Adenike Jombo’s DÉJÀ VU is a story that reflects the realities of a lot of people. The fear and uncertainty accompanied with the present as a result of the past. In the short story, we find Michael, a loving young whom, according to the turn of events in the story, did not have any ulterior motive, in his relationship with Elizabeth. They never had a fight. They never cheated on each other, however, suddenly, Michael decided one morning to break up his two years long relationship. And, this was the reason, “Hmm. I can’t date a popular girl. I can’t stand that every guy seems to know my girlfriend, and moreover, I don’t know how to compete. You are too beautiful and you attract lots of attention.” One could deduce fear, and uncertainty as the reason, why he could do that.
The writer never said, but perhaps, Michael might have had a relationship in the past, and out of that experience, he decided to end things with Elizabeth. Perhaps, in the previous relationship, his lover jilted him, because she was beautiful, popular and had lots of admirers, who subsequently took her from him. Elizabeth as innocent as she is, may not know this fact. She may not know this hidden truth, but she paid for it. She paid for what she doesn’t know about.
Fred on the other hand, had a fear – a deep, rooted fear – for relationship. The fear of not being imperfect. The fear of erring. The fear of hurting his lover. It is beyond, the sex, but it is more about him, being a perfect match, being a perfect lover to his girlfriend and a perfect husband to his wife. This is the fear, he harboured, but no one knows about, not even his best friend. By reason of that fear, he hurts Elizabeth. He hurts her more, even as he try not to hurt her. He became imperfect, even as he tried to be perfect.
“There has been no woman since Michelle. I have never had any other woman close. And it is because I am scared.”
“Scared? Scared of what exactly? I am lost. Talk to me, you are driving me crazy.”
“I am scared of hurting you.”
“Hurting me? You are already hurting me.”
And, he continue to fail her expectations, even as he tried to up to expectation with her. We find her once more, paying for what she doesn’t know about – indeed, this is a Déjà vu.
The short story, tells about life. A times in life, we live in fear. A lot of persons make decisions, make statements out of fear. Fear limits your understanding. Fear limits your objectivity and fear limits your will. Out of fear, Michael jilted Elizabeth, and out of fear Fred was scared to ask Elizabeth out, even when it is crystal clear, he loves her. And, it was the fear that caused the déjà vu – the experience of thinking a current situation had occurred before in time past.
Adenike Jombo’s Déjà vu also tells about the fact that sometimes, people are merely a victim of coincidence. Elizabeth was a victim of coincidence in the story. She was innocent all through, but we find her suffering emotionally for the bane of others, not until, she was about to face her challenge and tackle it courageously. We see the courageous step she took by swallowing her pride, to ask Fred, “Fred do you love me?” and then he opened up, admit his fears and confessed. That saved their relationship.
Adenike Jombo deployed a constructive imaginative power, forged out of a creative spirit to tell this short, yet revealing story. A story of love and hate, courage and fear, and strength and weakness. It tells of how important for one to guide his heart against fear. The past can only haunt you, if you let it happen.
Adenike Jombo’s déjà vu is a perfect story. In language and style, imagery and diction, and no doubt it is a good read, highly recommended for everyone.
