Forever mine Chapter Three: The Hazel Incursion

La Tour D’Argent

Paris, France

He was tall, his lustrous dark-skin telling tales of his deep Northern roots. His eyes were a sharp hazel color, soft yet holding the intensity of twilight. His dreadlocked hair was packed neatly into a ponytail, with a few side locs cascading down his broad shoulders. His trimmed beard was neatly carved, his sideburns faded and lined to perfection.

His expression was difficult to read. Abigail looked into his eyes, but they said nothing. However, they had always been good at keeping secrets. He wore a familiar crooked smile, one she never thought she’d see again.

“Hello, Coco.” He greeted. His tone was perfectly clear, holding no gall, yet it sent shivers down her spine.

Coco. That name was from another lifetime.

Abigail forced a brief nervous tight-lipped smile. She gave him a quick once-over, noticing his rich yet ominous choice of clothing.

His well-tailored suit was the color of the night, hugging his frame and accentuating his broad shoulders and athletic frame. The dark crimson red shirt within peeked through, it’s subtle hue radiating against his dark complexion. On his neck hung a polished saber-tooth pendant necklace, adding to his ominous allure. The dark voguish shoes on his feet shone under the ornate lights.

“Zamani. Wow, you look… different.” She managed to say, the history between them choking her words.

He smiled and spread his arms, shrugging in agreement.

“What can I say? God has been good to me.”

God. Her brows furrowed in suspicion.

“So ummm… w-what are you doing here?” She asked, nervously taking a sip of her wine.

“Do you mean, in this restaurant or in France?” He asked, feeling slightly amused. She was uneasy under his steady gaze. He liked it.

“Umm…how about both?” She replied, half-glancing around for her husband. Jacob, where are you?

Zamani grabbed a glass from a nearby table. He gently lay hold of their bottle of Chardonnay, his eyes half-asking her for permission. She obliged with a reluctant nod. He poured himself a decent glass, and downed it before her eyes.

“Mmmm. This is good stuff.” He commented, smacking his lips in delight.

Her eyes danced a little over his athletic frame again. He had gotten bigger. Bulkier.

“I was invited for an Art exhibition here in Paris.” He explained, the glass still his hand.

“Really?” Abigail asked in surprise. He nodded.

“Over the past couple of years, my paintings have gathered some attention in the art community, only locally. But two months ago, I got a call from an international contact, inviting me to an art exhibition here in France. He said he’d seen my work and he was sure that my art would sell millions here, so I took him up on the offer.”

Abigail could hear the pride in his voice. She remembered all the nights he’d spent working on his paintings, drowning in self-doubt and pain killers. However, most of those nights ended up with him high on drugs, and eventually, passed out either on the couch or on the floor in their living room. The battle between Zamani and depression was a nasty one, and she was always caught in the middle of it. But the man standing in-front of her looked very different from the one in her memories.

“I’m happy for you…” she managed to say, forcing another tight-lipped smile.

Zamani smiled and pulled out a card from his jacket, handing it over to her.

“The showing’s tonight. I’d like it if you were there.” He said, his tone growing soft.

Abigail took the card, glancing over the inscriptions. A knot formed in her gut.

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.” Abigail said, her eyes searching his hazel gaze again. Still nothing.

“Why not?” He asked, feigning innocence.

“You know why, Zamani. Let’s not pretend like there isn’t an elephant in this room.” She replied tersely.

Zamani’s crooked smile disappeared. He raised his head, pushing one hand deep into his pocket. The intensity of their stares seized the air between them. She kept looking into his hazel eyes. They burned with something she couldn’t quit figure out. It wasn’t anger. In fact, there was no animosity, no hatred, no resentment, but they certainly burned with something.

Abruptly, he burst out a light-hearted laugh, catching her off-guard. He gave her a tight-lipped smile.

“Coco, this doesn’t have to be awkward.” He said.

“You’re sure?” Abigail asked, still feeling uneasy.

Zamani lowered himself and placed a hand on her shoulder. His hazel gaze held her curious stare.

“Water under the bridge…” He said, the crooked smile returning.

Abigail looked at them one last time. There was still nothing in them. She pursed her lips, slowly nodding to him.

“What’s going on?”

Zamani raised himself and turned to see Jacob’s eyes glaring into his.

“You must be the husband.” Zamani said, extending a hand-shake.

Jacob didn’t take it. He just glared at him, his eyes nearly boring holes into Zamani’s soul.

“Abby, who’s this?” Jacob asked, his eyes still on Zamani. His tone was firm, his chiseled expression made of stone.

Zamani’s smile widened. He retracted his hand, pushing it back into his pockets.

Abigail’s lips parted but no words came. The temperature in the room had dropped, and the hairs at the back of her neck stood.

Their face-off was short but very intense. Jacob did not know who he was, but his entire being screamed that he was trouble. His body stiffened, watching this mystery of a man smile at him.

“My apologies for the intrusion. I’m just… an old friend. I’ll be leaving now.” He said with a small grin. He gave Abigail a quick friendly nod and slowly walked past Jacob.

Jacob’s eyes followed him until he walked out of the restaurant. He breathed out, his expression still grim.

“Who was that?” He finally asked, taking his seat.

“Umm… that was Zamani.” Abigail replied hesitantly, her throat feeling dry.

“…and who’s that?” Jacob asked again. Abigail breathed, placing a hand on her forehead.

“Remember the ex I told you about? The one before I met you?” Abigail asked.

Jacob raised a curious eyebrow. “That’s him?”

Abigail nodded, fumbling with the card he gave her. She slid it over to her husband.

“Here. He has an Art exhibition later tonight. He wanted me to come…”

Jacob took the card, glaring at it. He looked at his wife, studying her expression. She looked uneasy, rattled even.

He paused, allowing his thoughts roam for a while, staring at the card with great scrutiny. Abigail bit her lower lip, watching her husband mull over it.

Jacob tore the card abruptly, dropping the pieces on the table.

“We’re not going.” He said. His tone carried a sense of finality.

Abigail’s eyes rested on the pieces of the card. She pursed her lips, confused about what to think. He seemed harmless, but those golden-hazel eyes held something. They had to, after how their last meeting had ended.

“Please, let’s just get back to our evening…” Jacob said, pulling her out of her muse. His tone had grown soft again.

She gave her husband a smile, reaching for his hand.

“Sure thing, baby.”

~~~~~~~~

Five years ago…

Isale-Eko, Lagos state

4:30pm

Ominous clouds hovered over the slums of the Marina. The landscape had gone dark, pushing the whole area into shades of gloom. The winds became rough, blowing away anything it could carry. People rushed out to the clothing lines, desperate to protect their clothes from the blustering gale.

In an instant, the rain descended, crashing heavily against the cluster of corrugated zinc rooftops. Abigail leaned against the netted window frame, watching the little yard children dance naked in the pelting rain. She envied their kind of freedom; they took thought of nothing. They had no thoughts that kept them up at night, no pressures from life, no burden of expectation on their shoulders, no regrets that haunted them everyday.

Her mood waned further, being reminded of her ill fortune. She was orphaned, losing both parents at fifteen to a horrific car accident. She had no siblings, no accessible relatives, no experience of being catered for. Her aunt who had taken her in then, had barely managed to push her through school. The moment she was done with university, she was left to fend for herself.

Abigail stared deeply into the open, her thoughts now louder than the rain. She had made lemonade out of every single lemon life had given her. She was sure there wasn’t any more left. She’d done everything; Hairdressing, cleaning jobs, tailoring, baking, and she still could barely afford the small two-room apartment she lived in. Her dream to become an investigative journalist was now nothing more than a fool’s dream. None of her job applications had pulled through. She had no immediate relations that cared enough to help, no friends to offer a hand.

The future looked bleak, especially now with him in her life. Renewed anger surged beneath her dull expression, nearly contorting her face. All he did was lock himself up in a dark room, smoke weed and pass out. The stench of his filth constantly filled the entire apartment, an incessant reminder of the prison she called a relationship. He was dead weight, thrust upon her shoulders by the demands of sentiment.

Someday, she would have to let him go, even if it meant breaking her own heart in the process. At least, she would finally be free to pursue the new found desire of her heart; The call that had burned in her heart ever since she had been approached by those heavenly emissaries of truth. Their words had sparked up hope, something she hadn’t felt in eons.

“…eternal love has come to you, and He is knocking on the door of your heart. If you let Him in, He will move in with a promise never to leave you. You will have peace that passes human understanding, the kind the world does not give, the kind that comes from knowing you are right with God. All you need to do, is believe our report of His death and resurrection. We stand before you as an outstretched arm from the Lord Jesus to you. Will you believe Him? Will you trust our report?” They had preached.

Her heart warmed, remembering those words. Too stunned to give an answer, she had left them on the road, but their words never left her heart. Those words held the glimmer of hope she had searched for all her life. With everything she’d been through, she had been convinced that God didn’t love her, or at least didn’t care so much. Hearing those words put a dent in that philosophy. For the first time, she felt like God had noticed her.

“Yo, Coco?”

She hadn’t heard when he came into the living room. Her eyes narrowed in irritation, perceiving the horrid stench that followed him around like a phantom. She ran her fingers through her braided hair, grimacing as she turned to face him.

He had sunk unto the couch, his dull expression testifying of his semi-stoned state. His eyes were heavy, plagued by dark circles underneath. His dreadlocked hair hung tangled like wild vines in a jungle. She watched him take a long drag from the cigarette, slowly puffing the smoke through his mouth and nostrils.

“What’s up with you?” Zamani asked, noticing her long face.

Abigail averted her gaze, her eyes beginning to glisten.

“Nothing.”

Zamani watched her for a while, struggling to make sense of her expression. She had been on and off like this for the past two weeks. It was unusual, but he had resolved to let her be. Perhaps, it was that time of the month again. He took another drag, watching the smoke billow around him.

“When is it all going to stop?” Abigail asked tersely, her gaze toward the window.

Zamani’s brows narrowed. He slowly propped himself up on the couch. “What do you mean?”

“I’m mean this.” She replied, gesturing to the cigarette in his hand. “The weed, the drinking, all of it. When is it going to stop?”

Zamani stayed quiet for a while. He understood the question, but struggled to answer.

“Since when did all that become a problem for you?” He asked.

She sighed, her exasperation beginning to show. She bit her lower lip, trying to choose the right words.

“I guess the better question is ‘why didn’t it bother me since?’” She muttered softly, turning back to the window.

Zamani’s lips twisted to the side. He stared at the cigarette for a while, then put it out on a nearby ash tray. He inched forward, rubbing his face.

“Coco, w-where is all this coming from?” He stuttered, his speech a bit slurred.

Abigail rubbed her temples, the words rushing to her lips. “I’m tired, Z. I just want a normal life. A good life. One where I’m satisfied.”

Zamani’s gaze softened, feeling the sting of guilt. He sighed softly, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“Coco, I know things aren’t exactly great right now. But I promise you, you’ll get the life you deserve. My Art is picking up. Soon, I’ll buy you all-“

“That’s not what I meant.” She interjected, turning to face him.

Zamani’s confused look returned. “Then, what are you saying?”

“I want something beyond all that, Z. I don’t quite have the words to explain it, but it’s something that’s keeping me up at night. For days, it’s been burning in my heart. Somehow, I just feel… this call coming from within. Everything around us has just been feeling… wrong.” She began.

Zamani slowly sank back into his sat, his confusion increasing. He listened, but couldn’t understand a single word she was saying. A call from within? Burning desire? He half-wondered if she was high too. But she held no cigarettes. She hadn’t smoked in a long while.

“I just want to be happy. I want to know what that feels like. I want to have peace, I want to have hope that doesn’t go away. I want to be at rest. I mean, yes, I want my life to be better but after that, then what? That can’t just be it. There has to be something much more than this endless pursuit for a better life that we may never get. There has to be something beyond this endless cycle of smoking, drinking, and mindless sex.” She explained, passion dripping from every syllable.

She tilted her body towards him, gazing deep into his dim hazel eyes with a sad smile.

“I think I want to go back to church, Z. I want to experience what those people told me. They said I would find rest. That I would find peace. I want to know what that feels like.”

There was silence, the sound of rain filling the void. Zamani stared at her, his facial expression completely blank. Suddenly, he burst into fits of derisive laughter.

Abigail frowned, her annoyance resurfacing. “What’s funny?”

The laughter stretched on for an awkward amount of time, nearly taking a scornful shape. After a while, he propped himself up again.

“Gosh, you are a case. Who knew you were so good at spoken word?” He said, laughing again. When she didn’t laugh along with him, he realized that she was dead serious.

He raised a curious eyebrow, then inched forward on his seat. “Wait, let me get this straight. You’re serious? You? Want to go to church? Asin, the church of our Lord Jesus Christ?” He asked, his tone mixed with shock and subtle ridicule.

Abigail averted her gaze, the scorn in his voice piercing her heart.

“Why’s that such a big deal?”

Zamani blinked in disbelief. He stared at her, wondering if she had taken a blunt without him knowing. Coco, in church? He started giggling again.

“Why are you laughing? What’s so funny?” She asked, glaring at him.

“Because, it’s funny! I mean, you have to admit. Now, I know I haven’t exactly read the Holy Book for ages now, or ever, but I’m pretty sure we’re not the kind of people the ‘Big Guy’ wants to see.” He replied, pointing to the ceiling.

“His name isn’t ‘Big Guy’. It’s Jesus. And you’re only saying that because you haven’t heard what I’ve heard. You have no idea what His message is.”

“Sure I do. Watch…” He said, then assumed a ridiculous posture. He cleared his throat. “Hear ye, all ye people of the earth! Change your ways, keep my impossible commandments or else, dracarys.” He gesticulated with a mocking voice.

“Stop that. That’s not His message.” She sighed, rubbing her temples in exasperation.

“Oh, so you’re a preacher now? How wonderful!” He snickered.

“Would you stop it, Zamani?!” Abigail screamed, her voice booming across the room. She watched his crooked smile disappear. He had inched backward, her tone startling him.

“I’m trying to have a serious conversation with you, but you’re hell-bent on acting like a child! For God’s sake, is everything a joke to you?!” She yelled, rising from her chair.

“Look, I get it. You grew a conscience. Good for you! If you want to run along and play Christian, be my guest! Just leave me the hell out of it, okay?” He retorted, his countenance turning dark.

“God, you’re so insufferable.” Abigail huffed, madly running her fingers through her hair. She began to pace, trying to stifle her anger.

“And you’re incredibly naive, Coco. Look at you, thinking that people can change, thinking that you can change. That’s why all of this is crazy! I’ve accepted you for who you are, and you’ve done the same for years. But just because you came across two religious fanatics that have filled your head with nonsense, I’m suddenly too much to handle!” He yelled, rising up from the couch.

Abigail felt a slight twinge of guilt. She sighed, rubbing her forehead with her palm.

“Look, I never said that, Z. I just-“

“-Just what? Just what, Coco?! All of a sudden, my smoking and drinking have become a problem for you. You’ve been clean for only what? Like two months? And now because you’ve suddenly grown a conscience, you think you can judge me from your high horse. You are such a hypocrite, and even worse, a selfish person.”

Selfish…

Abigail’s brain stuttered. Her head turned toward him slowly like a faulty swivel, her wide eyes brimming with rage. Her breathing slowed, the weight of her emotions on her chest. The sheer audacity.

“How dare you?” She breathed, her hunched frame exuding animosity. “You live in my house! You eat my food! You sleep on my bed! And you have the balls to call me selfish?”

Zamani’s eyes dimmed. His rage abandoned him. He took a step back, averting his gaze.

“Sho ti ya werey ni? Are you mad? Let me ask you something, Z. Who got me to start drinking in the first place? Huh?! Who bought me my first pack of cigarettes?!”

Zamani stayed quiet, his feet set in concrete, watching her inch closer to him. Her voice had started breaking, her steps like an incensed wolf cornering its prey. Tears rolled down her fury-glazed eyes unhindered.

“You’ve forgotten, abi? How I consistently emptied my savings into your rotten business deals, only for you to gamble or spend all the profits on cheap drugs?! You don’t remember? Answer me!” She yelled, pushing him in the chest.

“So what, you’re blaming me for how your life’s turned out? Is that it?” He asked, catching both her hands, the fire in his eyes rekindling.

“No, I blame myself. I actually hold myself accountable for every single decision I’ve made because they were my decisions. But what I won’t do, is take responsibility for all the rubbish I’ve had to deal with because of you! You know, If you’re looking for someone to blame for your own miserable life, I suggest you look in the freakin’ mirror!” She screamed, pulling her hands out of his grip.

“Coco-“

“I’m not finished! You prance around blaming everyone but yourself for all you do. You think you’re the only one life’s been unfair to? Get in line! Get your act together! I’m sick of your dead weight around this house. Get a job! An actual job! Instead of locking yourself in a dark room smoking to oblivion, and painting things nobody’s ever going to buy!”

Zamani’s eyes narrowed. The words cut deep. He clenched his jaw, the wicked words gushing to his lips without thought.

“Well, at least, I have the courage to pursue my dream. I’m not the one who’s confused, who’s constantly changing careers like toilet paper! What have you achieved with all you’ve done?! Huh?! Absolutely nothing. You’re just mad at me because you can’t face the truth! Somehow, you’ve realized how meaningless your life has been and now you want to project all that on me!”

The silence in the room was deafening. Murmurs of thunder echoed in the distance, announcing the line he had crossed.

Abigail’s lips parted in shock but no words came. She moved away from him, too stunned to speak. She hugged herself, lowering her head as the tears flowed freely. The chasm between them grew in seconds.

Zamani’s gut churned with instant regret. He sighed and shut his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose in rue. His arms flailed about, from his head to his shorts, unsure of what to do. They had always fought, but not like this. This was different.

Pursing his lips, he reached out to hold her.

“Look, Coco, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean-“

“-Get out.” She muttered quietly, avoiding his touch.

Zamani paused, retracting the outstretched arm. He nodded, turning to leave the room.

“Fine. I’ll come back later to check-“

“No. I mean leave this house. Pack up your things and leave.” She repeated, her tone carrying more finality.

He fell silent. The words dazed him. He turned slowly, the look of disbelief plastered on his face.

“W-What do you mean, ‘leave this house?’” He stuttered, his voice revealing subtle hurt.

Abigail didn’t respond. Her head was still lowered but the flow of tears had ceased.

“C’mon, Coco. Y-You don’t mean that…” He said, his tone soft, hoping she wasn’t serious.

Abigail raised her head, her eyes now as clear as her decision. She moved closer to him, her expression devoid of emotion.

“I’m done, Z. All of this? Done. I want you out.”

Zamani watched her walk toward the door, his heart twisting horribly.

“W-Where am I supposed to go? I don’t have anybody else, Coco. You know that. It’s just been the two of us. It’s always been the two of us. W-Why would you want to kick me out? Is it because of what I said? Look, I’m sorry. I crossed a line, I know. I’m sorry. Just, please don’t-” He stuttered, feeling the pain in his chest rising. His voice had started breaking.

“I’m sorry, Z. I just can’t do this anymore…” Abigail replied weakly. She felt drained, unable to process anything she was feeling.

“So, That’s it? After everything we’ve been through, you’re just going to kick me out? With no place to go? This is how you want to end our the story? With you abandoning me? Just like everyone else? After everything?” He asked, the pain and disbelief in his voice unhidden.

Abigail paused, her hand resting on the door knob. She knew he had nowhere to go. He had nothing, no one. He was like her, maybe that’s why they fell in love. However, she had to let him go. She had to be selfish just this once. Her lips quivered, feeling the weight of her decision.

“I want you gone by morning. You can sleep on the couch.” She said finally.

The sound of the door shutting behind her struck Zamani’s heart. The future suddenly blurred into a dark hole, sucking every wisp of hope out of him. He stood there, watching the door, hoping she would come back and say she was joking. Denial wrapped its cold arms around him. The air become thin, refusing to enter his lungs.

He shook his head, the silence in the room pushing him further into delirium. His eyes moved around the room, as though the furniture would tell him that it wasn’t real. It couldn’t be. He loved her. She loved him. He fell to the couch, staring at the walls for an explanation.

He waited until night on the couch, hoping, praying that she would come back in. She always did, then they would talk things through and everything would go back to normal. But she never came back. The silence in the room pushed him into acceptance. It finally dawned on him. The one person in his life, the one person who had held his hands, had just walked out on him. He was alone, for good.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Hi guys! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. It got a little tense, didn’t it? What do you think of Zamani? Let me know in the comment section 👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾