The Void Between Hearts ~~ongoing~~

41. Boma

This chapter is dedicated to 9ja_green_ink & fortunemitchell2003

The void between Everything...
Everything is going to be alright.
Take great comfort in those words,
regardless of if they prove true, or otherwise.
In small moments of serenity such as this,
Do not question the mistakes, or the wrong choices, or the uncertain future.
Just affirm, and affirm again,
"Everything is going to be alright."

~◇~◇~

I look longer, before placing my head back on his chest. Somehow, listening to his beating heart fills the gap between my skipped breaths.

A few moments after, I close my eyes and allow myself to really believe that he's alright. We both look up when someone knocks on the door.

Michael saunters in, hands tucked in his pocket. "Uhmm, Ivan's mom is on her way here." He says.

I turn around to look at him. He sighs as I drop a short kiss on his forehead. I allow the kiss linger, soaking up as much of his scent to last me till I visit tomorrow. When I stand up, he takes hold of my hand and says, "I love you, Boma."

"Cool." I reply, glancing shortly at Michael who is lost watching us, then back at Ivan, who looks like he's about to cry.

I smile, coaxing him into letting go of my hand. He whispers bye as Michael and I walk out of the door, shutting it as quietly as possible.

We walk through the hallway in utmost silence, observing the serenity that accompanies being advantaged and sick. As we round the corridors into the VIP parlour, I'm not surprised by who we come face to face with.

It's a weird moment of silence, my thoughts aren't processing much, and from the look on her face, she's also having a moment of blank space. The soldiers behind her make such a mockery of the situation. Her son almost killed himself, and here she is, flaunting security.

We should have taken the other route.

"Boma." She finally breaks the silence. Her voice is cracked, but still, it carries a certain density, similar to the voice of staunch, wealthy, english women. Like people who have spent a lot of years drinking chamomile or jasmine tea, reading victorian novels, and absorbing sunlight in weird large straw hats.

As she pulls me into a hug, I feel my body stiffen. Her perfume has an acrid citrusy smell, surrounded by a hint of rose or lavender, it's hard to tell over the loud citrus. I watch Michael snicker silently when she starts sobbing.

"I'm so sorry about the other day. I was so ashamed that I couldn't come to see you."

See me? Yeah right.

"That's fine. I'm alright now." I reply cautiously.

"Have you seen him?" She pulls a piece of finely folded white handkerchief from her recherché leather handbag, dabbing her eyes gently, like any added pressure could cause her skin to crumble.

"He's waiting. " I reply.

"Alright. " she pats my cheek before marching on with her soldiers.

I call out to her, "Mrs. Adebayo, please don't say anything harsh to him, he's still quite fragile. "

I feel her gaze linger on me, as I walk off with Michael who can't stop snickering.

"What!" I finally ask him, infuriated by the snickers