Amara woke up to the sound of her little brother, Timi, yelling from the kitchen
"Amara! The rice is burning!
She jumped out of bed, nearly tripping over her sandals, and dashed to the kitchen. The aroma of slightly charred rice hit her like a warning. Timi, hands on his hips, looked like a tiny general judging her life choices
"You burned it again?" she asked, holding back a laugh
"Only once," Timi shot back dramatically. "And it was intentional!
Amara pinched the bridge of her nose. How could a seven year old be so ridiculous and wise at the same time
Her mother entered, smiling faintly but shaking her head. "You two will be the death of me," she said. "Amara, hurry don't let your first day at the temp agency be a disaster.
Amara grabbed her bag and left, Timi waving a crumpled piece of paper at her. "Don't forget me, big sister!" he shouted. "Or I will haunt your dreams with my math homework!
She laughed despite herself. Even in chaos, they found humor
Across the city, Daniel stared at his father's study. The room smelled of polished wood and old money, a scent that made his chest tighten
"You'll resume full duties next week," his father said, glancing over the rim of his glasses. "No excuses. The company is your responsibility now.
Daniel nodded. "Yes, sir.
"Good." His father returned to the newspaper without a word, leaving Daniel alone with the sound of a clock ticking like judgment itself
He should have felt relief. Instead, he felt… hollow. He couldn't stop thinking about her the girl on the bus with the trembling hands and sharp eyes
"It's nothing," he muttered to himself. "It can't be anything.
By mid-afternoon, Amara had just settled at her desk when she heard it
"Amara?
She froze. Slowly, painfully, she turned
Daniel
He was standing there, expression polite but eyes… impossibly intense. Her pulse hit a sprint
Before she could speak, the boss's sharp voice cut through. "You're late. Focus!
Daniel's mouth twitched like he wanted to say something, but instead, he nodded curtly and walked away
Amara's stomach sank… and then she saw it. The folder on her desk had her name, and in bold letters
"Immediate transfer to Lagos branch. Leave tomorrow.
Lagos. A city with no home, no family, and the girl she had just begun to care about well, that girl was leaving everything behind
Her heart pounded
That night, she packed quietly, Timi watching from the doorway.
"You'll come back, right?" he asked, frowning.
She hugged him tight. "Of course," she whispered, though both of them knew it wasn't a promise she could keep.
Meanwhile, Daniel received a phone call he had been dreading:
"Your father collapsed. You must come immediately."
Within minutes, he was at the hospital, heart hammering. He found his mother trembling in the lobby.
"I—I don't know how to tell you," she said. "He… it's serious."
Daniel's chest tightened. Life didn't wait for feelings or love. Responsibilities hit like sudden storms, and for the first time, he realized the weight of his choices and the fragility of the people he loved.