When his sister finally walked out of the house, slamming the door behind her, silence settled in like a heavy cloud. Amoke sat at the edge of the bed, her eyes lowered, her fingers twisting the edge of her gown. She felt relieved that the endless criticism had ceased, yet broken that her presence had caused such division between her husband and his sister. Her husband came to her side and drew her gently into his arms.
"Amoke," he whispered, stroking her back, "I'm so sorry for everything my sister put you through. You don't deserve it. None of this is your fault."
Amoke's lips trembled, but she didn't speak. A small tear slid down her cheek, and he quickly brushed it away with his thumb.
"You've been patient," he continued, "even when she pushed you to the edge. I should have protected you more. Forgive me."
She leaned against him, her voice faint. "I only wanted peace in this house. I don't know why she hates me so much."
He exhaled slowly, tightening his embrace. "That's what troubles me too," he admitted. "She's not usually like this"
"Why?" he asked himself silently. He promised to sit and discussed with his sister.
Though the house was quiet again, a strange unease filled the air. Amoke closed her eyes in his arms, believing the storm had passed, but in his heart, he feared that this was only the beginning.
The next day, he visited his sister. She welcomed him with a forced smile, masking the tension that lingered between them. As they sat down, he gently raised the issue of her attitude towards Amoke. His words were calm but firm, reminding her that his wife deserved respect and peace in her own home. She shifted uncomfortably, her defenses rising, yet deep down she knew her brother was right. For a moment, silence filled the room, heavy with unspoken truths.
But she had to voice her reasons for such, so she told him. Her brother had to remind her that his wife was not like that but she wasn't accepting it. This made her brother angry and had to warn her. He said if she continues like this, he will be forced to call the police on her. She promised to change but deep down, she knows she just started with Amoke. She even mentioned coming to her brother's house to ask Amoke for forgiveness. Her brother was skeptical but had no choice to accept since it was his sister.
She followed him home and called a truce with his wife. She hinted on having a ladies hangout. Her brother declined because he doesn't know his sister's intention and Amoke wasn't familiar with the streets. Amoke had to intervene, so her husband consented. They both decided on a day to go.
Her husband was self employed so he chooses to go to his office whenever he likes. He is also the breadwinner of the family. Their home was a peaceful one.
On the agreed day, she met with her sister-in-law, who later introduced her to her friend. Together, they headed to the mall, a place bustling with people and activity. The crowd was so overwhelming that if anyone lost grip, it would be easy to get separated. Knowing this, her sister-in-law and her friend had chosen that particular mall intentionally, aware that moving around there required holding on to one another to avoid getting lost. As they moved through the crowded walkways, the sister-in-law and her friend walked closely, their hands linked with hers. She felt a little uneasy, wondering why they had insisted on this mall of all places. Every corner was alive with chatter, footsteps, and the hum of excitement, yet beneath it, she sensed a quiet purpose in their choice.
When they finally stopped at a clothing store, the sister-in-law exchanged a quick glance with her friend, as though signaling something unspoken. She couldn't help but notice it and in that moment, she began to wonder if the outing was more than just a casual shopping trip. She picked a dress from the rack, pretending not to notice their silent communication. Her sister-in-law urged her to try it on, her tone unusually persuasive. Inside the fitting room, as she slipped into the dress, her mind raced. When she stepped out, both women looked at her with a strange satisfaction, as though she had unknowingly played into their plan. The friend leaned closer to whisper something into the sister-in-law's ear, and they both chuckled softly.
At that moment, she realized this wasn't an ordinary outing. Something was unfolding.
They led her into a shop and gently urged her to sit, insisting she wait for them while they "quickly" got something nearby. She nodded, unsuspecting, and settled into the seat, her eyes wandering over the bright displays around her. Minutes passed. Then more. She glanced toward the entrance, expecting to see them return with shopping bags or even laughter on their faces. But no one came. What she didn't know was that, to them, the plan was already complete. They had already slipped quietly out of the mall, making their way back home as though she no longer existed in their company. It wasn't until the crowd in the shop thinned and she realized she was utterly alone that the truth began to sink in: they had abandoned her. At first, she tried to convince herself it was a mistake. Maybe the queue had delayed them. Maybe they had run into someone they knew. She clutched her bag tighter, her eyes darting to the glass doors every few seconds, waiting for a familiar face to appear. But as the minutes dragged into nearly an hour, the uneasiness in her chest turned into dread. She stood up, walked to the entrance, and scanned the bustling mall. No sign of them. Her calls to her sister-in-law's phone went unanswered. Her husband also didn't pick his calls. That was when her knees grew weak, the realization crashing in. This wasn't an accident, they had planned to leave her here. A thousand thoughts ran through her mind: Why would they do this? How do I even get home? The mall suddenly felt bigger, louder, and lonelier than ever before. Her phone screen dimmed as the battery icon flashed red, and she fought back tears. She wanted desperately to try her husband's line again, but the memory of his calm voice "I'll be in meetings most of the day" echoed in her mind. She hesitated, torn between hope and despair. The mall that had once been buzzing with life was now slowly emptying. Shop owners pulled down shutters, one after the other, until the once-bright space began to sink into shadows. The chatter of the crowd faded, replaced by the echo of her own footsteps as she paced anxiously. With nowhere else to go, she dragged herself to a corner near the wall, clutching her bag to her chest. The cold tiles beneath her offered little comfort. Closing her eyes, she whispered prayers, begging that her husband would notice the missed calls, that he would somehow come looking for her before the night swallowed her completely. Alone in the dimming mall, every footstep, every distant clang of metal shutters sent shivers down her spine.
Her husband got home and met everywhere dark, he took out his phone to call his wife. He saw her missed calls so he immediately called her back. Amoke told him of her situation and described her location. He rushed out of the house, his heart pounding as he maneuvered through the evening traffic. The image of Amoke sitting helplessly in the dark gnawed at him, and he couldn't forgive himself for not checking his phone earlier. When he finally arrived at the spot she had described, he saw her seated quietly at the corner, her face pale with worry, clutching her phone that was about to die. Relief washed over him, and without hesitation, he ran to her.
"Amoke!" he called softly but urgently.
She looked up, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. The moment she saw him, her tension broke, and she stood quickly. He held her tightly, whispering apologies over and over, assuring her that she was safe now.
When they got home, they freshened up and went to bed. The next day, he had to ask what happened. She explained and he listened quietly, his brows furrowed as she spoke. Her words sounded careful, too measured, and he could sense the hesitation in her voice. Still, he didn't press her, the memory of her frightened face the night before was still fresh in his mind.
"I understand," he said gently, brushing his hand over hers. Amoke nodded, forcing a small smile. She wanted to believe that hiding the truth was the best way to keep peace between him and his sister. Deep down, a weight sat heavily in her chest. Her husband drew her closer and kissed her forehead. "All that matters is that you are safe now," he whispered. Yet, as he held her, he couldn't shake the nagging suspicion that there was more to the story than she was letting on.
Later that afternoon, while Amoke was in the kitchen, he stepped outside with his phone and dialed his sister's number. The line rang twice before she picked.
"Why did you leave Amoke at the mall yesterday?" he said.
"I didn't leave her, we just lost each other. After searching everywhere, I figure she might have gone home."
"Gone home? Are you not aware that she is not familiar with her surroundings yet? Why did you not call her to find out?" he said angrily.
"My phone battery was flat. Don't shout at me, I didn't cause it, it was just an accident. Thank God she is safe now." she said.
"Thank your stars nothing happened to her, if not, you know what I can do to you, right?" he said and disconnected the call.
A few minutes later, a knock sounded at the door. Amoke opened it and found her sister-in-law standing there. She wore a smile, but Amoke could see through the facade. Quickly, she hurried to her brother's side, apologizing for the previous day and recounting all that had happened. Deep down, he knew his sister's actions were deliberate, but he chose not to confront her. The last thing he wanted was for her to accuse him of siding with his wife against her. Amoke simply stood by, her heart heavy, watching the exchange in silence. Her sister-in-law's voice was soft, almost pitiful, as she pleaded for understanding. Yet, every word carried an undertone that only Amoke could sense. Her husband listened quietly, nodding at intervals, though his eyes betrayed a storm of emotions he tried to suppress. When she was done, he forced a faint smile and told her it was all in the past. "Let's put yesterday behind us," he said gently, hoping to calm the tension. His sister clung to his words, pretending to be relieved, but Amoke knew it was only the beginning of another storm waiting to unfold. Later, when they were alone, her husband avoided Amoke's eyes. He didn't want to admit how much his sister's behavior troubled him, nor did he want to show the conflict tearing at his heart. Amoke, however, already understood his silence said more than words ever could. In the days that followed, Amoke often found herself wondering why her sister-in-law behaved the way she did. Though the thoughts weighed heavily on her, her husband made every effort to lift her spirits, and slowly, his warmth eased her heart. She resolved within herself to let go of the bitterness, avoid any clash with her sister-in-law, and instead focus on enjoying the peace and comfort of her home. Her husband showered her with love and care during her delicate condition. With his constant support, she recovered quickly, though her memory remained hazy and unclear.