Perfect Blemish

He’s dead…

And I killed him…

I held him in my arms and silently screamed within me. I blamed myself for what had happened. I tried to raise him but his lifeless body was much heavier than me. I smiled a little. Even in death you still defeat me, huh? I thought to myself. Maybe if I had pushed harder he wouldn’t be dead. It’s somehow my fault. I left him to his drug/ alcohol addiction. Maybe if I had stayed a little longer he wouldn’t have over-abused the drug in an attempt to get over me. I felt terrible and horrible. I looked at his lifeless body one last time and heaved a sigh of relief, shook my head and got up.

 

Three days ago…

“Babe, where are we going for my birthday tomorrow?”

“pardon?”

“what are we doing for my birthday? You’re aware it’s tomorrow, right?”

“of course I do”

“are you high again?”

“no, I’m not!”

“you are”

“I said I’m not, gosh!!”

“why are you getting upset then”

“because you’re accusing me wrongly”

“fine, I’m sorry”

“okay”

**door slums**

She stared hard at the door. It felt like a slumped in her face. She murmured a sigh and slumped into one of the armchairs in their apartment. It was beginning to get tiring; their fight over his addiction. Kris and Kofi have been dating/ courting for two years. They’ll be getting married this year but recently. They’ve been fighting over his addiction. He keeps lying about his whereabouts and plans and it’s putting a strain on their relationship. They recently moved in together in anticipation for their wedding but it doesn’t seem to be working out well. She was thinking of what was going to happen when he got back home. He’ll be high and drunk, ask for sex, she’ll deny him and tell him to sleep on the couch, he’ll grumble but sleep there nonetheless. She wasn’t looking forward to it in the least.

She was jerked awake by the honking of his car. She checked the wall clock, 3:35 AM. She sighed and put on her house coat. He entered the building without looking at her. This was also part of the routine. She walked behind him steadily. He stank of all kinds of alcohols and marijuana. She passed by him to their bedroom and wished with everything she held dear that he’d just stay where he was. But that was not going to be. He staggered in after her and caught her taking her coat. She had on a see-through night-gown which made him take a few steps towards her. She took a few backwards but ended up sitting on the bed.

“you look dashing”, he smirked

“I want to sleep”

“so do I, darling”, he slurred his words so much that it sounded like daaarleeng rather

She shook her head in disgust and tried to walk past him but he pulled her by the arm so that they hugged. She pushed him back but he didn’t budge.

“what so now I disgust you?”

“yes, you do”, she spat at him

“well, I suppose we’d have to change that”, he walked towards her slowly and stealthily

“don’t even think of it”

“and if I do?”

“don’t”

“make me”

He pushed her onto the bed and started unfastening his belt in a rather clumsy way. She tried getting up but he pushed her down again.

“Kofi, please don’t do this. You’ll regret it when you’re sober”

“I want to. I want to straighten you and cut off your wings”

“please don’t do this to me. Please “

“don’t beg me like you won’t enjoy this”

“I won’t. You’re forcing yourself on me and this will scar us. Please don’t this to us”

“Just keep quiet!”, he backed at her

Kris kept pushing him and in a fit of anger, he hit her. That was his wake up call. Kris didn’t shriek or scream or shout. She didn’t even sob or shed a tear. She just lay there with her hands above her head. Kofi began to apologize. He got on his knees beside the bed and asked for forgiveness

“Babe, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”

Kris just looked at him from where she was still lying in the bed stack naked.

“I’m sure you are”, she finally said and sat up.

She picked her house coat and entered the washroom. Kofi stayed on the tiled floor staring at the washroom door. He was truly sorry. How did it even get this worse? He knew he had done some damage but they could pull through, right? He knocked on the washroom door gently but no reply. He tried opening the door but it was locked.

“Kris, honey, I’m sorry”

“I’m sure you are” she said once she was back into the bedroom.

She pulled on a pair of ripped jeans and a tank top, slipped her feet into a pair of flats, took her bag and car keys and headed out.

“I’ll see you in the morning”, she said as she headed out.

“Can I know where you are going to?”

“No”

“See you tomorr-”

She sped off before he could finish his statement.

 

This morning…

“Kofi stop because there’s nothing you can say to change my mind. Are you going to help me carry the last suitcase or what?”

“I’m sorry for everything. I really am. Please don’t leave”

“I’m sorry too but I’ve got to go. I’ll send my cousin to come for the last suitcase this afternoon”

“Kris please don’t leave me. I love you and I cannot afford to lose you”

“I’m really sorry”, she said as she sat in the car. “Have a nice day”

Kofi watched her drive off. He lost her, finally. He wished he could undo what he did three nights ago but he can’t. He walked into the apartment they’ve been sharing for the past 6 months. He pulled two bottles of strong alcohol and two rolls of marijuana. He mixed the drug with drink and started drinking up. He drank himself into oblivion or death.

The place is quiet

I hope he’s not ar-

Oh my gosh! What’s he doing on the floor?

Yaw knelt beside the body of Kofi and checked his pulse. “I think he’s gone.”

“No”, she shrieked. “it can’t be.” She shouted so loud I could have gone deaf. She held his lifeless body in her arms as the tears rolled down her cheeks.

Sigh

“You’ve left like you were never here to begin with…”, she sighed and got up

 

©Asiedua Yeboah