The weekend arrived quietly, as if nothing momentous was about to happen. But I knew better. This was the day everything would finally change.
My uncle, as usual, left the house that morning. He told me he was going to visit my mother. I kept my face neutral, pretending to be half-asleep, nodding as he walked out the door. But the moment I heard his car pull out of the driveway, I texted Jason.
“He’s gone.”
Minutes later, Jason pulled up. I slipped out of the house, dressed in a hoodie and jeans, head covered with a scarf. We drove straight to the hospital, where the plan was already in motion. The police, led by Jason’s uncle, Assistant Inspector General Lawanson, were waiting in a private room that had access to the security feed.
The camera was already positioned discreetly in my mother’s room.
We waited.
The minutes dragged into hours. Then finally, the screen flickered. A nurse came in to check my mother’s vitals. After a moment, she left.
Then, my uncle appeared.
He closed the door softly behind him and stood for a few seconds, staring at my mother’s still form. My heart pounded as I leaned closer to the monitor.
Then, slowly, he moved to the ventilator. His hand reached down, towards the plug.
“Now.” Mr. Lawanson’s voice was sharp.
In a coordinated sweep, the police and doctors rushed into the hospital room. I couldn't hear the sound, but I saw the moment my uncle spun around in shock, his hand still hovering over the ventilator plug.
He was arrested on the spot, handcuffed, and read his rights for the attempted murder of Mr. Wellington.
As they led him out, he turned his head and looked directly at me.
His eyes were wild, full of rage and bitterness.
“Everything my brother owned should’ve been mine. Not your mother’s, not yours. I did what I had to do.”
I stared back, frozen, emotion swirling inside me, pain, betrayal, but also relief.
It was over.
Jason grabbed my hand and gave it a comforting squeeze.
“It’s over now, Tiara.”
I nodded, my eyes welling up as I rushed into the room where my mother lay. The doctors assured me she was okay. No harm had been done.
Still trembling, I stepped out and called Aunty Valerie. She deserved to hear the truth from me.
She answered on the second ring.
“Tiara, how are you? I’m so sorry I’ve been so busy with work. How’s your mum doing?”
I couldn’t hold it in.
“Aunty...” my voice broke as I burst into tears.
“Tiara? What is it? Is she okay?” she asked, her voice sharp with concern.
“It’s Uncle.” I said through sobs. “He tried to... to kill her. The police caught him. He was going to unplug her ventilator...”
Silence.
Then, in a voice barely above a whisper, she said,
“I don’t believe this... he loved your mother... he loved all of you...”
She paused.
“No. No, I’m flying to Abuja first thing tomorrow.”
The line went dead.
Jason placed a hand on my back.
“You did the right thing.”
That night, I went back to the Lawanson house with Jason and his uncle. Everyone was kind. Mr. Lawanson even cooked something warm for me, but I couldn’t eat. My body was tired, but my mind wouldn’t stop spinning.
Eventually, I fell asleep.
Or so I thought.
I woke up in the middle of the night screaming, drenched in sweat, my chest heaving. In my dream, my uncle was chasing me with a gun, his face twisted with hate, his eyes dark.
The door flung open.
Jason rushed in, alarmed.
“Tiara? Tiara, it’s okay. It’s just a dream. You’re safe. I’m here.”
I blinked rapidly, realizing where I was.
“I... I’m sorry. I just... I saw him. He was chasing me.”
Jason came to the bed and crouched beside me.
“It’s alright. He can’t hurt you anymore.”
“Can you... stay with me?” I asked, my voice small and trembling.
“Just until I fall asleep again?”
He nodded without hesitation.
“Of course.”
He sat on the edge of the bed, his hand gently stroking my hair. Slowly, I calmed down, the panic fading. His presence made everything feel safer.
Eventually, I drifted off again, the fear chased away by the steady rhythm of his breathing beside me.
---
The next morning, I was stirred awake by a knock on the door.
I sat up, confused for a second, until I saw Jason beside me and remembered that I asked me to stay with me.
He stirred too, rubbing his eyes just as I got up and opened the door.
Mr. Lawanson stood there, his brows slightly raised.
“Morning, Tiara. Did you sleep well?”
I nodded, though I knew my eyes were still swollen from crying.
Then he noticed Jason behind me.
He looked between us and asked,
“Jason, what are you doing in Tiara’s room?”
Before Jason could answer, I stepped forward.
“I had a nightmare,” I said honestly. “I begged him to stay with me. That’s all.”
He gave us a long look, then sighed.
“Alright. I’m headed to the station now. When your aunt arrives, she should come find me.”
“Yes sir. Thank you... for everything.”
He gave a short nod and turned to leave. But before he did, he glanced back and added with a slight smirk,
“Jason, go and sleep in your own room.”
Jason quickly stood and awkwardly headed out, scratching his head.
