Healing iii [Short story]

He stopped.

‘’I’m sorry.’’

He nodded and continued walking out of the restaurant.

Bella watched him enter his car through the glass window. She was overwhelmed by sadness and pain. She was a very emotional person and her friends had tried to warn her of the kind of person Jermaine was before they started dating. He didn't know, but as one of the most eligible bachelors in the estate, he was the topic of almost every girl’s gossip and the dream of every girl.

On the day she’d met him, he had been particularly nice to her. It was on one of her early morning runs. He’d also been running at the particular time that 'she was and she thought they’d clicked. They talked about a lot of things and even raced each other but she’d noticed that he never cracked a smile… Not even once.

Through out their relationship, she’d tried desperately to get a smile from him or for him to talk to her about himself. About his personality but she’d never been able to get anything from him. And on the day that she’d opened the drawer and saw those pictures, she began to have an inkling of why he was like that. She’d never asked him for she knew it would enrage him.

She sighed and picked up her bag. She brought out her handkerchief, dabbed the remaining tears on her cheeks and took out her powder which she applied liberally over her face. She worked with her dad at his company. She couldn't imagine the anger her dad would feel if he noticed that his beloved princess was shedding tears. He wouldn't know, wouldn't understand the colossal sadness she felt at losing the man she’d fallen so deeply in love with.

*****************************************

It was past 10PM when Nonye awoke abruptly. She had been deeply asleep on the reception counter when she felt cold arms touch hers.

‘’Hello.’’ A tiny voice said.

Nonye looked down at the owner of the voice. It was a little girl in a tattered dress. Her hair was also askew. She had very dark skin and her eyes were of a strange colour. Nonye gave her a puzzled look, ‘’Who are you?’’ She asked.

“I’m from st.Benedicts orphanage. The one down the street.’’

Her voice was clean and clear. She picked her words in a very slow and smooth manner.

‘’Okay my dear.’’ Nonye flashed her a smile. ‘’What can I do for you?’’

‘’The orphanage is burning. I am not there because I was on punishment and sent to stay outside for thirty minutes.’’

Nonye stared with a horrified expression on her face.

The little girl continued, ‘’I went up the street because I like to see the stars and the street lights. But when I came back, the place was already on fire. The neighbours are pouring water on it, they are too late. All the kids and sisters are already dead.’’ She gave Nonye a fixed stare, ‘’Please call the police. I’m afraid I will cry soon.’’

‘’Okay, Okay I will.’’ Nonye said, springing into action. She picked up her phone. ‘’Just sit there swettie’’ Nonye said, pointing in the direction of one of the reception chairs. As the girl moved to sit, Nonye asked, ‘’What’s your name?’’

‘’Ocean.’’

Seated there, directly under the fluorescent light, Nonye regarded the kid. She immediately knew why the name was so as the child’s striking blue eyes stared back at her

Written by Ineh Precious

Ineh Precious is a student, writer and has love for all things that have to do with arts. She has no published book out there but controls a certain amount of followership on her instagram page. She is a writer to watch out for. You can follow her on instagram @the.witty.writer.