RELIEVED

Situations come and go and if you're still alive, then there is hope for a better tomorrow, after Chineye left I quickly picked up my phone to respond to the call, but realized that I had roommates and wouldn't want them to eavesdrop on my call.

I went out and downstairs to make the call, at first she never picked up, and the thought of not knowing what to tell her came ringing in my ear, I knew I had no idea on what to say, either for transport fare or condolences. just don't know.

In my deepest thought, I heard little voices speaking out louder and louder trying to get my attention, I was lost in my thoughts but those voices kept coming out clearer-

"Oh, hi mum!" Deep thoughts made me forget that I had already dialed her number and she had picked but I never knew.

"Sylvia, how are you? Are you Okay, when are you coming back?" she was asking as if she had heard or dreamt about me in any way, her words were suspicious.

Here I was thinking she knew about my hubby's mother-

"Hello? Sylvia, are you there?"

"Am here-e e-, a-am fine mummy and we are going for a break by next week, so I will be coming back next week" I was furious when I said that scratching my hair wondering if what I said would be acceptable.

"Okay, my dear I don't know what's going on with your hubby ooo, we went to your place but it seems no one has been there for long while, the house is empty and your neighbor one--one-" she stuttered trying to remember her name.

"Ngozi, mummy, is her name Ngozi?" I interrupted her, curious to know what she said.

"Yes oo, she said she hasn't seen your hubby for over two weeks now, and she just can't place his whereabouts"

Her words at that point never frightened me over my husband's whereabouts but when she made mentioned on she calling on my father-in-law, he didn't pick and they both (my parents) went to my in-law's place but didn't find him there, I became worried at that point. My mind became a sack of paper shredded in pieces at her words.

Where could he have gone to or where all these stories lie?

"Have you tried calling his line?"

"Yes Mum, and we spoke just yesterday about my coming back for the break".

"Okay, if you say so, but do you know where he is now?"

"He is at his parents" I was sure of that, my father-in-law can't lie about that, I said to myself.

"Okay, if you say so," she sighed

"Tsk, anyway your father wants to assist you with some money for your transport fare back home"-

"That-t-t's good" I was a shot of excitement, don't want to get so happy and make her feel otherwise.

My mum's intuition is so sharp, that even when you are lying about something, she knows you are, I took a shot sigh to catch some breath without raising any suspicion. I thanked her and my dad giving her hope of me coming back next week.

She ended the call with the knowledge of me receiving an alert anytime soon.

I was relieved, I felt elated knowing that one part of my discomfort was over, I walked back to my corner to relax but remembered that I needed to search for my group member, who introduced me to the premise.

I had been picking up various tasks but hadn't made any withdrawal, most were simple tasks to do just in the comfort of my bed.

Due to the recent update on Christmas break, students were finding it lazy to show up for lectures and lecturers too, the morning was almost far gone and no one was interested in going out, my group meeting would be up by noon, and I need to get myself prepared for it.

Sluggishly I tried climbing the staircase when I got an alert from my dad, it was an ecstatic feeling at that point, I was happy to see the huge amount sent to my account. At first, the taste of eating a good meal I felt but the thought of applying for the new hostel became another thought and also booking for my coming back, what a budget with less amount.

I decided to go see the admin officer know more about the new hostel, but what if the amount isn't affordable for me, that would be embarrassing on my path.

The scale of preference needed to be done at this point, I felt the need to know how much it would cost for the hostel and then transport. And so I had to call on Chineye for more information.

It was a bit expensive but the full payment won't be made now until next term, reinforcement they say we should deposit so the space would be made available, the list of persons on the list was much that even the dissuade thought I had left my mind and I never knew when I assigned my name on the list and paid some amount for reinforcement.

Chineye was helpful all this while, I had to give her back the money I borrowed and I tried describing to her the group member that introduced me to Premise, it was difficult for her to recognize her face, we were more than 20 and recognize one person in such a short while won't be possible, it was all to no avail.

We decided to wait during the group meeting, she would definitely be there.

"So, Sylvia, you have an Application on your phone that pays you and you never told me about it?" Chinese felt betrayed by her words, but I never wanted her to feel that way because it wasn't intentional.

"You no try, at all".

" Chineye, it isn't like that, I forgot to tell you, so many things on my mind"

"Hmmm, ok too, married woman with marriage wahala" she said that walking away from me.

She never knew she was right about her observation.