My first rule on a Monday morning is DON'T WAKE UP LATE. Not that its a custom to wake up late but i have a special love for Mondays and i believe i should start my week well. I have nevwr fallen short of this rule except for today. I brushed my leg against the side table as i made my way to the bathroom. 'Ouch!' I muttered under my breath. Turning on the.

shower in order to rush in and have a hot

bath and O.M.G, no water. 'Why on earth would this gateman not pump water or did something happen?' This was not his style anyways, he never fails to pump water. Something must be wrong. I had to inquire. Off to my corridor, I called out to him. 'Miss, the pumping machine spoil yesterday evening'. 'Why now? why today?' I said to myself in utter frustration and stormed back into my bedroom. I wondered who would help me climb thosw stairs with my bucket of water. 'Ifeoma, you've grown lazy' I said to myself. 'This is a four-storey building and you live on the third floor' the other ne tried to justify it. Then it hit me. It came like a flash and I remembered. Yes, I remembered. I'll be seeing a client today. She's troubled and in deep pain. Same as my mother experienced. Her daughter? I could still rememeber those

red eyes and that pale face that was almost

expressionless

shower in order to rush in and have a hot.

•My name is Ifeoma Okere or should I say Ifeoma Udoh but I prefer to be known by the former. I graduated recently with a second class upper in psychology, thanks to my guidan angel. I can't say how grateful I am to him for everything. Long before I graduated, I found purpose, I found passion. I've almost forgotten that there was a time I felt like dying. I was healed. Healed from the pain and anger or most of it. Because of this, I wanted to help others, to help them heal. That was when Life Gates Foundation was born. Reminising over what I must do, I felt a burst of energy run through my spine. Not very long, I had my bucket of water and off to my bathroom. 'Oh, I can't be so late' I mumbled as I took off to do what I love doing.

'Hello dear!' I think I heard someone greet me.

I lifted up my head to face the stranger. She had a smile on her face. I needed no acquaintance. "What is it?' I wanted to say but I held it back as I noticed that she was an older lady. 'Respect your elders' my mother would always say. 'Good day ma' I answered instead. 'Can I help you?' Perhaps she's lost and needed direction. 'What are you doing

here?' She asked. Why would she be asking me that. What's her problem. I don't remember the street being anyone's private property. 'Nothing'. I answered reluctantly. 'A beautiful lady like you shouldn't be sitting on the bare ground' she said slowly stressing the ground. I actually hadn't realised that. I meant to sit on the branch of the tree. Perhaps I've been way too off to lala land. I stood up immediately, used my right hand to shake off the sand behind and made my way out. 'Wait!' I pretended not to hear. 'I said wait' she said more loudly and moving towards me. 'My name is Mrs Joy, what's yours?' She asked softly. I'm not sure I wanted this introduction. 'Ifeoma' I answered anyway. What exactly does she want. 'Alright, Ifeoma do you mind having a little chat with me?'

• I smiled. 'I don't want to chat with you'. I shot back. She smiled. 'If you don't want to chat with me then you must promise me you'll speak with someone else. I could help you, remember problem shared is half solved. I kept mute. She smiled at me. 'Since I might still be a stranger, you don't have to tell me anything, you could just listen'. I turned to face her now wondering to what end this might be. 'Let's sit'. She sat first on the tree trying to be comfortable or pretending to be, she asked me to join her. 'I know a better place we could sit' I told her.

'Wow! This place is good!' She exclaimed. 'When there's no crowd, just few persons' she added. We sat on a stone carved seat. It was a square. It had a vast tiled field with seats on one end of the field. It was beautifully decorated with flowers on both ends leaving a vast space in between. Its used for various activities and social events especially government outdoor functions. Churches also use it for crusades. The square when not in use its usually cool and serene. 'I love the breeze, the cool air' she said smiling. 'I'll be coming here to meditate, what do you think Ify?' Now I'm officially irritated. She was saying anything serious. She has just been complementing the field and the weather. I'm no longer interested. 'You should do that' I answered standing up to leave. 'We're here to talk, isn't it?' She asked. 'I've been listening and so far you've said said nothing' I replied now raising my voice. She was taken aback. I shouldn't have raised my voice but but didn't feel like apologising. She had invaded my space and she's not taking it serious. 'I'm sorry dear' she started, 'I was only trying to get you to be free with me. Perhaps I should let you be. But I'll love to see you again'.