Tuesday 12 April 2011

LIGHTS OFF

There had been a snowstorm and a lot of flights were delayed that morning. Everyone on the plane looked so happy. It was the first flight to Nigeria.

As the plane was about to take off, Chioma closed her eyes. She began to think of how her week had unfolded.

Anthony broke up with her with an unbelievable line, “I don't think we are meant to be together, Chioma”. The truth was, he had found a new girlfriend.

Some days after, she had a fight with her flatmate. Chioma began to sleep with the lights on because somehow she could feel her father's presence in her room. And that was it.

Enoye, her flatmate, kept reminding her to switch off the lights to save energy until the fight broke out. The next day, Chioma called her Uncle, Paul. She asked him if she could stay in his house till her flight on Friday.

“Sure my dear, hope everything is fine?” he asked

“Yes uncle, everything is okay”

She packed her all her things. All she wanted was to go back to Nigeria and see her beautiful mother and little brother.

Uncle Paul is married to an English lady, Kim. Well, he did it to become a British citizen. Kim loved him so much that she wasn’t willing to let go after he got his papers. So they lived together in a three-bedroom house.

He was so nice and caring that she began to forget about Anthony, Enoye and was able to sleep with the lights off.

On Thursday, a day before her flight, Kim had gone to Leeds to visit her mum. Uncle Paul came back late from work that night whilst Chioma was asleep. He settled for a while, ate and went up to her room. He took off her duvet slowly. Then, he gently touched her legs, stroking his fingers to the middle of her thighs.

Chioma woke up in shock.

“Be quiet!” He exclaimed

“Uncle, No, Please!” Chioma pleaded…


“Would you like a drink?” a flight attendant asked Chioma

As she opened her eyes, tears rolled down her face.

“I’ll have a cup of water”

***