when strength meets love

chapter 17: ikoka village

Eki approached Oduwa's family compound with eager steps, her heart racing. She had replayed the words she wanted to say to him over and over again in her head. After talking to her mother, she felt ready to face Oduwa, ready to put her fears aside.

As she entered the compound, she was met by a young girl playing with a small calabash. Oduwa’s younger sister, Ehimwenma, noticed her and immediately brightened. “Aunty Eki! You’re here!”

Eki smiled warmly. “Yes, my dear. Where’s your brother?”

Ehimwenma’s face fell slightly. “Oh, Brother Oduwa? He left for the city earlier today.”

The words hit Eki like a thunderclap. She froze, staring at the girl. “What did you say?”

“He left,” Ehimwenma repeated innocently, fiddling with the calabash in her hands. “He said he had something important to do in the city.”

Eki didn’t hear anything else. Her legs felt weak, and her chest tightened as a wave of emotions crashed over her. Without another word, she turned and walked away, her mind swirling with disbelief and hurt.

As she made her way home, tears blurred her vision. She whispered to herself through muffled sobs, “He left again. After everything… after all his promises. He didn’t even wait for me. He didn’t fight for us.”

Her voice broke as she stumbled over her thoughts. “How could he? How could he leave me again?”

Lost in her pain, she didn’t notice the figure walking toward her until she looked up briefly and saw him. She froze in her tracks. Her heart skipped a beat. There he was—Oduwa—walking toward her, looking deep in thought.

Eki blinked rapidly, trying to process what she was seeing. Was this real? “Oh, na I see him,” she whispered to herself. Then, letting out a shaky laugh, she added, “Nice. Even his spirit is everywhere na .”

Oduwa, hearing her, looked up and saw her standing there. He smiled warmly, unaware of her confusion.

Eki gasped, clutching her chest. “Oh, so his spirit smile too? Wonderful.”

At that, Oduwa threw his head back and laughed, his rich laughter echoing through the quiet path.

Eki’s jaw dropped. That laugh—it was too real. Her eyes widened as she realized the truth. “Wait… Oduwa?”

“Yes, my love,” he said, still chuckling.

She stood rooted to the spot for a moment, then suddenly ran toward him and threw her arms around him. Her sobs came freely now as she clung to him tightly.

Oduwa, caught off guard, slowly wrapped his arms around her. “Eki? What’s going on? Why are you crying?”

Eki pulled back slightly, looking up at him through her tears. “I thought you left me again. I thought you had gone back to the city without a word… after everything,

He gently wiped the tears from her cheeks, his touch soft and comforting. “Eki,” he said in a low, steady voice. “I would never leave you like that. Never.”

“But your sister said—”

“She misunderstood,” he interrupted, his thumb brushing her cheek. “I had plans to leave the village, yes, but only if you were coming with me. I stayed back because of you. You’re my heart, Eki. I can’t leave it behind.”

Eki’s sobs quietly as his words sank in. She searched his face, seeing nothing but sincerity and love.

“I was so scared,” she admitted in a whisper.

“I know,” he said, holding her closer. “But you don’t have to be scared anymore. I wanted to leave this village, but not without you. Not without us. I’m here, Eki. I’ve got you, and I’m not going anywhere.”

The walls she had built around her heart crumbled in that moment. Overcome with emotion, she leaned closer to him, resting her forehead against his.

“You’re really not going anywhere?” she whispered.

“Never,” he whispered back, his breath warm against her face.

Her lips quivered, and before she could stop herself, she closed the small distance between them. Their lips met in a soft, tender kiss, filled with all the emotions they had both been holding back.

As they pulled back slightly, Oduwa smiled down at her. “That’s a good start,” he teased.

Eki laughed softly, wiping her face. “You’re impossible.”

“And you’re my everything,” he replied.

For the first time in a long time, Eki felt a sense of peace and happiness. As they walked back together, hand in hand, she realized that maybe, just maybe, her love story was beginning to take shape.