LOVE THAT TANGLES

LA'

act the man had transferred

rateful. I shoved my hands into the side pocket

hed my nape as I contemplated answering him, telling a stranger about my plans is so not me. I was born and raised

having an older man push my luggage wh

ifted my gaze from the

or

ore quickly since the silence was unsettling. Even though I was sick

ushing my boxes, and his question felt awkward to me. I realized

ffer to lend a hand was not genuine and that he was planning to demand payba

question…..is it that you feel

’m still on the journey to it…..sorry,” I answered

nexpected. I noticed how his smile began t

hen we went back to silence. I watched as he

ver will drop you at you

n nodded as he walk

ger in view. As I removed my boxes from the troll

st it as It didn’t look safe, I rolled my two boxes bac

the restroom and set my handbag on one of the boxes. Before entering one of the cubicles, I dug

tested using public restrooms in Nigeria as most o

o his pocket. When he noticed me, the man hastened out of the stall. I was so startled t

I recall seeing a female

hit me, I quickly walked over to where my handbag was and

the bag in the hopes that it was there, but it wasn’t. It had already been taken. I

med to everyone going about their business, I felt hopeless and I wished someone would notice me and off

a car horn, thinking the car wan

r is sti

who was seated in th

kly. I bit my lip and nodded in agreement while attempting to hide how desperate I was. The

f the man but because I could tell from looking at the car that it was

ed?” The man asked cau

had noted the address immedia

e mobile app I felt relieved, at least there was a fi

new residence. I thanked the man and waved him off as he drove away. Come to

d more beautiful than in the photo my best friend had sent me. A duplex with of

had promised she would be in the house to welcome me. I walked over to the door and rang the doorbell

. I eagerly pulled my boxes inside, shut the door, and then

lower floor, the living room was designed with a green sofa with t

to the first floor, I carried one of my boxes up the s

ooms, there were three at one end, two facing each other with one

ye. I grinned as I picked up the framed photograph which contained a younger me with my friend, I

rs-by. I placed the framed photograph back

box in and placed my handbag on the naked bed. The room was spacious, and despite the fact that the bed wasn’t that larg

ing at the bottom of the stairs. One of them was easy to identify as her facial features hadn’t ch

ila

d as I turned

out a smile acting like I didn’t j

g about her remained the same, aside from her height as she was slightly taller than me, her face which seems to be a more mature version of her

d me from her tight embrace but continue

oo lon

n’t you

ght us out of our little conversation as I ti

ndy my girlfriend” My eyes widened in realization, I knew E

I returned the smile as Eva took my hand

,” awk

otioned for us to sit before

still spot the difference, Eva is Asian race and

had to speak up as I disli

lt uneasy by the way she fiddled

course of stud

” she repl

e wi

educed a bit which I was grateful for. She is Eva’s girlfriend and

bottle of beer in Eva's hand. She placed the d

dy too was i

ha

friend that just got out fro

hing to eat at home” My eyes flickered

to give her a beer”

th it…. Leila do you have an

to her

inned and gave

o you sugg

er something to

all eat together” I was tired but letting

diately, her behavior had cha

ed I smiled and watched Eva grumble