I missed you guys! I honestly did! It’s good to be back in #KnowThyMan land. To everyone asking me why Kafui had to die, come and let’s discuss it at #theKenikodjomeetup. 😉 Speaking of which, thanks for participating in the poll. I am super excited about seeing all of you on 17th September! It will be lit! (This is my new favourite phrase these days) Special thanks to everyone who has volunteered to help with the planning and coordination before and on the day. You guys eh? 💗 Oh, and the #KnowThyMan tweets, memes and status updates are cracking me up! 

This weekend, my friend Caritas (a staunch Kenikodjo reader) and the Tatas and friends team are having Kenkey for the needy this Saturday! You buy kenkey along with all the assorted toppings- eggs, chicken, shrimps, sardines, fried fish, corned beef, pear, name it. The money raised will be used to bless some children this year. It is a win-win. Your tummy is happy and so are the children. See you on Saturday at Efua Sutherland Park! 

This episode is in loving memory of  Karen Maame Kontoh Asiedu, ‘Bestie’. It is really a painful  farewell. Rest in perfect peace ❤️

‘So it’s true.’

It felt like one nightmare after another for Adjeley.

First, it was dealing with the pain of losing Pedro. She had not realized just how attached she had become to him. There was a pit in her tummy and she tried to keep the trembling out of her voice by squeezing her fingers together. She looked at him and saw that he was also sad about leaving. His eyes looked tired.

‘Will you come back?’

‘I don’t think so.’

Each word made the pit even deeper. It felt like someone was hitting her with little pebbles exactly where it hurt the most. She knew that this day would come – the day when the sapiosexual fling would end. She had always thought that it would end because she had suddenly grown disinterested in the multifaceted mystery that Pedro was. Not because he had to leave.

I am not ready.

As if that wasn’t enough, she had to discover that Kafui had died on her last night with Pedro. It was supposed to be their farewell date and as such her phone was off throughout the night. She walked into the house the next day to discover that Kafui had committed suicide and as expected, Tonia was distraught.

Suicide?

No one had seen this coming but somehow Adjeley felt guilty for not being there with everyone in Kafui’s last hours. She gaped in disbelief as Tonia recounted the happenings of the night before.

‘You read about suicide in books. It is fiction. Something not connected to people like us, not even remotely. We don’t kill ourselves. We don’t give up. We suffer. We endure.’

‘I don’t know if I should be angry at her for giving up or angry at myself for pushing her to want more. Maybe I should not have pushed her to believe that she could overcome it, that she could have a better life.’

‘Tonia, don’t blame yourself. I saw her transform before my very eyes. She became confident, hopeful, alive.’

‘So what happened?’

‘I don’t know. I wish I knew.’

‘I hate that we will never know.’

As if all this was not enough, the walls of Adjeley’s perfectly built castle came tumbling down. She was sitting on Pedro’s laps in the back of his Range Rover, their lips locked in a passionate battle of ‘Who’s a better kisser’ in front of Tonia’s house, just before Pedro left for the airport. She looked up to gasp for air and saw Nii standing there, looking like the very life had been sucked out of him.

He stood there, his feet rooted to the ground like an 50 year old oak tree, his eyes fixed on Adjeley. He did not move the entire time. Adjeley jumped out of Pedro’s lap and hurriedly shooed Pedro off.

‘So it’s true.’

That was the first time he had spoken since he got there. His eyes, her favourite thing about him, were filled with so much pain.

‘Nii, I am sorry.’

‘What exactly are you sorry about? Coz it is a long list.’

‘Please, Nii, let’s talk about this.’

‘Adjeley, I haven’t seen you in God knows how long. I come home to surprise you and find myself surprised. Do you love him?’

‘Yes- and no. Nii, it is complicated.’

‘I am sure it is. Did you sleep with him?’

‘Nii-‘

‘A yes or no will do.’

‘Yes.’

Her answer was softer than a whisper and yet his ears caught it.

‘Good bye Adjeley’

‘Nii, please let me explain.’

‘Save yourself the explanation and save me the pain.’

---

‘You’ve got to be kidding me.’

It was Tim, standing at her doorstep.

‘What are you doing here, Tim?’

‘I thought you could use some company. When your friend dies, you need someone to keep you company and remind you that all is not lost.’

‘Did you come here as a friend or as a pastor?’

‘Both. I care about you, Tonia’

‘And yet you left without as much as an explanation . I think we can both agree that that chapter is closed.’

‘Tonia, it’s  not your fault. You could not have seen this coming. Stop blaming yourself.’

‘Who is going to take care of her baby?’

‘You seem to be doing a great job at that. I think you will make a great mum.’

She rocked the baby to stop him from fretting.

‘It is almost as if he knows that his mother is no longer alive. He keeps crying. I keep crying. Why did she give up?’

‘Tonia, one at a time. All you need to do now is to focus on cherishing the memories you have with a person. Your family and friends-keep them close.’

‘Speaking of family and friends, there is something I need to do. I have to do it now while I still have the courage.’

Tonia pulled up at Ewuraefua’s house 45 minutes later, panting for breath.

‘I have something I need to tell you. I should have told you a long time ago but I didn’t have the courage to face you. Life is short and you are one of my best friends. I can’t continue to lie to you. Peter and I kissed about a year ago. It was a mistake and I should have told you immediately but I was afraid.’

Ewuraefua quietly answered, ‘I know.’

‘You what? Did Peter tell you?’

‘No, he didn’t. But then again, he didn’t have to. Both of you changed so drastically  that I just had to do the math. But I forgave you. I was determined to move on for all our sakes.’

‘You are a good friend, Ewura.’

‘So are you, Tonia.’

‘I doubt that. I kissed my best friend’s husband and now I would like to kill my other friend’s husband for hurting her this much.’

Ewuradjoa laughed.

‘Nobody can stand up for us and do the things you do for us like you can, Tonia. I love you.’

‘I love you too. ‘

Just then, the nanny who used to stay with Kafui came inside. She was carrying an envelope.

‘Good afternoon. Madam’s mother came to clear her clothes out of the house and we found this. She told me to bring it to you.’, she said, gesturing at Tonia.

‘Me? What is it?’

The nanny placed the envelope in her hands and her breath caught in her throat.

Boldly written on the envelope, in Kafui’s handwriting, was the inscription ‘For Tonia.’

See you next week. Let me know how you think the series will end with the #KnowThyMan hashtag. ❤️Keni