"Wakey. Wakey. Wakey."

My body stirred weakly and my hands searched the bed endlessly,looking for nothing in particular.
"F?" I asked.

"Sit up," F replied firmly.

My eyes fluttered open and was welcomed by the thick darkness. My subconscious told me it was midnight. I yawned loudly and threw my pillow on the floor before sitting up.

"You disappear for days and interrupt the first good sleep I'll have?" I almost shouted but I was really doing a good job in taking my anger in.

"So we'll be-"

I interrupted angrily. "Scrape that. Why did you just leave that way? You think you can barge in and out of my body anyhow you wish?! It can't work that way."

I gritted my teeth, hating the fact that despite the weakness of my body it felt still felt so alert. It angered me more because I knew it was the effect F had on me. This had to stop. Now or...

"Karleen, you need me. We've talked about that." The normalcy in F's voice angered me more.

I bit my lower lip hard and sighed. "Then why did you leave? I was left alone. I was scared. I was..." My voice trailed away , still I blocked the hot tears that threatened to fall.

My body was weak.
My soul was weak.

"I couldn't go there with you." For the first time, i could hear fear in F's voice. "It was too risky."

I was silent. I stretched my hand and put on the dim light before clenching my fists.
"You wanted us to do something important?" I asked.

I could feel the struggle in F's voice. "I'm sorry."

A smiled. Funny how just that apology could melt my heart. "It's fine. We're cool."

"Alright. Don't just push for premature answers. You'll understand when it's time."

I nodded. "I know,F. You woke me for?" I asked , scratching my eyes.

It was a soft whisper. "To tell you I'm back. I won't be around always...its getting risky. Very risky."

I wanted to ask why but slowly crept back to bed with a confused mind and for hours I was deprived of sleep.

*
"I'm Dara Akinbo," she said with an infectious smile.

I smiled back at the smiling young lady sitting opposite me. She was dressed in a pepper-red coloured gown that stopped few inches above her knees.
She was dipped in a perfect Yoruba melanin source.

Minutes ago, she had introduced herself as the Therapist assigned to me by the NAVE . She would probably be the first humane person some far here. I liked her already.

"Oh I'm-"

"You're Karleen Coker. I've gotten all your details. How're you doing?" Her voice was soft and calm, urging me to find a friend in her.

"Fine, I guess. Everything just feels unnecessarily awkward though," I laughed nervously.

She clasped her hands. "Yeah, I understand. Nothing is familiar. You feel left out, right?"

I nodded hastily. Finally, someone understood. "Yesssss exactly."

"I used to know that feeling but I had to live on..." She started to say. "It was a fatal accident. Mom and Dad died. I was left alone too with no memories. I was only 10," she smiled, sadly.

I raised a brow and asked the one question my brains screamed. "Did you regain your memories?" I silently wished her answer was yes.

The sad look on her face said it all. "No."

My hope crumbled and I stared into space. She smiled reassuringly. "You can always create new memories."

I caressed the throw pillow on my lap. "You don't understand. I need the memories back to solve this murder case I'm entangled in," I cried.

Her left hand sought mine,hovering over it. "You're You. I didn't regain my memories doesn't mean you also wouldn't."

I stared deep into her eyes and allowed myself to be mesmerized by the blue contact lens she had on. It was like swimming in a sea of blue.

"You're not in this alone, Karl. See, after every case solved, we are given a list of ten people who are in your kind of situation. We get to choose one patient..." She looked and coughed.

An escape cough.

"Why did you choose me then?" I asked her. "No one would want to be associated with a case as weird as mine."

She shook her head disapprovingly. Her voice turned cold as she stared at what only she could see. "Your case is not weird. It's special... In a mysterious way. And my middle name is strange."

*
The drive back home was longer than usual. Joshua was silent and I also wasn't in the mood to talk. All that flooded my mind was Dara. I liked her,obviously. Still, there was something about her that made me feel... Protected. Throughout the two hours, she didn't talk in a professional manner. She talked like I was a younger sister she was trying to reach out to.

What worried me was that she didn't fake it. It was real. Why would she be offering that much service? What did she stand to gain?

"Joshua, do you know how much Mom bargained with the therapist?" I asked.

He shook his head. "No amount. She said she was interested and wanted to help."

Are you thinking what I'm thinking?

"Who does that?" I shouted.

Josh suddenly turned off the engine and got out of the car. I was about shouting when he opened the back door and sat. He had this annoying smug look plastered on his face.

"See this," he brought out his phone and scrolled through to a particular page.

"Do you wish to go there?" His eyes twinkled.

I marveled at the picture before me. "It's beautiful. Please take me there," I had to be polite. It was a park. A beautiful one.

He laughed. "I know you'll love it. Your mom won't be around too so we can go now." He was as excited as a seven-year-old.

"Call Sonia to meet us there. You can send her the description or something," I was getting excited too.

"I want it to be the two of us alone. We could use some privacy."

*
We sat on the artificial green grass and faced each other. I decided to play cool with him, it won't cost anything. I hope.

"It's so beautiful, Josh. I feel free. So free I could fly," I giggled.

He nodded. "You were always free-spirited. I need that you back soon," he jerked me with his elbow.

"Tell me about my life then. I want to know. Josh, did we ever come here?" I wanted to know and was glad F didn't stop me.

"Yeah. Many times. Alone. Together... It was always fun." He took my hand in his and scribbled jargon on it. I loved it. It made the butterflies down there excited. "We were just like uhmm bestfriends. You were the first person that made me feel human after many years... You're crazy. Crazy ideas. Crazy thoughts. Plain crazy. You're the only girl I knew that painted her room black... Oh we did that together. There was no difference between our faces and the wall when we were through... You're the same girl, Karl. Each time I look at you again and again, you're still the same girl that chose someone else over me-"

I frowned aggressively. "Are we here to talk about some unreciprocated love story?"

He smiled sadly. "Why am I surprised ? You were always so cold. You were always this way, Karl !!! This way!!!" He yelled with eyes that blinked uncontrollably.

Okayy. Now , what I said was supposed to be a joke. "You're taking this personal an-"

"No. How could I have thought you'll ever change? How could I have thought you'll ever love me back the way I loved you? I'm just a driver. Just your driver - "

"You shut up and listen to me . You can't bring me here and start telling me trash about what I don't even und-"

His sarcastic life interrupted me. "This was the life you always wanted . A life of hide and seek. Where tomorrow would be uncertain and everything would be cold and -"

Now it wasn't my voice that interrupted him. It was the harsh, heavy music from our angry hearts.

I couldn't breathe , neither could I move closer. His face was few inches away from mine. I could hear his ragged breathing and smell his intoxicating cologne.

The look on his face was now affectionate, possessive and hungry. I stood glued to one spot as he tilted his head and moved closer. The heat radiating from his skin warmed mine.

I closed my eyes and waited for the kiss. This wouldn't be a help for my claustrophobia . It would be from his heart. Oo oh! His lips were inches away now... I could feel it. I closed my eyes tight.

Waiting...

Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.

"Hello Sarah..."

My eyes popped open in absolute disappointment.

His eyes widened in shock and fear as he grabbed my hands. "RUN!"

That's was the last word I heard, before I blacked out.

**
😱😶
RUN. RUN. RUN.
I always enjoyed running when I was very small, maybe I should try it out again? Yeah?
It's still me, guys.
LHONESATRRH ★