Utonwa_writes

 Chapter 18  WHEN THE DUST SETTLES Nnanna remained in Enugu for two days, but he barely left Uju’s side. He accompanied her through the quiet moments and the loud ones, through the weight of mourning visitors and the empty silences when she was alone. He didn’t try to fill the void with words—he just stayed. And for Uju, that was enough. Each night, he returned to his hotel, giving her space with her mother and relatives. And each morning, he was back again, his presence steady, grounding. Uju finally introduced him to her mother as “a friend.” Her mother gave Nnanna a polite glance, nodded in acknowledgement, and then moved on, too occupied with burial plans to ask further questions. But Uju knew—her mother had registered his presence, and eventually, she would ask about him. When everything concerning the burial had been set in motion, Nnanna left. Standing at the entrance of the house, Uju felt an odd ache in her chest as she watched him go. He had come into her life so une...

 Chapter 17  When Silence Speaks The house was filled with murmured voices, the scent of burning candles, and the quiet shuffle of visitors coming in to pay their respects. Uju sat beside her mother in the sitting room, her hands folded in her lap, nodding numbly as people offered their condolences. Her father was gone. Already in the mortuary. The finality of it weighed on her chest, but she couldn't cry anymore. The tears had dried up, leaving only emptiness. Her mother, surprisingly composed, responded to visitors with quiet dignity. Every now and then, she would reach over and squeeze Uju’s hand, a silent reminder that she was not alone. The front door creaked open again. Uju barely looked up, expecting yet another visitor. But then she heard the familiar deep voice. “Good afternoon, ma.” Her head snapped up. Nnanna. He stood there, tall and calm, dressed in a black polo and jeans, his presence somehow grounding. Her mother glanced at him briefly. “Good afternoon, my dear....

Chapter 16 WHEN THE PAST CALLS Nnanna stared out of the airplane window, his mind far away from the world around him. The soft hum of the plane, the occasional cough from a passenger, and the murmured conversations faded into the background as an old, buried memory clawed its way back to the surface. Seventeen years ago. He was Sixteen, sitting in the back seat of his father’s car. His father, the great and powerful Chief Ibekwe, CEO of IBEKS Group, sat beside him, as imposing as ever. In front, their driver focused on the road while his father’s personal assistant typed furiously on a tablet. The air was thick with tension—tension Nnanna had created. “I don’t understand, Dad! What’s wrong with me going to school abroad? Is it not our money?” Nnanna had snapped, folding his arms in frustration. His father let out a heavy sigh. “Because you are too young. You will finish secondary school here, then we will talk about it.” “That’s not fair!” Nnanna’s voice rose. “My mates are leaving the...

CHAPTER 15  THE SILENCE AFTER Uju woke up feeling… light. It had been a while since she felt this way—like the air wasn’t pressing too hard against her chest, like the past wasn’t clinging to her skin. Maybe it was the slow acceptance of everything that had happened. Maybe it was the tears she poured out the night she came home. Or maybe, just maybe, it was because of Nnanna. She thought about his words, the gentle way he had called her nwanyi oma, the tenderness in his voice. A small, almost shy smile played on her lips. Could she really allow herself to feel something again? Pushing the thought aside, she stretched and got up. Today was about family. She had promised her mother Onugbu soup, and she wasn’t going to disappoint her. A Morning of Simple Joy The kitchen smelled of home—bitterleaf, stockfish, Ogiri, rich palm oil. She hummed softly as she stirred the pot, the steam rising and wrapping around her like a warm embrace. It felt good to cook for them again. She carefully la...

CHAPTER 14 A QUIET AWAKENING  Uju woke up with a pounding headache. Her eyes were heavy, her face stiff from dried tears. The silence in the room was thick, wrapping around her like a suffocating blanket. She sat up slowly, letting her gaze wander across the familiar space—the cream-colored walls, the wooden bookshelf her father had once filled with law books, the dressing table that still held some of her old perfumes. Nostalgia crept in, bittersweet and deep. She sighed, rubbing her temples. She had cried herself to sleep, exhaustion finally dragging her under, but it hadn’t washed away the ache in her heart. With sluggish movements, she got up and unzipped her bag, carefully arranging her clothes in the wardrobe. As she did, memories flooded back—of a younger version of herself, standing in this same room, full of dreams. Dreams that had been shattered. She shook her head. "It's okay, Uju." This wasn’t the time to drown in the past. Her stomach grumbled, and she realiz...

CHAPTER 13 THE ATTACK Uju heard the shuffling of footsteps behind her. At first, she ignored it, assuming it was another student heading back from night class. But when the steps quickened, something in her stomach tightened. She turned slightly. Five figures, Walking too fast. Heart pounding, she gripped her books tighter and increased her pace. A voice called out behind her. “Fine girl, where you dey go?” She ignored it. Another voice, closer this time. “We dey follow you talk na.” Panic surged through her veins. She started walking faster, almost running. Suddenly, a rough hand grabbed her arm. "Leave me alone!" She screamed helplessly Uju’s heartbeat pounded in her ears, drowning out every other sound. The rough hand on her arm tightened, yanking her off the path. Her books tumbled to the ground, pages fluttering as they landed in the dirt. She opened her mouth to scream— A second hand clamped over her lips. The night swallowed her voice. Terror surged through her body as...

CHAPTER 12 FLASHBACK  Uju had always been an ambitious girl. Getting admitted to study Law at Enugu State University was one of the proudest moments of her life. Her parents had beamed with pride, her father burstingto his friends of how brillianthis daughter is. They spared no expense to ensure she was comfortable, securing a space for her in the school hostel rather than allowing her to stay off-campus like some of her classmates. She adjusted well to university life, quickly making friends who shared her dedication to academics.  The upcoming quiz in Constitutional Law was important, and she and her friends had agreed to go for a night class to prepare. That evening, they settled into one of the classrooms, their books and jotters spread across the desks as they read in silence. Occasionally, one of them would break the quiet with a question, and they would discuss, helping each other understand difficult concepts. As the night deepened, the classroom grew quieter as studen...

 CHAPTER ELEVEN ECHOES OF YESTERDAY "Ujunwa, I think you should go home and rest," Ijeego said as she adjusted the blanket over her husband. She had barely looked at Uju since morning, only stealing occasional glances when she thought she wasn’t watching. "Mummy, I can stay," Uju protested. "No, nwam. You barely got any sleep last night. Biko, go home, freshen up, eat well, and rest. I’ll take care of your father." Uju hesitated. A part of her didn’t want to leave—not just because of her father, but because she didn’t know how she felt about returning home alone. The house was filled with too many ghosts, too many memories she wasn’t ready to face. But her mother was already focused on adjusting her father’s drip stand, signaling the end of the conversation. "Odimma," she murmured reluctantly, picking up the car keys. As she stepped out of the ward, the first thing she did was pull out her phone and dial Kasie. "Mummy!" Kasie’s voice ra...

 CHAPTER TEN A START Uju followed her mother into the ICU with careful steps, her heart pounding heavily in her chest. She wasn’t sure if it was fear, anger, or a confusing mixture of both. The room smelled of antiseptics, and the steady beeping of the machines filled the silence. On the hospital bed, her father lay frail and weak, his eyes closed as if lost in deep thought. His skin, once vibrant, had dulled with age, and his once strong frame looked shrunken beneath the hospital sheets. Uju took a deep breath, preparing herself for whatever was to come. “Ifeanyi,” her mother called softly. “Ne nu, Look who is here.” Her father’s eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, he just stared at Uju. His gaze was unreadable—shock, maybe disbelief. His throat moved as if he wanted to speak, but no words came out. Uju stood rooted to the ground, unsure of what to do. Should she greet him? Move closer? Turn around and walk out? Finally, after what felt like forever, he spoke. “Ujunwa?” His voi...