"Are you two fucking each other now? "
My hands which had been spread out for an embrace, dropped to my sides in shock. The question was not normal. It would never be comfortable for my male cousin to talk about who I was sleeping with especially if it was his best friend.
I brought my arms around myself as I watched Wisdom, who wore a very broad smile on his face. My face must have reddened at the thought of what he said.
He extended his arms towards me. "Ahh, baby sis."
I went in for the embrace, with less excitement, not having recovered from the embarrassment.
"It's been so long," he said as he suddenly lifted me off the ground. I screamed and he dropped me immediately.
He went over to Ike. "Bruh." They clasped hands and hugged.
I did not miss Ike saying, "That joke was too much, man! "
"It got to you, Bruh," Wisdom laughed.
I went in leaving them outside. I walked the narrow corridor down to my room. When I went under the shower that night, it felt like a therapy as the warm water slowly ran down my back. I allowed myself to enjoy the noise of the splatters as the only sound in the bathroom and the cold water as the only thing I felt.
When I was about crawling under the blanket, I heard a knock then the door opened. I sat up immediately. Wisdom came in, he put on the light switch then he walked to the bed.
"I felt you must be sleeping so I came to wake you up," he said, then lowered himself on the bed and spread his arms, moving it up and down on the bed like he was swimming.
"You are not feeling sleepy? " I asked, watching him.
"No."
I was slightly amused by the way he replied, shaking his head like a child.
"I won't feel sleepy in a while, maybe. "
I laughed. "Why, how are you ?"
"Maybe I'm blessed, maybe I'm not but I'm alive! "
"You are replying to me like all these old men in the villa."
"Ada called me when she moved to Manchester. She even came around to see me, " he said, swiftly moving on to another topic.
"Oh that's good. "
He laughed. "Yeah though."
He brought his hands beneath his head on the mattress.
"Dad was supposed to come home. We have been speaking. We made lots of plans."
"Wait," I held up a hand. "Don't tell me he cancelled again."
"Nene, my father is no more."
I was leaning on the wall before but I jerked up, sitting up fully.
"How?"
"He's dead."
I shook my head. "It's not possible."
"They called last week. Didn't know how to tell my mom so I had to come down. "
I was silent as I watched him talk. "I was in shock. It is like a dream and I keep hoping to wake up in Manchester, call his cell and hear him talk. I have not yet felt the emotions I want. I just have too many questions. "
"It's not possible," I still muttered.
He said nothing. I did not understand it. Uncle Joe? It was Uncle Joe we were talking about. The man whom 'Lady' originated from. This was my own Uncle Joe, not any other person.
We were both silent. Just like him, it was hard to feel the right emotions - the sense of loss. It was hard to accept what he said.
All I could mutter was, "I'm so sorry."
He laughed. "You are apologizing for our loss? "
No matter how hard I tried to blank my mind so I could be strong for Wisdom. I still could not believe it. I saw Uncle Joe two years ago, full of life. He was humorous, he was playful. He was alive.
He gave me my ride after I got a shop and stopped working in the house. He had a way of making all the girls feel exceptionally beautiful and confident. We all knew, Auntie Maimah was a very lucky woman.
"How is Mummy taking the news? " I asked, seeing he had stood up.
"She's been locked up since. Miriam and Stella will come in this week to help out. "
I nodded, hugging my knees close to my chest.
"Good night. See you in the morning," he said, walking to the door.
"Good night."
Auntie Maimah had been waiting for him - we all had been. It would be worse on her to accept the loss. I also knew she was a strong woman but how strong could one ever be to stand the loss of a loved one?
It was hard on Ada and I after Papa died. We almost did not survive it but we had to remember each day that Papa would always be absent in our lives from then henceforth. We had to accept it and adapt.
It wasn't a journey to return. He was gone. We were not going to bump into him on the road or suddenly see him at the gate. Forever gone - that is what death is.