Gratitude is the heart's memory.                — French proverb ________________ Maitama David's fingers tightened around the stem of the wine glass before he consciously forced them to relax. He lifted it to his lips and took a long sip, welcoming the faint sting as the wine slid down his throat. It’s cool liquid did little to soothe the heat searing through his skin. Tricia took a slow step forward, instinctively drawing her robe tighter around her nightgown. The movement was small and unconscious, but David noticed it all the same. Taking a sip from her own glass, her gaze lingered on him.  "Are you sure you're okay, David? You're trembling."

Reader discretion advised Previously :  SEASON 4 EP.2   A person is a person because of other people.                     – African Proverb: SeSotho / Ubuntu —————— David froze, his heart hammered frantically against his ribs as the sudden surge of adrenaline completely washed away the lingering heat of desire and the priest’s echoing words from his buzzing head. He scrambled to his knees but stayed low, pressing his side against the sofa while his breath came in silent, shallow rasps.  "Who dey there?" he called out. His voice barely carried across the room.

 This post is rated PG. Reader discretion advised The more we are filled with thoughts of lust, the less we find true romantic love. -Douglas Horton ------------- The routine had become painfully familiar. Whenever thoughts of Tricia consumed him beyond reason, David sought refuge in the same shameful ritual. The only thing he had come to resent was the relentless voice that refused to leave him alone—the calm, unwavering voice of Ada's parish priest.

                             Previously:  AFLOAT SEASON 3 E.11 Mastering others is strength, mastering yourself is true power. - Lao Tzu. -------------------- Maitama, Abuja - How could he possibly tell her that the first day Alex introduced her to him and the rest of their friends had altered the course of his life? One look at Tricia had unsettled him in ways he couldn't explain, and from that day onward, every fantasy, no matter how hard he fought it, bore her face. Initially, he had spent months giving his feelings different names, as though changing the label could somehow change what they were. First it was sisterly affection. Then brotherly concern. Then admiration. Each new label bought him a little more time before he had to confront the truth. Before long, he found himself inventing reasons to stop by Alex's house. Sometimes it was to discuss work. Other times it was to watch football or simply kee...

  Afloat Season 4 

There is no greater tyranny than that which is perpetrated under the shield of the law and in the name of justice - Montesquieu _______________________ Ituron community- Who would have guessed that the mysterious stranger in Maurice's home was his long-lost blood uncle? Why did he decide to come back now? Eric thought as suspicion crept into his mind. Though his head told him Uncle Ambrose had always been a sincere man and should not be doubted, his gut still had reservations—and over the years, he had learned never to ignore it. " I think your long absence made my men assume you were a stranger," Eric explained carefully.   "A stranger? But I am a son of the soil." Ambrose exclaimed with a loud laugh.

At the touch of love, everyone becomes a poet. -Plato --------------- Maitama, Abuja (Alex's Mansion) - David settled into the comfortable leather sofa and took a sip of his drink as his gaze took in the lavishly furnished living room. The cool air seeping in from the vents on the walls relaxed his frayed nerves. The maid must have turned on the AC the moment they arrived; he guessed. Very diligent woman , David thought as he gulped down his drink and grinned with satisfaction. 

Do not look where you fell, but where you slipped - African proverb ------------------------ Ituron community - "Uncle Ambrose! I am still surprised. The last time anyone saw you was three or five years ago? This is indeed strange!" Ambrose grunted. They were in Maurice's small sitting room after the brawl at the cottage. Eric had a confused look on his face as he eyed Maurice and his uncle suspiciously. He was leaning against the wall facing Maurice and Ambrose who were seated in the only two available chairs. Ambrose shook his head slowly and met Eric's gaze; "You are correct. I left three years ago. Exactly some days after Maurice was incarcerated for abducting and ruining that girls life." "I was falsely accused!" Maurice interjected, "she willingly followed me to my house and gave herself to me. Yet nobody believed me!" [Don't forget to subscribe to NIB so you can get daily updates of this story and more]

Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you. - Oprah Winfrey ------------------ Maitama, Abuja - The moment the gatemen let them in, Tricia disappeared into the house. She had ignored him on the way back so he sensed she had probably gone to lock herself up in her room upstairs. He could guess she was secretly plotting her revenge so there was no way he was letting her out of his sight.  David instantly made up his mind to spend the night in Alex's home since he could not afford to pay the bodyguards for the twenty-four hours service. It was not part of the birthday plan and he had spent almost all the money Alex transferred to him on the failed evening with Tricia. Of course, Alex would definitely refund him when he returned but his funds were tied up somewhere so he had no extra to spare on bodyguards.   [Don't forget to subscribe to NIB so you can get daily updates of this story and more]

A friend may be waiting behind a stranger’s face. - Maya Angelou,  Letter to My Daughter ------------------------   Ituron community - The quivering man managed to plead while his teeth chattered as if he was freezing. "Is this the man?" Eric queried Boma "Y yes. He is our guest. My husband brought him here." She was no longer crying but her voice was hoarse. "Oga! Wetin carry you come our community? What is your business here?" Eric's clear voice boomed as he took steps towards the strange man. [Don't forget to subscribe to NIB so you can get daily updates of this story and more]

When you know what you want, and want it bad enough, you’ll find a way to get it                 - Jim Rohn ____________________________ Ituron community - "He is in there." Boma pointed at the door of a small locally remodeled cottage. A single light bulb was carelessly attached to the wall above the door. It's weak light fought against the pitch darkness of the night which seemed to be edging closer to the mud walls plastered with cement. The men flanked the building. "Are you sure?" Eric's right hand man questioned aggressively while they all glared at the wooden door as if a criminal awaited behind it. "Yes sir! I'm very sure." Boma wiped her running nose with the end of her wrapper. Eric signalled to his men and two of them rushed over and effortlessly broke down the door.  They dove into the house and before long angry and hight pitched voices were heard followed by the noise of struggling.

A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing. — George Bernhard Shaw ______________________________ Maitama, Abuja - "You must apologize to me this minute! David I demand an apology right now!" Tricia bawled. The room was sound proof so her shrill voice bounced off the walls. She was not accustomed to being scolded and being disrespected by David awakened alien emotions. She suddenly felt like hurting him so as to put him in his place - beneath her! The man was just a cheap wannabe who was being assisted by Alex. How he suddenly grew wings was a mystery her imagination could not comprehend. "I'm not Alex and you have twenty seconds to pack up your things...if you don't move your ass, I will get my men to bundle you out of this hotel. Your time starts now."

Pleasure of love lasts but a moment. Pain of love lasts a lifetime – Bette Davis ---------------------- Maitama, Abuja - David stared at her with unconcealed disappointment. Why would a mature woman behave like a bitter teenager? So this was what Alex had been tolerating? There was no way he was going to let this slide. Infact she would be considered sick in the brain if she ever thought he was going to ignore her attitude tonight. He slowly went over to the switch board and flipped the light switch on. The room instantly came alive as bright light flooded in from the designed ceiling and walls. Tricia blinked as her brow creased with a deep frown.

We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope - Martin Luther King, Jr. ------------------------- Ituron community - "Please don't take my husband away. I beg you in the name of God. I know where the man is... I - I will take you there... please please!" Maurices wife wailed and pleaded with Eric "Boma I forbid you! Eric you can't do anything. You're just a boy!"  Maurice yelled louder while trying to fight off the men clutching onto him. A dog could be heard barking in the distance as the light in some houses nearby came on but nobody dared to come outside. They all viewed them from their windows. "Are you lying to me?" Eric's eyes burned red as he glared at Boma.

Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do. —Johann Wolfgang von Goethe ----------------- Ituron community -  One thing Eric had learned over the years was that hastily unleashing his anger always had a bizarre ending. But, like his father before him, patience was a virtue the gods of their ancestors had kept beyond his strong grasp, especially when his job and the people he respected were involved. "Maurice I will ask you one last time, where is the stranger?"

Life is a long lesson in humility. -James M. Barrie ---------------------- "Tricia." David's deep voice intruded on her thoughts and she turned cold eyes on him. Staring at his face all night was never the plan. Being forced to eat with him instead of with friends and colleagues was a nightmare like the low budget array of intercontinental and local dishes she would never touch even in the next life. Her dietitian would be alarmed at the tragedy she was being exposed. Her stomach rumbled distastefully as the aroma suddenly made her feel like throwing up. 

We do not remember days, we remember moments. - Cesare Pavese ---------------------- 'Why do you do this?" "Do what?" "Run anytime Alex says catch. Am I missing something? Help me to understand..." "He asked me to bring you here so I did just that." "so if he asks you to drown yourself you would do that?" David flashed a blinding smile at her; "If you are sure you don't want to eat anything, then let's go home. I'm aware that you have an early morning tomorrow." "Are you going to tuck me in as well?

It is in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped. Tony Robbins ________________________________ “Maurice! Maurice I know you can hear me!”   Eric was flanked by a handful of his ferocious looking squad who were dressed in their usual uniform of red and black in multiple designs. It was almost midnight and they were in front of a modern bungalow designed with bricks and surrounded by properly trimmed flowers and shrubs. The space around the house was illuminated by bright lights hanging from the walls of the house and he could see from the open slider windows that it was occupied. Some of his men headed for the backyard while the others took up positions at the sides. They were all wielding clubs and machetes.

Victory is always possible for the person who refuses to stop fighting. - Napoleon Hill. --------------------- “Stranger? Yesterday? That's impossible. We’ve had none recently. Besides my men would have informed me if anybody came into town.” “Are you trying to say that I'm lying?” “No Sir! You know I respect you a lot, but this info..." Eric faltered but continued immediately; "everybody in this community knows I don’t joke with my job. We dey always know anything wey dey happen for this town! Nothing escapes us.”  He swung around towards the young men standing behind him; “Did any stranger arrive yesterday?”  The men stared blankly at each other before turning back to look at Eric, surprise written all over their faces.

The body says what words cannot.” —  Martha Graham __________________________ Stanley reached out for her as his breath caught in his throat; she had no hair extensions or weaves, not as if she needed any of those fake stuff other women used with hair so silky and magnificent. Their perfection was almost obliterated by the tiny sticks and leaves stuck in them so he ran his fingers gently through the pitch dark tangled tresses, freeing them of the debris and slowly massaging her scalp. Dapper’s bleary eyes widened briefly before snapping shut.  Her trembling body ran cold as if she had been dumped into the village lake very early in the morning at the peak of the harmattan season. She drew in a quick breath as a different level of fear gripped her stricken heart.  What is he trying to do? Why is he toying with my hair?   Was he thinking of? Oh God please!  The thought of the scary man forcing himself on her made her already irregular heartbeat to fi...