Nostalgia

"Then go on a date, since eight years is a big deal to you. Tell him off calmly over dinner" Lameh has an aggressive way of making one see reasons with her. She is always right most of the times but I just wanted her to speak calmly to me. Before I could respond to her words...it was a loud noise I heard. She banged the door after her and was out of my apartment already. Spontaneous.

I shook my head. Its not ego that is stopping me from going on a harmless date with the lad. In fact I have always walked on the wild side of life. I picked my phone and replied yes to the message. I can rid myself a bit of boredom and tension. I walked to my wardrobe and let out a heavy sigh, what will I wear. I thought of playing it safe and then decided to choose my LBD(little black dress) they say a girl can never go wrong in it.

Exactly 7:30pm, my bell rang and a chauffeur stepped out, eager to usher me into the vehicle. I tried out a smile but felt silly. In my twenties, going out on dates was fun, but I just keep feeling I'm too old for all these fantasies. I stepped out of the car and two men were waiting to usher me in. I smiled now and it was real. They escorted me to  a quiet corner, a table for two. The ambiance was out of this world. Suddenly I wanted to look better, thank God I had my makeup bag . I rushed to the ladies and touched up my makeup. On my way trying to negotiate the smoking section from the non smoking section I bumped into a man. I hurriedly said sorry but was pulled back. With mouth ajar, it was Nigel. "Thought I would never see you again" and I felt like a  heavy weight was placed on my head. He had always being the calm type, he never crumbles under pressure, a smooth operator. Six years gone and I still feel like a child under his grasp. "which way to your table" my knees were shaking and I blamed myself for the little number I was wearing as I could hear my heart beat by itself. I felt a cold stare following us, turned back briefly, I couldn't make the face out.

I dated Nigel while in Post grad school, but it was a volatile relationship. We loved each other too much,while I was impatient he was insensitive. It was difficult, I was quick to assume and he took ages before making up his mind hence appearing confused and bereft of ideas to me.  We quarreled, made up, broke up, got back together and we both felt the best was to be apart. Immediately after school, I changed my numbers, severed contacts with some friends,traveled back to Nigeria and I had thought it was over.

Now seated, I strained my eyes and met with a steely look from a lady. I could see a sparkler on her left hand.

"You look beautiful"  Now seated he held my left hand, entranced my eyes with his and the tears just kept rolling down . "I remember when I was driving and told you we were missing, you got so scared and started crying. I told you to stay in the car while I go and search for help. Then I later came back to get u..

"and you led me to where you wrote you love me wit petals on the road. But I also remember the many times, I would come over to visit and you were sleeping, you even slept in between our conversations. I would call your line and it was always going into voice mail, would call and then you would say busy, tired...."

"but we loved each other...."

"but we caused each other lots of pains, you never understood. You were non nonchalant. Who is she, she has been looking in our way all through"

" Forget about her Cece. An engagement ring does not translate to marriage. Cece, we still love each other. We can work around our complexities, run with me.."

 "We broke up thrice, I came here on a date, a lot has happened and.."

"and it is time you left". I froze on my seat. He was in company of his body guards. Looking squarely at Nigel he said " You lost her thrice, I wont lose her if given half a chance"