Down to the sea bottom

Still standing in front of his desk, Louisa raised her hand to cover her mouth, trying very hard to control her sobs.

She leaned to take the brown envelope which her boss had dropped on his desk and slowly turned her back and exited the office. She could hardly lift her legs, her chest tightened and her stomach churned. She thought of Danna, her sister whom desperately dreams of walking again, her thought drifted to Alexis whom she promised to support till the end.

When she got to Chloe's desk she gradually lets her self-sink into one of the chairs there.

“It wasn't supposed to end this way, I was supposed to be on the stage too, I was ...this isn't happening..." She muttered lowly

Chloe went close to her and held her shoulders.

"What did the wizard say this time around? Are you supposed to do an all night recording again" Chloe inquired.

She titled her head sideways looking straight into Chloe's retina, this time she couldn't help the heavy downpour of tears, without making a sound , her eyes gathered trickles of tears until they form a pool and flowed down through her cheek like a fountain.

"Oh shit girl, what happened in there?" Chloe said leaning and reaching out for Louisa.

She held her throat tightly and busted into tears, she couldn't hold it back, she cried out till her eyes were almost dry of tears.

"He ..he.. he..fire..d me!" She said stuttering.

Chloe stood up rapidly and fiercely, her two hands were sitting on her waist as she perambulates her office.

“What? He fired you? How could he do that to you? After making you work the day? Why didn’t he do that in the morning, wait did he give you your pay its past half of the month already?" She questioned angrily.

Louisa, still sobbing simply stretched the brown envelope to Chloe. Chloe snatched it from her hands, opened the envelope and counted the money in it. When she was done, she hit the envelope on her desk and yelled.

“Damn! I hate that son of a bitch!, Is that all Louisa? Just 20 dollars for all this year's you have been with him? Does he not know how much of help you have been to him?"

Louisa sat upright and buried her face in her palms, after sometimes she cleaned her eyes and consoled herself.

“I’d get another job, I'd talk to Alexis, he'd help me I'd just wait for you till you're about to go home, I don't really want to walk alone" Louisa said with a croaked voice.

Louisa and Chloe left the office together when she was done. They headed for the bus station talking and cursing their industrialist boss when Louisa’s tummy grumbled loudly.

“Did your stomach just make that sound? I almost thought it was a trumpet sound, you skipped lunch again Louisa? Didn’t you? Chloe questioned

“Wouldn’t be that loud if it was lunch only, I forgot to eat my breakfast due to rush” she said

“you know what we are having a stop at a cafeteria, bills on me “Chloe ordered

“you and I know I can’t, I’d rather stopover at the groceries to get few things, you know I am a mother of a 17 year old girl” she said and took a long sigh.

“ I never wish for a day like today again It weakens my heart that I think i'd die. It’s all good, all I have to do is live this life till I reach my pinnacle of fortune.” Louisa said in a bid to console herself.

A bus stopped and they both struggle to get in, to Louisa and Chloe the ride was a long and boring one. They both alighted at the same bus stop but have different paths to walk home.

Chloe held her wrist tightly and caressed the back of her palm looking straight into her eyes.

“Louisa at times I envy your courage and strength, I wish I could be half as strong as you are, but as much as I admire it,

I also wish you can stop acting too tough while you punish yourself internally. Girl there is no harm crying all day when it is needed, there is no harm seeing one of those sad movies with a popcorn, there is no crime is singing out your frustration at the karaoke. You act too strong at it scares me!

Chloe drew her closer and whispered in her ears

“Everything will be fine Louisa, remember I am always there for you.

“Thank you Chloe” Louisa appreciates.

They let go of each other, waved, and they turned their backs and headed their separate lane. She plodded down the path that leads to her house, counting her steps in a way to forget the day’s event

Louisa arrived home at six ’o clock feeling extremely tired, she headed for her sisters room to check on her, she changed her out of her adult diaper she had messed up and freshened her up. Getting a care taker would have been the best option but she doesn’t have enough to spare.

When she was done with her she went straight into the kitchen and microwaves the toasted bread she forgot to eat in the morning.

She collapsed on the bed after eating and stared blank at the roof muttering some inaudible words.

She was about falling asleep when a notification popped on her phone, Her phone had been buried her bag all day long, she was awakened by the notification beep and remembered she had not texted Alexis all day not talk of attending to a notification beep.

She staggered to where she dropped her bag and brought out her phone only to see 7 notification from her reminder.

“Holy shit! How could I have forgotten? Louisa you’re very bad girl, what to do, what to do?” she repeated.

She scuffled through her bag and brought out the brown envelope her boss had given her, she rushed to her scattered wardrobe flinging out the dresses in it, she checked the time and it as getting really late so she opted for the next available dress she saw and went to the mall to buy a gift.

She walked through the mall over an hour searching for what she could get with the cash she has with her. The gift items were quite expensive and greatly exceed her pocket but she was left with no choice but to get a gift that was more than half of her pay.

On getting home she quickly drafted a text message to apologize for forgetting such an important day

“Hello sweetheart, I’m very sorry you are getting this message late, today was a tough day but thoughts of you eased the tension. I know that this isn’t an excuse, so all I can say is I’m sorry. Your princess wishes you a happy birthday, I Love ya! As usual expect your surprise package tomorrow morning”

After drafting the text she took a deep sigh, smiled and pressed the send button. While she was thinking of a way to surprise him. She deduced the biggest surprise she could give was to show up before him in his school.

“yes! He would be caught off-guard and he’d definitely be glad. I have no job to withhold me and…. Oh Danna,” she said biting her lip

She put a call through to Chloe and pleaded with her that she stays with Danna for a day while she was away surprisingly Chloe accepted without arguing

“Alright girl, go have some fun “Chloe said

“Is this Chloe? Are you for real, your response scared me, it was too easy girl, anyway thank you” she said quickly and ended the call.

She started packing her bags almost immediately singing turning and twisting her body as he sang.

She moved very early and got to his school around 8:00 am, it took her a lot of trekking and asking around before she could locate his hostel.

On getting there, to her surprise she found him waiting outside standing beside a black luxury car.

“Has he been waiting for me? Did Chloe tell him anything? Damn it! That girls lips needs to be sealed, I’m so sorry...” She said in a glum manner.

She was ready to take yet another step towards being noticed by Alexis when she realized a lady was stepping out of the car, well curved, classy, tall, and slender and with sporting long brown hair. She wears a glistening short gown with black heels and wore a heavy and makeup.

Her legs failed her to move forward as she saw Alexis fascinated and enchanted by another woman and kissing her passionately like his life depends on it.

Alexis held her by the waist, leading her to his room, he often time touched and caressed her face and they both giggled.

“He must have loved sophisticated ladies after all” she said in a sullen way

She walked behind them closely, observing every of their gesture till they got to the door.

“She is going to his room, who …who ..is she” she whispered.

Unconsciously her hand went to her mouth, she bit hardly on her palm and tears flowed from her eyes. She halted for a while, she cleaned he her eyes and she watched them walk side by side until she finally summoned the courage to talk

“Alexis!” she called out and waved her hands from afar.

His eyes bulged , he walked fast to her ,held her wrist and pulled her father.

“what are you doing here? Why didn’t you tell me? what exactly can you do right Louisa?” he scolded

She was smitten by his words, she stood there staring pitifully at him as tears continues to dance down her eyes.

“I sent you a text yester night, I just came to give you your gift and wish you happy birthday personally. I thought you will be happy to see me, I guess I was wrong”

She stretched the gift to him but he pushed her hands down, he moved closer to her and whispered.

“You can take it home, I’d collect it later”

They were still talking when they both heard a voice.

“Alexis who is this?”

They both turned their head looking at the young lady, Louisa titled her head to see Alexis reaction and response but it seemed she would wait for eternity as all je did was stare at his young rich doll.