Novels by Aniekezie Blessing

LIKE AND DEATHCharlie cancelled Thanksgiving at her house; Theresa understood, Deedah shrugged and Mama Freya threw her medication bottle at her. The only person's reaction she didn't get was Blurin's. The mountain of a man made sure to avoid her through and through.There are a lot of things to recover from; Tristan, Mario and his stupid hot-soon-to-be heroic wife, and Blurin. The man no longer came downstairs to watch her cook or clean. It made Charlie sad. Very sad.It's been two weeks after Tristan's rejection and he has finally moved out of Charlie's apartment. It was enough to trigger her tear duct but she didn't cry. She couldn't. It was going to paint her as miserable and desperate as if she wasn't all those. Her best friend is spending Christmas with Zeus at his father's house and she's all alone for Christmas except Blurin who avoids her entirely.Charlie decides that toda

A BAD DAY... WEEKCharlie isn't sure she has anything to be grateful for.These past few months have been a rollercoaster that has managed to overwhelm Charlie gravely.The gingerhead has always looked forward to any Thanksgiving, especially with Deedah and Mama Freya present in the same room. Those two are like oil and water. Last year, Mama Freya kept dropping inappropriate jokes about Zeus's ass and Deedah almost punched her jaw.Charlie could swear she almost had a heart attack that day.Most times, Deedah even brings her cat, Sambi, for the *awe's* and the *coos*. But Charlie isn't sure she has it in her for Thanksgiving this year. Her friends and acquaintances can be a handful, most times, and she isn't ready for that—especially with the situation on ground.Her humiliating rejection. Her ex-boyfriend's stupid speech to his wife and keeping her feelings organized. Not to

**COMFORT**It hit her the next morning.Tristan doesn't like her that way. The same way Mario didn't like her which caused him to play her like hockey.It is around 2 am that Charlie wakes up from her sleepless night. A truckload of sadness washes over her as she replays last night's conversation.'...I don't like you in that way. I just want us to be friends...'The first dam breaks few minutes after brooding. She doesn't even try to stop it or tune it down, no. The sobs pour violently as she clutches her pillow tightly.She is so deep in her weeping that she doesn't register her door open, or how the end of her bed sinks slowly.When she starts hearing soft humming, she raises her head from her pillow.Bulky is sitting at the end of her bed, his fingers on his lap and his hair falling against his face.She waits for him to talk,

NOT TRISTAN'S TYPEIt's been roughly two months since she shut the door on her relationship. Two months since she rescued Blurin from dying of hypothermia. A month away from Christmas.The snow fell at a more heavy pace. Townswomen and children has started putting up decorations and adding the celebratory 'Seasons Greeting!' to their salutations.Steinfield is always lively this time of year. The airplane crash? Shutting down of the airport? The town's people have a lot to be grateful for. Charlie Jordan, especially.It's been two months since Blurin became her housemate and she still hasn't heard him utter a full sentence. In his case, actions speak louder than words. Charlie has to be lying if she says she doesn't wish to have a friendly interaction with Bulky.In fact, the only interaction they both have is about food—whenever he isn't busy, Blurin helps with making meals in the house. With

POUTING IN A PIZZA PLACECharlie has been busying herself with trimming her vegetable beds since midmorning.The sun was barely up when she wore her rubber gloves and picked up her tools from the side of the house. Nora's apartment has its light on and Charlie could see indistinct movement here and there.She cut the weeds rather viciously. The loud giggles and boisterous laugh still lingers in her mind and that is what fueled her to snap the necks of a few stems.Charlie avoided Tristan the whole of yesterday till the present morning. He'd left a few minutes after Blurin had come down for breakfast. Ha, Breakfast. It was an awkward affair. For the first time—since living with Charlie—Tristan was on his phone on the dining table chuckling softly then coughing afterward.'He's probably sharing dog memes with Theresa,' Charlie couldn't keep the saltiness off her thoughts.Sighing loud

A TRIVIAL COMPETITION"Mama, I'm fine! I wanna go in now, pleaseeee!" The 5-year old whines loudly. He keeps prying his mother's fingers from his hair as he huffs."Okay. Okay," His mother chuckles softly, "Did you pack your monster trucks, my handsome?"Charles pouts, his knees bouncing impatiently, "Yes Mama! Russ and his family is in my bag pack, can I go in now?"Mrs. Pulgo smiles softly, a proud flower blooming in her chest as her son kept glancing at his babysitter's house with his knees bobbing eagerly."Okay, let's go."They walk hand-in-hand till they get to Charlie's doorstep. Mrs. Pulgo raises her hand to ring the doorbell but Charles tugs it back forcefully."Mama, I wanna ring it!" He hollers as he points to the shiny gold button on the wall."Go ahead, Charles, but not too hard."Tel