NEW YORK CITY.
FEBRUARY 2015

Living does not mean we are alive. Just because you've distracted yourself from the pain doesn't mean you have healed.

Christopher swiveled in his black leather chair, with his head thrown back as he welcomed the painful memories of the past.

His Eyes stung as the acrid smell of smoke lingered in the air, who will answer? He was drowning right in front of their eyes, yet they couldn't  see. Flesh is flaying off  his skin, yet they glory in his excruciating pain. The rapid contraction of Chris heart and its dull thud was the only sound he could hear as he cried for mercy before help came.  No one could see he was naught but a living corpse, surrounded by real corpses. David's eyes were bloodshot, a large piece of metal impaling him from front to back. What about his sister; his own twin? Eyes lifeless from prolonged lack of oxygen___

Chris! Chris! CHRISTOPHER!" Nina called, more like screamed bringing him to attention.

Chris pinched the space between his bushy brows feeling a little irritated at how loud she was then quietly said "Madam, what is it and why are you in my office?”

She hissed loudly, almost spitting like an angered snake, “Mad goat! I have been standing here since calling your name; I don't know what you are day dreaming about."

"What do you want Nee? I'm not in the mood." he called her fondly because he did not want to be rude even though she had just insulted him. Nina was like a sister from another mother, she has stood beside him all these years. Not once did she blame him for her brother’s death and for that he'll be eternally grateful.

"Please be my date tonight? I have to attend a function at dad's place, pretty please" Nina replied pouting and enlarging those doe eyes of hers with her arms joined before her, begging.
Nina was pretty, curvy, sassy, and from a rich home therefore, spoilt. She was David's little sis; the man he killed.

Memories flooded in once again:
“Old dude, getting fresher o, Lagos chicks dey do you well o." Chris remembered how he greeted him the last time they met. He wished I had taken it contentedly as he usually did, when big mama;his fathers wife, talked to him that afternoon.  Just maybe, this mistake of a life won't be his to bare. Every random joke, smile, laughter even the stupid pickup lines David usually used on those UNILAG babes that used to flock around him was a painful memory that taunted him.

She hissed clearly irritated, “What in God’s name are you still thinking about that keeps making you wander off " it was loud enough to bring him back to the present.

Chris snapped out of his reverie immediately. Deep down, he knew the only way to get his peace and quiet back was to get rid of her, so he said the only logical thing he could say even though he didn't want to "Alright I will go with you. Must you screech?" He replied rudely to her initial question.

In response her eyes widened and her nose flared in anger and he felt like telling her she looked like someone choking on hot yam but decided against it last minute.

"It is your village people that are screeching and calling for you. No wonder you keep losing focus, better speak up. Suicide rates are getting higher, and funeral rice sweeter "she pushed his head and walked to his side of the desk and sat gingerly like a Queen who has practised the attention several times.

Chris smiled. Nina was savage, short tempered, extremely demanding; she could have easily asked one of those guys wanting to be with her about but she chose him knowing he hated social events, yet confident in the fact that he didn’t know how to refuse her requests and boy was she right.

"Leave the time and venue with my secretary." he finally agreed not in the mood for her antics any longer, then continued "Oh and Nina I'm not one of your boy toys so behave yourself around me." He was smiling now, but it didn't reach his eyes and she knew she had hit a nerve.

It always amazed Nina how he could switch easily from being playful with her to being guarded. He loved and indulged her nonetheless like a sister, not as a woman which was his only crime. She didn't forget what today was though. It's the anniversary of David's death and instead of honouring it as a family her parents were throwing a ridiculous business dinner.

"Thanks love!” she replied with a contented smile and blew him kisses as she sashayed out.

***********
Christopher Ayomide Olugbenga stared at the mirror on the dresser and the person he liked least stared back at him with expressionless, cold eyes; Eyes the colour of molten honey or brandy depending on the depths of emotions carried in them, which he inherited from his maternal grandmother, shrewd in their piercing nature.

The razor-sharp grey tuxedo he wore complimented his skin tone with brown loafers and a sparkling Giovanni watch sat on his wrist. His attire screamed class and money, something he possessed in no small quantity.

His skin still stung though from scrubbing too hard in the showers earlier. Who was he kidding? No amount of scrubbing could wash away his guilt or the usual shame he wore that stuck to him like a second skin.  He quickly shut the box of his vile memories and self pity to  get right to his forced night of socializing and mingling.

The event was well underway when he got there and Nee looked stunning as always in a white body con dress which ended some inches above her knee with lace trimmings. The dress had a deep plunging neck line that made the globes of her breast visible.

She looked just like the social butterfly she was. It was going to be one long hell of a night for Chris who felt the beginning of a slow familiar migraine at his temples.

If it was any other night, he wouldn't even consider what he was about to do but not tonight, tonight he needed numbness. He signalled a waiter and ordered a glass of whisky neat, breaking his three years sobriety. Funny how he became sober for David and he is also falling off the wagon for him.

****

The bedside alarm blared loudly and he reached out to switch it off while holding his head with the other. The vile aftertaste of last night’s drinks remained in his mouth alongside a pounding migraine that threatened to tear his head apart. He could literally hear his blood flowing and heart pounding as he got up to prepare for work. Being the CEO of a Fortune five hundred company was no small joke. Hence, migraine or worse he still planned to go to work today.

Chris closed his eyes to pray and tears bristled underneath his eyelids, he wished David was here and more importantly Christiana; awake and full of life. As always the prayers brought a semblance of peace.  It was his only little reprieve from his demons and baggage so he did it like his life depended on it.

A while later, Chris rode the elevators down and clenched his eyes tightly as his head still pounded. The aspirin and hangover mix he took earlier was clearly having no effect. Beads of cold sweat were beginning to line his brow, his palms were clammy and his tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth. Ever feel like your Nigerian ancestors were playing the traditional talking drum inside your head while the females danced their shekere dance ? That's exactly how splitting the migraine was.

He dialed his physician again and like the last three attempts he was routed to voicamail. His first step out of the elevator had him plummeting down like a bag of potatoes.

Chris last conscious thought as he slipped into oblivion was; it came at last.

*******
Another one
Two new characters _ Chris and Nina.

Please let me know what you think! Vote, comment, recommend and follow.

Love❤
Orex.