I blink my tears away and bite my lip. I’m not crying right now, I’m not crying. Instead, my temper flares.
“Mi a yuh wife and mi deserve fi know. And usually me would a cry and walk out but mi nahhh move until me know wah do yuh!”
He gets up and I step back.
His jaw is clenched, his eyes dark as he gives me an angry stare.
“Nickoi mi nah leave,” I say in deadpan.
Girl you have guts.
Nuh you boost mi?
He’s staring down at me. I stare back up at him. We’re both challenging each other. Probably it’s a game, who’s gonna break the stare first?
Mi know a serious time now but unuh cute essi,the stupid girl in my head says.
We glare at each other for another minute then he breathes.
“Mi go leave then,” he says pushing past me.
He seems so broken. I don’t get it.
What is he going through? I sigh to myself. Damn me, I wish I could comfort him in times like these. I would do anything to ease his pain, but him more fi run from me.
“Nickoi,” I call.
I follow him out of the office. “Nickoi!” I call again.
He’s going down the stairs and I follow him down. “Nickoi!”
Run Zara run, him a walk fast!
“Nickoi just stop nuh,” I’m out of breath when I reach the last step. He’s about to pull the door and I yank his arm, pulling him back. I curse at him.
“Weh yaw go after one?” My voice raised.
“Zara let go,” he says and I move my hand.
“I already feel affected by whatever it is that is bothering you. I want to hurt with you too and help you get through this,” I stare up at him.
“Mi cya explain nothing to yuh Zara… just leave me alone,” he says in a tone like he’s begging me. He really wants me to leave him alone. Am I doing something wrong trying to help him? Should I leave him alone?
No.
“You want us to go to your favorite place?” I ask him.
Mount a shame you a get.
He turns his head, he’s frustrated then he looks at me again and I flinch.
“Zara mi just wah be alone,” he says leaving me speechless at the door. Then he walks away. He blends in the dark since he’s wearing a black shirt. Half of me wants to run behind him and half of me just wants to fall back.
I’ll fight the urge to run behind him.
I’ll stay back.
Maybe space is what he needs.
