A DAY IN AN AFRICAN LESBIAN’S LIFE 18

Eve knocked tentatively on Azania’s door and stepped away. She had come straight from work without calling first and hoped Azania was home.

She impatiently tapped a pump on the tile and looked into the distance after another knock. Far off in the distance, a crane lifted something off the ground and a car hooted loudly.

Finally she heard the sound of footsteps coming towards the door and her heart beat doubled. She suddenly missed Azania so much and couldn’t wait to see her gorgeous smile again, what a fool she had been.

‘Hey,’ Azania stood there, looking so soft and beautiful.
‘Hey,’ Eve held out a box of Guylian Belgian sea shells. ‘May I come in?’

Azania left the door open and walked back inside, ‘thanks for the chocolates,’ she said over her shoulder.
‘Cool,’ Eve placed her bag on the chair and joined Azania in the kitchenette.

‘Want something to drink?’ Azania asked, busying herself with the kettle at the sink. She filled it and plugged it in.
‘No thanks,’ Eve said rubbing her hands nervously along her jeans,
‘I’m sorry,’ her voice was almost a whisper.
Azania turned around and they stood there looking at each other.

‘My behaviour was maniacal and I’m sorry,’ Eve finished more loudly and ran her fingers roughly through her locks.
The silence from Azania dragged on and Eve started to feel a little nervous, a cold chill snaking it’s way down her spine.

‘I’m sorry too…’ Azania finally spoke, ‘I can not do this Eve, not even for you.’
‘What are you saying?’ Eve’s voice was a croak.
‘I can’t have you throwing a jealous fit every time I so much as exchange a polite word with a man Eve,’ there was a finality in Azania’s voice.

Eve made to speak but Azania broke in, ‘I am not a lesbian, Eve. I am bisexual, hell I don’t even know if I am that. All I know is that I have this profound attraction to you.’
‘I know you are not a lesbian Azania,’ Eve was almost pleading.
‘Do you?’ Azania’s smile was sad. They stood there in silence. It was only broken by the sound of the boiling kettle.

‘I’m sorry,’ Azania said again, very softly. Just then there was a knock on the door.
‘It’s open,’ she shouted and in walked a tall, dark and very handsome man.

‘Hey Mala, this is my friend Eve,’ Azania said too cheerfully.
Eve walked out a little while later, the air was so chilly. She pulled her jacket tight around her waist and kicking an empty can of coke in the street, breathed in deeply.