Again 20 X

I loved you to the point of madness. I was entranced by my love for you.- Nneoma

So, I’m going to watch you for a while. - Diadem

sexual healing

Nneoma’s POV

Diadem is here?

It takes a few minutes before my senses adjust to reality. Despite my room being cold, I am sweaty, with my nightwear sticking to my skin. The hair on my body prickles to life as goosebumps spread across me like wildfire.

I look down at my chest I have an injury there. But thank GOD the knife didn’t pierce through in real life. I release a breath.

Diadem bangs the door rapidly, saying if I don’t come out, he would break it.

I am coming, chill out, I say, though my voice sounds strange hoarse, dehydrated.

Immediately I open the door, Diadem touches me on my shoulders, as if he is scared someone strangled me in my sleep.

Hold on, let me get you water, he says.

He comes back, hands me the water, and asks, How long has it been since your nightmare has been back?

Over the past weeks, I have been having nightmares each time I close my eyes. I take the water and drink it all in one swing.

With him in my room, I avert my eyes. He gives me a few seconds to relax, then asks, Is it okay if you tell me what happened in your dream?

So I do. He keeps wincing as I tell him everything. The way he looks at me even though I’m wearing pajamas it feels like I am naked.

It doesn’t help that my body is so attuned to him. I can quiet my thoughts about him, but training my body to resist him is hard. I am having goosebumps, my breasts perked up, but he wasn’t going to touch me.

He says, Do you mind if we pray together? I’ll read the Bible, then we’ll pray.

I almost choke on my water. Who is this Diadem? And what did they do to him?*

I keep my hands knotted together and say, Sure. But I thought these things used to make us look like a couple and you were comfortable?

He replies, This is different. If anything happened to you, I won’t forgive myself easily. One, nothing would happen to you. Two, the nightmares are not your fault, so don’t hold grudges against yourself for nothing. Sure, we can pray like this.

And so we do. He reads the Bible, and hearing him pray feels deeply intimate. I see a part of him he rarely shows.

Then he asks, Do you want to have your bath so you’re relaxed?

I say yes, and he helps me draw a bath. I thank him and tell him he could leave for now. But he surprises me by carrying me bridal style to the bathroom, then handing me my pink and polka-dot black pajamas I wanted to change into.

I bathe. The hot water melts away all my worries; they go up in the air. I feel the tension dissipating from my shoulders. I want to call Wale or my mum.

I miss Wale so much. I find myself smiling as I step out of the bathtub, pat my skin dry, and change into my pajamas.

I keep thinking of all the things Wale would do if he was here. But it’s dangerous to think about that with Diadem around.

When I step back into my room, I find Diadem staring into space like he’s trying to solve puzzles. He sits on my bed, with a strange sense of belonging to it. Suddenly I’m aware that it’s just the two of us. I gulp hard.

He finally looks up, interrupting my thoughts. Hey, you’re back now.

“Yeah, I’m back, I reply with a small smile.

He holds out the blanket for me and lets me make myself comfortable. Once I’m settled, he says, So, I’m going to watch you for a while.

I tense up immediately. Diadem, why? I mean, thank you, but you should be sleeping.

He says, Not when you’re having nightmares. I wish I could do something to stop them.

I take one look at him and laugh so hard.

He looks confused. Why are you laughing, Nneoma?

I say, You know, I really wished for you to do all of these things before, but you never did. Life is so funny. I was so fixated on you

I saw you even in places you weren’t present. I longed for you then, but texting you wasn’t what I wanted to do. I fought hard to let go of you.

I can’t even begin to recount the pain I endured that season. But I had to let you go for both of our sakes. I loved you to the point of madness. I was entranced by my love for you.

I have said the rest of the story, which is why this happening now is so funny to me.

Diadem lets out a deep breath.

This is going to be a long night.

Barbie as Narrator

Whoa! It seemed like bleach was used on Diadem because how do you explain this?

Draw out a bath for Nneoma? Is this therapy’s doing, or is it really love? Like… he has a soul? I am so confused.

I kinda like that Nneoma is standing on business. Try nonsense and get out. Yes, go gorllllll!

I would requote: I loved you to the point of madness! Madness!

I need someone to love me like this. Of course, it doesn’t matter to her again. I longed for you? I fought against myself for you.🥹

I need someone to write that for me asap !