THE RECLUSE

She alighted the cab after collecting her change from the cab man. Breathing in, she set her gaze straight and started her usual two minutes walk home with her headset on and its volume increased to its loudest. This was very necessary, Ayokunnumi mixes with no one. As she walked on, she knew there were people, men and women, old and young, sitting in front of their houses that evening no thanks to the power outage but she avoided eye contact with everyone. They can see her all they want, she thought, but as long as she does not look at them she won't have to greet them. That was her principle every day she walked that path, they all now know her as the lady who never greets.

No, Ayo is not that rude, she just does not like relating with people. Her neighbours, co-workers and

church members, everybody knows her to be sequestered, a hermit. She only communicates when it is necessary, she has tried her best to be her own person, needing the help of no one, and so far she has been successful. She joins no group, belongs to no association, she lives peacefully and quietly thinking she has the best of life- until today.
She got to her house and met her door slightly ajar. With quickened steps and a racing pulse she rushed in. Her sitting room was scattered, some of her valuable furniture were no where to be found. Beneath her broken flower vase, she found a letter. "We are coming back", it simply reads.

Ayo shuddered, longing to wake up from her night mare. Her parents' lines were not going through. Calling the cops was not an option, the nearest station was in the next town. Then she remembered- Bimpe, her christian neighbour who was always trying to reach out to her, the neighbour whose greetings she always answered with a grunt thinking in her heart, "who her greeting help?" But now she needs her help.

"Bimpe", Ayo called, gently knocking on Bimpe's door. Bimpe rushed to unlatch her door after confirming the identity of her guest through the peep hole. From Ayo's facial expression, Bimpe knew there was trouble.
With a welcoming smile and a calming hug she drew her in. Ay looked around, taking in the cute arrangement of the sparse furnishing, a typical singles sitting room. This was her first time in another person's place in a long while.
While sipping the hot tea Bimpe insisted on her taking, she explained her predicament. With a soothing smile, Bimpe took up her phone and put a call through to her elder brother, a Divisional Police Officer working in the next town.

The morning after, the police arrived and after some investigations discovered that the whole thing was the handiwork of some area thugs who decided to play a serious prank on the neighbourhood loner. 
Ayo smiled to herself after the whole incident, at least something good came out of the experience, her friendship with Bimpe. She also got to know that people actually cared, even area thugs reached out to her, the way they knew how to.

This write-up was inspired by the story of the people of Laish (Judges 18). On the day they needed humans, there was no one to rescue them because they lived far away from others and had no dealings with any man.
We were created by God to reach out to others and to allow others reach out to us as often as the need arise. I love solitude, but God is hardly pleased when you make yourself a total outcast. Learn to build great relationships, they sure do make life easier.
ICareAboutYou- TiToluwaNiMi.