FLASH FICTION - RIMS OF LOVE

I was still asleep when I felt a warm body clasped mine, curling a calm smile on my sleep-full face. I decided to feign ignorance though, as my face was turned towards the still locked window. No sooner

had the body encircled mine that series of soft wet kisses graced my right upturned cheek. My smile by now was so "loud" that further pretence, feigning 'sleepfullness,' was meaningless. Even though she knew that I was already awake, she decided to dance to my tone.

"Good morning" I said, as I finally opened my smile-filled eyes sluggishly.

Tera and I have been together since our Secondary School days. And she has been that hairy part of a Velchro and I the hard rubbery hair part. We are more than married couples as my friends like to say.

Her "particulars" are world renowned! Her backside sends men tumbling over one another, and no kind of hers that never stops to say a word or two of compliments. In fact her mechanism of movement is so luring that majority of my friends always wish to have her. But the unvarnished truth is that she can never love another or were it to even happen, funny, that another will be me all over again. Trust that we debate this to no end amongst ourselves! However, we end up in a stalemate each time.

Every day as I wake up to behold her interminable beauty, my love continues to flow just like a living

spring. Her beauty is impeccably perfect.

"Well, well, well, what should we do first?" I asked, my voiced laced with great delight.

 

With that bright-eyed killer look, she points her index finger at the kitchen door.  Cuddling, we trudge to the kitchen where I opened the refrigerator and fetch her her usual early morning drink. Taking a quick swipe, her face suddenly lit up and winking at me, she dashed out the door. I just smiled. Wondering and expecting a surprise on her return.

 I proceeded to make us both a light breakfast, which in no time was ready. I served the meal but Tera was not back yet. So love-filled, I couldn't bare her absence for long. I decided to see what was holding her up on her whereabouts. As I opened the door in the middle of the night ,the sky seems bereaved and about to cry. It's just 5:40 am and the moon,still up there, was not left out. Like a wick with no flame atop it, it looks cold. I cannot but pretend as though I am oblivion of their presence. I called her name but no one reply. I was afflicted by worry as I finally resorted to going back home. It was then that I caught a glimpse of her by the kerb.     

 

"Tera, are you waiting for someone?" I asked patiently, but there was no reply. I called out to her

again but all to no avail. Only when I moved to her  side of the road did I see it. realize she was
not sitting but rather swimming in a pool of blood. I vociferated as I was frozen with fear. Neighbours trooped out to see what had happened. After enormous sympathetic outpouring , I scooped her into my arms and took her home where I laid her to rest till we meet again. By now the sky was already crying and thunder chased all passers-by hurriedly home . I stood outside, in front of Tera's resting place as I pondered  her mysterious death. While I sat on my sick thought, my phone rang. It was my boss was on the phone.

" You haven't forgot about our meeting with the Chairman tomorrow, have you?" his moustached voiced came through. I just grunted my response.

"Good." he said, then hung up.

Then it hits home!

Who will I return to when I do so after the meeting tomorrow? Whose arms will shoo away the world's weariness that's on my shoulders? Whose kiss will wake me up each day and send me to sleep every night? In whose arms will I feel secure?! Then I wailed!!

"She is just an innocent Dog!"

 

EPILOGUE

I woke up the next day without my dog (Tera) but no cause for alarm, Mr Ibu has promised to send

me another Australian dog. Unfortunately I am hemmed in fear that I might be robbed before the arrival of the new dog.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Fabiyi Olumide Kayode, is an English Languge Major Undergraduate Student of The Obafemi Awolowo University,Ile - Ife, Nigeria.