Sex with a Ghost 1&2

Two black coloured ceiling fans rotated slowly at the same pace, producing barely enough air for the waiting room. The reception desk was directly under one of the fans. Long benches made from polished wood of about six or seven were arranged in rows under the second fan; facing the reception desk.

The air had a repelling smell of drugs and disinfectant. The walls had two colours, divided by a straight line. Down painted lemon-green and white above. The floor covered in dotted tiles. At the centre of the large room, in a circle on the floor "WE CARE. JESUS HEALS" was written boldly in all-caps.

A flat-screen TV hung above on the wall behind the reception desk, and from it preceded sweet gospel melodies.

Peter sat on the very edge of the third bench; awaiting his HIV test results. He was clearly troubled. This minute he is resting against the bench, the next he is bending over, crossing his legs and uncrossing them. Fear drumming within him.

What if he really had HIV? He wondered. The thought of such a death sentence and the stigmatization that goes with it brought Goosebumps across his skin. "Just walk out of here right now and never look back till you are out of view" his mind suggested.

"It is so much easier not to know" it continued.

"But what if I don't have the virus?"

"What if you have it?"

His phone began ringing. He reached for it in his pocket, already pondering who could be calling. It must be Judith, maybe she was checking on him. To his disappointment, it wasn't her rather it was a new number. He brought the phone to his left ear, cleared his throat and said

"Hello"

"Hello," a calm female voice from the other end responded.

"Please, who am I unto?"

"It is me, Heaven"

Peter was shocked; his eyes became dim with confusion. That's the last person he was excepting to hear from.

"Heaven?" he asked, surprise still in his voice.

"Yes. Heaven! Don't you remember me?"

"Of course, I do. Am just shocked you called…"

"Well, one of us had to be the bigger person"

"Yeah… it's so nice hearing from you"

"You left after the night in the hotel and never called again"

"No! I didn't mean to. Something terrible happened that very day".

"You left me feeling terrible and used that very day too"

"Am sorry, really sorry"

"It is alright. That was a lifetime ago I guess".

"You know what? Why don't we discuss this more over a drink this evening?"

"This evening?" the voice paused like she was thinking "I don't really know whether I will be free"

"Ok, when will you be free?"

"Venue?" she asked.

"Sincity by 7 PM"

"Alright; I will be there".

"I will be waiting," he said between a smile and the call ended.

"Heaven!" he said out loud, still in unbelief and shocked to the bones. Why did she call him today of all days? He questioned himself. He remembered his dream; could it be that the universe trying to tell him something? If Heaven was dead according to his dream; why is she calling him?

After all this while, he never thought even in his wildest dream that this day would come. He knows she thinks of him as a heartbreaker right now but he doesn't really blame her. If only she knew what happened that very day. 7 pm, he will make sure she sees the reason behind his sudden disappearance.

He recalled the scent of her skin, the naughty playfulness of her smile, the sweet, dark rumble of her voice and the taste of her lips. Oh! He really missed that girl.

That excitement died off when the hospital glass door opened and Judith walked in, soaked from head to toe with water. Bloodstain on her forehead and glass cut on her arm. Lines of strain suddenly appeared on his forehead, his jaws set in steely determination. His heart dived into his stomach, bile rose in his throat. He called out in panic

"Judith!"

She didn't respond nor turned to his direction. He stood up and called out again almost screaming

"Judith!"

Everyone present turned to his direction, some wondering if he didn't see the "PLEASE BE QUIET" Sign all over the hospital wall. Immediately she caught his eyes, a blush stained her cheeks and she yelled "Peter!" before running to him. She jumped on him; Peter caught her mid-air after planting his feet firmly, preventing both of them from falling.

"I have really missed you" she whispered in a voice he could not recognize and almost instantly landed him a kiss on his lips. Peter kissed her back, and then slowly brought her down before saying in slow motion and surprise "I missed you too".

The lady that came in with her walked over and introduced herself before narrating to Peter excitedly how his girlfriend's car left the bridge and fell into the river. It was submerged in seconds, but his brave girlfriend managed to swim out of the car with just minor injuries.

"Baby, so you can swim?" he asked in wonderment; recalling she told him this morning she was scared of water.

She chuckled, wiping a drop of water from her nose with the back of her hand. Then a nurse interrupted them, asking Judith to come with her for examination. As she left with the nurse, she turned and blew him a kiss. He responded with a toothy smile. Then he turned and asked the lady

"What of the car?"

"It is still at the bottom of the river" she replied as her eyebrows came down with suspicion.

"My God! My new car!" he whispered within. "Well, thank God she came out alive," he said offering the woman a hint of a smile.

"Since you are here, I will take my leave. I have somewhere else to be right now"

Offering her a handshake, he said: "Thank you".

"Just take good care of your girlfriend. She is one of those you should keep".