Oh God! What has she done?

You killed her

Look at blood all over her

She is mad

Lola!

Timileyin! Timileyin! She is not getting up! She is hardly breathing! You guys should pick her up!

Lola has gone mad!

They stayed away, many stayed clear of her however gazing at her with frightened eyes. She had not known what happened. She just did not know how it happened. Blood was all over her, she realised and the girl laid lifeless on the floor. What happened to her? Her hands, they trembled dripping with blood. The same blood splattered over her blanch face. A drop rolled down her cheek unto her stained school uniform. She shuddered with confusion. Her wide eyes scanned the blood that dripped from her hand. It ran over the floor that pooled with red. Her breathing came out faster, her heart pounding. What's happening to her?

Again, she saw the massacre cat. Blood. Blood all over her. Her parents' confused look. Her siblings terrified faces. The worry in her mother's eyes.

"Madam!" a voice called but it sounded distant. She drowned in the dark part of her life. "Madam! Madam!" the person shouted jerking her out of memories.

"Yes, what?" she snapped her head at the voice.

"Are you alright ma?" Sukanmi asked.

"I....I....." She stuttered. "Oh God" her shaky hands ran through her hair. She detested giving away what's wrong with her.

"You don't look alright? Is something wrong, ma?" he went over the table to meet her. His worried eyes watched her face. He noticed how pale she had turned and the sheen of sweat on her face.

"No, nothing is wrong. What can I do for you?" she smiled at him. He studied her face. Her smile was tentative, forced.

"This came in for you" he gave her a doubtful look as he placed a box on her table.

"What's that?"

"I don't know but a man delivered it" He lifted the box and kept it in front of her.

"Thanks, I will check it"

"OK" he turned to leave.

"Sukanmi" she called him back.

"A call came in today actually two" she got to her feet. "Both clients wants us to photograph their wedding ceremony. The thing about it is they are happening the same day including the introduction except the bridal shower, and rehearsal night. One of them have a pre-wedding party" She came out around the table. "They both have pre-wedding photo shoots in different locations" she exhaled. "That following Saturday, one of my grandmother's friend's grand-son's wedding is happening. His bride contacted me yester night. A friend of my father also want me to take pictures of his niece's wedding"

"That's a lot and busy week ahead"

"Yes" she smiled folding her hands over her chest.

"So what are we going to do?"

"We are dividing ourselves into two teams. You and two apprentices will be a team. I and Adesua, my brother, Samson will be a team. He is good with the camera" the thought of Samson gave her a smile. "Stella, Umar and Chima will help us out" she trailed off thinking about who to gather together.

"Alright ma'am" he beamed.

"A couple have a shoot by five. The location is Bar Beach. They met at the beach so they want their photo shoot to be at the beach" She rolled her eyes. Love story sucks. "I will get home late because I want to look around and get pictures of people"

He understood. She wanted to get emotions from those pictures, look at the pictures and tell the mood it emitted. Like the shoot they had in the morning, it was dark, mysterious. The fear could be felt. One reason he loved her was her professionalism in her job.

"Then we are good. I have printed the recent pictures of Gina's designs for summer. I will deliver them to the magazine today"

"Thanks Sukanmi. I wonder how work will be without you"

"My pleasure. I will take my leave" he threw her a smile and left.

She looked at the box on her table. A gift, she thought, who could have sent it? She reached for the white ribbon over it and loosened it. Her eyebrow had quirked when she opened the box. A pair of Jimmy Choo shoes winked at her. It was blue with straps, something she had seen before. Then it came back.

"I am in front of your apartment" His voice came over the phone

"Wow, so soon" She laughed, reaching for the curtain. She saw his car, a red Ferrari, parked across the street. He was looking up at her window. He saw her then waved. Lola smiled.

"I was around here when I called" Came his reply.

"Few minutes and I will be down" She ended the call and left the window.

As she had promised, she was crossing over the street, grinning at him few minutes later. The summer wind blew her hair around her face.

"Hello there" She greeted as she sat in the car. "How are you?" She tilted forward to kiss his cheek. "You smell nice" She husked out pulling away.

"For you"

Delight made her eyes shimmer. "So where are we going?"

He reached for her hand, his eyes bored into her. He looked at her like she was the best and most beautiful thing in the world. "It's a surprise but before then" He paused to take a bag from the back seat" "Have this?"

"What do we have in here?" She received the bag with a little twist of her lips.

"Have a look at it" He tilted his head a bit.

She did and in it was that same pair of blue Jimmy Choo heels.

Her breathing hitched. Lola jumped away from this box. This can't be possible. This should not be happening. These shoes.....that bastard of the past had given them to her before. Her fingers trembled, sweat broke free from her skin. A note sat next to the stiletto heels. She picked it up cautiously and read it content.

"J? Who is J?" she murmured turning to scan the paper if something else was there. Josh, the name drove into her mind leaving her lips in the tiniest of whispers. "That Idiot!" she bared her teeth, folding the papers and throwing it into the dustbin.

The shoes brought back unwanted memories. She was a shaking mess as she closed the box and shoved it under her table. She needs to discard it as soon as possible. Do Joshua know the implication of what he had done? She wiped a hand over her hot forehead.

The ringing tone of her phone sliced through her train of thoughts. She picked it from the table, frowned at the unknown number before answering the call.

"Lola Kola-Daisi speaking"

"You professional tone can make a man drool, Orekelewa"

"Do you ever learn?" she snorted.

"On such a lovely day, you entertained the thoughts of a busy man"

"Cut the crap! Where did you get my number?"

"I have my sources, Orekelewa" Asking him further questions won't make him talk.

"I got the gift you sent! Why will you send such gift to me?" She gripped the phone harder. "Send your address and you shall get it back. I don't want it" she walked over to her desk and leaned against it, feet crossed at the ankle. From inside, she looked out at the sky.

"What gift?"

"Don't play games with me Josh! The shoes you sent to me with a note!" Her shoulders were tensed and she was uptight.

"I am serious. I did not send anything" sincerity laced his voice.

"What?"

"You heard me Orekelewa. I did not send anything" She rubbed the top of her eyebrow, thoughts swirling in. Her face turned indecisive and for a moment, she stilled.

"Then who......" her voice turned sluggish as she looked at the box.

"Did you get a gift from someone?"

"Yes and......" she shut her eyes. Who sent her a gift? A coward who is a secret admirer? "Well" her voice became sharp again. "It is none of your business. What can I do for you?"

"I want to do a photo shoot"

"Why did you call me?"

"To book an appointment"

"Why me of all photographers?"

"Because I love your work"

"How did you know I am a photographer?"

"When you have a wonderful pretty woman as a grandmother, I tend to know everything about you"

"This is called stalking Josh"

"It isn't. It is getting to know a woman I will like to date from someone who is eager to tell me about her" her heart jumped.

"You are going crazy Josh"

"I think you made me that way"

"Shut up!" she breathe out. "I can't conduct your shoot. I will send someone to do that for you. Will you come to the studio or do you have a location?" she picked a paper and a pen. "Send your location to me"

"I want you to take shots of me. I do not want any of your employees doing it"

"Too bad I won't be available"

"Then when will you be available"

"For you, I do not know"

"That is because it is me. You do not want me to come close to you"

"Good thing you know"

"Well, I told you last time......"

"That you are not giving up"

"You remember" there was amusement in his voice.

"I have things to do Josh. You are disturbing me"

"So, I want a shoot this Sunday at different locations. The beach, the zoo, the....."

"Zoo?"

"Yes, I will like to have pictures with the king of the jungle" She laughed.

At the other end of the phone, he stiffened listening to her surreal laughter. His lips broke into a smile. He succeeded in making her laugh.

"That absurd Josh" she threw her head. A curl fell toward her face. She pushed it back. "With animals Josh?" he sensed the hilarity in that supple voice of hers, a voice that keeps ringing in his head since they last met.

"It is your customer's choice"

"I am expensive. Will you be able to pay me?"

"Let's see what happens"

"So Sunday by four? I will go to church and be back by twelve. I need to rest, eat lunch, and work a bit. What do you think?

It felt natural as if she had not thought about it. It was just something that flowed naturally. The conversation continued. If she had thought about it, he would hear the hesitation in her voice.

"It's alright. So four on Sunday. Where shall we meet?"

"I give you a call before then"

"OK, I....." she ended the called.

A smug smile formed over her face. He thought he was smart, trying to get a way to spend time with her. She knew how to put him in his place. After the shoots and she drops her charges, he would know she was not his type neither his class. He won't be able to pay then she would take the chance to tell him in a very hurtful way that he should search for his woman somewhere else. She slid into her chair picking the telephone on her table to call.

The box of shoe needs to be discarded. Whoever the coward was, he should walk up to her and stop sending gifts and mysterious messages. Someone picked up.

"Yes, ma" a voice spoke over the line.

"Come to my office" she said.

Stella walked in few minutes later. Lola had tune up the music floating from her laptop, allowing wizkid to put her in a happy mood.

"You called me ma"

"Pick the box. I am giving you those shoes" she said without sparing the girl a glance.

"Ma?"

"You heard Stella" she said in a bored tone. "Take the box. The shoes are yours" she had caught the girl's smile flatter and seen the delight that filled her eyes.

"Thank you ma! Thank you ma!" Stella appreciated snatching the box from the table.

"Just leave" she threw a hand at the girl.

"May God bless you ma"

"Just leave" she exhaled picking her phone to make a call.

Her days are busier and stressful due to what she was planning. A call came in from someone wanting to be an apprentice under her. She was proud of herself, proud of the ladder she was climbing.

-----

The waves bowled in chaotic lace to crash violently against the golden shore before running back causing beads of water to squirt unto her bare feet. Her eyes were steady at the horizon, face barely glowing from the light that wavered around. The waves hummed into the night, their whispers supressed by the happy voices of people. Her eyes were dull. She sat tranquil on the gilded grain of sand, lost in thought. She enjoyed the way her hair danced to the frigid gale of air, caressing her face.

She glanced down at the camera trapped between her hands and continue to scroll through it. She came across a picture. It consisted of five friends, two guys and three girls. They were happy with no care of what the world entails at the moment. It reminded her of them, brought in a flood of unlimited memories. Two men, Seth and Cade, two amazing pretty women, Kelly and Aretha.

Kelly, the blond with eyes like two sapphire dropped in milk. Aretha, the black American. Two women who had given her memories and moments she will grasp unto. Seth, the Irish play boy prince from old money and Rob, the cute nerd studying medicine. She kept her camera next to her and took out her phone from the sling bag in hand. Sliding through, she got where she wanted.

Five friends with different dreams. Aretha was the most ambitious who wanted to work to no end to get money. Kelly was the crazy one with the tattoos, the guitarist who was studying music, an aspiring rapper and her, the aspiring photographer. They all beamed at the camera with different cups of ice cream in hand. Seth had his boyish smile on and Rob with his glasses.

She had to shut them out. She had no choice. In order to forget that life she lived, she had to push them away. She knew she had offended them, hurt their feelings and make them feel worthless but she never meant any. It was a way to forget a life she regretted living. When she was coming back to Nigeria, she had not told any of them. She left without a notice, changed her contact and started another life in Nigeria. Another person came into her mind, her mother. She left for Abuja that morning. She decided to call her.

"Hello, Apeke mi (my Apeke)" her mother's voice came from the other end of the phone.

"Momma, how are you?"

"I am fine. Is there any problem?"

"No, I missed you and just want to talk to you" Cynthia chuckled. Lola ran her finger over the sand to form shapeless patterns.

"Are you home already?"

"No. I am at Bar Beach"

"By this time. It is late dear. Why? You should leave for home. You know how dangerous Lagos is at the moment"

"Mummy, you worry too much. It's still buzzing here. I will be fine" Lola chuckled. "How is work?"

"It's fine and moving perfectly. I should be back tomorrow or next tomorrow"

"I miss you already"

"I miss you all dear"

"OK. I want to leave for home" she got up collecting her bag, shoes and camera.

"Alright. Good night dear. I love you"

"Love you too"