Their walk down to the bus stop was in silence. Not awkward. Simply silence. Joy felt he needed the space and he didn't have anything to say. They waited at the stop for a while. Due to the day being Sunday, the weekend, the buses weren't as rampant as during weekdays.

Joy looked to her left. A man in a white polo shirt, a pair of blue jeans and black sneakers had his eyes on her. His gaze wasn't appreciative in the least bit and if anything, it made her feel weird and uncomfortable. Joy decided to ignore his stare and looked away from him. For all she knew, his eyes may not be on her and she was reading it all wrong. After what seemed like a minute, she could still feel it, his stare and she reluctantly shifted her eyes to him. This time, he smiled, exposing a set of yellow teeth. He winked at her before throwing her a kiss. Immediately, Joy looked away from him and began to feel rather weary. She wrapped her arms around herself like that would be enough to protect herself from his creepy gaze. More than anything, she wished he would stop.

Joy felt an arm around her shoulder and when she saw whose it belonged to, she was surprised. Adedayo had bridged the space in between them. His arm held on tighter to her, forcing her into a close embrace and preventing her from being able to view the strange man anymore. She didn't know if Adedayo saw the man and the manner in which he behaved with her and this was his way of helping. But she was grateful that he did this. In a way, it made her feel better and safer. Like nothing in the world could happen to her while he was here. Adedayo wouldn't steady his gaze with hers and showed her only a few glances.

In the bus, he let her sit by the window before he took his seat next to her. Joy stared out through the open window and as the wind slapped her face, she shut her eyes while a smile crept up her face.

That evening, Joy wouldn't leave his side in the kitchen and insisted on watching him turn on the stove cooker. Together, both squatted with the stove in front of them and she watched while he did his thing. The fire came on. She stood on her feet and watched him pour the macaroni from its package into the pot of boiling water on fire. Adedayo's gaze constantly fell on her, his smile appearing and diminishing at intervals. When she looked at him, he was quick to look away.

Later, both sat on the double-seater couch although a gap lay between them. For a while neither said a word.

"Are you starting to recall any of your memories?" Dayo was first to break the silence. He wasn't sure why. Normally, he was the type who preferred the silence to be prolonged.

Joy shook her head. "No, nothing." Then, she turned her head to him. "Do you think I should hit my head on the wall? They might all rush back to me just like in the movies."

"What?" Adedayo's expression turned sour on behest of her words.

Suddenly, a hearty chuckle left escaped her lips. "I'm joking. It's a joke."

"Oh," were his words before he relaxed back into his seat.

Joy's gaze was on the small framed television. "It would've been nice if we could watch a movie together." She said and he could see she was staring at the television. In that period, Dayo wished he'd fixed up the T.V. and the channels were showing.

"I think we should visit the hospital and maybe you can get a brain scan." Dayo stated and her eyes were on him in a jiffy. She nodded in agreement and smiled even wider. Joy was grateful for the idea. The doctor or the scan might explain a few things to her and maybe, there could be a quicker way for her to regain her memories.

"Not tomorrow. Maybe sometime late this week. I have to gather a few funds." He explained although he didn't want to mention the money part. He felt she could better understand the delay if he told her the truth.

Joy nodded. "I understand... Thank you." She appreciated it. The thought that soon she might be better was enough to keep her going.

Once again, Joy woke from what might either be a memory or dream. It didn't send her heart pounding, her breathing rugged or sweat trickling down her back. She knew it wasn't a nightmare. It was a vague scene and now she was awake, she was unable to even picture it.

Joy walked into the living room and headed straight to the kitchen where she reached for a sachet of water from the bag of many of it. She tore one of its ends out and poured some of the water into a plastic cup before she drank down. She walked back into the living room and that was when she saw Dayo who was still asleep on the couch. Joy looked at the clock on the wall before she walked to where he was. Then, she went on her knees in front of him while her hands hovered around his arm, contemplating if she should wake him.

In the end, she shook him casually. "Dayo." She called and by her second trial, his eyes lazily fluttered open. "Wake up, you might be late for work."

For the first few seconds, her words had no effect on him. He was yet to regain his full consciousness. Somehow, he managed to get himself to sit up. He laid his hand on the space between his shoulder and his neck. The expression on his face was that of pain. Joy noticed it. He ran both hands over his face before he looked at the clock. His eyes widened, expressing his surprise at the time. Joy watched him hurry up from his seat and into the bathroom. Close to thirty minutes later, Adedayo was ready to leave the house. There was no extra time to have his breakfast. He just spent it getting ready. He stepped out of the house and Joy did the same after she'd changed into something better. She locked the door behind her. "Are you going somewhere?" He asked.

"I'll walk you down to where you get a transport."

"You don't have to do that. I'm fine by myself."

She folded her arms below her chest. "You don't need to pay attention to me. I'm doing this because I want to be able to recognise my surroundings."

Adedayo rolled his lips in. He had more to say but he settled on letting her have her way. After all, he was short on time.

At first, Adedayo's steps were so fast that Joy was having a hard time catching up to him. It didn't also help that she had to avoid a lot of bad paths like potholes and puddles ahead of her. He noticed she was having a hard time and gradually, he reduced the distance of his strides till she caught up with him. Side by side, they both walked to the end of the street where the road was tarred and both going and coming cars rode side by side each other. Under normal circumstances, which wasn't a morning school day, Adedayo would take a close twenty minutes' walk to the bus stop. But this time, he decided he would board an autorickshaw which would reduce the time spent to around ten minutes before the bus stop.

"Are you sure you know your way back?" Dayo asked Joy and she nodded. She seemed sure yet he couldn't help worrying about her. "Be careful." He told her in the end.

"I will." She replied before he got into the yellow painted tricycle vehicle. Joy waved him goodbye as they drove away and he found himself doing the same. He looked away from her and to his hand which he'd used to wave her with. Dayo swallowed down. He was getting too easily carried away. For him, he was aware of the danger. One thing he couldn't quite wrap his head around was how he'd slept longer than usual. It was the same for him all the time, difficulty in sleeping and when he did, he always woke up on time like someone whose being waited for nothing but daybreak. He couldn't remember the last time he'd slept half as peaceful as he did last night. What changed? He wondered and an image of Joy popped up in his mind. Sure, they'd stayed in each other's company after having dinner but their chat had been little talks, nothing much until she retired to bed.

Joy was successful in returning home and she felt like she'd conquered a big milestone. She took the time to tidy up the apartment with the not-so-straight knowledge of chores that faced her.

After school hours, Adedayo stood in front of the ATM and stared at the balance in his account. Gratefully, he had a manageable sum left. A bit more spending and he could be in trouble. Adedayo didn't want to dwell on the thoughts of after. At least, not yet. He withdrew a few sums then retracted the card and began his path home. Right when Dayo was close to the gate, his phone rang and he picked the call.

"I know you don't care about me but I can't do the same with you knowing I'm all you've got."

The sigh that left Dayo's lips was silent. "What is it, Sarki?"

"Let's have a drink. Like old times."

"You know I don't drink."

Dayo heard him hiss. "Just meet me at the usual bar."

"Sarki..."

"I'll come to your house if you don't show up and maybe I'll have a good chat with a certain someone."

Adedayo was silent, long enough that Sarki wondered if he'd hung up the call. "Fine." He said in the end before turning away from the gate and making his way out of the street and into the next street where a small local bar was situated. Dayo could see Sarki seated at one of the outdoor plastic tables.

"Why do you always make me seem like a needy wife?" Sarki complained after Dayo took his seat in front of him.

"You made yourself into one." Dayo replied before he looked around, observing his environment which he has more than thrice been in. There were less customers than usual, mostly because the sun was yet to set and night yet to befall. The music played under a medium volume.

"I know you won't bring this up so I will." Sarki started and Dayo's eyes were back on him. "What do you plan to do with Joy?"

Dayo's brows furrowed for a second, not having expected that question. "What do you mean? You know she can't remember who she is."

"Ehn, yes. I know that. I also know you don't have much. It's better to stop while you can."

"So, you have nothing new to say. I'm tired. I'm leaving."

"Okay, wait." Sarki reached out to him before he could get up from his seat. "Fine. How can I help?"

Reluctantly, Dayo shrugged his shoulders, not sure of what to say to that question.

Sarki narrowed his eyes on him. "You don't need money?"

He was silent. Hesitant with his words. Of course, he does need money but Sarki has helped him more times than he could count. Each time, he felt more embarrassed and littler in his friend's eyes. Dayo knew Sarki and he understood his desire to help came from a good place. Maybe it was pride. Maybe it was foolishness. Either way, Adedayo felt useless.

"I'm fine." Those were his words and Sarki relaxed into his seat, his inquisitive gaze not leaving his friend. Sure, he knew Dayo was lying. But there was nothing he could do about it.