STARTLED

EPISODE FOUR

The next day was Friday. My flight was scheduled to leave by 12pm. It gave me enough time to prepare LJ for my journey. Sheryl offered to look after him as always. I didn't need to pack anything for him, LJ practically had a closet in Sheryl's. In fact, most people who didn't know us well thought Sheryl was his mom. The both of them were wonderful together. I decided to drive him to school before leaving.

The drive was unusually quiet. LJ was not a noise maker but he wasn't a quiet fellow also.

He sat,quietly strapped to the baby seat at the back seat . On normal days, he would sing or try to indulge me in a conversation. Today however, he was too quiet.

I parked the car right in front of the school gate.

"Baby, what's wrong? Are you ill?"

He shook his head.

" I didn't hear you. What did you say?"

He smiled. We had spoken about him not replying with nods.

"No"

" Then, what's bothering mummy's angel "

" I don't want you to travel. I want you to stay with me. "

I hugged him, tears flowing from my eyes.

" I'll be back tomorrow. Mummy just has to do some things, ok? I'll be back before you know it. What do you want me to get for you. Tell me"

His own tears started flowing.

" I don't want you to go"

I hugged him tightly. LJ always cried whenever I had to travel but he had never been this emotional or adamant. Most times, five minutes after I dropped him at Sheryl's, she would call to say he had calmed down. I always felt betrayed whenever that happened. Although, this particular case was quite uncomfortable, it really felt good.

" I love you baby. Always know that ok?"

He nodded.

I smiled.

Murtala Mohammed Airport.

Oh yes!!! Always busy. It's surprising the number of people that travel in and out of the country every single day.

I was thirty minutes early so I decided to try Detective Ifeanyi's line again. I had not been able to reach him since yesterday after we spoke. His phone was switched off. I tried again, it was still switched off. How could a detective's phone be switched off, it was really hard to believe. However, the things that happened in this country were amazing.

I sent Sheryl a message, telling her I was at the airport and reminding her to abstain from feeding LJ with anything sugary when she picked him up from school. She replied with a smiling emoticon .

I hated emoticons and she knew it. I just didn't know how people understood d what they represented. Sheryl said it was because I was dumb and took life too seriously.

My thoughts shifted to Lanre. Just five years ago, my whole world revolved around him. We were happy and in love. He was the last person everyone expected me to end up with. He wasn't wealthy or extremely handsome, or handsome at all. I remember Sheryl's reaction the day she met him.

"Babe, didn't get see those huge tribal marks. Kaii!!! No. I don't support it ooo. Abeg"

I remember laughing that day and assuring her that she would get to like him, which she finally did. Lanre had a charming personality. He was awesome, which was why nobody understood why anyone would want to harm him. When he disappeared on the day of our wedding, we waited for a ransom call which never came. I kept waiting for any news, any information. None of it came. Soon people began to forget about him. I couldn't, I became obsessed with finding him until two years ago when his parents had a funeral for him. They buried him without his body. They had given up hope. They claimed they needed to move on with their lives and advised me to do likewise.

I decided to. I dropped the obsession and decided to pay attention to LJ. Then Dan came along.

" Yes ooo, my dear. The man just died like that ooo... I heard he was sick before he even got into office sef. This country ehhh...God forbid."

" As in ehhh...but his wife sef, na so she like money? she shouldn't have allowed him to run for presidency naa"

The conversation of two women who sat on the same bench with me pulled me from my thoughts.

The death of the President was the news on everyone's lips. It was very controversial and I didn't want to get involved in it. I just accepted the fact that he had died. Maybe people should do the same and leave the game of politics to those it belonged to. Those like my dad.

My flight was announced. I was glad I was leaving the women behind. Just as I tried to get up, my phone rang. It was LJ's teacher and the only thing I heard was " LJ" and "collapsed ".