PROVINCE OF APULIA.
BARI, ITALY.

THE NICOLAUS HOTEL.

There are moments when all someone wants to do is melt out of reality and live in the province of your own fantasy. In a realm where none of the things happening in reality exists, only the exciting adventures you have plotted in your head and you can also regurgitate all you don't want in your head. Sadly, we live in reality where each step of your life has been well calculated, plotted, designed and surveyed even before you grace the world with your presence.

Sometimes, all that is good manage to slip through our fingers and the disheartening part is that, we have our hands muddled in what is happening with our lives. Most of the times, we contribute more than anyone else in the way fate twists our lives away from it's haven to another hellish raucous world. Staying steadfast won't also aid, instead, it will shatter more dreams and render you dependent on things or people you hardly will look on normal days.

The contraptions of our lives are mostly caused by us, we do it ourselves.

If one doesn't understand and experience the difficulty it takes to earn the comfort provided for their loved ones, then they will never value it. The most important thing is to experience the hard work and difficulty and learn to value it behind all the hidden comfort. Without that experience, you'd take everything for granted and messily use it just because it proliferates without their hard work.

Amirah is experiencing all sorts of emotions and that is because of her menstruation, it always comes with that. Deep thought, pensive thinking and so much more she cannot pinpoint all the time but let them slip through her fingers in order to keep her braincells intact. Allowing her inner bitch to insolently spike her up so they can have the inner banter that helps her keep it down. She named her her inner Jedi, that part that always helps her get her cranium supine.

"Why are you back so early? I thought the man will keep you till it's time for the tour and that is not until two hours." Lateefa searched her watch correctly and sure enough, they have two hours and five minutes to spare before they are called down.

Amirah licked the seam of her lips, swallowing and touching behind her skirt to make sure she hasn't stain but she did, just a little. Her first days are always this terrible, it flows like a darn sluice opened after million years and congealed in the dirt. Now that she perused over it, her menses is the worst of them all. She took over her mother while her sisters hardly experience cramps, they never did after the first time while she on the other hand is another story.

Her cramps will start with mild stomach pain before it blossoms in few minutes, then her back will also tighten before her lower abdomen will tighten in twist. She could hardly sleep when experiencing cramps, the pain would be unbearable that she had to take it all in with eyes wide open and pillows demarcating the middle of her thighs all the damn time. Even if she tries acting plucky, it is still tricky and pains a lot.

"I don't feel too good. You got sanitary pads with you?" She ricochetted the question the the two girls sitting on the floor, sorting out their clothes as if they are there on vacation especially Lateefa's shiny ones. She'd teased her whether she is there to find husband.

Both their eyes widened, they stared at one another then let out painstaking groan. "Why are we acting like we are not girls? I don't have and I'm sure Kami doesn't also."

Kamilah glared at Lateefa for saying they don't act like girls. Who is it that despise acting ladylike if not her? Hmmph. "I can just ask the bellboy to get them for you. I had mine last week so I thought it was not important to bring it with me..." Lateefa chirped, "And mine was three days ago." Then sheepish smile took over.

Amirah opened her mouth to reply only to shut it when a knock echoed throughout the quiet room. They all shared confused glances, as if asking whether the other is expecting a guest and shook their heads at the same time. Well, they shouldn't be surprised knowing they are not here by themselves. Maybe someone from the company wants to talk to them so Lateefa went to answer the door, ever confident one.

She'd say, 'even if there are kidnappers or assassins behind the door, they'd still get to you, just me first but it doesn't mean you can escape' and will continue with her mission like a macho.

Her hands opened the latch on the door then widen it in case, prevention is better than cure. Her eyes landed on a bellboy standing with paperback in hand, her brows scrunched. Did she magically ask him to get the sanitary pads without calling the hotel or do they just share things with logo of pads all around for the ones that might need it? Ah, she won't be too surprised with how the hotel is and all but what a brutal coincidence. They will just make her want to keep living abroad since she's lived the first few years of her life there too.

Back to the businesswoman look is what she exhibited then for the younger boy. "Can I help you?"

The bellboy rocked on his legs, looking really excited to say or do whatever it is he is sent to do.

"Uh, yes please. Are you Ms. Adam?" He inclined his head, giving her a once over and taking in her pajama clasped body which means she is not Ms. Adam. He knows Ms. Adam left the restaurant downstairs few minutes ago in business attire.

Lateefa thinned her lips then shook her head, "I'm not. She is inside." She then pushed her head back to call out Amirah who begrudgingly stood by the side of the wall, afraid to sit and ruin wherever she sits on in the galore.

Her eyes bounced from Lateefa to the redhead bellboy that looks just around her age or younger knowing how they grow more than their ages. He might be sixteen but looks nineteen, only God knows with those people. She seen fifteen year old looking older than her. That is beside the point though, why are they asking for her?

"Yes?" Her eyes fell on the paper bag the bellboy is holding. She couldn't hide her relief upon sighting the logo of sanitary pad, that was fast.

Lateefa gestured to the bellboy then said, "He wants to see you. I should go get ready." And Lateefa left her there with the bellboy, confused and flummoxed to bones.

He wants to see her? Didn't Lateefa order those? But when did she use her phone? And why didn't she just collect the bag and give it to her? They just talked about it like five minutes ago after she ferried into the room, that is too fast.

The bellboy beamed, extending his hand to give her the bag and she tentatively took it from him, feeling weirded out. Lateefa couldn't just collect it and close the damn door without calling her to stare at the weird beaming boy that looks like he's won a lottery?

"Mrs. Mathews, the receptionist gave me that to give you because she's seen you stain your skirt." He eloquently explained, bowed then turn to leave only to get stopped by Amirah.

"Thank her for me please." She gave a small smile which he returned then hastened to the elevator -miming Falling For You by Colbie- leaving Amirah staring at the empty corridor.

She closed the door and went back inside, looking confused but grateful. Wow, there are really nice people still living on this earth for she is sure a lot wouldn't have cared if she walks while bleeding but she only stained her dark skirt and the woman noticed then sent this to her. Her smile proliferated as she ferried further inside the suite to see the two girls expectantly waiting for her arrival like kids anticipating Christmas gift.

She let out an uneasy chuckle, they are scaring her. "What?"

As usual, Lateefa was the first to open her mouth, "Who sent those to you?"

"A receptionist saw my stained skirt and sent it to me. Isn't that sweet?"

"That's amazing!" Kamilah smiled softly, her eyes distant with fondness. Had someone ever done that to her in the past too? Because Amirah knew this feeling of getting taken care of once in awhile. Especially in her case when she is always, always the head.

Lateefa huffed and scoffed, a hiss extricating from the seam of her lips. "I almost thought your boss sent it so I can squeal about the still augmenting love story you both are trying to terminate. Guess that isn't happening. I'm still living in the precipice all alone."

Amirah sighed in exasperation, not bothering to answer the perverse lass that won't just give up on their so called 'love story' already. Must she always bring Imad up and down in their conversations now? She's long ago stopped caring who mentions his name or talk about their failed relationship. It does not hurt as much as it does before, she's learned to keep nothing personal. She won't be encompassed all the time.

She made her way to the bathroom, terminating each thought of Imad like Lateefa is trying to influx in her head. She already don't like that she is really feeling something for her ex husband, Lateefa adding to it won't make life any easier. She will be working under him for a while, she needs to keep her freaky emotions in check if she wants to survive with him. Imad is a no-go territory in her books, he needs out.

In the paper bag, there are a lot of sanitary pads that she could pack back home and use for the next few months. It is also her favorite brand when her mother was alive -Virony- and they had the money to buy whichever one they want but had to stop after she got sick and they started having debts biting their asses. They had to root for the cheapest one albeit uncomfortable, they got used to it with time rocking by.

Excitement rushed through her just by the mere sight of the pads then check further inside the bag. There are the same types of medicines Imad had bought for her years ago when he found out about her desmerorrhea. Acetaminophen, aspirin and flurbiprofen. The organ underneath her breastbone exploded again, she thought it was dengue for a moment there because of the avalanche of emotions fluxed in her that nanosecond.

What on earth is destiny doing to her? This is the exact type of package Imad got for her when they were together and now that she is seeing it again, she can't help wanting a shoulder to cry on. She needs her mother! She wants her mother to tell her that everything will be fine again and all she does was merely out of nativeness that all prepubescents go through. They were too adolescent then, acting like little kids that just hit puberty.

Reality rushed back in onslaught of pain, weighing her down with a lilt that she had no one and the ones she has are all depending on her. She needs to pack her shit together and stand strong like she is made of steel.

Ardent and unyielding.

She changed into the pad immediately and took out more things she couldn't remove from the paper bag knowing the feelings she's had for Imad are slowly augmenting like Lateefa had said. There is a heating pad inside that almost made her cry out in appreciation and the need to give this receptionist a tight hug, enveloped her. What would she have done without this quick help from the nice receptionist? Do people like that still really exist? If they do, then the ones in Nigeria are dead.

She removed the popular XL heat patch, attach one to her lower belly and another around her lower back. She's removed her clothes, is only wrapped around a robe when she left the bathroom knowing she needs to wash her clothes as soon as she gets better. Her cramps lasts only for one day and max, get throughout the next day morning. She cannot even enjoy her stay in another country without fate biting her off!

Kamilah looks concerned when she saw her walking out with more lilt to her steps than needed, she hastened to hold her shoulders and guide her to the bed where she gently lie her down on the bed, removing her flip-flops.

"Are you alright? Does it hurt so much?" Lateefa's concerned face came to Amirah's vision as she lie on the bed moaning quietly. That is one rare emotion you can ever see on Lateefa's face, it happens sporadically.

"Much better now. That receptionist needs a hug." Amirah let out a small sigh of relief, feeling the heating pad soothing the pain slowly but surely. She could bag herself a few hours sleep or minutes.

"I know right. Heating pad and medicines included? Nah, she needs French kiss." Lateefa who came out of the bathroom with the paper bag in hand commented in a jeer because somewhere in her, she feels like Imad had something to do with this.

She will find out or change her name.

~*~

The girls left Amirah in the suite with her phone right next to her hand so she can feel it ring and can call them immediately if she needs them. They wanted to stay or at least one of them but that is not what they are there for and Amirah hates looking weak after striving to be independent for three years. She shooed them away with great difficulty albeit feeling good that there are more people that cared about her apart from the people in her home.

"So..." Lateefa trained off, leaving Kamilah off the site they are touring to search for the business ground for their company and moved closer to Imad hellbent on finding out the truth. He looks worried, it just gave him away.

He sighed heavily with exasperating, his expression pinched as if knowing what she is there for. He couldn't stop himself from being worried about Amirah some more after seeing all her roommates in the site with them. His hope was one of them to stay there with her just in case the pain gets excruciatingly unbearable. He blamed the damn heart that was in love with her for being so worried, it irked him to no end. Seriously.

"What do you want, loquacious?"

Lateefa scowled but drop it off knowing she can't leave this place without completing her mission or she'd change her name to the first thing she sees on a billboard, not happening!

"Nothing, really," She paused, kicking a small rock she saw on the floor with her sneakers then continued, "I'm just worried we left Ms. Adam sick back in our suite. She won't permit any of us to stay. She's such a stubborn lady I tell you." She shook her head as if tired of Amirah's drama then raise her head discreetly to watch his expression, vehemently, almost acrimoniously.

And she saw it, all the expressions of worry is etched across the philander that is giving her headache. They should just accept what they feel for one another and work their shit out without causing so much trouble for one another but what love story has ever been easy? And she does not even know whether there is any chance of their marriage getting reawakened again. Dammit, they don't want to talk it out!

His brows are pinched in worry, not annoyance that was there minute ago. His whole posture is stooped, neck stiff and restrained. He could feel his over protectiveness emerging from the underground after many years. How is it possible to feel this after years of loathe directed at her?

God, is he still in love with his ex wife now?