I do and I do

1| The first time he saw her

Gently, he released his hands off her and took a step back. "Are you alright?" He felt the need to ask and waited for a reply. Still, none came through from her. She simply stared at him; her confused state even more evident.

He stole a quick look at the bus, the conductor was yelling that there was space for one more passenger. That was him. He could make it home on time. But he looked at her once more and she'd shifted her gaze elsewhere, worry and confusion still wearing on her face as she casually rubbed her temple.

You can't help everyone. Sarki's words repeated once more and thus began his dilemma.

"Are you lost?" He asked, in the end giving into his desire to help. Her lips slightly parted, somewhat ready to speak. Yet, nothing came through and she let them touch once more.

"Do you need help?" He made another attempt to get her to speak. Her brows furrowed deeper as her gaze matched his. Then, he watched her gulp.

"I'm hungry." Her words came out a little low and rough. Her desire finally displayed in her eyes. He was a little taken aback as he hadn't expected that reply. So, he remembered the bananas he'd gotten earlier and handed them over to her. She accepted right away, wasted no time in picking out one to peel open and began feeding on, before moving on to the next. Clearly, it has been a long time since she ate something. Adedayo looked one more time at the bus and someone had hurried in, the conductor got in and they were driving away. He ran a hand over his face in a slight frustration.

"Are you waiting for someone?"

She swallowed the lot in her mouth and spoke. "Water."

"Water." Adedayo repeated and as she pointed, his eyes followed the trader a bit further behind him who'd positioned herself at a very spot. Bottles and sachets of water, soft drinks were her goods. "Water." He repeated again, this time, now having understood her. So, he walked up to the seller and she followed suit. Then, he watched as she gulped down almost half of the water and a sigh of satisfaction followed after she was done.

This time, he wasn't sure what to ask next. He knew he needed to say something really soon but he also wasn't sure if she was now prepared to mentally give him some replies.

"Do you have enough money to go home?"

She shook her head and he wasted no time in reaching for his wallet in his briefcase. There were three five hundred naira notes left and he knew deducting even a five hundred from that might have a backlash for him but he did it anyway.

"You can have this. It's not much but it should do." He explained and attempted hurrying off to catch the next bus that just stopped. She was quick to hold on to his arm which made him look back at her, surprised by her action.

"I... I don't know where to go." She said as her hands loosely fell away from his arms. Her voice was better than he had unwillingly expected and this time, his brows squeezed together in the period of the moment.

His lashes battered countlessly for a split second. "You know your way home... right?"

There was hesitation then she shook her head.

This time, a deeper frown played on his face. "Um, do you atleast recall an address or perhaps anyone you can call to come pick you up?"

Her posture was paused for a minute and her eyes steadied with his again. "No."

Adedayo stared at her; taken aback by the situation. A thought flew into his mind. He doesn't know her and she doesn't know him. They were strangers to each other and no one would scold him for walking away right now. Yet, Adedayo couldn't do it. Not the way his sense of reasoning suggested. His feet felt glued to the floor and his heart tugged at the thought of how helpless she must feel.

"Do you... do you have anywhere else to go?"

She shook her head, confusion dancing across her face. "I don't know. I... I can't remember."

Adedayo's eyes widened for an instant, not having expected that sentence.

"You don't remember?"

"No." She replied after a slight hesitation.

"Your name. Do you remember your name?"

He watched as she tried hard to recollect her memories, her brows squeezing further together in frustration and her orbs shifting in a steady left and right. Finally, they were back on him. Her eyes wide in a certain realisation. Adedayo hoped it meant eureka, so she remembered her name. Unfortunately, that would be far from the case.

"I don't remember that either." She confessed and unknown to him, a sigh escaped through the slightly parted space between his lips.

Now, he was sure he wouldn't be able to leave her on her own.

Thank you for reading! Don't forget, comments and votes are appreciated.