Cursed Daughters by Oyinkan Braithwaite - 89
‘G&T please,’ she requested. She had already had three G&Ts so far, and she could feel the world softening a little around her. The last few weeks had been overwhelming, and once again she felt that her life was spiralling beyond her control. Her grand-aunt had just died, she’d discovered af...
‘G&T please,’ she requested. She had already had three G&Ts so far, and she could feel the world softening a little around her.
The last few weeks had been overwhelming, and once again she felt that her life was spiralling beyond her control. Her grand-aunt had just died, she’d discovered after all these years that she had a father, and she believed that her love for Zubby was just a reflection of her dead aunt’s obsession with Golden Boy.
‘Another one?’
She looked up at the inquisitive bartender. She was certain he wouldn’t have questioned her if she was a man.
‘You heard her.’
She twisted her body and eyed Funsho up and down in the dim light. He took the seat beside her. She closed her eyes, and opened them again … He was still there watching her with his intense gaze.
‘You cut your hair,’ he said.
‘Mmm.’
‘It suits you.’
‘Thanks.’ She downed the drink the waiter brought her. She had spoken to Funsho an hour ago. Had she told him where she was? His presence indicated that she had. Or perhaps he was tracking her in the spirit world.
‘How much have you had to drink?’
‘Not enough.’ Her phone vibrated on the table; she ignored it.
‘It’s getting late. Maybe you should head home.’
‘Party-pooper! Hey! Quick question. What would you do if you found out you were being manipulated? That you thought you had free will, you thought you were making choices, but in fact …’
‘In fact?’
‘You were simply being made to dance like a puppet.’ She waved her hands and did a little dance. Funsho raised an eyebrow.
‘I’m not an easy person to manipulate.’ What a macho response. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes.
‘Huh! Lucky. But humour me. If you found out you were being played, had been played for a long time. What would you do? How could you feel like you had agency again?’
He shrugged, as if the answer was simple. ‘I’d take it back. I’d claw back control if I had to.’
Was it really that easy? Just take her self back? She looked him over – he had long, thin fingers; were they nimble too?
She laughed at herself. She may have been a little tipsy. ‘Maybe I will go home.’ He jumped out of his seat and offered her a ride.