MISSING PIECE (8)
The whole house reeked of cigarettes and alcohol. Could it be….
She rushed to the room and there he was. “I can’t believe it! You also smoke and drink?”, she asked. He didn’t reply nor acknowledge her presence. Thank God she’d sent the children over to her mother-in-law’s. What if they had seen him like this?
“Armstrong, I’m talking to you”, she asked again, getting angry. She couldn’t remember when last she’d called him by his name.
“Why won’t you just leave me alone, woman? Can’t I have peace again?”
Why are you doing this?”, she asked softly,”You said to get a job.”
“And when I couldn’t get, should I kill myself? I keep getting ‘no’ in all the places I go, obviously because I am an ex-con.”
She wiped the tears already forming in her eyes. “Stop it, okay?”
“You know, I wish I really stole the money. It would have been worthwhile”, he said reminiscing.
“It’s okay. Look, God doesn’t…..”
“Please, no sermon from you, okay? I need to sleep”, he said rising up from where he sat. He staggered to the bed and soon, he was off. She looked at him wearily. Lord, please bring him back. I don’t know this ‘man’. I want my husband and father of my children back. I miss him so much.
********
Hello, my love. How’s the deal going?” “Fine. I just finished that deal with Alhaji. Your share’s here. Wanna come get it?”, he asked.
“Of course. And for a job welldone, you’ll get something special from me”, she said. He dropped the call. He knew what that ‘special’ something was. He smiled to himself. Everything was going as planned.
**********
SIX MONTHS LATER
Jacinta returned home one evening and met her husband’s absence. She tried calling him but his number was switched off. She saw a letter on top of the table. She opened it:
Hello dear,
Welcome back. Hope your day was not too stressful? Don’t worry about where I am, I am okay. I just need to sort things out before I return. Take care of the kids, tell them I love them. And I love you too.
Love,
Armstrong.
No! This can’t be happening, she thought as she picked up her bag and ran out of the house, letter in her hand.
(To Be Continued)
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ROOTED & EVOLVING 
Make this man nor dey gave this womany stress na
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