“Sammy? What did I do wrong?. You didn’t care to check up on me in the police custody” Nyomi entered the house with her clothes rumpled, hair unkempt.

Talking about the house . Nyomi has been squatting with Sammy for the past 8 months- the landlord threw out their stuffs ever since her mum has been admitted to the hospital

, no money to pay. So she squats.

Sammy blinked, sat up, and tossed her phone aside. “Oh my goodness! You’re out already? Look, I’m so sorry. I’ve been busy—and you know I had cramps.”

She walked toward Nyomi, arms open, but Nyomi didn’t move.

“So busy you couldn’t check on me?” Nyomi’s voice trembled. She clenched her fists, trying to hold back tears.

Sammy folded her arms, tightened her jaw and her tone shifted . “So you wanna cry now? No, go ahead and cry. bitch. You stay in my own house, I feed you, you pay no bills here. Now you got the gaddem gut to question me about not checking up on you”

Nyomi’s lips parted, but no words came. Her throat tightened. She blinked, stunned.

Why would Sammy say such a thing?

Sammy scoffed. “Just so you know—your days here are numbered. I’m fucking tired of your miserable existence.”

Nyomi? She was just there with the greatest shock of her life. Wondering why Sammy had spoken to her in such a manner. Sammy is literally the only friend that she has got right from high school till now.

Nyomi stood there, heart pounding. Sammy was her only friend—since high school. The only one who didn’t call her “Miss Struggle” or “Charity Case.” The only one who ever sat beside her when everyone else turned away.

She remembered that day in school. Sammy had walked up to her, smiling. “Hi, I’m Sammy.”

“ I’m Nyomi” Sammy stretched her hands for a friendly handshake. A sudden smile appeared in Nyomi's face- no classmate has ever treated her with so much respect. They shook hands and sat beside each other.

“You don’t make friends? Are you an introvert ” Sammy asked

“Introverts I never belong to. No one wants me around them”

“That is so sad, but you know what? I’m now your friend”

She nodded her head. Her hopes were high,thinking she had earned a genuine friendship, then boom! Sammy said “I see that you’re very good at mathematics. You’d help me out and also help with all my assignments” she already packed her notepads and dropped it on Nyomi’s table that same day.

“Holla me when you’re done with my assignments” she stood up adjusting her uniform. Then she walked off, laughing with the same girls who mocked Nyomi daily.

Nyomi was confused. But she doesn’t want to loose the opportunity of finally getting a friend.

Nyomi had always helped her solve mathematical problems and her other assignments.

Back in the present, Nyomi’s eyes scanned the room. Still in shock as Sammy’s words echoed: “Your days are numbered. I’m fucking tired of your miserable existence .”

Her gaze landed on the shelf—and froze.

A silver wristwatch.

Her breath caught. It was Richard’s. The only gift she’d ever given him. She’d saved up for three months to buy it.

She stepped closer, picked it up, turned it over. Her heart thudded.

What’s Richard’s watch doing here?

“Did Richard come here? He definitely can’t come here without my consent . I trust him so much man”

Her eyes widened , she was caught in a dilemma- couldn’t ask Sammy about it, given the fact that she had already threatened to throw her out of her house.

She dropped the watch back and sat on the couch. The place no longer feels like her place of comfort.

~~~

Sammy came out from her room, held the remote and switched off the television. She stood up, turned in her room direction and said “ come with me Nyomi”

Nyomi's heart beats- she does not know what next sammy would do or say to her . She used one of her arm to hold the other, she does not feel like she belongs here anymore.

Inside the bedroom, Sammy gestured to the couch. “Sit.”

Nyomi sat slowly. Arms hugging her body- the only save place was herself

“I’m…” Sammy leaned back. “Okay, girl. I just have to say this—I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you feel bad.”

Nyomi chuckled weakly. “I know you didn’t mean it. It’s fine.”

“Thanks for understanding. You know I get mood swings when I’m stressed. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“Sammy, I can’t be upset. You do everything for me. Do I even have a choice?”

“We cool now?” Sammy stretched her arms for a hug.

“Sure, girl.”

They hugged. Nyomi’s eyes drifted—and landed on a male singlet tossed carelessly on the bed.

She didn’t say a word.

Richard’s watch. A man’s singlet. What’s going on?

Sammy pulled back, wrinkled her nose. “Girl, you stink. Go take a bath.”

They laughed it off, but Nyomi’s mind was racing.

“I’m on it. Don’t wanna kill you with my smell.girl, you’ve got food in the fridge. I’m so hungry right now”

“ sure, you know I have enough foods to feed you ”

“ ouchh. Girl, That hurt so badly” they laugh that out again

Sammy was still giggling when she said, “Is your phone making that sound?”

“Nope. Must be yours. I think it’s in the sitting room.”

Nyomi quickly reached out for the phone.

and met the other shock of the day.

Richard’s calling.

She holds the phone trying to place all the little things she has noticed earlier. Now he is calling her own friend. Her eyes widened in shock, her lips were trembling, searching for a word to say. Sammy’s phone rang out on and on, in her hand as it shakes.

The messages popped up her phone

The messages

-Hey baby don’t wear a red pant, I want a white butterfly pant. I’ll eat you up man.

- I will make you scream my name mama. Can’t wait to bend your back again.

-are you there??? Pick up I miss you.

Nyomi felt like she was dreaming

“Gal, can I get my phone already?” Sammy’s voice echoed from the room.

Nyomi stared at the screen. The phone was locked, but his messages didn’t stop.

Her fingers hovered.