So close, yet so far

31

KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

Safar stood above Hauwa, who was sleeping peacefully, a malicious smile spreading across her face like a dark stain. The dim light of the room cast eerie shadows on the walls, making it seem like the very darkness itself was closing in around Hauwa. Safar's eyes gleamed with a malevolent intensity as she hovered the injection over Hauwa's arm, her hand trembling with anticipation.

She fantasized about killing Hauwa, about watching the life drain from her eyes, about seeing her still and silent, never to bother her again. The thought sent a shiver down Safar's spine, and she felt a thrill of excitement coursing through her veins. She was so close, so very close, to achieving her ultimate goal.

As she stood there, poised to strike, Safar's mind began to wander back to the past, to all the times she had been wronged by Hauwa. She remembered the way Hauwa had always seemed to effortlessly steal the spotlight, the way she had always been the center of attention. She remembered the way Hauwa had always seemed to have everything, while she, Safar, had been left with nothing.

The memories fueled Safar's anger, her resentment, and her jealousy. She felt like she was consumed by a burning rage, a rage that threatened to destroy everything in its path. She raised the injection, her hand shaking with fury, and prepared to strike.

Just as Safar was about to strike, someone barged into the room, shattering the tense silence. Safar immediately turned, her eyes wide with fear and untamed anger as she whirled around to face Jannah, who looked at her with wide, innocent eyes.

"Ya Safar, what are you doing?" Jannah asked, her voice trembling with concern.

Safar's face contorted in a venomous snarl. "Nothing!" she spat, her voice dripping with malice.

Jannah's eyes narrowed, her gaze fixed on Safar's hand, which was still clenched into a fist. "Meye a hannun ki; What is that in your hand?" she asked, her voice firm. "What are you trying to inject my sister with?"

Safar's eyes flashed with anger, and she roughly pushed Jannah, who stumbled backward and banged her head against the sharp end of the side locker. Jannah screamed loudly, the sound echoing through the house and gaining the attention of Baba, Mama, and Sa'eed, who were downstairs.

They immediately rushed to Jannah's aid, their faces etched with concern and worry. As they burst into the room, they were met with a horrific sight: Jannah lay in a pool of her own blood, her eyes closed and her body limp. Safar, on the other hand, had already hidden the injection and was shedding crocodile tears, her face a picture of false remorse.

Mama immediately rushed to Jannah's side, cradling her face in her hands. "Jannah, my baby, please wake up!" she cried, her voice trembling with fear.

Baba quickly called the driver to bring the car, so they could take Jannah to the hospital. "We need to get her to the hospital, now!" he exclaimed, his voice firm and authoritative.

Safar, still pretending to be distraught, spoke up, her voice trembling with false emotion. "I'm sorry, it was a mistake," she said, her eyes welling up with fake tears.

But Sa'eed was not fooled. His eyes saw red as his anger boiled over, his gaze flashing towards Safar with a fierce intensity. "Mistake?" he repeated, his voice dangerously calm. "Mistake? A fucking mistake? First, you pushed my wife down the stairs and made us lose our baby. You said it was a mistake, and I believed you because you're my sister and I grew up with you. But now, you've pushed Jannah, and you're telling me it's a mistake. Are you trying to tell me that you're just a clumsy, careless person who keeps making mistakes that hurt the people I love?"

Safar visibly shivered as Sa'eed's words cut through her like a knife. She knew that she had been found out, that Sa'eed had finally seen through her facade. She tried to speak, to defend herself, but Sa'eed wouldn't let her.