Ini

𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝕿𝖍𝖎𝖗𝖙𝖊𝖊𝖓

Abike wiped her nose with her handkerchief as she pushed open the gates of her house, exactly at 4:57pm. She had gone to different bus stops around Lagos Mainland, but she couldn't find Inioluwa. She needed to stop her, before she would make her decision that could mar her life.

Abike refused to look at the confused stares her neighbors had. They wondered why she had collasped into tears earlier that day, but Abike had no answers to those questions. She opened the door leading to the stairwell and made sure to close it behind her before she sat on the stairs and cried. Silently, she cried for Inioluwa and even for Folashade, Orisa Ife was gradually taking everything from her.

At this point, she wished she could go back in time and fix everything. She wept in agony, at her loneliness, she wished someone was around–a family member–that would help her prevent further turmoil from occurring.

For the first time in years, she felt alone. She felt like a lonely soldier in the midst of war–a battle that she was failing at winning. She missed Jide, and wished he was still alive.

She was so deep in tears that she became oblivious to her evening visitor.

"Good evening ma." Ayo greeted, a few steps away from where she sat. Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion at the somewhat unfamiliar voice, before she hurriedly wiped her eyes and nose. She got up and faced the person, her heart aching a little at who it was. She recognized the young man, it was Ayomide. She remembered Inioluwa introducing him to her as her school mate and friend, but she knew past that.

She tried to force a smile as she walked up to him. He bowed his head in respect as he greeted her again, this time in Yoruba. She smiled a little at how well cultured he was, and it was because of this that she never pressured Inioluwa to tell her who he really was to her.

"What brings you here, Ayomide?" Abike asked and Ayo sighed. From the way Abike spoke to him, he suspected that nothing was wrong, but he wondered why she was in tears.

Maybe something was wrong, a voice said and he almost agreed with it.

"I'm here to see Ini, it's been a while and I wanted to visit her for a few days." Ayo said, lying through his teeth as he didn't want to say anything that was untrue and would upset Abike.

Abike stayed quiet as she had no response to give Ayo. She couldn't start telling him about Orisa Ife, and she couldn't tell him that Inioluwa had gone to meet her doom. Also, letting him in would be another insane idea as Folashade was still in deep sleep in the house.

"Go home Ayo." She stated, rather bluntly, as this was the only thing she wanted him to do. She didn't want anyone, other than her family, to know about Orisa Ife. It was shameful, even if it all started many years ago.

"What?" He muttered, almost inaudibly, as he was taken aback by what she said. He wasn't even sure he heard well, but something told him that she meant what she said. Now, he was certain something was going on. From Abike crying, to her telling him to leave, he hoped something horrible hadn't happened.

Is Ini in trouble? He asked himself, as Abike sighed. She held onto the rail for a support system, as she got up to her feet. She could tell that he was confused, but she wanted him gone.

"Go home." She stated again, as she began walking to where he was. Ayo stood there in shock, as he watched her brush past him. His mind began drifting to Inioluwa, as he worried for her. He had never felt this way before, it was like his heart was heavy with concern and now, her mother just made him more scared than he should be.

"I'm not going home." Ayo blurted, and Abike turned around to see the audacity of this young man. She had told him to go home, and he was refusing to do so. She narrowed her eyes at Ayo, but he didn't seem frightened under her glare. Instead, he walked up the stairs and made sure he was face to face with her.