THE GIFT OF EACH OTHER

The dry leaves falling from the trees indicates that the year is either coming to an end or another year is just starting. Skin will get dry, lips will tear from parchedness and vaseline will be the most sought after because lotion will do nothing to the dryness of the skin. People will go around their businesses with skin glistening in the sun like they bathed in palm oil. The temperature will rise and cardigans will become useless by mid-morning or afternoon.

The temperature in your room has been the same all year, you have even forgotten what the sun feels like on your skin, even the joy of dancing in the rain. You have lost count of the days and as days turn into nights and nights into another day you keep sinking into the hole of despair. You don’t care about anything outside the house, the wildflowers you used to tend, Fab that sits in the garage with its engine rusting as the day goes by and Dainty who keeps scratching at your door craving your presence. You stare at nothingness and a short rapt on the door jerk you back to life, you watch the doorknob bend fully and you hear a familiar footstep and frown. Five years of living together, you already know every expression, action and meme. Dainty scurries into the room and squats in between your legs. You carry her and rub her belly, your countenance bland.

"Someone is here to see you" he announces and leaves the room. Your mother’s scent enters before she does, you use your finger to brush your scattered hair with alacrity. You do not want her to see you so miserable again. You sit, backing the door and as your mother walk down to you, the tears buried deep inside you cascade down your face. Your mother hugs you from behind pats your hair gently. "Let it all out," she says. You both dawdle that way for several minutes and eventually, you pull away from her, clean your face and sit on the bed. Your mother sits beside you and you sit in silence for another couple of minutes. "I’m leaving with you" you blurt out.
...

You met him at Davido’s concert at Landmark event centre eight years before. Davido had just jumped into the stage and the crowd went into a frenzy when ‘Ema dami duro' beat came on. You and Tinuke your friend thrusted your phones into your bras to enable you to dance well and protect yourselves from thieves who stealthy stole phones and other valuables in concerts. It was your first time in a concert and you had rationed your allowance for two months so you could pay for the regular ticket. Your friend had lectured you on the dos and don’ts of being in regular in a concert, she had told you about thieves, stampede when an artist comes into the crowd, guys that just come to rock and touch girls inappropriately and fights that breaks out in the crowd. You prepared yourself for the night, wore a trouser and a thick yet comfortable blouse and held a small purse that clutched your fare, ticket and phone, you took your school ID card too “Incase anything happens,” you told yourself.

You liked Davido a lot, you didn’t think he was arrogant like most people assumed. Even if he was, you believed people should be able to separate their art from their attitudes, why stop listening to his nice songs just because of some rumours. You like him and so do hundreds of people who purchased the ticket and made it sell out on one day- so you went very early with Tinuke to avoid struggle.

As the 'ema dami duro' song came on, you went crazy with the crowd and you saw Davido in real form. You screamed and jumped with the crowd chanting the song word for word and as Davido skidded near the crowd, the crowd pushed forward. A body pressed against you, you looked back in disgust and saw the most beautiful face you had ever seen. He smiled at you but you eyed him and moved away, beautiful face doesn’t mean good person. "They’re pushing from the back also" he screeched, the noise almost taking precedence over his voice. "I’m Lanre, you?" He shouted. You ignored him and rushed with the crowd as Davido came nearer. Hours after, you were dancing together as Skelewu came on. He laughed at your awkward dancing, you also felt he was dancing offbeat but you both didn’t mind as long as you were enjoying the moment.

Three weeks later, an unknown number called you. It was Lanre, you were pleasantly surprised when he told you that Tinuke had given him your number at the concert. He asked for your name again. "Bolanle," you said eventually. He came to your school most evenings to see you when he was done with work. He spared time for you on weekends also and took you to the movies or restaurants. You dated for a year and after you graduated, he proposed in the gathering of mutual friends. Eights months later, you got married to him. He was the love of your life, your cup of forever overflowing with passion. You just love everything about him, his guttural voice, the beard he grew when you told him he would look sexier with beards, the way he gesticulates when he’s trying to prove he’s right, even the way he shuffles his feet when walking was delightful. Six months into it, you missed your period. He was so excited about it, he took care of you when you were down and when in five months you lost it, you felt the world crashing down on you-he was with you in every step of the way. When the second, third, fourth and fifth came, extinguishing every light of hope, he was with you.

The sixth came and reignited the hope, and as the month went by and your stomach grew rounder and surpassed the others, your smile widened. He was with you just like the others. You welcomed her and named her Gift. She was indeed a gift, a blessing to your family and as the months went by, Gift was beginning to drift away, down with incessant ailments. Gift got snatched away from you and you were left bare and empty. He drifted, you drifted. His sight irritated you, his stupid beards were too full, the noise he makes when walking irritated you. You just wanted to be alone and he left you alone, he was tired of trying too.
...

You pack your box while your mother watch. "You know Lanre lost her too. You’re being too hard on him" You stop and stare at her and then begin to wail. You are tired of everything, she hugs you and Lanre walks in. He looks emaciated and his eyes red and sunken. You have not really seen him in eight months. You realise he is suffering too and you miss him so you walk up to him, hug him and cry in his chest. He cries too and holds you tightly and says repeatedly "I miss you," and as you hug him tighter you let go of Gift in your heart. You then realise that he is the best gift you ever had and as long as you’re together, more gifts will come and if they don’t, you’re both enough to bring joy into each other’s lives.