LOVE AND DANFO RIDES

like a rumor tha

ll stretching and yawning. But by noon, it was pouring buckets, swallowing roads, flooding

ed into the groom's sweaty forehead, muttered, "Why didn't this man use powder?" and click

p took over - late into the night, sweet nothings, silly memes, and on

morning

tex

flood Lagos. Hope you'

rep

She hadn't posted. Checked W

e's busy. Working. Normal. But t

-

less office, blinking at a PowerPoint ti

xt on her phone - unread, not because she didn't want to read it

en up smiling. Then rea

eka - had s

up," but a full-on "I've been

ly. She didn't

still s

ngs were clearing? Why did the past always

her bos

ted. "Y

spacin

muttered, c

-

S, watching rain slap the pavement. Her shoes wer

her phone, fi

Office stress and waterlog

ng to imagine you floatin

laug

y? I made stew. Don't

ow spic

hat fights your ances

e screen. Then t

-

lu's

led like hot zobo, di

s, beside a noisy neighbor who played Fuji at full bla

ish towel in hand and concern

ptize me today," Ada g

ne as before. A fresh one. She gave him

ad," he sai

in one corner. Computer table, camera gea

-shirts that swallowed her whole - and sett

gist," s

an eyebrow.

ot

him abo

yes shifting. "Ex that

eply. I'm not confused. I just

. Then said,

r w

ting me w

for his hand

-

Jealous

"learning" stew. Ada al

ol

id smal

ve fire! There's

most falling off the chai

g, but nodded. "Very tas

issue. "Let me get water be

d, both leaning back, TV pla

g here," Ada

being here,"

-

is phon

rowned, and turn

he motion. "

eone I used to talk to. A

inked.

. "I swear. She's just one of those p

ka," Ada

nod

le

Fine. Let's agree: ghosts

," he

shook

-

in, Almo

till hadn't stopped. Thun

out," Ada sai

," Tolu said.

pping me here,

mock surrender. "You ca

. "Can I r

now. "Of course. I'

tic," she said.

et pulled to her chin. Tolu joined carefull

off. Rain still

?" he ask

lit

w, not touching. She

le

: "T

ea

s if this ge

answer r

gets serious. A

o him. Faces

a curl fr

breath

efly, sweetly. Not d

d apart, she wh

-

ext M

roke throu

. Tolu still slept, mouth slightly open,

heart full a

cracking open. "Y

Like N

roggily. "Go

orning,

a while longer,

dried up, noisy aga

ing between th

lab

ress

thing - small, bright,