Just Let Me Sleep

“Lanre, you can’t just shove things aside and pretend you did not take notice of them, especially not a rumour like this”. Christian said to Lanre. He realised that her eyes were shut already and she was yawning. How could she be sleeping in a situation like this? It disgust him. He stood up and went to pull her up but stopped when he felt her skin hot in his palm. He felt her forehead as well as her neck to find out she was burning up.

“F**K! Lanre you are running temperature and you came home to sleep!” Christian said wondering if he should scold her or not.

“Get out! You are disturbing me”. Lanre muttered. As if she had been holding it for too long tears started rolling down her cheeks. Christian looked at her confused. Why was she acting strong when she’s not?

“Hey! It’s okay. I will look for a way to end this. Stop crying! Look you are already burning up because of this”. Christian said to her wiping off the tears from her face. Lanre wanted to tell him she was like this even before she found out about the rumour but she decided against it.

Christian asked Lanre if she would like to go to the hospital. She shook her head refusing to go.

“Just let me sleep the whole of today, I will be fine”. Lanre said to him. He asked her when last she ate. Lanre did not say anything. He studied her and immediately read meaning into her silence.

“Have you even eaten anything today?” Christian asked her. She replied by telling him she’s fine. Christian pinched her on her leg.

“I’m taking you to my place or will you prefer I take you to my aunt’s place. She prepares better dish”. Christian said to her. She shook her head refusing him yet again. He sighed. He resorted not to listen to her. He carried her in his arms and headed for the door. Lanre tried to struggle but when he almost let her fall, she hugged his neck with both arms. She was not ready to get hurt.

Christian puts her in his car, then he helped her to lock her door before driving out of the environment.

“Hope you are not pretending to be nice?” Lanre asked. Her question sounded weird to Christian who did not expect such a question. She seems to have lost her trust for humanity, or she has never trusted anyone.

“You be the judge, I like you better than Kehinde”. Christian said. Lanre’s eyes were already closing and soon she fell asleep in his car like a little child. Christian focused his attention on the road. He drove them to his house. There he made food for her to eat. Then he went to wake her up. She was yet to wake up since the time she fell asleep in his car. He had to carry her in when they got to his house.

Christian’s hand came in contact with Lanre’s body, she seemed to be burning up worst than before. It was this kind of temperature that is said to be able to boil beans. He decided to call his house help to come over to help him.