1.

Ola sighed and lazily scanned the surrounding trees. She adjusted against her rocking chair and rhythmically patted her infant son, Baby, who snuggled against her breast with his eyes closed and mouth open.

She wiped away the trace of drool dripping from Baby's mouth, a smile forming on her lips as she silently blessed the gods for today.

Across her sat her husband of one year, Odili. He had been busying himself with dinner. While the sight of him bending over a bowl of fufu and vegetable soup in twilight was routine, it was obvious that tonight's serving tasted better than normal. He licked his fingers after sliding a ball of fufu into his mouth and looked up briefly at his wife, a flicker of appreciation in his eyes. She grinned back at him.

Odili did not believe in gods. But he was very happy that he was here with her. With Baby. In their small home, secluded in a forest far away from everything.

Ola broke away from his stare and rose, adjusting her wrapper with one slender hand and gripping her sleeping child with another.

"Baby has slept." She said. "Let me put him in."

"Bring the lamp."

"Okay."

"And more water to drink. Please." He glanced briefly at her as she retreated indoors.

It looked to be an uneventful day, like the others that had passed.

Odili's eyes traveled to the mini laser projectile at his feet and considered putting it away to rest, finally. He was all too aware of the growing bulge on his stomach and how out of shape he was becoming the past year.

"Too much fufu." He thought wistfully.

And a sudden but distant hum shook him out of his thoughts.

He then stared straight ahead, muscles immediately tense. Making for the bowl of water on his table, he rinsed his hands.

The hum intensified as it loomed, louder and closer. He reached for the projectile beside his feet and tucked it on his lap, remaining seated.

His wait was excrutiatingly slow. And the sound of the hum drew nearer.

"Odili!" Ola soon called as she came out through the front door, bottle of water in hand. "This water is our la-"

"Shh." His finger rested on his lips. He eyes were glued to the sight ahead.

She stopped. "What is it?" She read the anxiety on his face and felt his fear creeping into her heart.

"Go inside."

But Olanna stayed. Her eyes defiantly following his, ears registering the sound of an approaching engine.

She could then make out the figure coming
towards them, seemingly cutting through tree
branches and trapped leaves from afar.

It was strange that some semblance of the civilized world would break into this reverie, as if it was all just a sequence in a plotless dream.

But it was reminder that all things come to an end.

She could see him now. A man on a bike. His wide grin was more evident as he rode decisively towards them and through the trees.

She tried to decipher what Odili shouted through the noise but when the bike stopped on the clearing several feet from the veranda, she knew it was too late.

She attempted to hide her fear as he decended from the bike and strode towards them.

**singing**
I was here!!!!!

Thank God am not late

*Closely following* am new in the literature forum tho.. I hope to av a funfilled tym here

Unsuscribing from MTN BIS and subscribing to this story.

No dull me oh!

Wow! This is soo intriguing! Thumbs up nnenna dearie, more ink to ya pen following u bumper to bumper

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