Dangling

♡

Rena's doctor had checked in at the Crawford Medical Institute and placed a call through to the house line.

That morning, she was with a skewer, three inches deep into a freshly baked loaf of bread from Mandy's.

Yea, she was no baker or culinary expert but derived such satisfaction from discovering each morning just how perfect Mandy's bakes were.

Just as she made slices of the warm bread, the house phone rang and she though reluctantly, dragged her slender self in those quick short strides over to the telephone.

"Hello?" She voiced as she placed the receiver to her ear, glancing at the neatly sliced pieces of bread ; satisfied.

"Dawson household?"

"Speaking."

"Can I please get Miss Rena Dawson on the line?"

"Speaking."

After her somewhat nasal-ish, somewhat soft yet anti-feminine voice sounded, there was a disturbing silence at the other end of the line.

"This is doctor Maxwell from the medical institute." A masculine voice softly stuttered- finally breaking the synapse.

"Oh, doctor." She cleared her throat. "Hi."

"Yea..." Another series of pin-drop silence followed, then the doctor finally spoke;

"How are you?"

♡

University of Crawford East or Crawford Arts was the only and most renowned arts university in town and due to this fact, introverted home-lovers like Rena Dawson had a greater advantage since they could go to school there from home.

Yea, even at age 23, she was anything but ashamed to do housesitting for her parents every blessed day- and she loved it!

Besides, since the pair was always so busy with daddy's church, there wasn't a candidate as qualified as herself; Jenna her genetic lookalike attended a college outside town and only visited when she was in a financial mess or missed home-cooking.

Either way, the answer was rarely because the girl was fiercely independent - it was becoming a problem too...

She never did ask for help.

On one of those good days when the mountains which stood in clusters afar off behind the school were foggy, the air was slightly chilly and the sun peeked in from admits cheeky clouds, Rena sat under an orange tree in the expanse of the school field, reading poetry- it was a classic by Shakespeare.

From a distance, a feminine figure clad in denim and a woven sweater marched towards her, clutching a brown leather tote and mustering a grin on her small round face.

"Nike," Rena called out.

"In the flesh." A brownskinned girl exclaimed as she neared, panting softly.

"I thought you had class."

"Sick leave jare."

Nike sat next to Rena and retrieved a medium-sized tub of yoghurt from her tote.

"Indeed, you look so sick to me. Let me check your temperature." She teased and playfully pinched her friend's neck.

"Yee!!! Leave me alone. Just say you want to beg and stop harassing me, joor."

"Me? Beg you?! Why will I beg you when I can just snatch it?"

Nike touched the tip of her tongue and pointed to the sky.

With a mouth full of yoghurt, she muttered a jumble of words that Rena didn't wish to care about.

In one swift motion, the latter robbed her counterpart of the tub of yoghurt and took off.

"Rena!!!" Nike screamed in a fit of annoyance mingled with the amusement her eyes lit up with and chased after Rena- the yoghurt thief.

♡

Rena and Nike sat together once again but at the former's mother's kitchen island.

'The Dawsons' was proudly carved on an open wall space at the left end of the kitchen right above the kitchen cabinet- Nike's eyes were judiciously fixed on it.

"Why?" She asked with a hint of amusement in her tone.

Rena was lost.

"Why what?" She asked; spreading her friend's slice of Mandy's loaf with Nutella.

"Who does that?" Nike's tone was soft and steady; laughter was evident as a glint in her eyes as she pointed at the family's name carved on the wall.

"You're sick. You know you're sick, right?"

"No, but seriously? Your family is so weird like guy..." she bit into the sandwich greedily.

"Don't call us the Churchsons." Rena spoke, melodramatically clenching her fists.

But nonetheless; "Churchsons .. ha ha," Nike spat out with a round of laughter.

"Renie," a masculine voice occupied the ambiance.

"Daddy," Rena squealed.

"Good day, sir." Nike scurried away from the table briefly.

"Yea, God bless you, my dear." Mr Bryan Dawson stood at the entrance of the kitchen with his extra large copy of the Holy Bible in hand, clad in a brown tux.

Rena rushed to embrace her father.

"How are you doing, my princess?"

"I'm fine. Where's mummy?"

"Mummy's over here," a feminine voice sounded. "Long, hectic traffic. Stuck in a piece of metal for hours..."

A lightskinned middle-aged woman pulled her weary self into the kitchen in a bubu gown, tugging a green leather purse and a shopping bag behind.

Her head was judiciously wrapped in a tiger skin print chiffon headscarf while the eoolen braids she wore cascaded down her back.

Rena rushed to help her mother with the load.

"Are these ours?"

"The groceries?"

"Yea."

"No, they're for the missionary. Tomorrow, you'll go to In & Out and get groceries for the house," Mrs Dawson spoke, scribbling down on a small note pad with heavy eyes and a pair of glasses which sat meticulously on her pointed nose.

Rena had inherited this feature from her mom, whilst her second had a wide flat nose like that of their father.

"Nike."

Mrs Dawson finally noticed the girl who sat unusually quiet at one end of the island- she had been calculating how she would chip into the mother-daughter conversation to pay her respects.

"Good day, ma."

"How are you doing, dear?"

"I'm fine, thanks."

"And your parents?"

"They are well, ma. We thank God."

Rena held back laughter.

Mrs Dawson glanced at her and left the kitchen shortly; then it was just the two girls.

"We thank God," Rena mockingly imitated her friend.

"What is wrong with this one?" Nike questioned and nursed a sharp hiss.

"But since when, now?"

"See, when in Rome, you act like..."

"Leave that thing." Rena teased. "I've started influencing you," she added.

"You wish." Nike retorted playfully.

"But you know its true."

Nike waved her hand melodramatically dismissing her counterpart's remark.

She walked over to the cabinet where the grocery bag lay and fished out a bag of chips she had been eyeing for a while.

"Nike!"

"Are you going to finish that?" She asked, pointing at Rena's sandwich.

She snatched it.

"Missionary food."

"Abeg leave that thing." She leaned in and asked in a whisper; "Does your mother want to cook? I never chop any better thing since morning, oh." Nike explained, devouring the sandwich and digging into the bag of chips.

"That is a mighty lie- you of all people."

"Take it or leave it, then. Have you taken them?..."

A panging silence drilled through the atmosphere right after Nike's question.

A mix of shock and unease washed over Rena. Her expression was frozen- bewilderment.

"Taken what?" She retorted.

"Rena, we're not going back to this."

"Then let it be!"

Nike put down the half-eaten bag of chips and stared intensely at her friend.

"What is wrong with you?" She sternly asked- her expression serious.

"Nike just ... leave me alone."

"And I won't," Nike fired back.

Rena breathed uneasily.

She paced about the kitchen, placing both arms over her head and down, and back on her head again.

"Nike," she called.

"Yea?"

"Nike."

"Hmm?"

"Leave..."

"What?! I should - I - I should leave your house?!" A wave of emotion washed over Nike;

She was hurt and angry.

"Yes," Rena replied, finally making eye contact but this time, her eyes were teary.

"I should..." Nike's voice trailed off in a whisper and she as well fought back tears.

Immediately, she pushed herself off the table and stormed off, shoving Rena aside.

"Bitch," she murmured to her hearing and left the kitchen.

Rena held herself self-pityingly and broke down sliding across the kitchen wall.

"She's the bitch; feeling like she's

doing me a favour. I don't need her," she murmured to herself. "I need God."

♡

It was about 7:00am; the early hours of the morning and the Dawson house was stiff silent.

Rena lay in bed that virgin hour, scanning her red, brick wall from the bed she lay on.

Her sullen eyes were firmly fixed on the wall at the other side of the bedroom- the tired eyes held something heavier than the bags beneath them and saw something beyond the brickwall she stared at.

Sunlight filtered in from her nude-coloured blinds and bathed her light brown skin as she laid among the lavender sheets- Still.

Completely still she laid, resembling her own ghost.

She leaned to the bedside, retrieved a handmirror and gazed into her reflection.

"I bet makeup won't cover this," she muttered to herself as she studied her swollen eyes and the dark circles they were adorned with.

"I look terrible..." she mused.

A soft knock sounded on her door. Her bare feet softly kissed the carpeted floor as she made for the door.

"Who is it?" She called out- her voice a bit more nasal-ish than usual.

"Rena, we're off to church." Her mother's voice faintly echoed at the other side of the door.

"Do you hear me, dear?"

"Yea..." her voice trailed off weakly.

Rena sat herself on the bed. Then, splashes of the previous night begun to wash over her.

***There she was sprawled on her bed; there was a storm outside.

The power was out; her room was darkened, only dimly lit by the rechargeable moonlamp at her reading table.

Flashes of lightning highlighted her figure in the darkroom, casting vigorous shadows on the brick wall.

Used tissues decorated the carpet at every corner as the thunder and heavy downpour masked her sobs.

"I'm tired!!!" She whispered. "Let me die," she chanted softly. "Take me already... why?... when?..."

Her strange prayer continued steadily until she fell asleep.***

It was quite strange how beautiful the morning looked after the storm and intriguing how pretty Rena turned out to be after each rough night- more mesmerising was the fact that her stunning look transcended mere makeup routines.

She slid into a pair of blue jeans and a green checked Tshirt- the shirt was Jenna's though. She had left it behind in Crawford with some of her belongings and being a fashion enthusiast, it was an advantage to Rena who wasn't too crazy about clothing and style.

She had a class scheduled for 4:00pm later in the day and recalling the disagreement that had occurred between herself and Nike the previous day, she felt guilty somewhere deep down inside her and blamed herself immensely and hoped to use the first half of her day to make up for it.

In her defence, she was defenseless. "She loves you like her own blood and she stuck to you like a fool." She muttered to herself, as she handed her bedroom key over to Joan.

"Mummy and daddy will be back by evening." Joan informed.

"Okay. Have a nice day," she smiled at the chubby, darkskinned housekeeper who had caught her talking to herself for the umpteenth time.

Rena held the wooden rail and hastily descended the short flight of steps.

"Rena," Joan called, causing her to halt midway.

"Yea?" She responded, looking over her shoulder.

"Are you okay?"

Rena paused and took in a deep breath, feeling a wave of unease.

"Yea." She smiled- that feigned smile; a dark blanket concealing the unspeakable.

"You know, I learnt something." Joan approached her, equally descending the stairs.

"What did you learn, Joan?" Rena asked in a jovial tone as though they were having a lighthearted conversation but the heaviness inside of Rena already densed the atmosphere.

"I learned ... that sometimes, its okay to not be okay."

Rena adjusted her posture; her back straightened as though she had been suddenly hit by something.

She clutched the small leather bag strapped to her upper body and painted the marble floor with her gaze.

"Thank you, Joan." She muttered and glanced at her wristwatch. "I want to leave now if you don't mind. Bye." She mustered that smile again and dashed out of the house.

"I'll be back before nightfall," Rena yelled right before the front door slammed shut.

♡

Now Rena knew Nike quite well and she knew what she liked, loved and went completely crazy over- the slightest things.

Yoghurt; Nike loved yoghurt to the moon and back but S'n'C yoghurt?- she went bonkers over it!

S'n'C aka Sweets & Chills was the heart of dessert and sweet treats in Crawford and Nike was a chronic frequenter.

So, Rena decided that she would get the king-sized special as a peace offering and hopefully, the glutton in Nike would conform.

♡

"I'm sorry."

Rena's pitiable tone broke the miserably awkward silence dominating the ambiance.

The two girls sat opposite each other in the living room of Nike's small apartment.

The entire space was artistically invaded with shades of purple- from the couch to the cushions to thick curtains that hung tall, even to the table cloth and little aesthetical decors scattered here and there.

Nike cleared her thoat- expression blank.

The gorgeous tub of deliciousness sat on the table, in the middle of both girls. It was evident that gluttonous old Nike was fiercely battling the effects that the king-sized yoghurt had on her.

The cream coloured cellophane bag that had conveyed the treat was roughly crumpled up in Rena's right hand while in the other hand was a bowl and spoon she had retrieved from Nike's kitchen.

"I know I was a complete fool and I deserve whatever name you're calling me in your head right now," she chuckled sadly.

Nike rolled her eyes, holding back a smile.

She continued; "I'm sorry for how I reacted and I know I shouldn't have ... It's just that everything's been so so difficult."

Rena's tone started to weaken and become shaky. "Mummy and daddy don't understand what is happening to me.

They take it all so casually. They don't know that I need them. They're always at church. I mean, I love God but ... but... this is just too much!..." Rena finally broke down in tears. "Sometimes, I think they love the church more than they love me.

I'm their daughter for crying out loud. I mean Jenna is too and they hardly give a damn about her but what about my condition?... Daddy always says God is in control and Mummy?- I know how much she cries when she thinks I'm not looking."

"Rena," Nike began. "Your parents are merely scared."

"Then what about me?! I'm going to-"

"Rena."

"But it's true for God sakes!"

"Maybe ... you should have a little faith. It would help you cherish the life you have now so that you'll be able to make clear choices and decisions." Nike 'preached'. She was already by her side with a tissue.

"Thank you." Rena breathed in deeply and dried her tears.

"If you like cry from now till next semester, I'm eating this yoghurt alone." Nike teased. "I know your tactics," she added.

"Stupid girl," Rena playfully commented, pushing her counterpart's head fondly and they both burst into giggles.

"Well, the truth is that I also called you a bitch and that was just out of frustration oh... but I couldn't sleep with the thought last night so ... I'm also... I'm also sorry.

I actually wanted to visit your place with this peace offering."

Nike reached behind the sofa she sat on and retrieved a cellophane bag with a logo- Mandy's.

Rena dove at Nike and snatched the bag enthusiastically.

"Mandy's!!!" She yelled. "So you're this empathetic?..." she teased.

"Leave me alone, joor."

Rena immediately dug into the warm piece of baked divinity while Nike on the other hand simultaneously began devouring into the tub of yoghurt.

"Do you know ... he called?" Rena began.

"He-who?"

"The doctor."

"Well of course he did, he's your doctor for crying out loud... or is your brain also affected?"

"Nike," Rena called out in a serious tone. "I've told you not to make jokes with this thing... you're.." Her voice trailed off to tears.

"I'm sorry." Nike compassionately rushed off to her side and offered her half-eaten tub of yoghurt as a compensation but before Rena could get a spoonful, she playfully snatched it away, forcing a chuckle out of the former.

Silenced passed once more.

"What's with the doctor? ... You like him?"

Rena's eyes lit up as of something far off. "Nike?..." she called softly, still staring into the distance.

"Hmmm." Nike replied.

"Could it be that I'm like one of those girls in those movies that they fall in love with a man right before they die?..."

"Rena!" Nike screamed chasteningly.

"No, I'm just saying, because..."

"Rena."

"Nikeee ... reason, now. I have never felt such peace in my life before. I feel so happy whenever I see him or even hear his voice... Its not natural."

"So you do like him," Nike muttered mischievously, scooping yoghurt into her mouth.

Rena suddenly jumped off the purple sofa, making gestures with her hand like someone performing in the opera and continued her speech; "Maybe he's the only thing that can give me true happiness ... maybe this is God's way of restoring.."

"Church girl!" Nike exclaimed.

Rena relaxed into the couch and spread her arms out with head tipped backward.

"Nikeee... This is the first thing that has excited me in a long time. Have I ever been this interested in any guy before?" She asked, wide-eyed.

"Renaaaa."

"What?"

"Slowdown. Look, I know how this feels and it feels right. Yes?"

"Yea... because it is."

"But this guy doesn't like you. I mean, we can't be sure that he does. We don't want to break your actual heart now, do we?" Nike gestured at her, like a mother giving out advice. "Rena, you have never dated a guy in your life so I don't want you being used by any one."

Rena recoiled into the chair. "You're right." She rubbed her shoulders like but it wasn't cold in.

"Nike, you think I'm being desperate?"

Nike chuckled.

"A little bit, maybe. Cos, there are more fulfilling things a young lady could do for herself rather than being entangled with man," she explained.

"Hmmm," Rena hummed dramatically. "Madam-I pay-my-rent-and-run-my own-business." She teased.

A grin momentarily lit up Nike's face.

"Miss daddy's girl. If you like, don't start planning on how to leave your parent's house." she teased right back. "I'm even an inspiration to you- showing you the way.

Later your people will say I'm a bad influence..." Nike's voice trailed off into laughter as she slapped her own knees 0in amusement.

Rena rolled her eyes.

"They didn't say bad. They said bold."

Nike laughed harder.

"What is bold?!" She exclaimed in a high pitched tone, overwhelmed by amusement.

"You need help," Rena muttered in annoyance.

Her eyes drifted to a wall at the right end of the living room right above the couch Nike sat on- there was a picture frame hanging on the wall.

"You still have this?" She asked, approaching the picture of herself and Nike about eighteen years ago.

"Yea, I found it in my storage. I didn't even know I had it." She smiled.

Rena chuckled fondly as she examined the photo carefully;

In the photo, a slender brownskinned girl stared back at her with huge, rabbit-like dentition and gem like eyes that lit up with childish amusement and wonder.

Another girl with darker shade of brown skin stood next to her, with her hand fondly curled around the former's neck.

She had little beady eyes and a smile that spread across her small round face. She superceded the first girl in body mass but was a bit shorter.

"Do you remember when this picture was taken?" Nike asked as she joined Rena on the wall; examining the frame.

"No," she replied, not shifting her gaze.

"It was..."

***September 24th 2007, in front of the Dawson's family house- it was Nike's birthday and Rena had decided to throw her a party.

"I'll celebrate your birthday for you." Four-year-old Rena assured.

Now, it wasn't that Nike hailed from a financially constrained family.

It was just that the girl's parents never had time for her; typical of multi-millionaire-coupes in that part of the world.

Due to this fact, one could even say that Nike was lucky to have met Rena in her life and at such a young age.

It equally posed as a great advantage to Rena who at that time, was always at heads with her identical twin, Jenna.

The girls were as close as siblings; well, at least closer than Rena and Jenna were.

Everyone did assume the pair would grow out of it but that was a tale for some other time.

Nike being a year older decided to play the role of an elder sister to Rena, always protecting her, even at school.

Their bond was strong.

Nike was the perfect company for Rena, who was a naive church girl always getting picked on by other kids- unfortunately, she wasn't stubborn and bold like her sister and the latter wasn't even going to the same school as she was so she couldn't stand up for her frail sister.

Nike even fought the authority of Rena's parents who saw her as a bold influence on their daughter, instigating major change on the girl.

It was the two of them against the world until Nike's family finally moved away to a far-away town.

Luckily, they ended up attending the same university three years earlier after completely losing contact with each other for four years in a row.

It was all thanks to Nike who due to a thirst for freedom and independence moved back to Crawford to stand on her feet and reunite with her friend, Rena.

In her own words, she wanted a breath of fresh air from 'The Vampire Couple'- her parents...***

Both their minds simultaneously jogged back to reality as they stood; pinned to the wall, each of two legs hanging from the purple-coloured couch Nike had been seated on as their curious eyes desperately scanned the picture frame on the wall, right above the couch.

A giggle escaped Rena.

Nike's head snapped to the left and soon, she too was giggling.

The giggled turned to laughter, and soon, they were laughing hard and Nike was on her back in no time.

"Why are we laughing?!" Rena asked, crouching down beside her on the carpeted floor.

"I don't know..." she responded, words mumbling out of her mouth.

Rena's face tightened as she fought back laughter- Nike's funny visage cracked her up even more because to her, the girl resembled a pumpkin when she laughed that hard.

Rena held her belly, head tipped backwards.

Then, she held her chest... then her head.

Suddenly, she flung herself on the floor; she was no longer laughing- coughing and violently.

"Blood," Nike muttered with a pang of terror in her eyes.

"Not now.." she mused, taking Rena up in her arms.

Rena coughed so violently that her face reddened, but not in a good way.

She begun wriggling, her body vibrated on the floor.

Nike retreated for a while, allowing her to settle down.

Soon, she was still- pale.

"Rena," she called and tapped her softly.

Rena didn't move. Nike's shoulders relaxed. She grabbed her phone from her back pocket and dialed a number.

It rang.

"Hello?" A feminine voice echoed at the other end of the line.

"It's done," she voiced sternly, staring down at her friend's still body.

♡

Rena's doctor had checked in at the Crawford Medical Institute and placed a call through to the house line.

That morning, she was with a skewer, three inches deep into a freshly baked loaf of bread from Mandy's.

Yea, she was no baker or culinary expert but derived such satisfaction from discovering each morning just how perfect Mandy's bakes were.

Just as she made slices of the warm bread, the house phone rang and she though reluctantly, dragged her slender self in those quick short strides over to the telephone.

"Hello?" She voiced as she placed the receiver to her ear, glancing at the neatly sliced pieces of bread ; satisfied.

"Dawson household?"

"Speaking."

"Can I please get Miss Rena Dawson on the line?"

"Speaking."

After her somewhat nasal-ish, somewhat soft yet anti-feminine voice sounded, there was a disturbing silence at the other end of the line.

"This is doctor Maxwell from the medical institute." A masculine voice softly stuttered- finally breaking the synapse.

"Oh, doctor." She cleared her throat. "Hi."

"Yea..." Another series of pin-drop silence followed, then the doctor finally spoke;

"How are you?"

♡

University of Crawford East or Crawford Arts was the only and most renowned arts university in town and due to this fact, introverted home-lovers like Rena Dawson had a greater advantage since they could go to school there from home.

Yea, even at age 23, she was anything but ashamed to do housesitting for her parents every blessed day- and she loved it!

Besides, since the pair was always so busy with daddy's church, there wasn't a candidate as qualified as herself; Jenna her genetic lookalike attended a college outside town and only visited when she was in a financial mess or missed home-cooking.

Either way, the answer was rarely because the girl was fiercely independent - it was becoming a problem too...

She never did ask for help.

On one of those good days when the mountains which stood in clusters afar off behind the school were foggy, the air was slightly chilly and the sun peeked in from admits cheeky clouds, Rena sat under an orange tree in the expanse of the school field, reading poetry- it was a classic by Shakespeare.

From a distance, a feminine figure clad in denim and a woven sweater marched towards her, clutching a brown leather tote and mustering a grin on her small round face.

"Nike," Rena called out.

"In the flesh." A brownskinned girl exclaimed as she neared, panting softly.

"I thought you had class."

"Sick leave jare."

Nike sat next to Rena and retrieved a medium-sized tub of yoghurt from her tote.

"Indeed, you look so sick to me. Let me check your temperature." She teased and playfully pinched her friend's neck.

"Yee!!! Leave me alone. Just say you want to beg and stop harassing me, joor."

"Me? Beg you?! Why will I beg you when I can just snatch it?"

Nike touched the tip of her tongue and pointed to the sky.

With a mouth full of yoghurt, she muttered a jumble of words that Rena didn't wish to care about.

In one swift motion, the latter robbed her counterpart of the tub of yoghurt and took off.

"Rena!!!" Nike screamed in a fit of annoyance mingled with the amusement her eyes lit up with and chased after Rena- the yoghurt thief.

♡

Rena and Nike sat together once again but at the former's mother's kitchen island.

'The Dawsons' was proudly carved on an open wall space at the left end of the kitchen right above the kitchen cabinet- Nike's eyes were judiciously fixed on it.

"Why?" She asked with a hint of amusement in her tone.

Rena was lost.

"Why what?" She asked; spreading her friend's slice of Mandy's loaf with Nutella.

"Who does that?" Nike's tone was soft and steady; laughter was evident as a glint in her eyes as she pointed at the family's name carved on the wall.

"You're sick. You know you're sick, right?"

"No, but seriously? Your family is so weird like guy..." she bit into the sandwich greedily.

"Don't call us the Churchsons." Rena spoke, melodramatically clenching her fists.

But nonetheless; "Churchsons .. ha ha," Nike spat out with a round of laughter.

"Renie," a masculine voice occupied the ambiance.

"Daddy," Rena squealed.

"Good day, sir." Nike scurried away from the table briefly.

"Yea, God bless you, my dear." Mr Bryan Dawson stood at the entrance of the kitchen with his extra large copy of the Holy Bible in hand, clad in a brown tux.

Rena rushed to embrace her father.

"How are you doing, my princess?"

"I'm fine. Where's mummy?"

"Mummy's over here," a feminine voice sounded. "Long, hectic traffic. Stuck in a piece of metal for hours..."

A lightskinned middle-aged woman pulled her weary self into the kitchen in a bubu gown, tugging a green leather purse and a shopping bag behind.

Her head was judiciously wrapped in a tiger skin print chiffon headscarf while the eoolen braids she wore cascaded down her back.

Rena rushed to help her mother with the load.

"Are these ours?"

"The groceries?"

"Yea."

"No, they're for the missionary. Tomorrow, you'll go to In & Out and get groceries for the house," Mrs Dawson spoke, scribbling down on a small note pad with heavy eyes and a pair of glasses which sat meticulously on her pointed nose.

Rena had inherited this feature from her mom, whilst her second had a wide flat nose like that of their father.

"Nike."

Mrs Dawson finally noticed the girl who sat unusually quiet at one end of the island- she had been calculating how she would chip into the mother-daughter conversation to pay her respects.

"Good day, ma."

"How are you doing, dear?"

"I'm fine, thanks."

"And your parents?"

"They are well, ma. We thank God."

Rena held back laughter.

Mrs Dawson glanced at her and left the kitchen shortly; then it was just the two girls.

"We thank God," Rena mockingly imitated her friend.

"What is wrong with this one?" Nike questioned and nursed a sharp hiss.

"But since when, now?"

"See, when in Rome, you act like..."

"Leave that thing." Rena teased. "I've started influencing you," she added.

"You wish." Nike retorted playfully.

"But you know its true."

Nike waved her hand melodramatically dismissing her counterpart's remark.

She walked over to the cabinet where the grocery bag lay and fished out a bag of chips she had been eyeing for a while.

"Nike!"

"Are you going to finish that?" She asked, pointing at Rena's sandwich.

She snatched it.

"Missionary food."

"Abeg leave that thing." She leaned in and asked in a whisper; "Does your mother want to cook? I never chop any better thing since morning, oh." Nike explained, devouring the sandwich and digging into the bag of chips.

"That is a mighty lie- you of all people."

"Take it or leave it, then. Have you taken them?..."

A panging silence drilled through the atmosphere right after Nike's question.

A mix of shock and unease washed over Rena. Her expression was frozen- bewilderment.

"Taken what?" She retorted.

"Rena, we're not going back to this."

"Then let it be!"

Nike put down the half-eaten bag of chips and stared intensely at her friend.

"What is wrong with you?" She sternly asked- her expression serious.

"Nike just ... leave me alone."

"And I won't," Nike fired back.

Rena breathed uneasily.

She paced about the kitchen, placing both arms over her head and down, and back on her head again.

"Nike," she called.

"Yea?"

"Nike."

"Hmm?"

"Leave..."

"What?! I should - I - I should leave your house?!" A wave of emotion washed over Nike;

She was hurt and angry.

"Yes," Rena replied, finally making eye contact but this time, her eyes were teary.

"I should..." Nike's voice trailed off in a whisper and she as well fought back tears.

Immediately, she pushed herself off the table and stormed off, shoving Rena aside.

"Bitch," she murmured to her hearing and left the kitchen.

Rena held herself self-pityingly and broke down sliding across the kitchen wall.

"She's the bitch; feeling like she's

doing me a favour. I don't need her," she murmured to herself. "I need God."

♡

It was about 7:00am; the early hours of the morning and the Dawson house was stiff silent.

Rena lay in bed that virgin hour, scanning her red, brick wall from the bed she lay on.

Her sullen eyes were firmly fixed on the wall at the other side of the bedroom- the tired eyes held something heavier than the bags beneath them and saw something beyond the brickwall she stared at.

Sunlight filtered in from her nude-coloured blinds and bathed her light brown skin as she laid among the lavender sheets- Still.

Completely still she laid, resembling her own ghost.

She leaned to the bedside, retrieved a handmirror and gazed into her reflection.

"I bet makeup won't cover this," she muttered to herself as she studied her swollen eyes and the dark circles they were adorned with.

"I look terrible..." she mused.

A soft knock sounded on her door. Her bare feet softly kissed the carpeted floor as she made for the door.

"Who is it?" She called out- her voice a bit more nasal-ish than usual.

"Rena, we're off to church." Her mother's voice faintly echoed at the other side of the door.

"Do you hear me, dear?"

"Yea..." her voice trailed off weakly.

Rena sat herself on the bed. Then, splashes of the previous night begun to wash over her.

***There she was sprawled on her bed; there was a storm outside.

The power was out; her room was darkened, only dimly lit by the rechargeable moonlamp at her reading table.

Flashes of lightning highlighted her figure in the darkroom, casting vigorous shadows on the brick wall.

Used tissues decorated the carpet at every corner as the thunder and heavy downpour masked her sobs.

"I'm tired!!!" She whispered. "Let me die," she chanted softly. "Take me already... why?... when?..."

Her strange prayer continued steadily until she fell asleep.***

It was quite strange how beautiful the morning looked after the storm and intriguing how pretty Rena turned out to be after each rough night- more mesmerising was the fact that her stunning look transcended mere makeup routines.

She slid into a pair of blue jeans and a green checked Tshirt- the shirt was Jenna's though. She had left it behind in Crawford with some of her belongings and being a fashion enthusiast, it was an advantage to Rena who wasn't too crazy about clothing and style.

She had a class scheduled for 4:00pm later in the day and recalling the disagreement that had occurred between herself and Nike the previous day, she felt guilty somewhere deep down inside her and blamed herself immensely and hoped to use the first half of her day to make up for it.

In her defence, she was defenseless. "She loves you like her own blood and she stuck to you like a fool." She muttered to herself, as she handed her bedroom key over to Joan.

"Mummy and daddy will be back by evening." Joan informed.

"Okay. Have a nice day," she smiled at the chubby, darkskinned housekeeper who had caught her talking to herself for the umpteenth time.

Rena held the wooden rail and hastily descended the short flight of steps.

"Rena," Joan called, causing her to halt midway.

"Yea?" She responded, looking over her shoulder.

"Are you okay?"

Rena paused and took in a deep breath, feeling a wave of unease.

"Yea." She smiled- that feigned smile; a dark blanket concealing the unspeakable.

"You know, I learnt something." Joan approached her, equally descending the stairs.

"What did you learn, Joan?" Rena asked in a jovial tone as though they were having a lighthearted conversation but the heaviness inside of Rena already densed the atmosphere.

"I learned ... that sometimes, its okay to not be okay."

Rena adjusted her posture; her back straightened as though she had been suddenly hit by something.

She clutched the small leather bag strapped to her upper body and painted the marble floor with her gaze.

"Thank you, Joan." She muttered and glanced at her wristwatch. "I want to leave now if you don't mind. Bye." She mustered that smile again and dashed out of the house.

"I'll be back before nightfall," Rena yelled right before the front door slammed shut.

♡

Now Rena knew Nike quite well and she knew what she liked, loved and went completely crazy over- the slightest things.

Yoghurt; Nike loved yoghurt to the moon and back but S'n'C yoghurt?- she went bonkers over it!

S'n'C aka Sweets & Chills was the heart of dessert and sweet treats in Crawford and Nike was a chronic frequenter.

So, Rena decided that she would get the king-sized special as a peace offering and hopefully, the glutton in Nike would conform.

♡

"I'm sorry."

Rena's pitiable tone broke the miserably awkward silence dominating the ambiance.

The two girls sat opposite each other in the living room of Nike's small apartment.

The entire space was artistically invaded with shades of purple- from the couch to the cushions to thick curtains that hung tall, even to the table cloth and little aesthetical decors scattered here and there.

Nike cleared her thoat- expression blank.

The gorgeous tub of deliciousness sat on the table, in the middle of both girls. It was evident that gluttonous old Nike was fiercely battling the effects that the king-sized yoghurt had on her.

The cream coloured cellophane bag that had conveyed the treat was roughly crumpled up in Rena's right hand while in the other hand was a bowl and spoon she had retrieved from Nike's kitchen.

"I know I was a complete fool and I deserve whatever name you're calling me in your head right now," she chuckled sadly.

Nike rolled her eyes, holding back a smile.

She continued; "I'm sorry for how I reacted and I know I shouldn't have ... It's just that everything's been so so difficult."

Rena's tone started to weaken and become shaky. "Mummy and daddy don't understand what is happening to me.

They take it all so casually. They don't know that I need them. They're always at church. I mean, I love God but ... but... this is just too much!..." Rena finally broke down in tears. "Sometimes, I think they love the church more than they love me.

I'm their daughter for crying out loud. I mean Jenna is too and they hardly give a damn about her but what about my condition?... Daddy always says God is in control and Mummy?- I know how much she cries when she thinks I'm not looking."

"Rena," Nike began. "Your parents are merely scared."

"Then what about me?! I'm going to-"

"Rena."

"But it's true for God sakes!"

"Maybe ... you should have a little faith. It would help you cherish the life you have now so that you'll be able to make clear choices and decisions." Nike 'preached'. She was already by her side with a tissue.

"Thank you." Rena breathed in deeply and dried her tears.

"If you like cry from now till next semester, I'm eating this yoghurt alone." Nike teased. "I know your tactics," she added.

"Stupid girl," Rena playfully commented, pushing her counterpart's head fondly and they both burst into giggles.

"Well, the truth is that I also called you a bitch and that was just out of frustration oh... but I couldn't sleep with the thought last night so ... I'm also... I'm also sorry.

I actually wanted to visit your place with this peace offering."

Nike reached behind the sofa she sat on and retrieved a cellophane bag with a logo- Mandy's.

Rena dove at Nike and snatched the bag enthusiastically.

"Mandy's!!!" She yelled. "So you're this empathetic?..." she teased.

"Leave me alone, joor."

Rena immediately dug into the warm piece of baked divinity while Nike on the other hand simultaneously began devouring into the tub of yoghurt.

"Do you know ... he called?" Rena began.

"He-who?"

"The doctor."

"Well of course he did, he's your doctor for crying out loud... or is your brain also affected?"

"Nike," Rena called out in a serious tone. "I've told you not to make jokes with this thing... you're.." Her voice trailed off to tears.

"I'm sorry." Nike compassionately rushed off to her side and offered her half-eaten tub of yoghurt as a compensation but before Rena could get a spoonful, she playfully snatched it away, forcing a chuckle out of the former.

Silenced passed once more.

"What's with the doctor? ... You like him?"

Rena's eyes lit up as of something far off. "Nike?..." she called softly, still staring into the distance.

"Hmmm." Nike replied.

"Could it be that I'm like one of those girls in those movies that they fall in love with a man right before they die?..."

"Rena!" Nike screamed chasteningly.

"No, I'm just saying, because..."

"Rena."

"Nikeee ... reason, now. I have never felt such peace in my life before. I feel so happy whenever I see him or even hear his voice... Its not natural."

"So you do like him," Nike muttered mischievously, scooping yoghurt into her mouth.

Rena suddenly jumped off the purple sofa, making gestures with her hand like someone performing in the opera and continued her speech; "Maybe he's the only thing that can give me true happiness ... maybe this is God's way of restoring.."

"Church girl!" Nike exclaimed.

Rena relaxed into the couch and spread her arms out with head tipped backward.

"Nikeee... This is the first thing that has excited me in a long time. Have I ever been this interested in any guy before?" She asked, wide-eyed.

"Renaaaa."

"What?"

"Slowdown. Look, I know how this feels and it feels right. Yes?"

"Yea... because it is."

"But this guy doesn't like you. I mean, we can't be sure that he does. We don't want to break your actual heart now, do we?" Nike gestured at her, like a mother giving out advice. "Rena, you have never dated a guy in your life so I don't want you being used by any one."

Rena recoiled into the chair. "You're right." She rubbed her shoulders like but it wasn't cold in.

"Nike, you think I'm being desperate?"

Nike chuckled.

"A little bit, maybe. Cos, there are more fulfilling things a young lady could do for herself rather than being entangled with man," she explained.

"Hmmm," Rena hummed dramatically. "Madam-I pay-my-rent-and-run-my own-business." She teased.

A grin momentarily lit up Nike's face.

"Miss daddy's girl. If you like, don't start planning on how to leave your parent's house." she teased right back. "I'm even an inspiration to you- showing you the way.

Later your people will say I'm a bad influence..." Nike's voice trailed off into laughter as she slapped her own knees 0in amusement.

Rena rolled her eyes.

"They didn't say bad. They said bold."

Nike laughed harder.

"What is bold?!" She exclaimed in a high pitched tone, overwhelmed by amusement.

"You need help," Rena muttered in annoyance.

Her eyes drifted to a wall at the right end of the living room right above the couch Nike sat on- there was a picture frame hanging on the wall.

"You still have this?" She asked, approaching the picture of herself and Nike about eighteen years ago.

"Yea, I found it in my storage. I didn't even know I had it." She smiled.

Rena chuckled fondly as she examined the photo carefully;

In the photo, a slender brownskinned girl stared back at her with huge, rabbit-like dentition and gem like eyes that lit up with childish amusement and wonder.

Another girl with darker shade of brown skin stood next to her, with her hand fondly curled around the former's neck.

She had little beady eyes and a smile that spread across her small round face. She superceded the first girl in body mass but was a bit shorter.

"Do you remember when this picture was taken?" Nike asked as she joined Rena on the wall; examining the frame.

"No," she replied, not shifting her gaze.

"It was..."

***September 24th 2007, in front of the Dawson's family house- it was Nike's birthday and Rena had decided to throw her a party.

"I'll celebrate your birthday for you." Four-year-old Rena assured.

Now, it wasn't that Nike hailed from a financially constrained family.

It was just that the girl's parents never had time for her; typical of multi-millionaire-coupes in that part of the world.

Due to this fact, one could even say that Nike was lucky to have met Rena in her life and at such a young age.

It equally posed as a great advantage to Rena who at that time, was always at heads with her identical twin, Jenna.

The girls were as close as siblings; well, at least closer than Rena and Jenna were.

Everyone did assume the pair would grow out of it but that was a tale for some other time.

Nike being a year older decided to play the role of an elder sister to Rena, always protecting her, even at school.

Their bond was strong.

Nike was the perfect company for Rena, who was a naive church girl always getting picked on by other kids- unfortunately, she wasn't stubborn and bold like her sister and the latter wasn't even going to the same school as she was so she couldn't stand up for her frail sister.

Nike even fought the authority of Rena's parents who saw her as a bold influence on their daughter, instigating major change on the girl.

It was the two of them against the world until Nike's family finally moved away to a far-away town.

Luckily, they ended up attending the same university three years earlier after completely losing contact with each other for four years in a row.

It was all thanks to Nike who due to a thirst for freedom and independence moved back to Crawford to stand on her feet and reunite with her friend, Rena.

In her own words, she wanted a breath of fresh air from 'The Vampire Couple'- her parents...***

Both their minds simultaneously jogged back to reality as they stood; pinned to the wall, each of two legs hanging from the purple-coloured couch Nike had been seated on as their curious eyes desperately scanned the picture frame on the wall, right above the couch.

A giggle escaped Rena.

Nike's head snapped to the left and soon, she too was giggling.

The giggled turned to laughter, and soon, they were laughing hard and Nike was on her back in no time.

"Why are we laughing?!" Rena asked, crouching down beside her on the carpeted floor.

"I don't know..." she responded, words mumbling out of her mouth.

Rena's face tightened as she fought back laughter- Nike's funny visage cracked her up even more because to her, the girl resembled a pumpkin when she laughed that hard.

Rena held her belly, head tipped backwards.

Then, she held her chest... then her head.

Suddenly, she flung herself on the floor; she was no longer laughing- coughing and violently.

"Blood," Nike muttered with a pang of terror in her eyes.

"Not now.." she mused, taking Rena up in her arms.

Rena coughed so violently that her face reddened, but not in a good way.

She begun wriggling, her body vibrated on the floor.

Nike retreated for a while, allowing her to settle down.

Soon, she was still- pale.

"Rena," she called and tapped her softly.

Rena didn't move. Nike's shoulders relaxed. She grabbed her phone from her back pocket and dialed a number.

It rang.

"Hello?" A feminine voice echoed at the other end of the line.

"It's done," she voiced sternly, staring down at her friend's still body.