A SHROUD OF DARKNESS #3

Chapter 3

I still remember the first day we met. I was rushing out of a supermarket when we bumped into each other. I had received a call from a company I had sent my C.V. to; I had been called for an emergency interview. I am a Graphic designer by profession; my job requires me to assemble together images, typography or motion graphics to create a piece of design. On that fateful day, whether by fate or destiny, or better still witchcraft my complimentary cards which I had in my hand all scattered on the ground when we bumped into each other. “

I’m sorry, I'm so sorry” I spoke breathless from the running. “It’s alright Miss” he said whiles helping me pick up my cards. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine Mr…”

“Eben, call me Eben”

“Okay Mr Eben. I really need to go, thank you”.

He let out a deep hearty laugh, and before he could utter another word I took off. Thankfully, I got the job that day and have been working in the company ever since…it’s been 8 years since that day. Now I’m shareholder in the company…I told you, “blessed is the man…” anyway, back to the narrative.

Two weeks after that encounter, I received a call from a strange number.

“Hello, am I speaking to Miss Rose Nana Ama Sole?” a voice said

“Yes this is Rose Sole, who is this and please how may I help you?”

“This is Eben!” He exclaimed with his voice filled with excitement

“Eben…? I think you called a wrong number. Good day”

“No no no, wait! It’s Eben… Eben Lumar?”

Me: “………” clueless

Him: “oh c’mon! You don’t remember me?” He sounded exasperated, “we met outside a supermarket 2 weeks ago, you were rushing somewhere when we bumped into each other and you dropped your compli…”

Before he could finish, I said “Oh it’s you Mr Eben.”

He heaved a sigh of relief and giggled, “Yes it’s me, you can call me just Eben, no Mr.”

“Okay”, I said rather harshly, “so what do you want from me? And how did you get my number?…wait…did you take one of my complimentary cards?!” I asked in utter disbelief.

He just laughed and said, “Yes mi lady I did. I was hoping you could so some designing stuff for me. I need a new logo for my company and an advertisement for a new product I’m yet to release into the market. I want it to be very catchy yet subtle, nothing too fancy”.

I couldn’t believe he had just used catchy and subtle and not too fancy in the same sentence. Immediately I pushed aside my attitude, because this was an opportunity for me to get some extra cash so I could take care of my Mother.

“Yes please. I’m at your service. We need to discuss payment. And when do you need it done? Just let me know all your demands and I’ll meet them excellently Sir”.

“Very good” he said, “how about we discuss this over lunch tomorrow? I’ll send you the address of the place.”

“Okay Sir, it’s a date!” I smiled. I was so happy I had found another way of making some extra cash without even looking so hard.

That was the beginning of 4 years of pure friendship, followed by 4 years of dating and getting to know each other.

There were times Eben would demand for intimacy of which I would politely refuse, carefully remind him of my principles, and lovingly admonish him to be patient.

Eben is a tall man about 6ft, with a thick beard he always kept to a neat trim, he wears a pair of glasses with a blue and red rim. His fashion sense was very simple; a dozen or more of single colored shirts with each paired with a pair of black pants and a couple of black and brown shoes. He has a pair of dimples and the most beautiful dark blue eyes I have ever seen.

He is moderately muscular-if there’s such a thing-and has a deep voice…one that could cause ripples inside your soul and cause vibrations in a room.

There were times we would have misunderstandings about no sex before marriage. I remember incidents where he would wrap his strong arms around me and forcefully pull me to himself in an attempt to force himself on me.

On one of such occasions, I had to continuously scratch his face and hit him until he stopped. He would apologize countless number of times, and plead for my forgiveness. And I would forgive him. I never thought much of it, after all he loved me and we had been dating for so long; and I was going to marry only him and no one else.

I always explained away his actions, made excuses for him, until the day, until this horrid day when no excuses could justify the heinous crime he committed, plunging me into this deep shroud of darkness.