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Two Flames on a Candle (Episode 1)

The wristwatch on dresser lit up and beeped. It was 1AM. Miriam sighed. The room was was washed with the soft glow from her laptop's screen. Everywhere was silent save for her continuous tapping on the keyboard and Chima's snoring. A few months back she would have worried about how she would fall asleep amidst such noise. Now with two months of marriage under her belt, she didn't bother. The noise seemed to be music to her ears. She had gotten used to it so quickly that it surprised her.

Chima mumbled something from his sleep. 

"Honey did you say something?" Miriam asked not expecting any answer. 

"Please don't kill me" he replied. She turned in panic, she could see Chima stretched on the bed. His breathing was laboured but he snored nonetheless. He seemed to be in some sort of struggle with something. She could see him turning his face left and right in the dimness. "Please, please. Haba mana, ka yi hakuri" Chima pleaded. Fear gripped Miriam when she heard this, she knew for sure that Chima knew not even one word of Hausa. Where was all this coming from? She was already shivering the time she observed his face glistening with tears. She switched on all the lights to confirm her fears.

Chima woke up with a start. "Baby why are you crying?" he asked surprised to see Miriam in tears standing over him with all the lights on. 

"The question is, why are YOU crying, Chima" she asked holding back sobs. 

"I had a dream. I don't know even know. But it was horrible" Chima sighed and wiped the tears in his eyes. Miriam held him close. She could sense he was quite shaken. 

"Let us pray" she said as they both sank on their knees.


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