Damu ni nzito kuliko maji
(Blood is thicker than water)

______________________________________

Taji

It had been like three days since I last texted her. I felt really crazy asking Lily if she's heard from her each passing day. All that Lily gave me was 'she's not been kidnapped relax' and 'she'll reach out, she's just in a hard place'.

I was trying so hard to understand what exactly was going on. The last time I saw her, she ditched me for her supposed best friend. She didn't reply me that night and on the next day. I decided to give her some space on Tuesday and Wednesday. By Thursday, I was officially running mad.

I gave her space because I understood that everyone has that one thing that they never talk about. That one thing that carries the heaviest load. That one thing that when and only when you get out of your chest, you'll be truly free. I wouldn't be the best advocate for encouraging people to talk keeping in mind that I'd been bottling up memories for almost eleven years. So I didn't quite know what was possibly giving me the hope to wait on a girl I've known for only two months. It was getting a bit disappointing since we'd made a couple of plans. We were to start reading the book of John together and share our insights.

Lily suggested that we'd start having bible studies every Friday evening with Raz. She talked me into hosting it mainly because she really wanted to see my apartment. I'd invited Mark and to my surprise, he was actually excited about it. She also promised me that Raz would show up.

My boring office work wasn't enough to chase away the fear I was developing of trusting the wrong person, again, like I always did. The weirdest part was that she'd gone MIA on her social media too. Not that I was staking her, but I loved the colourfully highlighted verses she'd post every morning. They were no longer there. She was never online all week long.

The normal me would have given up and resorted to living the locked up life I always did. That Thursday evening though, I'd had enough of this. There was just so much secrecy and mystery. I picked up my phone and called her. I only call Tanya and Mark. Tanya for obvious reasons and Mark for business but it was slowly growing more casual.

The other thing that was causing me unrest was the fact I hadn't spoken to Tanya for nearly the same period of time. I'd called her on Sunday to ask why she wasn't at the fundraiser. She said that she had to do something important with Alex so I let it go. There was still something in my gut telling me that something was off with her.

It better not be Alex stressing her out for so help me I'll-

"Hey," the sweet voice I'd gotten used to answered from the other end of the line.

"Strawberry, are you okay? Where did you disappear to?"

"I'm okay Taji,"

Taji?
What happened to fat kid?

"Tell me the truth,"

"I am, really, just had a long week. I hear there's Bible study at yours tomorrow."

She's changing the subject.
Something is wrong for sure.

"Yeah, you coming?"

"I'll be there,"

"Then you can tell me what's going on okay?" I wasn't going to leave room for a negotiation.

"Whatever Taji, gotta go, bye." She said then hang up. I sighed then walk into the gym shower. Ever since I mentioned the idea of working out to Mark, he's been breathing on my neck. I joined an aerobics class on Tuesday. My body had been achy and sore since then. He had tried to talk me into weight lifting. I tried it once and that was it. It looked fun, for those who are used to it, but my body still had a lot of adapting to do.

I wanted to tell her all about my new experiences; at the gym, trying to read the bible daily, getting a hang of prayer, my concerns about my sister but it all just had to bypass her.

I settled into my office later on and went straight to my computer to check on my emails. After replying the usual ones I got  every other day, I saw one from my father.

He has my phone number but he decides to send an email instead.

The fact that he actually took his time to communicate with me perplexed me. It was never good news when he was talking to me so my hands were trembling as I clicked onto it and opened it.

Taji, Taji, Taji,

Your sisters are coming home in November. They haven't specified the date but I'm just informing you so that you can start researching the directions to my house. Terry says that she has important news. That's all.

Your father.

I could literally hear his voice in my head. But none of that mattered at all.  It was always a joy to have the whole Fumo family in one place. Well, most of it. I hadn't seen my other sisters since mum's memorial the previous year and I couldn't wait to see them again.

I dreaded video calls more than anything. The voices were always muffled and I always felt subconsciously awkward talking to a computer screen let alone the irritation they always caused when the connection is slow then your face freezes up in a weird pose. I'd really missed my sisters though so I decided to call them.

"Oh my gosh! Tessaaaaaa! Taji's calling! Come quick!" Terry shouted as soon as she appeared on the screen. Moments later, Tessa appeared with a nightgown and a towel wrapped round her hair with some drops of water dripping down her face."I literally turned off the shower to see this." She said sliding next to Terry.

"So what's the big news?" I asked with a grin.

"Surely Taj, ata salamu hakuna?" (can't you even say hi?)Terry asked, crossing her arms over her chest with a pout on her face.

"I see you still remember the language,"

"Trust me, we're actually teaching it to our friends out here. How have you been though?" She went on.

"I've been better, actually so much has happened since we last saw each other."

"You have another girlfriend?" Tessa asked putting her face in front of the camera to wiggle her eyebrows at me. I laughed at the gesture and shook my head.

"Oh please, you're like the only fine person in our family and you're trying to tell us that no girl in Kenya has seen that face of yours?" Terry joined Tessa filling the screen.

"Could ya'll just back away, I can count your nose hairs." They both did, laughing.

"And don't get us started on the hair," Tessa said pointing her finger at me.

"Everyone has hair,"

"No, no, no Taj, we have tufts," she went on pulling off the towel on her head to tug on her short hair, "you have hair."

"For real though, you don't want to see what's underneath this wig," Terry added running her fingers through the bob cut wig she had on.

"You guys are hysterical," I said laughing at their dramatisation.

We went on talking for what was a little over an hour. Tessa told me all about her cosmetics shop that had now expanded to a spa. Terry told me about her design business and the guy she'd been seeing for more than an year now. I felt something warm up in me at the thought of how well she'd get along with Raz. I was still reluctant on telling them about her coz I honestly didn't really know what exactly I was supposed to say. I didn't want to make any premature assumptions about what was going on so I left everything out.

They asked about my condition and I explained to them that I'd been to what I believe would be my last therapy session two months ago. I was doing quite well and I just had a feeling that everything would get better. I also mentioned that I got saved. It still sounded weird coming out of my mouth but for some reason, that was all I wanted to talk about. My sisters had never been the religious type but they showed genuine happiness because they always respected my decisions.

"We'll be back mid November, can't  wait to see you in person." Terry finished off after our goodbyes.

"Can't wait to see you too." I said with a grin then waved one last bye.