Yesterday's Future 2✔️

43. The ghosts of her past.

6:54pm,
Simi's apartment.

As the clock ticked closer to seven, Simi paced around her apartment, anticipation dancing in her chest like a thousand butterflies. A sense of excitement lingered in the air, mingling with the scent of her favorite perfume as she carefully selected her outfit for the evening. Every sound outside her door made her heart skip a beat, convinced it was Adam arriving for their date.

Her fingers trailed over the fabric of the dress she had chosen, its simple elegance reminding her of happier times. It was one of the dresses she had bought when she hoped to perform at Tiara's wedding and didn't know which one to choose. As she slipped it on, she couldn't help but smile, the familiar feel of the fabric comforting her like an old friend.

With practiced ease, she styled her hair and applied her makeup, her reflection in the mirror revealing a woman on the brink of something extraordinary.

Tonight was about more than just celebrating Adam's birthday; it was a chance for them to rewrite their story together, to embrace a brighter future and leave behind the decade of agony, guilt, and regrets that had weighed her down.

Despite the recent events, the thought of spending the evening with him and finally putting the past behind her filled her with enthusiasm she hadn't felt in years. She was finally getting what she had hoped for – a new beginning with Adam.

Smoothing out the fabric of the dress, a nervous excitement coursed through her veins. She couldn't shake the memory of their conversation earlier that morning when Adam had appeared at her doorstep. It had been the most unexpected thing ever, especially when he actually suggested staying back in Nigeria for a while longer just to spend more time with her. The mere thought of him sent tingles down her spine, but it also felt surreal, like a dream she was afraid to wake up from.

Glancing into the mirror, a smile tugged at the corners of her lips. The dress was stunning, and the way it hugged her slender frame was perfect. She took a moment to admire herself, feeling a surge of confidence wash over her. Tonight was going to be special, she could feel it. Ada would be so proud of her.

Just as she finished applying a final touch of lipstick, the doorbell rang, and she felt a rush of anticipation. Surely, it was Adam, right on time. With a grin, she practically floated to the door, expecting to see his familiar face once again.

But what greeted her on the doorstep was not Adam. It was a small box with a letter attached, sitting innocuously by her doorway. Confusion clouded her excitement for a moment, her heart sinking with disappointment at Adam's absence as she picked up the box, noting the elegant wrapping.

With trembling hands, she untied the red ribbon and unfolded the letter, expecting sweet words from him. Instead, the content of the letter shattered her anticipation, fear coiling in her stomach as she read the unfamiliar handwriting scrawled inside and realized... this couldn't be from Adam, but from someone else entirely.

Dear Simi,
It's been a long time.
I know you miss me.
Have fun at your
date tonight, PJ.

The words sent a chill down her spine, a sense of foreboding creeping into her mind with each line. Her heart raced and the box slipped from her grasp, landing with a soft thud on the floor as she struggled to make sense of it all, the letter casting a shadow over the evening she had been so eagerly anticipating.

With a shaky breath, Simi reached down to retrieve the box, her hands trembling as she clutched it tightly. She hurried back into her room, the box and letter weighing heavily in her hands. Placing them on her dresser, she couldn't shake off the unease that settled over her like a dark cloud. Her heart pounded with anxiety as she stared at the tiny black box. Part of her wanted to ignore it, to push it aside and focus solely on the excitement of the evening ahead. But deep down she knew that she couldn't simply ignore such ominous message, that it would linger in the back of her mind like a sinister specter.