My Visions Dissipates Into Reality, as I fight to wake up. My childhood friend shows my teenage self, a scar and tells me to touch it. It looks fresh and a part of me tells me not to touch anything, anyone. Or I will forever be lost in this dream world and definitely meet my end. The grim reality of the situation makes my friend desperate and she grabs my arm. It's not her anymore, but a young man I crushed on as a teenager. His beautiful smile showing off perfect dentition made me feel all warm and fuzzy. He is the one I wished I walked up to and embarrassed myself by confessing my crush and asking him how his uniform stayed uncreased even at the end of the day. His dark even skin and deep brown eyes made me relax my arms and stretch. But even now, decades later.... I knew that, that was not me.
I treasure my personal space and looked in your eyes and at your response before I encroach the precious three feet circumference around you. He didn't and his arms expose hidden exoskeletons that move an inch towards me. His teeth seem to grow and canines start to look like fangs and as he tried to hug me, I flinch and jump backwards. And my bronze shield appears and merges with me and becomes me, we are one and we defend all I stand for and as my posture becomes erect and upright....
The air was clean and the cool cold rain breeze filled the air. There was a feeling, like I get when I have a short nap in a long haul flight. I was awake and not alone.
I had the flat fibre pillow in my hand and stagger, the way my eyes adjust and stare ahead was odd. I was trying to connect my dream location to this one. And I was a bit confused, nothing looked familiar or made sense. Where was I?
I slowly drop my tired arm and turn to my quiet audience. Ajoke seemed a little scared and I think she is on a video call with Celine. Celine waves as if to check if I was awake and my eyes hurt, so I blinked.
'No sudden movements', Ajoke adds trying not to move her lips.
'I am awake', I add an collapse on the bed.
I was exhausted and cold and then I search for the source of that beautiful coffee aroma. I was tired, so I moved in leaps and slower. It feels like I am still sleeping.
'Ade, are you really awake?'
Celine sounds worried.
I sip some coffee and then stare at Ajoke.
'No vex, I can tell it's foam latte and the face looks more like Ashabi's than yours...'
'She is awake', Ajoke snaps snatching the hot drink from me.
'What?', I ask a little confused and dodging hot spills as she did.
'Ade, you were sleepwalking'
'Celine please', I stop her and try to get the foam latte back.
Ajoke stops me and hands me her phone, I stare at it. Ajoke grabs it and plays the recording of me sleepwalking.
It is the weirdest video I have ever seen, I was normal for most of it with me moving a little awkward and swaying between.
'I have started sleepwalking again', I grumble.
I massage my forehead and guilty Ajoke hands me back the foam latte.
I sip and savor it and then drift slowly into sleep again.
I wake up feeling like the blood flow in my legs had cut off. I was in an odd meditation pose in between the long and medium couch. I stretch and freeze because of the pain and eventually free my limbs and my body resumes it's normal blood flow.
'Ade are you sleeping at all?', Ajoke asked.
'Not really, I've had to take medication and I am off sleeping tablets for now. But I hardly sleep'
'You violently refused to let me help you stretch and sleep properly... Here'
Ajoke hands me another video.
'You have to stop filming me', I protest and watch.
'Then don't watch. Just delete and I will stop'
Ajoke tries to press delete and I send it to myself.
I stretch and yawn and go to the dinning table. There is a table set and I start to dig into the shrimp scampi with my fork and knife.
Ajoke gives me freshly squeezed orange juice and I smile.
'This was not my food'
Ajoke shakes her head.
'I ate your husband's food, Bala will kill me', I add massaging my forehead.
Bala walks in and looks at us as I watched him, I had no words.
'Dont mind Ajoke, I had dinner three hours ago. It's one o clock'
'But it's dark outside', I protest.
Since when does one look like eleven at night?
'Its night or should I say morning', Bala says grabbing a suitcase.
'i slept all day', I drag my sentence.
'Yep', Ajoke adds flinging her arms around her man in skimpy night wear.
'So my meeting will start soon, I don't want you distracting us..'
Bala said spanking his wife and waving good night as he leaves.
'So gist me'
'Ajoke about what?'
'How you and Daniel Ojora made up'
I roll my eyes at her and pour more juice in my glass cup.
'Nothing'
'Did you kiss Daniel?'
'Nope, he just missed me'
'And?', I had to shut her up and I knew just how.
'And did Celine tell you?'
'Tell me what?'
'About...'
'Oh yes, the entire family is here in Lagos for Valentine's day'
'That and....'
'And Alan too'
'But she knows I'm trying to set you up with Daniel'
'Na una sabi, I have plans for Valentine's day'
'Ade abeg enjoy the attention...'
'Who said I wouldn't?', I smile and crush on ice cubes.
Next week, I start a new chapter in my life. I enter a new year since I started penning down my experience in ADE'S JOURNAL. Things did get better and then worse and then it's picking up again.
Valentine's day is just two days before Nigerian's vote in a new president.
And for the first time in my lifetime, I am going to vote. I will be counted and make everything count, who I let in or keep out is my responsibility and business. Seeing Celine's call lights up my early morning and we talk and laugh until the sun comes up.
Our dreams have been delayed, but that's fine. Our friendship have been tested as expected and we are growing everyday and in every way.
Life is indeed beautiful and full of surprises, until it isn't. The shocking turn of events tests my strength of character and brings out the beast in me.
Here we go again . ....
**"ADE'S JOURNAL", Season 3, Episode 85**
*"ADE'S JOURNAL", 85, COPYRIGHT 2019**
**BUSOLA ELEGBEDE, COPYRIGHT 2019**
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