My Mother's Daughter

Mind Games of the Mind

Ariyike! I kept my eyes closed and counted slowly to ten. I didn’t have to look at the illuminated face of my bed-side clock to know it was just 6 am. I waited in the dark, wondering if she would give up and let me be. On the third count of ten, I heard my door creak, gently fracturing the silence. She was so, so predictable. Light crept in from the hallway but I kept still, feigning sleep.

            “Ariyike!” she called in a dramatically loud whisper. She snapped on the lights and the sudden illumination felt like a physical blow to my eyes. Immediately, I felt the beginnings of a splitting headache.

            “Ariyike, wake up, it’s six already.” She said pulling the sheets off of me.

She really was predictable. I got down from my bed and pushed myself into a half kneeling position.

            “Good morning mummy.” I said automatically.

            “You should start getting ready.” She said ignoring my greeting and marching into my room.

“We don’t want to be late for the senator’s Birthday Brunch.” She said throwing open my wardrobe and peering inside.

            “Mummy, I have lectures today…”

She paused and turned wounded eyes on me. You would think that after dealing with that look all my life, I would have become immune to it by now. Not even the fact that I’d been expecting this scene to pan out this way and that I’d been bracing myself for it helped. That hurt, no-one-cares-about-me look worked every time.

            “But your lectures are in the afternoon.”

            “Yes mummy, but I have a test to prepare for and…”

            “But I told you about this two weeks ago!”

            “Yes, but…”

She sighed dramatically, those large, beautiful eyes misting over on cue.

            “Okay, no problem. I’ll have to go all by myself then.” She said.

            “Mummy…”

            “Don’t worry.” She said shutting the wardrobe carefully.

“I’ll just have to face your father and that whore on my own.”

You’re leaving me all alone, just like your father did.

She didn’t have to say the words. They hung in the air between us, like they always did every time I said no to her. She turned to look at me, looking vulnerable and fragile. A cloud of sleep-tousled hair framed her heart shaped face. She was one of those few lucky women whose eyes were naturally heavily lashed. High cheek bones and a small petit nose served to emphasize full lips that were almost always in an alluring pout. I could see why daddy had fallen for her. The same beautiful damsel-in-distress act was probably the reason why he picked himself up from her feet and left. Her tiny nose flared slightly, the only indication of her anger at me.

            “Okay mummy, I’ll go but…”

            “Awwwww my darling little girl!” she flew at me and smothered me in an embrace.

 “Thank you!”

            “I’ll have to leave early to get to school on time.” I said.

She went back to the wardrobe and threw it open.

            “Let’s see, what do we have here? You need to look stylish and elegant.”

I sat on my bed and listened to her prattle on. It sure was going to be a long morning of dresses and accessories and hair and make-up. Yet again, she’d manipulated me into doing what she wanted. Or so she thought. She turned to me, holding a dress up for me to see with a triumphant smile on her face. I scoffed inwardly while returning her smile. I’d been the one to do the manipulating and things had gone just as I wanted them to. After all, I really was my mother’s daughter.

                                                                        *

As expected, the brunch was just another excuse for over-dressed socialites to show off. Picture-perfect smiles that bellied the strong animosity they all felt for each other. I doubted if there was one person in that room who liked even one other guest. Including me. I won’t go as far as saying I disliked everyone at the brunch. I just really couldn’t be bothered with any of them. Even disdain shouldn’t be wasted on people who weren’t worth the trouble.

I hung on my mother’s arm like the priced crutch I was, back straight and my chin up and my ankles daintily crossed like a sorority sister. I had a smile on my face that mirrored mother’s beautiful one. I nibbled on my food and chatted politely with the other guests, saying all the right words, laughing behind my fingers at their inane jokes at the right moments. Just like mother taught me.

Daddy and his wife were seated across the room from us and of course, every time the women at our table started to titter, she would scowl and shoot murderous looks our way. Which was what mum wanted exactly. Why did daddy always end up with such predictable women? I saw her speak furiously in daddy’s ear before stomping out of the room. My eyes followed her to the doors even though I’d already dismissed her from my mind. I had bigger fish to fry and was awaiting the final piece of my carefully laid plans to fall in place. I peeked at my wrist watch and looked once again to the doors.

            “Are you alright love?” mum asked.

            “Yes mummy. I’ll have to leave soon if I’m to make that class.” I replied.

Her eyes went large and mournful on cue.

            “Can’t you wait just a little longer?” she asked.

I made a show of taking a plaintive look at my wrist watch this time and bit the corner of my lip.

            “But..”

            “You know how it upsets me when your father shows up with somewhore else to rub in my face!” She whined.

            “I’ll miss the test and…you know Dr. Fashola can be very nitty-picky when it comes to…”

            “Fashola? You mean its Dare Fashola’s test you have this afternoon?”

            “Yes mummy, how do you know my lecturer’s first name?!”

            “Don’t worry your pretty head about that.” She said flicking one slender wrist airily. “I’ll have a chat to Dare and sort it out. Just promise to stay.”

I sighed dramatically feigning indecision.

            “Okay mummy, but just for a little bit.” I said, putting a check on a test I’d missed a week earlier.

            “Thank you darling!” she said air kissing me on both cheeks. No big smothering hugs in public. With one last look towards the doors over my shoulder, I excused myself to go the bathroom. I caught daddy’s eye as I walked by his table and he smiled at me, our first form of contact all afternoon. I stopped at his table knowing I would face the consequences later, but I didn’t care. Not even mommie’s biggest tantrum could stop me right then. I leaned over and wrapped my arms around him. Something else I would get a tongue-scalding for.

            “How are you doing Pumpkin?” He asked half turning in his seat to return the hug.

            “I’m fine daddy.” I said straightening up and right on cue, bumped into the guy behind me.

            “Oops! Sorry!” I exclaimed, grabbing the guy’s arm to steady myself.

            “Are you alright?” He asked.

Daddy jumped up and came around to fuss over me as well.

            “Yeah…I’m fine.” I gave a small musical laugh. “I wasn’t looking where I was going, my bad!”

            “I’m really sorry.” He said to me and then turned to my father. “Good afternoon Sir.” He said shaking daddy’s hand politely.

            “How are you?” Daddy replied. “Ariyike, this is Jimi, his father is a new client of mine. Jimi, meet my daughter, Ariyike.”

            “Hello.” I said shyly. “Pleased to meet you.”

            “The pleasure’s all mine.” He said.

Oh no, it is all mine I thought, giving myself a mental pat on the back for perfect timing.

            “Jimi is in his final year.” Daddy said, “Should be off to Law School in a few months.”

            “Oh that’s great!” I said feigning surprise. What daddy probably didn’t know was that he was top three in his class, was president of the Law Students’ Society, had captained the team that won the last African Human Rights Moot Court Competition and liked his women tall, skinny and leggy. I always took pride in doing my homework thoroughly.

            “Ariyike here is an Economist, second year.” Daddy offered, beaming at me proudly.

            “Economics.” Jimi said. “Must be the reason we haven’t met.”

I smiled benignly, flashing my dimple and knowing it was lost on him. I was sooooo not his type, but a girl could try, couldn’t she? Plus I hadn’t gone through the elaborate scheme to get an introduction just to have it all fall apart around me.

            “It was nice meeting you.” He said. “Maybe I’ll run into you sometime at Uni?”

            “Same here.” I replied.

            “Are you heading back there today?” he asked.

            “Well, yes, I’ve got a late class.” I replied.

            “Great, I’ve got a students’ rep meeting, I could give you a ride back.” He said.

            “Thanks!

The day couldn’t have gone any better. Now I would get the chance to kill two birds with one stone, talk about catching a lucky break!

                                                            *

When he pulled into the car park, Diana was waiting for me like I’d expected her to be. Our last class had ended almost an hour earlier but I knew my tweets would have caught Diana’s attention.

            “Hey Babes!” I beamed brightly getting out of Jimi’s car. “Jimi meet my best friend Diana. Diana, Jimi.”

            “Hello.” Jimi said, smiling at Diana.

Diana sized him up in one cool look. With a flick of her hair, she dismissed him and for all the attention she paid him, he might as well not have been there. You really have to give it to Jimi, the way he handled her snobbery. With a slight flicker of an eyebrow, he withdrew his proffered hand and turned to me instead.

            “I need to run.” He said. “I have to get to that meeting.”

            “Thanks for the ride.” I said.

            “Hope to see you around.”

            “Yeah, see you around.”

We watched him drive away in silence.

            “So, what’s the story with him?” Diana asked.

I shrugged.

            “Dad and his father do business together from time to time.”

Diana scoffed.

            “It’s me, Ricky, stop messing about.”

I laughed. “What are you…”

            “Ariyike!”

            “Okay, fine! I kinda like him, but he’s always been just cool and polite with me. Are you happy now?!”

            “So if he doesn’t seem to know that you exist, why bother at all with him then?” she asked.

            “Well, I think that’s starting to change.” I said smiling coyly.

            “Hmmnnn really?”

            “Yeah, we had a moment today.” I sighed contentedly, my smile growing.

“How do I put it? I’ve known him for a while now but it’s like I suddenly turned a corner and there he was and I’m wondering how I missed it for so long! ” I sighed, trying to make her understand, willing her to.

“I…just the thought of him, it makes me happy.” I smiled, letting the sweet bubbly feeling fill me up, letting myself go.

“I want to talk to him, about everything and nothing. I want to know everything about him. Know what secrets lie behind those mysterious brown eyes. I want to find out what’s beneath that cool-boy-doesn’t-give-a-toss façade he puts on.” I heaved a huge sigh and returned from my private little world. I watched Diana watch me with that shuttered look of hers that masked what she was thinking. This was probably the most honest I’d ever been with Diana and I wondered if any of it had got through that rock-hard armour.

            “Anyway,” she said after a heavy silence. “Don’t get your hopes too high. Guys like that.” And a Girl like you. She shrugged, dismissing me like a worrisome pet.

I’d just practically barred my soul to her and that was all she had to say to me! The fact that I meant every word made me livid but I squelched my anger. There was really no use wasting the emotion on Diana because it would be humanly impossible to keep up with the anger tab every time she was mean.

Just then, Banky, Diana’s boyfriend arrived to pick her up. His arrival almost unnerved me. I guess I was still feeling vulnerable from my heart-to-rock conversation with Diana and an irrational part of me felt like he could see my confession hanging in the air. Well, I don’t do vulnerable so it was yet another emotion I squashed on the spot.

I’d known Banky since our first year at Uni and I quite liked him. He was one of those people who seemed to have it all while still keeping a level head. Despite his love of fast cars and partying, he was pretty down to earth and very unassuming. For all his good looks and fancy toys though, he was a tad boring, your typical shy-boy-next-door. Diana’s words, not mine.  I often wondered how a guy like him ended up with Diana. Well, probably for all the reasons Diana ever dated any guy: he was super-hot, had more money than sense (dating Diana was proof enough of that) and getting him had been a challenge Diana couldn’t resist.

Watching him with her, I realised that he really did care deeply about her and it wasn’t just about being with the most popular girl. I felt a surprising rush of pity and something else I couldn’t quite figure out. Maybe it was just anger at Diana, but I squelched the emotion again. Anger and Diana, dumb combo.

Within the week, Jimi had invited me to see the Theatrical Society’s rendition of The Gods Are Not To Blame. He had extra tickets so Diana and Banky could come as well, like a double date of sorts which suited me just fine. I was glad he would get a chance to hang out with my closest friends and hopefully, he and Diana could start afresh on a better note. As far as plans go, this one was going even better than I could have wished for.

After that, we went on a few more dates and I started to see less and less of him. So much for thinking that was going somewhere. Well, thanks to mum, I had something to help me take my mind off things. As part of the payoff for escorting her to the senator’s birthday, she got me an iPhone 5. What can I say? I’ve got my ways. Of course Diana’d had one for ages before then but who’s keeping tabs eh? So it came as no surprise when we accidently swapped phones and seeing as she’d had little time for me and my boy troubles in recent times, I was left with no other choice than to give her phone to Banky.

            “This isn’t Diana’s phone.” He said frowning down at the phone.

            “What?! But I took her phone by mistake at the hair dresser’s, of course it’s hers!” I replied.

            “She just got the 5s a few days ago.” He said.

            “So…whose phone is this?!” I asked in horror.

            “I dunno.”

            “Oh God, so where is my phone?!”

            “Let’s try calling Diana to see if she has your phone.” He said.

            “Or we could find out who owns this one and if they have mine!”

            “Yeah, good idea.”

He unlocked the phone and thankfully, it didn’t have a lock code. His fingers skimmed across the screen and accidentally resumed a video that had been paused probably by the mysterious owner. Well, not so mysterious owner anymore. We both stared transfixed at the phone, unable to move or utter any words. Even after the video ended after three agonizing minutes and thirty seven seconds, we stood there, still starring at the little box of wonder I bet the designers at apple never intended to cause so much trouble. It quite seemed that while Diana might not own an iPhone 5 anymore, Jimi did. Plus, to put it mildly, he liked things kinky and liked to keep errr mementos. Quietly, Banky handed the phone to me and walked away to his car. I watched him go without saying a word even though I really hated myself for the pain I knew he was feeling. I’m so, so sorry I thought but the words wouldn’t come.

                                                                        *

           

I lay in bed in the dark as always, wondering what drama to expect from mum today. To be fair, she’d been supportive in her own weird way about my heart break and the whole thing with Diana. She’d smothered me with attention, taken me shopping and off on a spa weekend. When I’d finally seen Diana, she’d looked right through me and dismissed me as she always did. No apology, no explanation, not even a sorry, pathetic lie. What did I expect really? After all, this was Diana and what Diana wants, Diana gets. It doesn’t matter who pays for it or who gets hurt in the process and I would have been a fool to think my being her best friend would have made a difference. And Jimi? I guess she was as much a challenge for him as he was for her.

My phone beeped and I picked it up from my night stand. I smiled when I read the message. When all the dust had settled, I’d found an ally in seemingly the most unlikely place. And he’d needed the support just as much as I had seemed to.

Hey! Sorry to text so early, hope I didn’t wake you. Just wanted to check on you and see that you’re okay. B.

I heard a floor board creak and I knew I had a few minutes before mum was in my room.

Hi! I’m fine, you? No you didn’t wake me, couldn’t sleep. :’( See you at Uni  later.

The door opened and mum snapped on the lights. I hardly noticed. All I could think was how I had missed it for the better part of two years.

Do you want to go get something to eat before lectures? Or maybe just a coffee? B.

I smiled up at mum and threw off the covers before she could do it. I’m so glad I finally turned that corner and saw him, as in really saw him.

Sure!

I pushed myself into my customary kneeling position.

            “Good morning mummy.”

Great! I’ll pick you up at eight. See you then. B.

Well, what do you know, it isn’t only Diana who gets what she wants after all.

Le Voyage_2

(Read Part 1 here.)

As I walked down the cobblestone path to the car, I looked back at the house. I had the funny feeling of deja vu and I shivered involuntarily. For a moment there, I thought I’d caught a glimpse of a face at the window.

"Come on Liam!" Nan called out to me from the car. "You don't want to be late to your own wedding do you?!"

I turned back and walked briskly to the car. Matt got down from the driver's seat in a suit identical to mine and clapped me on the back.

"This is it man!" he said beaming at me. "It all begins now!" he said, embracing me.

"Thanks Matt, for everything." I said after we pulled apart.

"Come on, let's go and get you married!" he said getting back into the car.

"About time!" Nan mumbled from the back seat.

I got into the car and as it pulled away, I took another look at the house and the funny feeling washed over me again.

Half an hour later, I stood before my friends and family with Matt at my side as the wedding march started to pump out of the pipe organ. I had been baptised in this church, had taken my first holy Communion on this very alter, then returned here to get baptised again when I understood what it really meant, so it was fitting that I would be married here as well. On the first row, I saw mum dab at her eyes with a hankie and I smiled back at her. Dad stood beside her beaming proudly at me. Nan was on his other side and with a pang, I wished Grandpa could have been here too. Natalie was in the next row with the kids. Next to her were Adele and Bella in their bride’s maid’s dresses.

My reminiscing was cut short as she came into view. She looked like a shimmering mirage, all sheathed in white lace and satin, gliding towards me. My breath got caught in my throat and my heart started to thud. Looking at her as she came closer on her father's arm, I felt weightless, like I didn't have a care in the world. A feeling of serenity and contentment settled over me and I knew deep down in the core of me that I had come home.  I knew that there was nowhere else on the face of the earth I would rather have been at that moment and she was the one I’d waited for all my life.  That was why it hit me like a blow when I realised I had no idea who was walking down the aisle towards me!

She gave her father a quick hug and then turned to smile up at me through her veil. I stared at the veiled face intently, willing myself to remember, but nothing came to me. Reverend Harvey, who had baptised me both times, was going on with the ceremony but I scarcely heard a word of what he was saying. Even as I realised that I'd never met this woman before, the feeling of serenity didn't leave me, instead it grew stronger.

When I lifted the veil, honey-brown eyes looked up at me from a face perfectly sculpted from ebony. I studied her exquisite face, committing each detail to memory. The high cheek bones, the slightly large, rounded nose, full lips and dimpled chin. Even the pimple that sat just underneath her right eye. I took in every detail, as if I feared she would soon be taken from me and I would have to search real hard find her again.

            “William Auguste Harding…” She said and gave a little laugh. She knew how much I hated my silly middle name. “I almost can’t believe I’m standing here with you. It feels like a dream, my perfect dream come true. Today, I will become one with my best friend, my mate of heart and soul, my brother.”

Who are you?! Why can’t I remember you?!

            “I promise you my darling, that I'll be your confidant, companion and help, God helping me. I promise to see through your eyes to your dreams, to fly with you as you fly with them.”

Am I losing my mind?! Why then does it feel so…right…

“I promise to share every moment and challenge and victory and struggle and triumph with you, and to grow old and silly with you…”

Her voice became husky with emotion and her eyes were glistening with unshed tears. Smiling, she slipped the simple gold band unto my finger.

            *                                  *                                  *                                  *

I woke up with her vows echoing in my mind. I switched on the bed-side lamp and sat up in bed. Absently, I picked up the gold band that lay beside the lamp and turned it over and over in my hand. It had been Grandpa’s ring and after he passed, Nan had insisted I have it for some reason best known to her. I’d told her matter-of-factly that if that was her way of hinting that I was getting old, she could think again. What I hadn’t told her, or anyone else, was that the ring spooked me out badly, and that was because I’d had a very funny dream the night before Nan gave it to me. Tonight, it had been the very same dream all over again. The wedding. The un-veiling. The beautiful stranger. The same weird dream. Only this time, I'd finally met the stranger. She was Nan's new tenant.

Le Voyage

I remember my very first day in Edmonton. It was also the first day I saw him. Well, in real life that is. I was trying to put on a brave face though deep down I was terrified. I couldn’t help the feeling, despite being very excited at the same time. I’d packed up my whole life into two large suitcases and a back pack, said good bye to my family and travelled half way across the world into the unknown. It was what I’d always wanted to do, even before I realised it. It was what I’d needed to do. A part of me had yearned for this breakaway from the life I’d lived. A part of me had craved something new, a part of me had hoped there was more to life than what I knew, more than the norm. So, when I applied to University of Alberta for the research program, it had felt more like heeding a call than an academic move. I’d told no one about it, and when I’d received the offer, it came as a shock to my family. My parents were lost as to why I would want to go so far away from home and the family. They couldn’t understand why I would apply in the first place and hard as I tried, I couldn’t explain it to them! They wanted to know if I was leaving cos I was unhappy or if it was that they had missed something. I didn’t know what to tell them, couldn’t explain the deep need for something more, the need to be by myself, so I didn’t. I just packed up and left a month later.

Straight from the airport, I got a cab to the address. I’d found the ad on the internet and had corresponded via mail with a Mr Williams. It was supposed to be a studio apartment above an old couple’s home, so I guessed Mr Williams was the home owner. We’d agreed on a price I thought was reasonable and I’d paid the deposit via bank transfer. For all I knew, the address didn’t exist and it was all a hoax and I would find myself homeless on my very first day in my new life!

The cab dropped me off in front of an old house that looked pretty much deserted.

I stood for a moment on the cobblestone side walk, looking up at it. Despite the fact that it was old and looked lonely, I sort of liked it instantly. It had this elegant feel to it, like an old dignified lady who had been a real beaut in her prime. It sort of had this aura about it that seemed to welcome me, beckoned to me. The house was two stories high with an attic of sorts on the east side. I reckoned the attic was the ‘’studio apartment’’ that was to be home from now on. I went round the back and searched for the set of keys Mr Williams had promised would be under a loose stone in the foot path. I saw that the house had a nice little garden that looked like it could use a bit of weeding. Despite the weeds, it still managed to look cheerful and I could imagine what it would look like in summer when it was in full bloom. I bent down to pry the stone loose and the weight of my back pack shifted suddenly, almost sending me into a somersault! I straightened up quickly and the weight sent me reeling backwards this time, into a solid wall behind me. Arms appeared out of nowhere, pinning me o the wall and I yelped.

            “Whoa! Steady!” the wall said from behind me.

I swivelled as fast as the back pack and the arms which were still around me would allow and my mouth dropped open in shock. I stood there frozen in time, my face inches away from one that mirrored my shock and bewilderment.

Okay, if this is a dream, it is a really, really good one!

I was staring into the face of Mark Petersburg, my all-time favourite actor and my lifelong crush! Finally, he seemed to collect himself and took a step away from me dropping his arms, his face a bewildered mask.

            “Sorry to startle you.” He said smiling to cover up the awkward moment.

That smile! My heart melted like it had done a million times while seeing him on TV. Fancy seeing him here in my new landlord’s backyard, of all places!

            “You must be Francesca.” He said extending his hand.

Huh?! I took his proffered hand in a daze. How on earth did Mark Petersburg know my name?!!!

            “William Harding. We corresponded via e-mail and I wasn’t expecting you till much later.” He continued when I didn’t say anything.

Wait! William what?!

I’ve often been told that I’m smart but at that moment, I felt far from smart! My brain was finding it hard to process all the info it was receiving. First off, what on earth was Mark Petersburg doing here, all the way in Edmonton and why was he referring to himself as William Harding? And why would he dye his beautiful glorious blonde hair brown?!!!

Oh shoot! William?!

            “You are Mr Williams?!” I finally managed to squeak. He smiled again.

            “William Harding, not Mr Williams. There must have been a miss-understanding.”

I really felt stupid right then.

            “Here, let me help you with that.” He said taking my back pack off of my shoulders. He started to walk towards the front of the house and I followed him, still trying to work things out in my head. He produced a bunch of keys and opened the front door.

            “I…so you are my new landlord!” I said for lack of anything better to say.

He looked at me over his shoulder and he did another double take, like he couldn’t believe his eyes.

            “Well, not really. My grandmother is. I’m just here to show you around.”

Blank, blank, double-blank!!

He dropped my back pack in the entry way and went back out to bring in the suitcases I had forgotten all about.

            “Thanks!” I said. Stupidly. Very stupidly.

            “No worries.” He said. “Your place is this way.”

He led me up a flight of stairs which led to a landing that looked over the whole of the ground floor. I couldn’t help stopping to look down at the beautiful sight. The ground floor was an open plan which consisted of a living area and a large kitchen and dining area. The living area was warmly furnished in warm tones that just begged you to come in and cuddle up on a cold day. There were frames and frames of pictures scattered across the room and sitting by the bay windows was a shrouded figure which looked so much like a piano. My fingers started to itch just looking at it.

            “Frankie?” William called from the flight of stairs above me. I started and went after him, feeling like I’d been caught snooping.

            “You can call me Chesca. Everyone else does.” I said going up after him.

            “Great! That means Frankie will stay just between the two of us!”

As much as I loved the idea of going exclusive with a Mark Petersburg look-alike, I sure didn’t fancy a boy-sounding-name!

            “Thanks, but Chesca will do!”

“Here you go!” he said throwing the door to the attic open.

I stepped into the empty space and I knew immediately that I had come home. I forgot all about Mark Petersburg and the entire world for that matter as I wandered around the space. I didn’t see the bare floor or the fading paint work. Instead, I saw lovely pink wall paper with pretty blue and yellow flower patterns. I saw book shelves filled with my paper backs. I saw an old stuffed arm chair by the window. I saw potted plants lazing in the bright sunshine, a warm rug under my feet, my guitar sitting in the corner…

            “So, what do you think?” he broke into my thoughts and I finally remembered that I was standing two feet away from my dream man.

“I love it!” I said breathlessly, knowing somehow that the journey across the world was going to be the very best thing that ever happened to me. William smiled at me like he knew just how I felt at that moment, like he understood, like he felt it too.

            “I’ll help you bring your things up.” He said turning to leave.

            “Thanks! I’ll come with you.” I said, hating to break the moment.

            “Can I ask you a question?” he said, pausing at the door to look back at me.

            “Sure!” I said.

            “Have we met before somewhere?!” he asked and I laughed nervously.

            “Believe me, if we have, I would remember!”

He gave me a little smile and he had the look of someone who was missing out on a big secret.

            “Why is that?!” he asked and I laughed again.

            “Hello! Have you looked in the mirror lately?! Just dye your hair blonde and you’re Mark Petersburg!”

His face went blank.

            “Are you kidding me?! Mark Petersburg! Double revolt! Ricochet! Dying days! Angels’ Peak! 7 Oscars, 9 nominations! You seriously can’t be serious!!!”

He just shook his head, laughing softly and my insides turned to mush. It was exactly the same warm one Mark had used to capture hearts over and over! I fished my mobile out of my pocket and went to my pictures gallery.

            “Here!” I said thrusting it in his face. “Look familiar?!”

            “Whao, I have to say the resemblance is corny!”

            “Resemblance?! This guy could as well be your twin!”

            “Well, in that case, we know who the better looking twin is, don’t we?!”

I scoffed and we both laughed.

            “You really haven’t heard about this guy?!” I asked again, wondering how anyone wouldn’t know Mark Petersburg!

            “Nope!” he said. “Never been much into the Hollywood scene.”

            “Are you for real?!”

            “Yes ma’am!” he said going out the door and I followed.

            “Let me tell you something you might actually not find real.” He said.

            “What? You’ve never heard of Brangelina?!” He laughed at that.

            “I think I’ve met you before, or at least, your twin.”

            “I hope she was a gorgeous model or actress! Let’s see, Kelly Rowland will do just fine!”

He hefted my back pack onto his shoulder and grabbed one of the suitcases.

            “Nope, sorry to disappoint you.” He said.

I grabbed the second suitcase.

            “So, who was she?”

            “She was my wife.” He said simply.

Then I kinda woke up!

            “Nope, sorry to disappoint you.” He said.

I grabbed the second suitcase and shook my head to clear it.

            “Err...so who was she?” I asked, wondering if I was beginning to lose my marbles.

            “Dunno really. I saw her in this weird dream I had and I swear she looked just like you!”

I expected to wake up then but I didn’t.

            “Huh?!”

            “Yep! I almost freaked out when I saw you out back.”

 Didn’t have a reply to that so I just stood there staring at him. He adjusted the weight of the back pack on his shoulder before starting up the first flight of stairs. That was when I caught a glimpse of the simple gold band on his left hand.

Damn! Just when I meet a Mark Petersburg look-alike, he has to be married!

 I followed him up the stairs, hoping he wasn’t married to my look-alike.