Imagine Mountains - Episode 3

 

Present Day 

In some fleeting moments i have imagined walking along the streets,  bumping onto someone and turning only to find that it is Allan.

Always trust Allan to make the signature move. Walking into my favourite bar, carrying a copy of my best seller and surprising me when i least expected. I stand from the stool i have been on and carefully study him . He has a black leather jacket on top of a white shirt. In his feet he has this amazing brown boots i have always wanted a pair. Of course he has that stupid grin playing at the corner of his mouth. Like he hasn't been gone for over ten years. 

I can't be mad at him, can i? A few minutes ago this was only a dream written on a piece of paper.

"People are starting to stare." He says opening his arm wide.

I look around and he is right. This is getting weird.

"Where on earth have you been?" I ask giving him a hug.

"Everywhere and nowhere."

"Gosh man i have missed you. How long has it been? Ten years?"

Michael the bartender is back at the counter. I push the book he had asked me to sign towards him. 

"What will you have?" I ask Allan.

"A cool glass of krest will do."

I eye him weirdly.

"You sure you don't want something stronger?"

"No i don't drink." I give him a weird glare that he notices but does not say a thing about.

Who are you and what have you done with my friend?

"Krest coming up

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/imagine-mountains

. Your friend here is new. I am used to seeing you with Ricardo." Mike comments.

"Ricardo is running a bit late but this is Allan, an old friend."

"By an old friend you mean imagine mountain's Allan?" 

He stretches out his hand and gives him a vigorous handshake.

"I thought you said you don't read."

"I don't but my nephew can't shut up about your book since it was released. I have to take a selfie with you guys. He will kill me if i don't. 

We gather around to take a picture with Allan as expected making cheeky gestures at the camera.

Just this morning i woke up thinking of seeing Allan as a long distant dream. I had even thought that he was going to be one of those people who makes a difference in your life only to go away and never be around to see who you become.

We have now resumed our seats and we are silently seeping our drinks. He has not changed much but he has grown. His haircut is not as wild as i thought it would be. The sense of wildness that he always had is still with him. He looks the same but something about him is different, changed. Ten years is such a long time. Lot's of things could happen to change or mold a person. I have a million questions.

Read " So We Got Married " by the same author ( DORSILA ANYANGO )

. I start by the most obvious one. The one i have asked myself more times than i could count.

"Where have you been man?"

"In the U.D.C."

"All this year?"

"For the most part yeah. First i had to train in Aramia."

I shake my head and hold my left fingers over my mouth in suprise. Could you believe this guy? United Democratic Cadiba is a country that has been plagued by clashes and the worst kind of genocides over ownership of oil reservoirs. The world super power, Aramia has done everything it can in recruiting soldiers from willing countries. Training soldiers to go and fight.

You may wonder what country stays in a state of instability for ten years and over. It would make sense to know the country is the  leading producer of oil in the whole world and all this countries have vested intrest in controlling part, if not all of that oil.

It's not an easy war to fight being the oil Lords are being fed weapons that enable them to control and sell oil as they wish.

Allan always ranted about wanting to be a soldier but i never imagined him in the middle of such a war torn zone.

"You became a war veteran after all."

"Not the kind you think, am a doctor now."

I hold my left elbow over my mouth in suprise. 

"Shut the front door men......am so proud of you." 

He smiles and leans back in his seat with humility i have never known he had.

"We really have missed you. You don't know how much this means to me."

"Baby Dylan don't cry." He says and we both burst into laughter.

I was on my way to the airport to fly into the U.D.C. The Uber guy had Nation Tv on. I heard you and headed to your call.

I nod my heart touched by what he has just said.

" You made me want to cry with what you just said."

I stay silent trying to internalize what he has just said but majorly wondering what to ask next.

"Why medicine?"

He pauses then responds.

"Because my mother died due to delayed medical attention in war. Whatever i do now, i do to honour her memory. I save lives in that cordon, not take them."

"I am so sorry man, i didn't know."

******

AUTHOR'S NOTE 

HEY GUYS, 

I hope you enjoyed this episode.

Don't forget to like and comment.

Love you all. 

Till next time.

Dorsil