Dear Me… With Love, Ivy.

Episode 2.

It began on that day where an ordinary text message played a critical part in the outcome of her life and everyone else.

She had rolled out of her more-than-comfortable bed in the morning with high ambitions. She had no definite plan for the day, yet she believed it would be a great one. But after she had read the text, all that her mind could comprehend was for her not to turn to an emotional mess.

She took a shower and completed her morning routine in record time. After she got dressed in a skinny blue jeans that had turned tight for her lately, she pulled out her favourite wool jumper.

With a quick glance at the clock, she assumed that her brother would be awake by then. Holding on to a milk chocolate packet, she let herself out of her apartment.

His front door was left unlocked. Reminding herself to chastise him on that, she let herself in and made her way to his office. Carefully, she tapped her knuckles against the door. From the other side, she heard a muffled response which she could only guess as come in, so she did. She gingerly pushed open the door and shuffled in.

Edward’s office was a pretty standard work space. A small room with a heavy desk to the left piled with stacks of papers and two monitors, and several plush seats on the right. The back wall was a floor to ceiling built-in bookshelf decked with all variety of literature.

Her favourite part, however, was the small bay window to the right, with soft white curtains hanging loosely above the blue cushion.

Edward was at his desk, hunched over the keyboard. She rounded the table to stand directly in front of him. His fingers were folded and perched against his lip, chin resting on his palm. Taking up a majority of his face were black thick rimmed glasses.

“Your front door was left unlocked. I could have been a burglar.” She said.

He looked up then with a grin, “You will make a pretty burglar then.”

She scoffed at him. “Stop using your petty lines with me. I’m your sister, not one of your girls.”

He faked a hurt gasp, then smiled at her. “Morning Erica.”

“Good morning.” She relaxed into the seat across his desk, bringing her knees up to her chest. Edward shifted in his spot, then glided to the bookshelf and picked up a thick text from the Christian fiction selection.

“‘Complete’ by Goodness Adegbola. You should have it.” He said, as he held it out to her.

“Nice cover.” She commented, flipping through the pages. “Are you planning on writing a review of it?”

“Yes. I learnt a lot from the novel, and those lessons shouldn’t be kept to myself alone.”

She nodded in support, then gently placed the book by her side.

“Have you made anything this morning? I’m really hungry.”

“That is something with you.” He chuckled, referring to the packet in her hand.

“Chocolates is real food to you abi?” She asked him with a frown.” Answer me jhoor.”

He laughed at her impatience. “Alright, I made pancakes, but it should be cold by now. “

“Who cares?” She snorted, then made her way out.

“Should I bring you a plate?” She called out to him.

“Thanks. A glass of smoothie will do.” He replied.

She returned some minutes after, a tray in hand.

“Here, strawberry and lemon smoothie.”

“Thanks.” He said, taking a little sip.

She settled back into her seat, balancing the tray on her lap with care.

“Is everything alright?”

She raised an eyebrow at him questioningly. “Yeah – Sure.” She replied.

“We chatted late into the night yesterday and you gave off nothing. Whatever it is must have happened this morning.”

She gulped. “What are you talking about?”

“Come on Erica. I know you better than anyone else. I mean, you showed up here this early. Something must be wrong.” He replied.

“So, I can’t just decide to pay you a visit?” She chuckled. “I’m hurt, brother mine.”

“Erica.”

“Yes, Edward?”

“Are you okay?” He asked with concern.

“I don’t need a pity party.” She mumbled.

Her face fell and her expression reflected only pain, with nothing else. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. She tried hard to keep her cool, all the while fiddling with her fingers.

“Nothing is okay.” She sighed. “I’m confused, alright? I feel so empty. I don’t even understand anything anymore. I feel nothing now. I’m just numb.”

Edward quietly stood up from his seat and walked over to her side. “Can you trust me enough to tell me what it is?” He asked gently, placing a hand on her shoulder.

“Dennis.” She croaked. “He broke up with me over a text message. Three years, Edward!” She cried.

“Okay, calm down.” Edward pacified. “Have you reached out to him?”

She looked at him as if saying, “You didn’t mean that, right?”

“It’s of no use.” She shrugged. “I should have been the one to end things, guess I never had the courage to.”

Looking back now, she realized that she should had never started anything with Dennis. But then, she was at her lowest when she met him. Her father was putting so much pressure on her, and Dennis being Dennis, his sweet words got her hooked. Since he showered her with all the love and affections she so much wished for from her father, she wasted no time in saying yes when he finally asked her to be his girlfriend.

Times spent with him started replaying themselves in her mind. She remembered the first time she baked for him.

“You can’t make a living out of this, you know?” He said, as he took a bite out of the custard cookie in his hand. “You bake like shit.” He scoffed.

His words hurt her, but she masked it off quickly with a smile. That was the last time she ever baked, despite her brother’s constant nagging.

The first day he took her along with him on an outing with his friends also flashed quickly across her mind.

“You are so weird, Erica. So strange!” He yelled at her after they’d left the place. “You couldn’t even flow with the conversations. I had no idea that I signed up for a girlfriend who is only good at embarrassing me.” He huffed. “I wonder what I’m doing with you, you’re so socially awkward.”

He never asked her out for any outing again. When she challenged him about it, his reply was unexpected.

“Take a look at yourself.” He scoffed. “Have you seen my friends’ girlfriends? You’re nothing compared to them. I don’t want to be the butt of jokes because of you. You are too slim, and we all like our girls thick.”

Having had enough of him, she retorted, “Then why are you with me?”

“I should ask myself that too. But I like you.”

To be approved by him and his friends, she started stuffing herself with foods, eating at odd hours and excessively. And no, she added no weight. Mother nature was a real bitch to her.

At any chance, he made sure to always take a jab at her.

“With all your father’s money, can’t you dress well? No one would believe that you are the great Tayo Adeyi’s only daughter if you keep on dressing this way.”

And on and on, until her self-worth was reduced to almost nothing.

To be continued…