Can we try again?

Fifty-Two

The silence lingered between us. And that in itself spoke more than any word she could have uttered.

"What happened between you two? Wait! Oma. . . You didn't. . . No. . . Don't tell me that you've . . ." I couldn't even bear to say the word.

"No no no," She shook her head vigorously. "We're still together but . . ."

"But what?"

I could tell she was still holding something back.

"Oma what is it?" I asked, taking her hands in mine. "What is wrong? He didn't cheat on you, did he?" I suddenly remembered the fiasco years ago and how Oma dived into conclusion resulting in their arguments, causing them to nearly split up.

"He didn't, no. I just. . . I dunno."

"Ahh. No o. You have to know. What's the matter?"

She sighed and put her head on her hands. I gave her some time to compose herself. Finally, she spoke. "I'm just not feeling it anymore."

I gazed at her and before I knew it, I burst into a fit of laughter. "Please tell me something believable abeg you. What kind of talk is that one na."
My tone then became serious. "What do you mean you're not feeling it anymore?"

"You know, the way I used to feel about him, I don't feel that anymore. It's like. . ."

"It's like what Oma?" I interrupted. "What is wrong with you? Do you want to run this beautiful thing you have?"

"I don't. No. I just. . .I dunno." I looked into her eyes that were already filling up with water.

I pulled her in my arms just a Jameel walked up to me and asked, "Mummy  I have biscuit?"

"Yes, Jameel you can." I told him and he trotted off inside.

I turned to Oma. "When last did you see him. When last did you two talk?"

She stared ahead, biting at her bottom lip. "I can't even remember. I mean we do talk on the phone, if that's what you mean?"

"No. I mean face to face."

"It's been a while since I saw him Mira. Nearly two months now, I think," She told me. "He's been busy with work and so have I. So we've not really been spending much time together."

"That's . . . Well . . .why though? Does he not come to visit you? Do you not go to visit him?"

She's shook her head.

"You get to speak with him on the phone though?"

"Yeah, but it's not the same. Mira I feel like I'm . . .I'm . . . I dunno. . .falling out of love with him."

"What?" I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"I know . . .I just . . ." She ran her hand through her braids. "I just don't even know."

"No no no Oma," I shook my head vigorously. "No, you are not going to give up on your relationship like that. Hell no I'm gonna let you do this kind of thing!" I took her hand in mine. "Listen to me, what you guys have together is too precious to give up. You need to spend time together to rekindle that fire, cos I know it's still there."

"But when?" She groaned. "When are we ever going to find the time?"

Jameel came back out, handed me a packet of digestive biscuit. "Open mummy."

I opened it and gave it back to him and he walked away back to playing.

I turned to Oma again. "You two have to find a way. If you cannot see face to face, you can talk to him via the phone. Tell him how you feel. Tell him you're not happy with the  way things are and you both should  do something about it. You need to communicate with him. Communication is key."