The surgery on Sophie's brain was successful. She is currently doing excellently and should be discharged soon.

The tumor was removed totally and Sophie is as normal as any other kid and I can't tell you how happy I am at that.

I feel she's really lucky to have such parents though. I mean we doctors had given up on her - we were practically just waiting for her to die, but deep down in my heart of hearts I secretly wanted her to live.

In the few weeks she spent at Kinder, I had grown to love her.
I know it's strange to love your patient who's less than a year old and whom you've known for less than a month, but like life, some things just don't have tangible explanations.
Each day, I would go to visit her at the ICU and watch her as she slept peacefully. Each time, my heart would break when I remembered that she had only a few weeks, at most a month to live.
If she happened to wake up while I was there, I took on the responsibility of calming her. I would scoop her up in my arms and rock her gently, then she would coo softly, gripping my finger with her little hands.
Things went on like this so much that some of the other doctors began to tease me of wanting to adopt her from her parents and I would just good-naturedly laugh it off.
Now I consider myself the happiest person (of course apart from her parents) now that she is back to normal.

Also, since that day that I broke the good news to Sophie's parents and we ended up crying on the floor in my office, I and the Blake parents have become close friends.
Each time Cecilia (Mrs. Blake) came over to see her daughter at the hospital, and I had spare time, we would talk about random things and each time she would try to bring up Jesus.
I always subtly changed the topic because I didn't want to delve into matters of such.

In the past few weeks, due to the course of events that have taken place, I seem to have lost my identity. I don't know what to think anymore.

My life is beginning to take a U-turn I never for once (after dad's death) thought it would take.
The nightmares that I had been battling for years have become less and less intense.

I think Brian has something to do with it because since that day we officially met and since I've been spending literally all of my spare time talking with him, I've noticed a change.
I've been finding it really easy to open up to him cause there's just something comfortable about him.

He's really patient and a good listener.

Unlike Clave, he never tries to force his ideas or suggestions on me (even though he has every right to because he's a Christian and I'm not) and he says the sweetest things.

Each time we talk (which is a lot), I always end up laughing really hard or smiling like crazy. I admit that before I met him, laughing was just something I didn't do much of.
Don't get me wrong, Tomi's a wonderful friend and all, probably the best I'll ever have and we talk a lot on the phone too but there's just something about Brian that makes me super giddy. I know that sounds weird but it's true.

Then there's that day that Tomi came over and I allowed her to pray for mom. That also contributed to the less intense nightmares.
I felt unusually calm that day and thenceforth. It also contributed to making me a tad bit happier because I mean after all mom woke up the next day.

Then again there's Sophie whose extraordinary recovery skyrocketed my high spirits to about 60%.
I know that's pretty low but before all this, my happy life (if there's anything like that) was more like nonexistent.

The only things that made me happy were Tomi, my mom and my job and those didn't really do much.
My job though, gave me the most satisfaction. As unbelievable as it sounds, I've kind of forgotten to worry about the hospital closing down. Whenever I thought about it, it always made me so sad, nervous, paranoid, flustered and a mixture of so many other horrible feelings, but thankfully in the past few weeks so many other happy thoughts have occupied my mind.
I can't even remember the last time I took an anxiety pill. I guess I used to practically live on those before now since I got anxious a lot.

Speaking of which, Tomi still doesn't know about Brian. It's not like I'm trying to be super secretive or anything, it's just that I haven't really come around to telling her.
I know, at first when we met at the park, I was skeptical about telling her but not anymore.
What with the wedding coming along and preparations here and there, she hasn't had much time on her hands either.

I plop one bar of Dairy Milk chocolate into my mouth as I spin softly in my office chair in my study.
Even though I'm at home and my mom is just a few feet away from from me, I don't need to go into hiding while eating chocolate. My reason being that mom was just discharged from the hospital with partial stroke and seeing her only daughter and child basically gorging herself with chocolate is the least of her problems right now.
Just then, my phone vibrates on my desk and I pick it up still holding the packet of Dairy milk with my other hand.
If you have noticed, I'm a very busy person and I literally get like a thousand messages a day so you must be wondering why I chose to pay attention to this one text.

Just like any other busy person, you'd like to go through your texts at least once in a while - well a little more than once in a while just so you know.
I peer at the lock screen to see the messages, at least their first lines and I find out that the text that just came in was from Clave.
I internally groan, wishing he'd just leave me alone. I thought I already made it clear that I wasn't interested.

Hopefully, if I ignore him long enough, he'll go away.

Our date that Sunday evening didn't go so well.
He took me to a really cool restaurant (I must say) downtown. The name, I think, was Ghang Thai kitchen or something like that, just a few miles away from home but still in Cobble Hill.
The food there is really classy and considering it's a Chinese restaurant, you can bet.
For one, I hardly eat Chinese - I'm more of a Subway, Shake Shack and Chocolate room kind of person because I'm obsessed with chocolate and I just love Subway. This means that Chinese is pretty new to me and I was glad that Clave picked a Chinese restaurant because I'm obviously too addicted to Shake Shack and Chocolate Room to try something new on my own.

For the first part, the night went really fine.  He picked me up at my house and we both rode in his car to the restaurant.
Our seats were by the window overlooking the beautifully lit street below and it was just great. I picked out a dish I had probably heard Tomi mention because I really don't know any of them seeing as I don't eat Chinese.
While eating, we talked about random things - work mostly and a few others I can't remember.
Then when I was really  beginning to feel comfortable, he dropped the bombshell.

I cough and almost spit out my drink as I grab the napkin and try to wipe my mouth as I slowly raise my head wondering if I heard right.

"W...what?" I stutter in surprise.

He still has that irritating smile plastered on his face and I fight the urge to slap him.

"I said, we should be together you know." He smiles even harder like this is even amusing.

"You've gotta be kidding me Clave." I chuckle dryly and finish wiping my mouth the drop the napkin back on the table.

"I'm not, Maya. You and I are perfect for each other, don't you see?"

This guy is obviously going ballistic.

"The only thing I see is an insensitive young man who used to be my childhood friend!  What makes you think I want a relationship not just with you but anyone for that matter?" I snap, an irritated frown etched on my face.
He seems taken aback by that one because instead of smiling like he's been doing since we came here, he looks confused.

"Aww don't talk like that May, it's not like you don't have feelings for me." He says and I stare at him.

Gosh!

"Feelings? Where on earth did you get such a ridiculous idea from Clave?" Even though I'm really pissed right now, I try not to raise my voice because I'm pretty sure we're not the only ones here.

"We can always start from somewhere." He shrugs nonchalantly and that irritating smile is back on his face.

"I seriously do not know what you're talking about Clave." I sigh frustratedly and look him in the eye. I shove slightly foward my plate of food, suddenly not feeling hungry any more.

Thanks to him, I've lost my appetite.

"I want us to be together Maya. I know it's a bit sudden but I also know that you  like me and I like you too so we'll be able to work this out." He reaches foward to touch my hand and I pull it back swiftly, bringing it to rest on my lap under the table still giving him an incredulous look.
This must have put him off because he begins scowling and his nose reddens, making him look furious.

"You're acting really stuck up you know."
He spits.

"What?"

"I've made so much effort - given you so many flowers to tell you how much I care for you and now you're just going to act like it never happened?" He asks, his hands gripping the table. My eyes flicker from his hands to the table, then to him and back to the table again.

That's it.

"Clave Frost, for years, you disappeared from your best friends' lives, then one day you randomly show up at my office. Excited as I was to see you, a few days after, we all go out on a reunion date - then suddenly after, my mom has an accident and instead of sending your flowers to her, you send them each time to me. My mom almost died for crying out loud and you do not even send at least one greeting card. At least, show some respect! Then to make it all worse, you send roses - roses that you and Tomi knew back then in high school that I hated more than anything else!
To add to that, you practically degrade my best friend and yours too on the phone with me. You know, Clave, half the time, I just pretended not to mind but you didn't seem to take the hint then! 
Now you're badgering me about being your girlfriend? Now you've gone too far Clave, too far!" I don't wait for him to reply because I can't wait to leave this place. I push my chair back and grab my purse before looking him squarely in the eye.

"I'm out of here!" With that, I stomp off leaving him speechless.

I sigh as I just ignore the text, refusing to even read it. Since then, he's been sending annoyingly rude texts calling Tomi and I names that I do not wish to enumerate.

So childish. I can believe I was ever friends with such a baby.

Immediately I got home that day, I made sure to call Tomi and tell her all that happened.
Trust Tomi - she was as calm as a butterfly and told me not to worry at all about him and that I could block him if I wanted.
That was a pretty good idea to block him but I don't know why I just decided not to.

Sighing, I put aside my phone and randomly check my calender. My gaze therefore falls on November 5th and it says 'the day of the sale'.
It is currently the 7th of October and even though it seems far now, it draws closer every day.

Hey lovely readers. Yes another chapter is up and I hope you enjoy. I don't have much to say but as usual vote, vote, vote and comment.
Also I feel I haven't left you guys any of my social media handles so you can get in touch with me and I'm sorry.
Actually, apart from wattpad, I'm only on Instagram for now so here you go.

IG: @owanta_chinwe.

Bye for now.

Chinwe_epistle ❤