..."Lucky me." they both laughed as they walked into the reception of the hotel to resume the work of the day.
That day was more tiring for Tolu as an event
had occurred in the hotel disturbing the other guests. A man had apparently being sleeping with his brother's wife who had caught the couple and started a fight. The young man in his rage was threatening to sue the hotel as he blamed the hotel for not protecting his privacy.
She couldn't be bothered, she promised herself. Both morally and professionally the young man wasn't worth her time.
Ewa was settling into her new life at the hotel. She still got stares from people who made her feel she didn't belong there but she did. At one time she told an old lady who gave her a confused stare that she had contacts lens on to see better. The old woman recommended glasses and Ewa promised to get one.
…
"You are really going along with a strangers suggestion to wear glasses," Tolu asked one night while they were in the middle of a comedy movie.
"Yes, you don't like it?"
"I think you look cute, but. That's all I'm going to say"
"No its not, complete it."
"Make me!"
The two ladies proceeded to running around the room like kids on a play date, the phone ringing put a stop to it.
"Definitely my mother" Tolu said going to pick up the phone.
"Hello mother…"
Ewa who was now calmly seated on the blanket again wondered. When her mother was alive they didn't have wealth but they had what they needed, food, water, a bed, clothes, and laughter and love. She knew she laughed a lot as a kid. Her mother was all she knew, she thought her how to read, and write and speak politely to others.
"Always be kind my little one," her mother would always say. Then she had met Tolu, and at seven years old, her life was complete.
But one day had changed everything. Ewa knew now that her dreams weren't just dreams, she was starting to remember really happened because she was sure now that she had fallen off a stair railing from a four story building and had no scratch on her. That was the day things began to fall apart piece by piece.
"Uh-oh" Tolu's voice cut in her thoughts.
"Whats wrong"
"You, you are whats wrong. I leave you for few minutes and you are already on another planet."
"I'm sorry, I was only thinking. How is your mother?"
"Oh, were you thinking of your mother?" Tokyo asked a little sad.
"Doesn't matter."
"It does. I miss her too Ewa, her amazing baking skills, her charming smile, and it's very very okay if you think of her."
"Thank you."
"Sure. Do you want to finish the movie or go to bed."
"Bed it is then." She joked
"My mom said we have to consider opening another hotel. We've done so well with just this one that its time to expand."
"But you are scared?" Ewa asked.
"Yes, it means more commitment, more time, more staffs to deal with. I am only twenty two."
"Which is what makes all these amazing. You can do it."
"I guess I will consider it and sleep over it too"
"Good idea,"
"I'm going to bed," Tolu stood up picking up her book and the bowl of chips.
"Sleep well" Ewa said, her grey eyes not leaving the screen of the TV.
"You too" Tolu said disappearing into the masters bedroom.
Ewa had her own room but tonight she wanted to stay on the couch.
It was now two A.m and Tolu stood up to go get a glass of water from the fridge. She could hear the faint noise of the TV that was on which sounded loud enough against the quiet still night. Ewa must have slept off while trying her hardest to finish the movie.
She put on her custom pink robe and walked to the living room. She stood rooted to the ground out of sheer shock. While she knew about it, she had never once seen it so in a moment of panic Tolu let out a scream as Ewa jolted up from her sleep.