37 days ago...

Rocking a straight-cut emerald green coloured skirt, a white short-sleeved chiffon top, a pair of black sneakers and a black handbag, Adesuwa walked towards Kenny after she had checked-in her luggage. Her black, long bone straight wig shone as she walked on and her smile stood out even more due to the nude lipstick she had on.

"I thought I told you to go. I'll be fine." She told him once she stopped in front of him. While his hands were in the pockets of his trouser, his smile was broad and his eyes sumptuously looked her up and down.

"Ah, I still can't believe this fine woman in front of me is all mine."

She jokingly slapped his arm as a chuckle left her lips. "Stop."

He laughed. "But it's true. I'm going to tell you that every day."

Adesuwa shook her head. "Go to work. It seems you have forgotten the meeting you're required to attend."

"I haven't. I just..." He wrapped his arms around her and stared into her eyes. "... I'm going to miss you."

Her chuckle was light. "It's just for a week and I'll be back."

"Even though, I'll miss you lots." Kenny said and gave her a quick kiss on the lips.

She simply smiled while she stared at him. The memory of their traditional marriage three days ago was fresh in her mind. Adesuwa felt grateful she had him in her life. "I'm going to miss you too."

He playfully brushed his nose against hers. "I love you."

"I love you too." She replied and they smiled one last time at each other before letting go. Adesuwa watched him walk away towards the exit. He turned one more time and waved at her. She waved back. After he disappeared into the hustle and bustle of the city, she turned away and went to wait in the waiting area.

Adesuwa was yet to completely get Kenny's image out of her mind. Whenever she missed him, she stared at her engagement ring. So, she looked at her finger but the ring wasn't there. Adesuwa searched within her handbag for the ring and didn't find it. She mentally retraced her steps to figure out where she could have taken it off.

A gasp eluded her lips the moment she remembered where she left it. She had taken it off back home in the bathroom and forgot to put it back on. She couldn't call Kenny because he would be busy with work and she didn't want him to know she'd forgotten it. Adesuwa knew she was supposed to have it on all the time. She looked at the time on her wristwatch. It was twenty minutes past ten. Her international flight was two hours, thirty minutes away. She had made it to the airport on time in order to beat the morning traffic.

Adesuwa thought of how it took about forty-five minutes to ride without the traffic. At most, she could spend an hour going back now. For another minute, she reasoned it all and wondered if going back was a good decision. An image of Kenny's smiling face popped up in her mind. Guilt swallowed her whole. Immediately, she stood to her feet and hastened her steps out of the airport. Without any trouble, she found a cab and hurried into the backseat. Adesuwa called her address for a cab driver who should be no less than sixty years old. She told him to hurry and if possible, he was permitted to make use of shortcuts.

Thirty-five minutes later when another car rammed into theirs in a manner that was inexplicable for her and her head smashed against the window, Adesuwa regretted asking him to speed up. During what she thought was her last moment, every eventful period of her life flashed across her mind and she was grateful she was able to have those memories.

Present day

Adedayo stared at the boiling water on the stove. There was nothing within it but he stared at it with much seriousness. It was almost as if he could envision or read something in it. A memory of Joy returned to his mind. He shook off the thought of her and walked out of the kitchen. Adedayo found himself staring at the couch. Another memory with her on that very couch popped up. Again, he rejected reliving it and walked into the bedroom. He did nothing in particular except walk around and return back to the living room. Every corner, every single thing reminded him of her. He picked the television's remote and increased the volume. He needed the noise. He needed it so his thoughts didn't wander off. It hasn't been up to 48 hours since Joy left. Even during the night, Dayo was unable to sleep and spent the entire night with the television on and his eyes glued to it. He had earlier called in sick to work, worried he might not be able to pretend convincingly enough to avoid their queries in regard to his state of health.

Suddenly, the lights went out and even to the disappointment of the electricity, Dayo was numb. For a while, he was silent. Then he reached for his phone and dialed Sarki's number from his contact.

"The newest husband in town." Sarki teased and laughed in the end. "How are you doing?"

Dayo was silent for a little while. Sarki's words brought up memories. Once again, he pushed them out.

"I'm fine. Do you want to hang out?"

"Hang out? You? Aren't you too occupied with the new Mrs...."

"If you can make it, meet me at our usual bar." Adedayo said and disconnected the call before Sarki could say anything else. He went into the room to change into something much presentable.

Adedayo sat down on one of the plastic chairs at the bar. He tapped his fingers nonstop on the table in front of him and lurked his eyes around for any sign of Sarki.

"Oga, what are you having?" The young waitress asked. She was in no uniform but wore a waist apron.

"Nothing yet." He told her. She nodded and turned away. "Wait." She returned to him. "I think I'll give you my order now."

Sarki stepped down from his car, locked it and made his way to the bar. Before he got close, he sighted about two empty bottles of beer on the table in front of Dayo. He cleaned his eyes with his hand to be sure he saw clearly.

"Dayo." Sarki called just when he brought the cup of beer to his lips. "What is this? Why are you... what is going on?" He asked all at once as he drew out the chair opposite Dayo and took his seat.

Dayo's eyes were lazy and he smiled at Sarki. "I'm drinking."

"I can see that. This is... it's unlike you. I thought you were happy. You got married to the woman you love. Why... Did you quarrel with Joy?"

Dayo bursted into laughter, in a way that Sarki had never seen before.

Suddenly, his laughter ceased and his face held seriousness. "She's gone... I... I told her to go home."

Sarki wore a little frown. Nothing his friend had said made sense.

"Dayo." He called because he was silent while his head hung low. "Adedayo." Sarki wondered if he had somehow fallen asleep. "Dayo, why..." Sarki's words trailed away as he began to hear sobbing and sniffing. He stared at him with worry while Dayo's silent sobbing became more obvious. Thank God for the medium volume of music playing from inside the bar.

Sarki wished to ask more, but he had never seen his friend in such a helpless state. He watched Dayo cry as the tears flowed nonstop.

Dayo missed Joy more than he ever thought he would. All this time, he had specifically avoided breaking down and now, he couldn't do that anymore. He wished he could turn back the hands of time and beg her not to leave. He wished he was enough for her. How was he ever going to get over this heartbreak? How would he live without seeing her every day? How?

Joy closed the album of photographs he had handed to her to view. It was a bit odd to see herself smiling in almost all the photos of which she had no memory of. Joy couldn't believe she was a corporate lawyer. She had never imagined herself as one. Many of the pictures were of her and Kenny.

"I'm sorry you went through so much." He said, referring to her accident. Joy lifted her eyes to him. His expression was subtle. It might have escaped her mind, but she never thought about the hard time he was having. His wife didn't recognise him and above it all, she claimed to be in love with another man. The fact he handled everything with great poise made her sympathize with him.

"I know you don't remember the times we shared with each other. What we have is too special to give up just like that. Please..." He took her hand in his and was glad she didn't flinch away. "... please, give us a chance to reconnect. We've always been in love. I'm sure with time, you'll remember it all."

Joy could only stare at him. She didn't have a reply. Kenny seemed like a good man and she trusted her judgment. She must have seen something in him that made her love him enough to marry him in the past. Was it right for her to give him a chance even if she knew she might never love him the same?

"Please." He added while his eyes searched for the same woman he'd left back at the airport. Joy wasn't sure why, but she nodded to his plea. He shifted closer on the sofa and embraced her. Her mind wandered off to Adedayo and she wondered how he was faring. Does he miss her as much as she misses him? Joy pushed away the thought. He had asked her to find her life without him and only if she misses him after that was she allowed to return to him.

6 months later...

Adedayo received a knock on his door. He wiped his wet hands on the hand towel and walked out of the kitchen. "Who is it?" He asked and when no one replied, he turned away from the door. Again, the knock came through. This time, he reached for the door, unlocked and opened it.

Joy stood in front of him. Adedayo froze. Her hair and clothes were different from the ones she had the last time he saw her. He had to be dreaming. He'd dreamt of this scene so many times that this had to be part of it.

"Can I come in?" She asked and her voice was even more beautiful than the last time he heard it. Dayo forced himself out of his frozen state and stood to the side. She lifted off the ground, the small traveling box she had with her and came in with it. Adedayo stared at it after he closed the door. He would hate to get his hopes up but...

Joy rubbed her hands together a little nervously. A few times, she lowered her eyes from him, unable to find the right words to say what needed to be said. Before coming here, she had practiced a few times what she would say and how she would say it. She opened her mouth but the words didn't come through. Joy wished she could get a grasp of herself. This time, by the time she lifted her eyes to him, he had already walked up to her and without warning, merged his lips with her. Together, they engaged in a passionate kiss. His arms wrapped around her waist; he didn't want to ever let go again. The days without her were terrible. It was after great difficulty he was able to return to his normal routine. Every time anyone asked him of her, he said she had traveled and he wasn't sure the day she would return. In a way, he learned to believe it as well. They didn't have much to ask after that. That way, he had kept sane and waited and hoped she would return to him someday.

"I love you." She told him after they barely released each other from the kiss. He leaned his forehead against hers. His short laugh was a mixture of smile and excitement.

"I love you too."

Joy was grateful to have him back in her life. In fact, in a way, she didn't think he ever left. Every day, she tried to live like Adesuwa would. But she was no longer a person. Her memories remained adamant about returning and they never did. Just as Kenny had asked, she gave him a chance. They went on dates. They laughed. He told her so much about how she was when she was Adesuwa. He was great. She understood why she had fallen in love with him. Yet, every night, she found herself yearning for Dayo, wondering what he was doing and wishing she could see him again. After many months passed, it was more than clear to her how important Dayo was in her life. Before she came here, she had a talk with him. He had taken the breakup better than she expected. He didn't ask any questions. He didn't create a scene and most importantly, he didn't go behind her back and indulge her mother. It made her think that maybe he had somehow seen this day coming. They had shaken hands and agreed to be friends instead.

Joy laughed. "Did you miss me?" She asked when they released themselves from the kiss.

"Very much." He told her and caressed her face.

"Me too."

THE END

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