The Hearing Begins
The university's hearing room was packed. Faculty, legal observers, even a few curious students stood along the walls. Word had spread fast—the wife of a prestigious PhD student was being threatened with deportation.
Favour entered wearing a fitted cream blazer, her hair pulled back, her chin high.
Beside her stood her new attorney—courtesy of the Student Legal Fund, and behind her sat Daniel, arms crossed, unwavering.
Dean Obiora opened the proceedings.
"Mrs. Okonkwo, you've been granted an appeal hearing. You may present your evidence."
Favour stepped forward. She didn't tremble.
She handed the flash drive to the panel. "Contained in here are twenty-seven documents showing direct interference in my student record. Time stamps. IP addresses. Fabricated flags."
She turned to look directly at the Dean.
"Your office knew."
Gasps echoed.
The panel chair plugged the drive into a laptop. A few clicks later, the screen displayed folders labeled 'Intervention_Logs,' 'Flag Overrides,' and 'Email Chains.'
The tension crackled.
But then—the doors opened at the back of the hall.
A new voice cut through the room.
"I believe I can confirm the source of those files."
Everyone turned.
It was Ijeoma.
She stepped into the room and faced the tribunal.
"My name is Ijeoma Chidubem. And I'm here to testify."
Favour didn't breathe.
Daniel looked at her and whispered, "You're not alone."
And for the first time in a long time… she believed it.