MY PERFECT PAL

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Kelley dragged himself into the living room, worn out by the daily activities, he inattentively slumped on the sofa taking a deep gasp and for a moment it felt heaven like being home after a strenuous day. "Oh! Femi," he murmured forcing himself up. Femi meant everything to him, she was his world, they had been married for the past six years and though it was never a bed of roses they had supported each other all the way. "Femi, love am home," his summon was met with total silence. He tilted up to look at the clock which arms swung madly dancing to the unknown tune. "Hon, hon he called matching up the stairs as silent walls glared at him. When he pushed the door open his eyes met with her lifeless body laying on the cold floor froth covering her mouth, bewildered he ran to her. "Femi, Femi, Hon, what happened to you Femi wake up," he bent towards her to feel her pulse. Beside her stiff body was a folded piece of paper, baffled he unfolded it hoping he would get a grip. "Kelley," the letter began "Hon as you read this letter nothing will be making sense and please forgive me but I was tired of the discomfiture and degradation from your family , I am tired of their queries, Kelley, I love you so much hon, heaven knows that and even in the world of unknown I will still love you, I hope that you find a wife who will make you a father, thank you for being by my side Hon, goodbye love.' he squashed the letter and give a sharp thunderous shriek that penetrated through the quiet wall of his luxurious house. "Why Femi, but why Hon? He enclasped her hoping that his touch would bring her back to life. In the six years of their marriage, he had greatly buoyed her up loving her with all his might and oftenly reminding her of Hannah and Sarah in the Holy Book. He was always a shoulder for her to lean on and there was never a time that he made her feel less a woman for being childless. All strength deserted him and his entire anatomy grew feeble. perplexed he called his friend.

"Oh Kel what's up my guy, how are your date and Femi getting on, you rushed home for that, so anything the matter? Kelley are you still there?" "Femi," "You sound strange, what's going on with you?" "Harry, it's Femi, she is gone" "You are scaring me, what happened to Femi Kel?" "My wife is no more, she is laying lifeless on my laps" "What, keep calm Kel am on my way." "Harry, what's the rush love?" "Tina something happened to Femi, I need to see Kel" "And what happened to Femi?" "I'm not too sure, but he didn't sound good, just be calm love" he pecked her forehead and dashed out.

Unlike Kelley, Harry and Tina had been married for five years and they had a three-year-old Daughter that Femi dearly loved.They had known each other years back in their teens and had seen each evolve into successful geezers that they were. As for Tina and  Femi, they knew each other through their husbands. He stood holding on to the doorpost in disbelief, he had known Femi for quite a while. His eyes were fixed on her defunct body still not believing what he was seeing. He moved closer to Kelley who was still in a vast Trauma. "Kel, they have to take her body, come with me," "Harry, are you in my dream, pinch me and shake me off this nightmare." "Come on we have to go with them" "How will I live without Femi, I love her so much Harry, so much," as falling rain tears streamed down upon his face "I know, let's go," he pulled him to his feeble feet.

Hours later, he glared at him as he peacefully stretched on the sofa, his pain, and agony palpable on his face. He knew it was a big blow to him because he loved Femi so much that he talked about her to everyone at his workplace. He knew it will be along peregrination to his friend recovery.

In four months Kelley had turned into a different person, his life revolved around work, pubs, and home. He had turned to alcohol for solace and happiness to him was just a fable, he attached no meaning to life. "Kel, Tina told me to tag you along for dinner" "Oh, sorry but I can't." "And why?" A cloud of silence fell between them. "I get it you are going to the Pub again, okay I am coming along." "Why bother?" "We made a vow to look after each other and furthermore  when Alcohol takes its toll on you I'm afraid you might do something witless." "Whatever Harry."

The smell of liquor was ever repulsive to him but not now. Every single evening he watched him drowning his sorrows, he sometimes failed to discern how swiftly everything had changed, many times he had to drag him off the pub utterly wasted. "Hey, don't add him any more liquor," said Harry. "I need more alcohol, I am the one paying, who is the boss?" "You are Sir," remarked the attendant "Kel, that's enough bro we need to go home," "You can go I am staying. You are so irksome." "You're coming along." "Leave my hand," he threw a punch that landed Harry on the dirty floor. Furious he straightened up," You know Kel drink liquor will not bring back Femi, she is long gone, understand this your wife is dead she is not coming back Kelley, I don't get you anymore bro, I'm fed up," he dashed out as everyone glared at them. "Add more liquor," he said tears clouding his eyes.

The splashing water on the floor woke her up, she grabbed her phone with heavy eyes, suddenly he slid the door to the bathroom open, his body soaking wet. "Did I wake you up, Hon?" "Yeah, no, but....." "Oh, I  carried you to the bed you were sleeping like a log." "What happened to your face?" "It's nothing, ouch! That hurts" "Nothing? come on don't liar to me did you fight  anyone?" "My best friend decided to give me a black eye" "What! Kel did this to you but why?" "He was getting very tipsy so I decided to pull him off the counter and the last thing I know I was sitting on the floor, why are you grinning, you think it's funny?" "I am sorry your expression is so riotous, and where is Kelley" "I left him at the pub, I even said hurtful words to him" "And what did you tell him" " That, Femi is dead and drinking Liquor will not bring her back to life, that he should understand she is gone, You know love, I don't know how to help him, it has been barely five months since Femi demise but every day he is turning into a different person. I'm afraid he will be an alcoholic, I don't know what to do love and I don't wanna lose my Friend" "I know what we can do Hon, We can always pray for him. "Tina I love you so much, Hon." "And I love more and don't give up on Kel, he needs you." "I won't, thanks for understanding" "Anything for you and Kel," she put her arms around his shoulder and gave him a squeeze as he fervently pecked her hands. "We need to treat that before it becomes more inflated." "But be gentle."

The noisy doorbell drove her out of her prepossessing kitchen. Harry was still in his room and Lavia rolling on the floor with her dolls. " Hey Kel, welcome." "Tina, how are you?" "I'm good, it has been long since you paid us a visit." "I am sorry for that Tina, is Harry in?" "He is, let me call him." "Wait, Tina, did I do anything wrong to him?" "Frankly yes, you hit his face so hard." "Is he okay?" "Uncle Kelley....." "How is my favorite goddaughter?" he threw her in the air. "I'm good Uncle and how about you are you okay?" "Am very okay my dear Lavia" "Okay uncle Kelley, I see you." "Baby, go and call you dad." She dashed off to her father's room. "Kel, he is okay and I'm sure he understands." "Kelley, what's up?" "You're not angry at me?" "I was furious but not anymore, though my face still hurts," "I'm truly sorry Harry, I even don't recall what transpired, sorry bro." "It's okay buddy I understand," he gave him a Pat. "I don't understand anymore what's happening to me because every time I close my eyes I always see her face, in the house I hear voice echoing in every corner but whenever am  drunk it feels different and it's so serene, I miss her so much buddy, I don't get a grip why she gave up, why didn't she think about me? was I not enough for her? all this is slowly killing me." "Sometimes I also hear her soothing voice echoing in my ears asking me about Lavia, I hear her contiguous laughter, I miss her too Kel, we all do," Tina reaffirmed "Tina is right, Femi was an amazing soul it's hard not to miss her and also sad not to have her around but the difference is you haven't accepted the fact that she is gone, just let her go Kel." With her contagious smile, she walked towards them and sat beside Kelley "Uncle I'm sorry I overheard your chat but don't be sad anymore because godmother is now an angel she watches over us," she said angelically. "You are right, princess, I promise I won't be sad anymore, can I tell you a secret?"

"Mmm," she nodded

"You are my favorite, favorite goddaughter." "My dolls are crying," "They are?" "Yes daddy" she dashed off "Love you Lavia, what an angle. I will never forget Femi and I don't know how and when my heart will heal but I accept your offer Harry, I will seek counseling because I don't wanna lose you guys" "I am so relieved buddy, I will be with you all the way." "Thank you so much, guys, for everything and for putting up with my misconduct and Tina you are such an amazing person thank you. " "Any time Kel." "What about me?"Harry cheekily asked "You are my Perfect best pal, I will not fail you guys." "You should not fail yourself," retorted Harry.