouted. “oya smile na.” she chuckled. “That’s better.” He put a parcel aside as he packed. When he was done he zipped his duffel bag closed, picked up the parcel and walked towards her. “This is the favor I want from you.” He pushed the parcel into her hand. “This is the first on my designs, I want you to try it on.” She unwrapped the parcel and was amazed by the sight before her. “wow, its –its beautiful, wow.” She traced her fingers along the pattern. He smiled. “go, on, try it on.” She blinked. “here?” “the bathroom is through that door.” She hesitated. “Erm Udeme?” “Annie please now?” she shrugged. “Oh okay.” She padded to the bathroom making sure to bolt the door behind her. Putting on the dress, she let out an amazed gasp. It was beautiful. The design was like something an Egyptian queen would wear, it enhanced her figure and the finishing was flawless. The back of the dress was something else though the cut was too deep, she could almost see her panties. Udeme knocked on the door. “Annie, the cab is here”. Come out. “Okay, let me change back into my clothes.” “No time for that, put your clothes in the parcel you’d change when you get to your room and give him the dress to bring for me.” “Uh okay.” Grabbing her clothes, she unlocked the door, purse and parcel in hand and hurried to catch up. Udeme’s jaw dropped open. “Annie f*ck you are beautiful.” She blushed. “Thank you. Oya lets be going.”

... to be continued