DREAM WAKE

V

about the depth of a mo

born brings it'

ed it ab

arms, I marveled at how def

d down at her, then gently laid her in her cot. Bending down, I

g. We had just come from the church where little Eseosa had bee

e's and Eyare's friends, and even employees had arrived, bearing gifts. The c

ul child, only making a little fuss when she was hungry. Once she's had her fill, she doesn't

ren of our parents, so naturall

abroad. I had spoken to them since the birth of Eseosa and they had also seen her via video ch

I turned round and smiled at her. "Hello

r face. "I haven't come visiting since you two got married. I hop

r bringing him up this way. I couldn't have

tuck in her mouth. "He used to do that as a baby, you know. Suck his thumb. He

skipped

really be E

er. He's considerate like his father and very confident too. Whatever he puts his mind to, he sees it through, but he hurts easily." She tu

he smiled, shook her head and went out instead. It was Onari, calling to tell me to come see the guests, as more pe

e drinks, the decoration. He also told mother to help contact a local artist in their

tting in the compound under canopies that

the right decision. I joined Eyare, holding the baby monitor in hand. He turned towards me and kissed me on the lips when I got cl

the while complimenting me on my beauty. They told Eyare to

Onari in the nursery, looking at the baby. "Hey sis, thank you so much for

ghter, it's my obligation to take care of her." She finished, smiling at me. "Why don't you go get some r

I never had, you know." I smiled

, I went to the room, while O

Y

atching me with an intense look on

e. She touched my arm a bit longer than was necessary, so

" I furrowed my brows, t

to get some rest." She eased into the seat beside me and

realise I'm her be

fending her

getting up quickly before any of my f

ing her hand on my thigh to stop me.

I swatted her hand that was still resting on my lap and

at in the hell she was up

e get off, ac

ut that was in the past. Why dredge up somet

immediately I walked

ab

ffling

closer to

ng. Her eyes were all red and watery. I hated myself in that instant. I would give anything never

round to face me. "I'm scared, scared that I'll wake up and all this would be just a dream. You, our baby, your love, your care. Never

theart. You and Eseo

rn you though --- you'll have to pry me away fr

sm

's b

mentioned it to me. She said you didn't want to be disturbe

dache now." She

her some headache pills we normally kept for emergenci

, resorting to the initial she used to

, so I sighed and nodded. "Alright, I'll make an exception. I'll tell Onari to handle the dr

kiss on the forehead and quietly closed the door. Mum was in the kitchen tidying up. "Hey

I'm right where I'

hat Onari needs for the guests? I just want her to get some sleep, she hasn't had much of that recentl

our wife. I'll also check on Eseosa too.

walked to th

in the same position I'd l

e chatting amo

ed to stay with Osagiede until she sleeps." It felt awkward talking to her

ng. I'll stay as long as you want me to. How is Osagiede? Is she oka

ticed and frowned

a good night's sleep

ack a bit, once again. "If you need me for any

g of her words we

ack to the bedroom. She was s

er, but I didn't want to put any

y arms and she snuggled close. I didn't stop holding her until I

dark outside, I didn't know time had passed by so much. Onari was picking up stray glasses

back door to the compound. It was clean. No canopies and no remnants of a party showed at all.

lock up after them and came back in. I felt a twinge of regret for staying away

y one who attended the party the

n with the option of checking on Eseosa and mother and

seen. I knew she was going to spend the night, but I felt unco

Onari was just coming out of the bathroom with

flustered. I had forgotten she would have to stay in the nursery toni

a lady in a towel before? It's not lik

ast sentence wi

d took her with me, all the while averting my eyes. I made my

on either side of her so we wouldn't roll over her while we were asleep. I kn

uld save me the trip of going to the nursery and enco

r. I knocked twice on the guest room door. No answer. I tried the handle and pus

n the cheek. She muttered something unintelligible and turned to f

ure it was locked, put the lights off and went to join m

head of a home was

*********

onths

ded so much with little Eseosa. When we heard her cr

of our baby, we didn't have much time to spend as a couple. I needed to fix that

coming back home late, so I asked mother to kindly look after the baby while she and I went out for dinner to

when we got back home, the baby was in the cot, bat

sy, until one fateful day I got